Construction of the tower of London was started in 1078; it is a large castle which has been periodically expanded by successive kings and queens over the centuries. The exteriors and interiors were improved through the changing times by its residents. It is a fortress and also has a prison, and happens to be the oldest palace in the city of London. The castle has a very historical background, associated with war. The place which it is situated on was a disputed land, the dispute being between the roman and the English.
The castle had many large towers and buildings added to it and are spectacular to the viewer, it is presently a museum. Though the building started with humble materials like timber and stone, it is now a solid structure. During the reign of King Henry the III, the place was expanded to house a church and a white tower called the ‘La Tour Blanche’. The palace was used for many purposes and was large enough for any king or queen, because of its convenience of housing the prison. Law and order could be controlled from the same place where the kings lived and stored their treasury. Henry III was also gifted by many of his guests with animals, which he housed in the zoo located in the palace grounds.
The museum today has the crown jewels on display. The place is surrounded by a moat which was built by the previous residents, the river Thames supplies water to the moat. Though there is no apparent tower on the building, it is still called officially as “Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London’. It held a superstitious history for the residents and many famous events took place here.