The Tower of London: Past and Present

by Geoffrey Parnell

The Tower of London is one of Britain’s premier ancient monuments and tourist attractions. Until the 19th-century, however, the Tower was a collection of self-contained communities: as well as a royal residence, it housed the Menagerie, the Record Office, the Board of Ordnance, and the Royal Mint. During the 19th century, most of these bodies withdrew, older buildings were repaired, and more recent ones were demolished as part of a program to make the Tower resemble a medieval castle once again. The Crown Jewels and the Armories were both re-displayed, creating a magnet for visitors. Many previously unpublished images, taken between 1850 and 1950, have been included in order to provide, for the first time, a valuable record of the remarkable transformations which have shaped the Tower of London on view today.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1994

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is sparse on text, but very heavy on really wonderful photograghes comparing the Tower of 1997 to the Tower of the 1800s. Included are pictures of buildings that were pulled down or bombed. A nice overview and a must for any lover of the Tower.

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the recent pictures are as fuzzy as the pictures from the 19th century which is a but disappointing. Showing then and now side-by-side was very interesting.