Historic Royal Palaces...the Dark Side

The District line to Tower Hill takes me to my favorite historical spot in London...The Tower of London.  The tube stop opens directly out to a view of the Tower.  The grander of this place overtakes me.  Even though I've been before it still amazes me.  It's not just one little tower with a winding stair case and a cell at the top.  It's massive with a moat, royal housing, multiple towers and huge thick brick walls.  Luckily I had a bit of sunshine for my tour unlike last time where we were dodging rain drops the whole time. I went on the"beef eater" (look it up it's not what you think) tour to get my history fix since they give you all sorts of tid bits about events that have taken place and all the prisoners that have been held there.

One corner of the tower from the outside

   I think this is why I love this spot so much.  So many history altering events have taken place here in the 900 plus years it has been in existence.  From the building of the original White Tower that sits in the center of the whole site, the national mint being between the inner and outer walls, numerous private Royal executions that happened within the walls and all the crown jewels....sorry ladies our little hands can't handle some of these major jewels.  These are only a few of the events....there are so many I could go on for ages.

The Rack

  

 The tower has a special display right now that the slightly dark side of me loved...the torture devices.  They had a real "Rack" that was pretty cool to see and a bunch of other ones that I will spare you the gory details about. 

Lady Jane's view

As I wondered around the cobblestone roads of the tower (which are a bloody nightmare on your ankles) I just kept envisioning the events that had taken place along these streets and in the places I was passing...

I sat in the window where Lady Jane Grey sat and watched her husband being taken to be executed then also watched her own scaffolding being built for her own execution.

I stood in the place where King Henry lovingly welcomed his new wife to be, Anne Boleyn, into the tower to prepare for her coronation through the royal entrance then walked a few feet away to the traitors gate where just 3 short years later she was brought on orders by the same man (King Henry) to be executed.

The tower also has it's mysteries like the murder of the  two young princes whose bones were found within the tower walls....I won't elaborate, homework...look it up and read the story.

Coming back to these places I am definitely seeing it with new eyes.  My fun "Ah Ha" moment of the tower came in the hall of armor.  

Fashion, function or both?

    I suppose I have never taken the time to appreciate battle armor and all it's intricacies.  It's kind of the perfect pairing of fashion and function.  As I walked through the exhibit I was surprised by all the bits that stood out. There were leather straps that attached the armor together but also were beautifully shaped with symbols that secured the ends on.  The way all the metal was layered at the knees and elbows for movement was functionally perfect and edged with some sort of contrasting metal or elegant engraving.  I was completely inspired by the the soft beauty found within this hard structure.  They took something that could have been very boring and made it a piece of artwork.  There were even specific metal workers who were sought after to make these suits.  I would call these guys some of the original fashion designers.  I foresee a few new designs for me being based on this experience today.  Get ready for some armor wear (don't worry I won't use all metal).

Bar full of suits

  The only downside from the day was all the tourists.  Yes, I know technically I am am one too but let me explain.  I am talking  people with back packs the size of my suitcase that take out small children and the elderly every time they turn, and huge groups of middle school age students who are only on the thrip because either their parents needed a week alone or there is a cute  (boy or girl) in their class who is also on the trip who they want to hook up with and feel that their chances are higher if they act super cool (or obnoxious depending on how you look at it) on the trip.  Now there is only one thing that can make is even worse...give them an umbrella.  It really turns into more of a weapon.  Tons of metal points strategically placed at my eye level being waved around by people who already have very little awareness that anyone but themselves exist.  

As the rubbish weather begins and the umbrellas start to pop up I sought shelter is a bar cleverly called The Hung Drawn and Quartered.  Once inside and out of harms way I looked up and realized I was surround but a sea of men in suits (really great fitting suits I might add)....Unfortunately it was a private party so I had to leave.  Disappointed to leave since it was a really cool bar,  I headed to the tube station dodging raindrops and umbrellas.

Such a great day of history and inspiration. Each day here has a new surprise I am not expecting....That's what it's all about right?...