The Tower of London

May 26^th

Day three is complete! I was able to explore one of the most historic fortresses in England. The various structures were connected by cobblestone pathways which were a bit tricky to walk on. I learned about the revival of the Crown Jewels and the massive armory they maintained which included a small chapel that was often used by the King and his advisors.

 One of the most amazing parts of London is there are various parts of history right beside each other. London has experienced many conflicts and has been burned down several times but each time the people have come back and built something new while preserving history. My favorite type of architecture in London is Victorian; I love the shape, colors, and abundance of windows. On the bus ride yesterday, I discovered how many buildings are dedicated or made in the honor of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

My favorite part of the Tower was the Imprisonment exhibit. I felt like I was visualizing history and remembering how the rulers handled their betrayals and nuisances. There were names all around the small tour which revealed the reason behind their imprisonment. Right before I entered the prison champers, I walked past a representation of Ann Boleyn’s execution. Despite the dire circumstances surrounding the memorial, the words wrapped around the execution pillow were impactful.

After thinking about Ann Boleyn’s wrongful execution, I ran across John Dudley’s name in the Imprisonment room. Dudley was the Earl of Warwick and he only served 1 year in prison in the 1550’s before he was released. He was held with his family for attempting to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne of England. I found this interesting because Dudley was the mastermind behind making Lady Jane the Queen, but she was executed, and he was discharged. The reason I am so familiar with this story is because my mom has a picture of The Execution of Lady Jane Grey. I remember asking questions about the painting and why she was killed. It was an exciting experience to connect where many of England’s unjust executions of women occurred.

It was amazing to see such a historic and grand structure. I am anxious to wander through more museums all throughout London and to see the original painting of Lady Jane Grey which is in the National Gallery.

Until next time

-Tabi is Booked