The Tower of London - Essay Example

Number] Tower of London The Tower of London is a complex consisting of several buildings which also includes the White Tower. The great White Tower is an example of the Normal military architecture which was influential throughout the kingdom. The Tower was built by William the Conqueror on the north-bank of the Thames in order to protect and control the city of London by asserting his power. Hence, the Tower of London is an imposing fortress which is significant for the several layers of history. It has become a symbol of royalty which was constructed around the White Tower. Introduction The Tower of London which is also known as ‘Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress’ is the royal palace of England which is made up of several buildings. The Tower of London was made in order to control and protect the whole city. The architecture is a complex that consists of several buildings and is surrounded by a moat and defensive walls. It is a significantly important landmark in London famous for the several features that it has. The White Tower was built in 1078 by William the Conqueror and was marked as a symbol of oppression which was imposed by the new elites. The castle has been used for many purposes from being a prison to a royal residence. One of its most important features is that its Jewel House houses the Crown Jewels which include symbols of royalty, a collection of crowns, swords, rings, and scepters. These historical items and the layers of history which is related to the Tower of London is what make it significant since it was built and till today (Cline 14). Culture The Tower of London was built in 1066 by William the Conqueror and it holds immense universal value because of its cultural features and qualities. Its finest quality is its landmark setting in the City of London which is suitable for both controlling and protecting the city. It is set as a gateway to the capital and previously as the gateway to the Norman kingdom. Its location was chosen strategically at the north-end of Thames River and it serves as a separation point between the powerful monarchy and the developing capital city. The tower served a double role as a protection provider for the city through the defence walls and structure as well as the structure to control the citizens. The tower was a very tall building and it was the highest in its surrounding till the 19th century (Parnell 32). The tower also served as a symbol of Norman power as it was built to demonstrate the Norman power. The Tower significantly represents the Norman Conquest of the 11th century more than any other structure of history. This is because the Tower had an impact on developing closer relations with Europe, in creating the most powerful monarchy of Europe, and promoting the English language and culture (Keevill 55). The Tower holds an important position in the history because of its iconic role in the reflection of England’s last military conquest. The Tower of London also holds immense significance as the great example of the Norman military architecture of the 11th century. It is the most complete and innovative structure of the 11th century which is persistent. It is the example of the typical 11th century fortress palace and the only one which is remaining in the whole of Europe. The White Tower with the additions that were brought in the 13th and 14th century represent the summit of sophisticated castle designs that were introduced in Normandy after which they were spread across the Norman lands to Wales and England (Parnell 32). The Tower also serves as the best example of the 11th to 16th century medieval fortress palace. There were a lot of additions to the Tower by Edward I and Henry III which were considered to be the most highly innovative developments that took place within the fortress. These additions made the Tower one of the most influential and innovative castle sites in the 13th and 14th century Europe. The best part is that the structure and the additions made to it are still surviving. The buildings were added to the complex for the royal palace in the 16th century. Today the palace buildings that survive in the Tower show a glimpse of the medieval monarch within the walls of the fortress. The Tower has managed to survive amongst the continuously developing royal buildings throughout the 11th to 16th century. This is why the Tower of London has immense significance both nationally and internationally (Cline 14). Another significant aspect of the Tower is the association with State institutions. The Tower had a long history and it was continually used by the monarchs and their successors because of which it developed major State institutions. Some of the fundamental roles that it incorporated were the nation’s defence, its coinage, and its records. The Tower was also the repository for precious goods of the royals and official documents from the 13th century. Crown Jewels were also kept in the Tower from the 17th century which increased its significance as the repository for the Royal Jewels and Wardrobe. The Tower was a setting for the key historical events which took place in the European history. Many momentous events from the British and European History took place in the setting of The Tower. It played a role as a stage on which the history was enacted and thus the Tower has a status of an iconic structure (Keevill 55). It was undoubtedly the most important structure of the Norman Conquest as the White Tower symbolises the longevity and might of the new elite rule. The Tower also served as a place for imprisonments of Edward V and his brother in 15th century, and of four English queens in the 16th century. Three of these imprisoned queens executed on Tower Green with Elizabeth I who escaped and created a new history. The Tower was also essential in shaping the England Reformation as both Protestant and Catholic prisoners recorded their personal experienced and helped to explain the Tower as a torture and execution place (Deiter 43). The Tower is thus important as an example of the Norman military architecture and serves as a reference in the history. It has been a structural symbol of royal power ever since it was built in the 11th century. William the Conqueror was crowned as the king on the Christmas Day of 1066. He wanted to command the capital city from the most vulnerable side so he created a traditional defence place with ancient Roman walls. That traditional defence was replaced after ten years with a palace fortress which became known as the