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Lot Essay
The Tower of London was begun by King William I soon after the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and was added to by successive monarchs until King Edward I completed the outer wall, enclosing an area of 18 acres. Through the centuries it was used as a palace, prison and place of execution and has housed the royal armouries, the mint, the royal observatory and the Public Records. It still holds the Crown Jewels.
During the first few decades of the 19th century, it also housed a menagerie which had grown considerably to 59 different species under the guidance of the Royal Keeper Alfred Copps. Unfortunately, in 1835 one of his lions attacked some members of the garrison, and the animals were moved to the Zoological gardens.
There were no architectural changes to the Tower during the 19th century except to the moat which was drained in the 1840s when Waterloo Barracks were built on the site of the the old armouries.
During the first few decades of the 19th century, it also housed a menagerie which had grown considerably to 59 different species under the guidance of the Royal Keeper Alfred Copps. Unfortunately, in 1835 one of his lions attacked some members of the garrison, and the animals were moved to the Zoological gardens.
There were no architectural changes to the Tower during the 19th century except to the moat which was drained in the 1840s when Waterloo Barracks were built on the site of the the old armouries.