Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

St Thomas Tower
Hob Uid: 1099844
Location : Greater London Authority Tower Hamlets Non Civil Parish
Grid Ref : TQ3354380474
Summary : St Thomas Tower at the Tower of London was built between 1275 and 1285 as a state entrance and apartments. It comprises a 2 storey oblong tower with projecting turrets to southern angles. The entrance was originally by boat via a water-filled basin beneath the tower. In the Tudor period the timber framing was removed and rebuilt and 3 great oriel windows inserted in the north front. The building was heavily framed to take the weight of guns. In 1533 the tower was improved and re-vamped to accommodate Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn the night before her coronation. In 1681 a large gun platform was added. In 1862 the building had become dilapidated and needed to be shored up. It had been used as accommodation for the Keeper of the Engine, a number of Yeoman Warders and patients of the infirmary. In 1864-1866 it was extensively restored by Anthony Salvin, the exterior was refaced, battlements and turrets re-set and the oriel windows were recreated in their original positions. The tower became the residence of the Jewel House Keeper (when the jewels were housed in the adjacent Wakefield Tower) and later the Deputy Governor of the Tower of London.
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Source Number : 1
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Page(s) : 38-40,55-6,58,63,75,77,84,101
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : DOE Greater London, Stepney
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : built 1275-1285
Monument End Date : 1285
Monument Start Date : 1275
Monument Type : Tower
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Alterations
Monument End Date : 1533
Monument Start Date : 1533
Monument Type : Tower
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Post Medieval
Monument End Date : 1901
Monument Start Date : 1540
Monument Type : Tower, Official Residence, Gun Emplacement
Evidence : Extant Building

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External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TQ 38 SW 1506
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Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1958-01-01
End Date : 1959-12-31

Historic England Research Records

St Thomas Tower