THE TOWER OF LONDON

                       
        The Tower of London is a historical castle located on north bank of the river Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge jf the square mile of the city of London by the open space known as Tower Hill. It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of Enland.

The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078 and was a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite. The castle was used  as a prison from 1100 untill 1952, although that was not its primary purpose.

The Tower of London has played a prominent role in English history. It was besieged several times, and contrilling it has been important to controlling the country. The Tower has served variously as an armoury, a treasury, a menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a public record office and the home of the Crown Jewels of England.

Today, the Crown Jewels are one of the most popular attractions at the Tower of London. The Jewels include the crowns worn by the monarch at coronation and at the opening of Parliament. 

 Porter notes that the use of the Tower as a repository for royal treasure began in earnest in 1303, when a number of treasures were stolen from the Abbey of St. Peter at Westminster.