In the later 16th century the Jewel Tower became a repository for Parliamentary documents. They do not know why someone appears to have painted it green on the outside.Īfter the royals moved to Whitehall, the Jewel Tower became a general storage building, including, at one time, holding the toy dolls of King Henry VIII’s daughters, the future Queen Mary I and Elizabeth I. The finds include flasks, a broken sword and this cat skull. Inside you will see a cabinet of finds from an archaeological dig in the moat in 1950s and 60s. The Jewel Tower was defended by a moat, which you can still see the remains of today. A medieval joke perhaps or were intended to scare off would be intruders? It appears to be a four-leafed floral design but on closer inspection is four human heads with open mouths. When William Usshborne, who had been the King’s officer behind the decision, died by chocking on fish bones the monks considered it Divine Providence.Īlso look out for these unusual stone bosses on the ground floor: another medieval feature. It was also apparently built on land partly owned by Westminster Abbey, which they did not take to kindly. The original wooden supports used to stop the Jewel Tower from sinking, replaced with concrete in 1963. He constructed thick stone walls and put metal grilles over the windows for extra protection. It was constructed to store the jewels and treasure of King Edward III, although the Crown Jewels were always kept in the Tower of London. This would have predominantly been fine textiles and plate.Ĭonstruction was overseen by Henry Yelvele, the most famous stonemason of his day. A depiction of the Jewel Tower in the 14th century The Jewel Tower today The Jewel Tower: A Royal Treasure Trove The Jewel Tower on the right with Westminster Abbey in the backgroundīuilt in 1366, the Jewel Tower sat at the South-Western corner of the medieval Palace of Westminster. The current, neo-gothic, Palace of Westminster was built from 1840-1870 after another huge fire burnt down much of the previous palace in 1834. The medieval palace with Westminster Abbey on the left The current palace- Jewel Tower in dark wood in the centre foreground You can see these models inside the Jewel Tower today. The Jewel Tower is in the centre foreground, surrounded on two sides by a defensive moat. Here are models of the medieval palace and current palace layout. Whitehall Palace was subsequently constructed down the road and became the royal residence under King Henry VIII. Most of the medieval Palace burnt down in a huge fire in 1512. The Palace of Westminster acted as the primary residence of the monarchy until the early 16th century. The current Palace of Westminster AKA the Houses of ParliamentĮdward the Confessor, the Anglo-Saxon monarch built the original Westminster Abbey and Palace here, on the banks of the Thames, in around 1045-1050AD. The Palace of Westminsterįirst, a quick history of the Palace of Westminster. The Jewel Tower is a stubborn remnant of the old Palace of Westminster, when it was still the primary royal residence. I pass by it on my Westminster’s Backstreets: Saints and Scoundrels tour and so I decided to pay it a visit with my trusty English Heritage membership in hand. Around the back of Westminster Abbey, away from the hustle and bustle of Parliament Square, you will find a medieval survivor: the Jewel Tower.
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