Tower of London (Parnell 32). The White Tower was built in the 1080s and kept on modifying for centuries. It became the centre for the complex courtyards, buildings, and fortifications. It extended over an area of 7.3 hectares (Keevill 55). The White Tower, which was named because of the whitewashed walls, is a masterpiece of the Norman architecture of the 11th century and has a unique design. The events and moments of history which are associated with the complex are the most significant elements for the English monarchy. The White Tower extends to about 27 m above the mound. The height of the Tower of London today is 90 feet tall and its dimensions are 107×118 feet across. Construction The design and structure of the Tower of London was started with the orders of William the Conqueror. Construction of the stone tower was started in 1078 and it completed in 1097. The Tower was assumed as a Concentric Castle form with the successive lines of fortification that came along with many years and different reigns. 21 different towers form a major part of the Tower complex (Cline 14). There were many phases in which the Tower of London expanded after William the Conqueror built it. The general layout of the Tower has remained the same after it was reconstructed by Edward I in 1285. The area of the Tower expands to about 12 acres, and a further 6 acres are for the Tower Liberties which is the land that is cleared for military reasons but comes under the influence of the Tower. Under the reign of Richard II, the Tower had expanded and reached its current size as it stands today (Deiter 43). The White Tower was a structure which had three stories originally and a basement floor with an entrance level and an upper floor as well. Each of these floors were divided into three chambers which had the largest in the west, the north-east was a smaller room, and the south-east had the entrance and upper floors. The building’s western corners were square towers and there was a round tower with a spiral staircase at the north-east corner (Keevill 55). Then the chapel’s semi-circular projection was at the south-east corner. The building also consisted of latrines that were built in the walls to make a comfortable residence with four fireplaces for warmth. The material used for the main building was Kentish rag-stone along with a local mudstone. The Tower’s facing used the Caen stone which was imported from France. The original material of the Tower survived only a little and most of it was replaced in the 17th and 18th centuries with Portland stone. From the original windows of the Tower only two remained which were in the south wall. Other windows were enlarged and replaced in the 18th century. The layout of the Tower has almost remained the same since it was constructed. Many architectural modifications took place in the 18th century including the interior specifically the basement, the floor, and the vault which was replaced with bricks. The Tower had limited access as the design was made for the safekeeping of the royal wardrobe, jewels, treasures, and important documents. From the interior, only a little is left since the original construction. There have been many changes in the interior which is different from the culture of the Norman period (Deiter 43). According to the archaeological evidence, the early defences that were placed on the site of the Tower of London were replaced by a great white stone tower, which was the White Tower proclaiming the control and physical power of the Norman monarch which was newly formed. The history does not clearly tell us when the building work exactly started on the Tower during the reign of William the Conqueror. However the first phase of the construction work started in the 1070s. The Bishop of Rochester, Gundulf was in charge of the construction. Norman masons were employed for the construction. A certain amount of the building stone was imported from Normandy which was William’s native. The Englishmen had provided the labour. They built strong walls around the Tower and completed the White Tower by the 1100 (Parnell 32). The building of the mighty tower was such that England had never seen before. The structure of the building was huge of about 36m×32.5m across (118×106ft) while on the south side at the lowest ground it was 27.5m tall (90ft). The Tower was the highest and dominated the skyline for a long time. There were Roman walls on two of the sides which protected the Tower, there were ditches on the north and west side of about 7.5m wide (25ft) and 3.4m deep (11ft), and there was an earthwork with a wooden palisade. When it was built, the Tower was not intended to be a royal residence but later many royals lived there. The Tower was also not the first defence line against the invading armies. The primary function of the Tower was however to serve as a fortress, and this role had remained unchanged until the 19th century (Deiter 43). The interior of the Tower was changed by Henry III who incorporated the Norman chapel in the Tower which stood previously outside. He decorated this chapel with glazed windows. It was then rebuilt for £300 by Edward I. The chapel was later refurbished in the 19th century. The buildings of the Tower were remodelled in the Stuart period (Cline 14). The Tower generally featured the Gothic Revival Architecture elements. Gothic architecture was for castles, cathedrals, and churches and it was the architectural style for most of the Europe. There were common architectural problems in the Medieval times thus this architectural style was developed. When the Tower was constructed, there were limited building or construction skills. This is why the stone castles and towers were simple and rudimentary. Gothic architecture created pleasant, light, and airy buildings which made architecture beautiful. Gothic revival architecture usually consisted of buildings that were tall, had pointed arches, vaulted ceiling, interiors were light and airy, and focus was on decorative walls (Keevill 55). The Tower was damaged structurally in the 20th century after the World War I between 1914 and 1916. It was used for imprisonment of the war. In the World War II, there was a lot of bomb damage to the structure as it was included in the buildings which were heavily destroyed at that time. The Crown Jewels were then removed from there and taken to a safe place (Deiter 43). Analysis Even though the time when the Tower of London was built was when there were limited building techniques, materials, methods, and options, the tower was built strategically as such