The Tower of London (Past and Present)

The Tower of London is one of Britain’s premier ancient monuments and tourist attractions. Until the 19th-century, however, the Tower was a collection of self-contained communities: as well as a royal residence, it housed the Menagerie, the Record Office, the Board of Ordnance, and the Royal Mint. During the 19th century, most of these bodies withdrew, older buildings were repaired, and more recent ones were demolished as part of a program to make the Tower resemble a medieval castle once again. The Crown Jewels and the Armories were both re-displayed, creating a magnet for visitors. Many previously unpublished images, taken between 1850 and 1950, have been included in order to provide, for the first time, a valuable record of the remarkable transformations which have shaped the Tower of London on view today.