The Tower of London

I finally had a chance to work on "Souvenir" again.  I'm really pleased with the colors I chose for this stitch.

Now I need a "Souvenir de Angleterre" to stitch.

If there was one, it might have the iconic Tower of London on it.

We ride the Docklands Light Rail to Tower Gateway frequently.  That requires a short walk to Tower Hill to transfer to the Underground.  So this is a view we've seen many times already.

The famous White Tower was constructed in the 1070's.  An impressive fortress that backed up the might and power of William the Conqueror. 

William is not the only ruler who has left his mark on the Tower complex. There has been construction and renovation for the last thousand years. The drainpipes for example, have the cypher of Queen Victoria!

Famously, the Tower was used as a prison from its beginnings through WWII. Some of the graffiti left on the walls is tragic in nature.

The Royal Mint worked in the Tower from the 13th century until 1968.

In the reign of Henry VII, a coin called a sovereign was issued with the value of a pound.  It took 240 silver pennies to equal one sovereign.  

I think duty here must be worse even that Buckingham Palace.  The Tower complex has so many tourists, it has a Disneyland-like atmosphere.

I started thinking of the employees as 'Cast Members'.

Nonetheless, they appear to be able to ignore the tourists, and go about their business with honor and dignity. 

In 2005 this sculpture of a pillow with the indented shape of a head was installed at the site of Tower Executions.  It is very well done as it engages the observer to move to place of quiet and reflection.

The famous ravens.

The group of ravens at the Tower is comprised at least seven individuals (six are required, with a seventh in reserve). The presence of the ravens is traditionally believed to protect the Crown and the Tower; superstition holds that "If the Tower of London ravens are lost or fly away, the Crown will fall and Britain with it." 

There were a few other birds out and about as well. 

150 people live within the Tower walls.

I think it would be a most interesting place to live.

This is my favorite group of buildings.

Isn't this little house squashed between two larger, taller houses precious?

London seems to be a city where old and new connect and clash and collide.

I think no matter its bloody history, there is something more harmonious and pleasing about the very old.  Don't you?