that it holds immense importance still. If the tower would have been built today, the only thing which I believe would have differed is the construction process and the overall look. It is with the time that these things change and develop gradually. However, architecture history has seen a rapid and massive change in the recent years. It is a change that was never experienced before in any other field (Cline 14). There have been immense changes in the ways of planning and constructing. There has been a great population explosion and new developed have occurred in every field of humanity. The developments in the field of architecture have been really wonderful. If the Tower of London was built today, the architectural techniques, materials, and tools used would be different and much more advanced that they were in the 11th century. Through assessing the modern architecture, it can be perceived that how the Tower would have been built today. We know that the traditional architectural materials which were commonly used were bricks, timber, and stone. Stone was used in the building of the Tower of London. Stone was used in all buildings no matter how tall, how big, or how complex they were. Today, there are different materials for all different types of buildings. All the new techniques and materials have overpowered and superseded the traditional architecture. If the Tower was built today, the material that would have been used is steel as it is considered to be the most suitable material for the huge structures. In modern architecture, steel frames are created and used to form variety of shapes and joints. This is why modern buildings are also of different shapes and designs which are planned through the digital techniques and executed using suitable materials. As the Tower of London is a central and significant place, it would be a skyscraper and the architectural methods used for skyscrapers include cement concrete. Previously, architects used massive walls of stone for tall buildings but now they are replaced with thin R.C.C. curtain walls which help in creating large spaces for interior. The Tower would be built with cement concrete and would be more airy and spacious as it was in the 11th century. Moreover, the innovative designs would be used to design the roofs and floors of the Tower. Today there are many options from which the shapes and types of decorations can be determined. The construction of the Tower would not only be different and modern, but also quick and easy. The concrete and other modern materials are easier to handle and more convenient methods to use in construction. Glass transparent materials are used to absorb the ultra violet rays and they are used instead of blinds, curtains, and shades. These are used on the windows which make it easier to stop the sun rays and make the Tower more cool and calm. The modern Tower would have been more protected and strong. Stainless steel and chromium used in the exterior make it strong to resist all types of atmospheric influences. The most important thing that the Tower would have if it was built today is the trendy and modern outlook. The buildings of the modern architecture are immensely attractive, unique, and beautiful. The Tower of London was rather a simple and clean building with lesser innovation in the look. Today the skyscrapers are of different kinds with attractive facades using every type of colour combinations, decorative materials, and unique shapes. The Tower would have been highly modern and since it would be built by the royals, it would use the most expensive and beautiful materials. An example of a modern building which is a skyscraper and built using the modern architectural techniques is Burj Khalifa. It is the world’s tallest building and it holds immense architectural value. The best part about it is that it has a unique structure which attracts visitors and tourists from all around the world. It is also considered to be one of the best examples of modern architecture. If the Tower was built today, it would have also used a different and unique design which would attract the people and would be marked as an essential masterpiece. It uses glass and attractive shapes to make it appealing. However, if the Tower would have been created for the purpose of defence today, the materials used for the exterior would be steel and other strong materials which are bullet proof. Another example of how the Tower would have been today is that of the Mode-Gakuen Spiral Towers of Japan. This structure was a stunning piece of architecture which brought a twist in the modern architecture. The building showed the potentials of architecture today and how it is able to produce just anything that was ever imagined. The Spiral Tower is an example of modern architecture towers and if the Tower of London was built today it would have consisted of a unique idea that is exclusive to the Tower. Thus, physically the Tower in the 21st century would be attractive and appealing. Modern architecture has been experimental as it has shown many unique presentations of shapes which are combined together to form a unique structure. Digital designing methods have made it easier for the architects to plan and design the building structures and implement them later. Technically, the structure of the 21st century Tower would be stronger, more conveniently built, and more sustainable as modern buildings are rather more durable than the traditional ones. The structures are built quickly and the materials used are more convenient to deal with. Conclusion f London holds immense significance even today. It has not been recently renovated to rebuilt, but it attracts the visitors with its rich history. Its history dates back to the 11th century and throughout the centuries, it has been preserved and known as an important building. This can be assured by the various essential events from the history that have taken place here. However, even though the building has a traditional look, it is one of the most significant buildings in all over the world as it is a symbol of the 11th century Norman military architecture. Work Cited Cline, Teresa. From London to Cairo. UK: Lulu.com, 2008. Print. Deiter, Kristen. The Tower of London in English Renaissance Drama: Icon of Opposition. UK: Routledge, 2011. Print. Keevill, Graham. The Tower of London moat: archaeological excavations 1995-9. UK: Oxford Archaeological Unit for English Heritage, 2004. Print. Parnell, Geoffrey. The Tower of London: the official illustrated history. UK: Merrell, 2000. Print. Read More