The Purpose of the Constable Tower
The purpose of the Constable 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.
Constable Tower
Constable Tower
- Information & Facts about Constable Tower
- Key Dates in the Constable Tower history
- Who built the Constable Tower in the great Tower of London?
- Information and Facts about when the Constable Tower was built
The Constable Tower - Key Facts and Information
- The Constable Tower was built by King Henry III
- The date the Constable Tower was built was between 1238 - 1272
- The Chief Architect and Master Builder of the Constable Tower was Henry de Reyns together with John of Gloucester and Robert of Beverley
- The Architecture / Style of the Medieval Constable Tower is described as Norman (Romanesque) / Edwardian / Gothic
- The purpose of the Constable Tower was accommodation and as a prison
Origins of the Constable Tower
The name of the Constable Tower is believed to be due because the Constable of the Tower of London originally lived in this building. The Constable of the Tower is an ancient military post which dates back to the Normans and William the Conqueror in 1066. The role of the Constable of the Tower was an important and powerful one which is reflected in the original title which was ‘keeper of the Tower of London’. His duties initially demanded that he resided in the Tower in order to:
- Take full responsibility for the smooth running and security of the castle
- Take charge of the armed soldiers and arrange for their wages
- His senior military rank required that he was in charge of the officers of the Tower
- Take full responsibility for the security of all state prisoners
- Supervise the executions and torture of state prisoners
The charge of the Prisoners was extremely important and the Constable was personally responsible for their security. He was charged by his King or Queen as follows:
‘You are to guard them securely in the prison of our said Tower in such a way that you shall answer for them body for body … Fail in no part of this on pain of forfeiture of life and limb and all property you hold in our realms.’
The most famous Constables of the Tower included Thomas Becket, Sir William Kingston and the Duke of Wellington
The Constable Tower
The very walls of the Constable Tower contain some of the bloody secrets and the of the history of the Tower of London. Which King was responsible for building the Constable Tower and what was his reason? When was it built? Interesting facts and info about the history of the Tower of London!
Constable 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