Having traversed the Tower Gateway to the Tower Hill stations, a short walk to change metro trains, several times now, we have seen the Tower of London in several lights, here with the significant remains of a Roman wall. Now is time to enter. After ticketing,
we are greeted by chicken wire lions (is that a mixed metaphor?), representing the original guardians of the moat and origin of the castle's menagerie which became eventually, after a move, the London Zoo. Our guide is a member of Her Majesties Royal Yeomen of the Guards, aka the Beefeaters, 22 year veterans of another branch of the military, specially trained and selected. Our fellow said that instead of yelling at recruits, he now yelled at tourists.
The EIIR means that he is considered a member of the Royal household. This is the 'Bloody Tower', prison of the elect. It was considered an honer to be here, not in the common gaol. Only six were executed on the grounds of the castle, 3 of them Queens of Henry VIII. Sir Walter Raliegh had the temerity to die before the time set for the ax. We thought 'The Tower of London' refered to this, but it is really a castle complex, started in 1080 and the expansions essentially completed in the 1200's.
There was a fire that destroyed the area where the Crown Jewels are now kept in the 19th century, so that was rebuilt, and Queen Victoria had the moat drained when the Thames which filled it stunk too much,
after the efficient sewage system dumped untreated waste directly. The southwest corner of the inner yard still serves as a Royal abode, preferred much of the time over the Parliament imposed Buckingham, with a view of the Thames. Another part of this middle wall
served as this residential area one way or another since the 13th century. Here a section is restored to show the height of royal living back then. The original 1080 central towers housed the armory for centuries, and now an exhibition of the various Kings' various armor. It was not even close to handicap accessible. There was a two-story Norman chapel in one corner with barrel vaults and an absolutely protestant bare-walled restraint - maybe just not 'restored'. The Royal family frequently used The Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula, in the northwest corner of the inner yard, for worship and weddings – this one, the day after the
Big One, may have been for the family of a Beefeater or other staff. After all the squat toilets in
India and, less frequently, in Turkey, it was nice to see the 1080 Medieval Royal with its proper seat – the model for western out-houses from then on, no doubt.
Having traversed the Tower Gateway to the Tower Hill stations, a short walk to change metro trains, several times now, we have seen the Tower of London in several lights, here with the significant remains of a Roman wall. Now is time to enter. After ticketing,
we are greeted by chicken wire lions (is that a mixed metaphor?), representing the original guardians of the moat and origin of the castle's menagerie which became eventually, after a move, the London Zoo. Our guide is a member of Her Majesties Royal Yeomen of the Guards, aka the Beefeaters, 22 year veterans of another branch of the military, specially trained and selected. Our fellow said that instead of yelling at recruits, he now yelled at tourists. 
The EIIR means that he is considered a member of the Royal household. This is the 'Bloody Tower', prison of the elect. It was considered an honer to be here, not in the common gaol. Only six were executed on the grounds of the castle, 3 of them Queens of Henry VIII. Sir Walter Raliegh had the temerity to die before the time set for the ax. We thought 'The Tower of London' refered to this, but it is really a castle complex, started in 1080 and the expansions essentially completed in the 1200's.
There was a fire that destroyed the area where the Crown Jewels are now kept in the 19th century, so that was rebuilt, and Queen Victoria had the moat drained when the Thames which filled it stunk too much, 
after the efficient sewage system dumped untreated waste directly. The southwest corner of the inner yard still serves as a Royal abode, preferred much of the time over the Parliament imposed Buckingham, with a view of the Thames. Another part of this middle wall
served as this residential area one way or another since the 13th century. Here a section is restored to show the height of royal living back then. The original 1080 central towers housed the armory for centuries, and now an exhibition of the various Kings' various armor. It was not even close to handicap accessible. There was a two-story Norman chapel in one corner with barrel vaults and an absolutely protestant bare-walled restraint - maybe just not 'restored'. The Royal family frequently used The Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula, in the northwest corner of the inner yard, for worship and weddings – this one, the day after the 
India and, less frequently, in Turkey, it was nice to see the 1080 Medieval Royal with its proper seat – the model for western out-houses from then on, no doubt.
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