The White Tower

The White Tower

1. Lil' background information

   • building began in 1070, being made outta wood, and was later finished in 1079
     • Protected by the river and protected walls the romans used to protect the city
     • Second largest stone tower in England on the east

2. Main reasons

   • Royal place
   • last place of refuge
   • prevent rebellions and remind em of who's boss
   • prevent foreign invasions
   • introduce Norman architecture style

3. Royal Residence and Palace

   • great hall, chamber for king and family, and chapel
     • three major rooms 107x118ft
   • top floor was living quarters
     • largest room was 95ft long banqueting hall
   • St. John's Chapel
     • place for kings to be worshiped
     • william wanted all rooms needed for royal residence all in one tower
       • regarded white tower as a royal residence

4. Fortress and armoury

   • tower walls up to 15ft thicc
   • entrance on the first floor
     • made it more difficult for attacks to enter
   • roof was sunken position surrounded & screened by high external walls
   • four feet wide passageway built into thick outer wall of second floor
     • allowed archers & other defenders to move from one position to another without being fired on
   • tower surrounded by a curtain wall with corner towers to protect

5. Rebellion prevention

   • stone keeps built which is very imposing and impressive
     • demonstrated power and wealth of the Normans
   • White tower used to prevent rebellions in London
     • built in the east
   • built within old Roman city walls
     • foundations of Roman Temple of Claudius
     • suggested William is new emperor
       • by linking Normans with Romans it deterred rebellions
   • building castles key to Willaim's domination of england
     • White tower was part of this tactic

6. Defend London to prevent foreign attack

   • location able to confront any attacks from the east and sea
     • vantage point used to send out soldiers
   • several Danish attacks
   • built in east to defend from attack
     • Montifichet tower & Baynard's castle built to defend west

7. Introduction to Norman Architecture

   • built by Gundulf
     • William's trusted assistant in large & complex projects
       • introduced Norman style to England
         • built out of white stone from Caen
   • Design came from towers in Normandy
     • Tower at Rouen built in similar position to White Tower
     • Castle at Ivry-la-Bataille [1040] had same ground plan
   • White Tower used as a blueprint for stone towers built in 11th Century England
     • Similar to famous Rochester Castle