Famous Prisoners of The Tower of London

The Tower of London is as imposing as it is breathtaking, as frightening as it is compelling: a landmark well and truly like no other. Visit this imperious attraction and discover its thrills for yourself: you will never forget the experience. Take a Tower of London tour and become enthralled by its often strange, bloodthirsty and always unique past. This is one tour that is sure to contribute to an England tour you will never forget. Prisoners have been held at the Tower practically since it was first built. For around 900 years, those considered traitors, as well as eminent kings and queens have been held captive against their desires.

The Prisoners exhibition at the Tower will leave you not merely fascinated, but indeed rapt. Become engrossed in this incredibly engaging exhibition as you receive your very own prisoner game card. You will certainly relive the conditions experienced by the prisoners themselves. Audio-visual exhibits also bring to life the narratives of those incarcerated in the Tower. Discover precisely where, why and how certain prisoners were detained in the Tower of London, including such celebrated figures that have captivated the modern mind as Guy Fawkes and Sir Walter Raleigh.

Indeed, Sir Walter Raleigh is possibly one of the most prominent prisoners held in the Tower of London, and courted controversy during his life. He is a compelling figure, who was initially Elizabeth I’s favorite but, later, became an enemy of James I. Ostentatious and bold, he was incarcerated in the Tower on three different occasions, spending a sum total of thirteen years there. Raleigh was held specifically in the Bloody Tower. He was actually given a relatively good measure of freedom and not treated at all badly whilst at the Tower; he was even allowed to use part of the Lieutenant’s Garden. Generally, he could move freely about the grounds. The raised wall between the Bloody Tower and Lieutenant’s House where Raleigh exercised is still called ‘Raleigh’s Walk’ today, a sure testament to his lasting appeal.  Raleigh was eventually executed.

Other important personages such as Thomas More and Lady Jane Grey were executed in the Tower. This stirred up rumors of the Tower being haunted by ghosts, which persist to this very day. Tower Green is where executions occurred: however, this area was limited to the execution of noble people, including Raleigh, More and Lady Grey. Tower Green was where executions believed too politically problematic to carry out in plain sight occurred. Yet even these ‘private’ executions took place in the full view of many privileged spectators, which often amounted to up to two hundred.

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