Wakefield Tower

The Tower of London
 

The Wakefield Tower
The History of the Tower of London is great, bloody and cruel and the Wakefield Tower has its part to play in its story. Wakefield 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 Wakefield Tower.

The Purpose of the Wakefield Tower
The purpose of the Wakefield Tower changed according to the requirements of the era.

 
 
 
The Tower of London
Castles Index 
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.

Wakefield Tower

Wakefield Tower

  • Information & Facts about Wakefield Tower
  • Key Dates in Wakefield Tower's history
  • Who built the Wakefield Tower in the great Tower of London and when?
  • Information & Facts about what the Wakefield Tower was used for

The Wakefield Tower - Key Facts and Information about the Towers

  • The Wakefield Tower was built by King Henry III
  • The date the Wakefield Tower was built was between 1238 - 1272
  • The Chief Architect and Master Builder of the Wakefield Tower was Henry de Reyns together with John of Gloucester and Robert of Beverley
  • The Architecture / Style of the Medieval Wakefield Tower is described as Norman (Romanesque)
  • History - This tower was part of the original Norman plan. The upper storey was rebuilt by Henry III, who made it the entrance to his palace on the east. In 1360 the records of the kingdom, which had previously been kept in the White Tower, were removed here, and this is called in ancient surveys sometimes the Record or the Hall Tower
  • The Great Hall of the Wakefield Tower, memorable as the scene of Queen Anne Boleyn's trial,  was pulled down during the Commonwealth

Murder in the Wakefield Tower

  • The present name is said to be derived from the imprisonment of Yorkists after the Lancastrian victory at The Battle of Wakefield in 1460 during the War of the Roses
  • The mentally unstable and pious Lancastrian King Henry VI and his headstrong and ambitious wife Margaret of Anjou were imprisoned in the Tower of London from 1465 until 1470. Henry was briefly restored to power in 1470 and returned to reside in the Tower on the 21st May.
  • The last Lancastrian king was murdered in the Wakefield Tower, whilst he was at prayer, the following day - 22nd May 1470. He was probably murdered on the orders of Edward IV
  • The chambers in the Wakefield Tower were used as a presence chamber. A small chapel was separated from this chamber by a painted timber screen - this was where King Henry VI was murdered

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

Wakefield 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
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