The Ghosts of the Tower of London
photo taken from richard-seaman.com
Ancient. Torture. Jewelry. Those three words can best explain the Tower of London. Located in London, England on the north bank of the River Thames, the Tower of London is considered to be the most haunted place in England and among the top haunted places in the world. Within these towers lies the death of many victims, innocent and guilty.
In 1078, William the Conqueror ordered the building of the White Tower to protect London from outside invaders. The tower soon became a fortress, a royal palace, and a prison. Countless victims were sent to the Tower under the monarchy to suffer extreme pain and death through torture and starvation. Some of these victims were even members of the Royal Family themselves. Anne Boleyn and Sir Thomas Moore were innocent victims sentenced to death by King Henry VIII simply for one purpose: his longing to bear a son. Anne Boleyn could not give him one and Sir Thomas Moore refused to pledge his allegiance to the King in his pursuit of a divorce with Queen Catherine of Aragon. King after King would use the Tower of London as a place to get rid of their disloyal subjects.
The Tower has also been a residency for ravens for many centuries. Legend has it that if the ravens were to leave the Tower of London, the Kingdom and the monarchy would fall. As of November 2006, there are nine ravens at the Tower of London. They are cared for by a raven-master at the Tower.
The Tower of London is also the holding place of the Crown Jewels, which denotes the vestments regalia worn by the sovereign of the United Kingdom during the coronation ceremony.
The Tower of London is said to be haunted by the ghost of Queen Anne Boleyn who was beheaded in 1536 for treason against King Henry VIII. She has allegedly been spotted haunting the chapel she had been buried in, St. Peter-ad-Vincula, walking around carrying her decapitated head. Other ghosts include Lady Jane Gray, a grandniece of King Henry VIII, who ruled for the shortest time in England’s history, nine days. Margaret Pole, King Henry VI of England, and the princes of the Tower are among other ghosts who have allegedly been seen haunting this ancient tower.
The Tower of London is a place of darkness, treachery, and death. It’s shocking to see how such a building that lasted through so many monarchs and so many painful memories can still be standing today.
As Halloween is coming, the ghosts all over the world are ready to make trouble. Recently, a letter from TripAdvisor show me several routines for the ghost walk. There have the bus tour in Dublin, Ireland; the Original Ghost Lantern Walking Tour in Quebec City, Canada; the Explore in London, UK and other ghost tours take place in Rome, Sydney, and Oahu and so on. It seems like all the famous cities have famous ghost stories. Would you take part in these trips? And what is your favorite ghost story?
If I could talk to the ghost, the first place in my dream places list would be London. I would like to walk in the Tower of London and try my best to find the ghosts of two princes. They must be lonely as staying in the tower all by themselves for so many years. What would they look like? Would they have the adults’ thoughts in the children’s body? I am so exciting and anxious to talk to them. Maybe for hundreds of years, they just sing the nursery rhymes their mother taught them in the tower. Would they like the toys children have nowadays? What would they do with the shining flexible rubber wristbands? I am so curious.
Also I want to talk to Lady Jane Grey, the 16 years old queen. Her life was short but I believe that it could be wonderful. Although she is famous as the “Nine Day Queen”, but I think that the story she wants to tell us is not about the short period of domination. The 16th year could be the most amazing year in our life. We expected the Prince Charming and the perfect love visit us at that time. Maybe in Lady Jane Grey’s heart, there was someone more important than the crown and the country.
With the swaying lights of candles, in the dark castle, the ghosts are giggle or whimpering anywhere around you. Wind blows through the doors or windows and makes the strange noise. Ghosts are trying to talk to you now.