Tower of Torture, Treasure, and Titles

The Tower of London. This famed tourist attraction held some of London’s most famed prisoners. Today it holds The Crown Jewels, plenty of weapons, and artifacts of its storied history. A personal favorite part of the tower was the White Tower exhibit, showcasing the collections of the Royal Armouries, the Chapel of St John the Evangelist, and plenty of wooden horses. I’ve always been obsessed with weapons, and was curious to see what they had in store for me at the white tower; however, most of the collection was dedicated more towards armour than the blade. Surprisingly enough, the best weapon was not found at the white tower but with the Crown Jewels. The crowns and scepters held at The Jewel House were a good highlight, gaining from me a resounding “that’s a big rock” at the sight of some of the several big rocks in the many bejeweled pieces held in the dark halls of the keep, but the most important piece to me was that of The Jewelled Sword of Offering.

As a self-proclaimed weapons enthusiast, and prop maker, this piece was absolutely stunning. The decorated faces of the blade alone are astoundingly detailed, not to mention the cruciform gold hilt or the gold encased scabbard. If there was anything on the trip that left me in awe, it was this.

Another interesting part of the tower is the all-encompassing gruesome nature of its history and exhibits. Part of that history is one of imprisonment and torture. One person of note to me was Guy Fawkes, known as the most famous member of those involved in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 when a group of English Catholics attempted to assassinate King James I by blowing up the House of Lords during the opening of Parliament. Fawkes was in charge of the gunpowder to be placed underneath the House of Lords, but due to an anonymous letter giving away the plot to the authorities, Fawkes was found guarding the explosives. Kept in the Queen’s House at the Tower, Fawkes confessed under torture, and later died lucky enough to avoid his fate of being hanged, drawn, and quartered. He is most remembered in during the holiday of his namesake taking place every November 5, the night of the original plot.