The Tower of London

[smurfchops]

Had an interesting day at the Tower today. I found it fascinating that there were lots of private homes inside the Tower walls. Who lives in these? Especially the L shaped area of pretty Tudor homes around the original site of the scaffold green (Where people were hung). Does anyone know who lived there originally ? There is a soldier on guard there so someone important must live there now.

[dot.haukes]

Have a nosy at this site, it is interesting you're right.

http://www.oldlondonmaps.com/stowpages/towerli b01.html

[Huderon]

Houses, or some of them anyway, inside the tower are occupied by the Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters) and their families. The Warders are all former servicemen (and women) with at least 22 years service. The origins of the Warders go back to the reign of Edward IV, and they have been part the Royal Bodyguard since the 1500's

Because the tower is still officially a royal palace, a guard is maintained there (it's a unit of the Queens Guard). Guards are posted outside the Jewel House (I think you can guess what is kept there) and the Queen's House, and it was probably the one at the Queen's House that you saw.

[smurfchops]

Yes it was the Queen's House. Who lives in those houses ? They are beautiful, what a place to live !

[smurfchops]

Here they are:

http://travelwithkids.about.com/od/londonwithk ids/ss/toweroflondon_3.htm