Visit Jewel Tower is one of the oldest medieval buildings in the Palace of Westminster.
Much of what can be seen of the tower today dates from the 1360s.
Together, let's discover its wonderful history.
Jewel Tower: article summary
Jewel Tower: a brief history
The Westminster in London takes its name from the Palace of Westminster which was the central residence of the English monarchy.
The palace was built during the reign of Edward the Confessor (1042-66). Later, Norman kings such as William II (1087-110) spent a great deal of money on the palace.
William II was responsible for the construction of the enormous Westminster Hall, which still exists today!
The beginnings of the tower
During the reign of Edward the Confessor and the Norman era, monarchs tended to spend a lot of time moving between houses.
Westminster was the only residence to qualify as a "palace", which shows that it was highly prized.
When King Henry III rebuilt the abbey church as a sanctuary and future burial place, the palace was decorated in the refined, ornate palace style.
By the mid-14th century, it was clear that the palace was divided in two. Westminster Hall provided legal functions, and other nearby buildings became the accounting office and treasury. Buildings to the south became known as the "Private Palace".
Jewel Tower: a building that brings together many craftsmen
The tower was built around 1365-66. There are accounts of the building's construction in the papers of William Sleaford, who occupied the king's foreman between 1361 and 1377.
The tower was built under the direction of master mason Henry Yevele. The workforce consisted of 19 stonemasons and nine or ten carpenters, assisted by :
- Plumbers
- Glaziers
- Plasterers
- Tilers
Between July 12 and August 16, 1366, towards the end of the contract, 23 workers dug a moat around the tower.
Jewel Tower: what's it all about?
As the name probably suggests, the main function of the Jewel Towers was to store royal treasures.
The man in charge of jewelry security was William Sleaford, who was the Tower's first guardian.
The term "jewelry" referred not only to jewels or precious stones, but also included bowls, plates, cups, goblets and ewers, which were generally made of silver and richly decorated.
William Sleaford would regularly load the plate onto carts or river barges. to take them to other royal residences.
Some changes over the centuries
A number of events led to the decline in the use of the Palace of Westminster. Edward III visited less often, choosing instead to spend time at the Palace. Windsor Castle or in one of its manor houses.
There was also a great fire that caused Henry III to choose to live in his new palace at Whitehall. All this meant that there was no real reason to stock silverware at the Jewel Tower.
In 1547, an inventory showed that the tower had become a storage room for old clothes, furniture and gaming tables.
Jewel Tower: what to do there
The Jewel Tower is a small monument, and the main thing to do is to soak up the atmosphere of the last remaining building of London's former Palace of Westminster.
As English Heritage now manages the Jewel Tower, you can explore an informative exhibition spread over the tower's three floors. During the exhibition, you'll be able to discover how the building's functions have changed over the years.
The Jewel Tower remains a fascinating place to spend an hour.
How in this place?
The easiest way to get there is by public transport. Westminster is the metro closest to the tower.
Jewel Tower: how much does it cost to get in?
You can visit the tower to :
- 5,90 £ per adult
- 3,10 £ per child
Jewel Tower: what are the opening times?
At present, you need to book your ticket for The Jewel Tower in advance. You can do this on website from The English Heritage.
The Jewel Tower is a fascinating detour to make when you're in London. On site, you can discover a part of English history and enjoy the magnificent architecture of the site.