Beauchamp Tower, Medieval tower at Tower of London, England
Beauchamp Tower is a stone structure within the inner defensive wall of the Tower of London, consisting of three separate floor levels that you can walk through. The rooms are accessible as part of the standard admission to the Tower of London.
Built between 1275 and 1281 during King Edward I's reign, the tower took its name from Thomas Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, its first prisoner. In the 1800s, Victorian architect Anthony Salvin carried out major repairs that restored medieval features while keeping the prisoner markings intact.
The walls display scratches and inscriptions left by prisoners over the centuries, including names and messages from notable inmates. These markings tell personal stories of people held here who wanted to leave their thoughts carved in stone.
The rooms are open year-round as part of standard Tower of London admission and you can visit them at your own pace. The stairs are narrow and tight, so go slowly if you are uncomfortable with confined spaces or climbing.
The walls contain not just simple scratches but carefully carved initials and coats of arms left by prisoners wanting to preserve their identity and status. Some inscriptions were executed with such care that they resemble detailed works of art.
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