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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Tower of London
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(EC3) Fortress built just outside the city walls of London, to dominate rather than protect the citizens. Begun just after the Norman *Conquest and completed by the 13C=, it symbolized the royal power. Political prisoners were held here or were executed on the nearby Tower Hill (women, such as *Anne Boleyn or *Catherine Howard, were more likely to be executed within the Tower). The so-called Traitors' Gate, a broad low arch under St Thomas's Tower, was the main entrance from the river and therefore the place of arrival for any prisoner brought down by water from Westminster.
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Since 1303 the *crown jewels have been kept in the Tower and for 600 years, up to the 19C, lions were on show in the Royal Menagerie. The central keep (the original fortress, known as the White Tower) for centuries housed the *Royal Armouries. The yeoman warders, established by *Edward VI and still wearing Tudor costume, are commonly known as 'beefeaters'. *James I was the last monarch to occupy the Tower as a palace.
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