Beauchamp Tower

The Beauchamp Tower
The History of the Tower of London is great, bloody and cruel and the Beauchamp Tower has its part to play in its story. Beauchamp Tower is just one of the 21 towers which, together, form the Tower of London castle complex. The Tower of London covers an area of 18 acres and its magnificent architecture covers almost all the styles which have flourished in England. Although the Tower is no longer a place of great military strength it has in time past been a fortress, a palace, and a prison. This section provides key facts and information about the Beauchamp Tower.

Beauchamp Tower

• Information about Beauchamp Tower
• Key Dates in history - Facts
• Who built the Beauchamp Tower in the great Tower of London?
• Information & Facts about when the Beauchamp Tower was built

Beauchamp Tower

The Purpose of the Beauchamp Tower
The purpose of the Beauchamp Tower changed according to the requirements of the era. In general terms the towers were built for accommodation, including prisons, and as gateways protecting the Tower of London concentric castle complex. The concentric castle design ensured protection of the Tower of London with successive lines of fortification - many of the different towers were gradually added, over many hundreds of years, providing additional protection. Specific facts and info about which English King was responsible for building the towers, when the towers were built, the style of architecture and interesting info about its history.

Key Facts and Information about the Beauchamp Tower

• The Beauchamp Tower was built by King Edward I
• The date the Beauchamp Tower was built was between 1275 - 1281
• The Chief Architect and Master Builder of the Beauchamp Tower was Master James of St George
• The Architecture / Style of the Medieval Beauchamp Tower is described as Edwardian / Gothic
• The purpose of the Beauchamp Tower was for defensive purposes. It was quickly used in which to lodge prisoners of rank, and in consequence many of the most interesting mural inscriptions are to be found in its chambers
• History - Its present name probably refers to the residence in it as a prisoner of Thomas, third Earl of Warwick, of the Beauchamp family, who was attainted under Richard II in 1397, but restored to his honours and liberty two years later under Henry IV. The Beauchamp family descend from the children of John of Gaunt and his mistress Katherine Swynford. Their liaison was eventually legitimised and they married. The Tudor line can be traced to this union
• Lady Jane Rochford was instrumental in bringing about the deaths of two Queens of England - Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. She was taken to Beauchamp Tower at the Tower of London to force a full confession - she was driven insane by the interrogation
• An inscription to Lady Jane Grey can be found on the wall of this tower
• Anthony Salvin, a Victorian architect, was appointed in 1851 to 'restore' the Tower to a pseudo-medieval form so it could be opened to the public. He repaired doors and windows, recreated the battlements and improved the outside facade. Salvin also built a pump house, used today as the Tower shop. Salvin remained at the Tower until 1870, when John Taylor took over the restoration

The Beauchamp Tower
The very walls of the Beauchamp Tower contain some of the bloody secrets and the of the history of the Tower of London. Which King was responsible for building the Beauchamp Tower and what was his reason? When was it built? Interesting facts and info about the history of the Tower of London!

Beauchamp Tower

The Tower of London

• The History of The Tower of London
• Information & Facts about The Tower of London
• The Design, Layout and Architecture of The Tower of London - the different Towers
• The Tower of London Timeline
• The Tower of London Prisoners
• The Executions and Beheading of men and women

The Tower of London