The Tower of London Plans to Turn Its Moat Into a ‘Green Classroom’ and Show Off Its Architecture Archives in a Major Renovation
The landmark, nearly a millennium old, has housed kings, hosted royal executions and safeguarded Britain’s crown jewels. New education centers aim to invite more people to learn about that history
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The Tower of London may soon be getting a makeover.
Historic Royal Palaces, the nonprofit that manages the site, has launched a new “Tomorrow’s Tower” initiative that aims to make the landmark more accessible to students, researchers and community members. Fundraising is already underway for the multiyear project, with $27 million (£20 million) donated or pledged so far toward the $94 million (£70 million) proposal.
“The Tower of London should be a place of learning, discovery and connection for everyone, and Tomorrow’s Tower is our long‑term commitment to making that happen,” John Barnes, chief executive of Historic Royal Palaces, says in a statement.
Historic Royal Palaces hopes to create two new, fully accessible facilities, designed by Jamie Fobert Architects, to allow the Tower of London to host up to 200,000 students each year, up from the 125,000 it currently accommodates. School and community groups will start their visit at the new Weston Learning & Community Center, located on the Wharf, where they will find hands-on learning spaces, a courtyard and a community room and be able to participate in workshops led by costumed presenters. The three-story Julia Rausing Learning Center, which is being built in the historic Waterloo Block, will have spaces designed to support youth and community projects, digital programs, live broadcasts and professional development for teachers.
The Julia Rausing Learning Center will also house the new Archive Study Center. For the first time, visitors will be able to explore more than 25,000 drawings spanning more than 200 years of design, building and conservation work at the tower and other landmarks: Kensington Palace, Hampton Court Palace, Kew Palace, the Banqueting House and Hillsborough Castle & Gardens. Visitors will be able to see and study original architectural designs, working drawings, presentation plans, archaeological surveys, historical reconstructions and records of major conservation projects.
“Opening access to these drawings will reveal the stories behind the buildings themselves—from ambitious restoration campaigns and archaeological discoveries to the day-to-day conservation work that has ensured their survival,” Vanessa Hodge, head of records for Historic Royal Palaces, tells the Art Newspaper’s Joe Ware.
While the collection spans the early 19th century through the early 21st century, Hodges says its “greatest strength” is its wealth of 20th-century conservation plans, surveys and technical drawings. This selection will allow visitors to explore “how these historic sites were studied, adapted and protected in the modern era,” she says.
Officials also hope to transform the tower’s moat into a new “green classroom" that will offer hands-on learning opportunities related to biodiversity, climate, history and the natural world.
Did you know? London’s first zoo
The Tower of London was home to London’s first zoo—a royal menagerie that housed lions, a polar bear, an elephant and other creatures from around the world.
The planned renovations are just the latest chapter in the Tower of London’s long history. Located on the River Thames in London, the landmark has stood for nearly 1,000 years. Commissioned by William I shortly after the Norman Conquest in 1066 C.E., the fortress began with the construction of the White Tower and gradually expanded into the sprawling castle complex seen today.
Over the centuries, it has served as a royal palace, military stronghold, prison, mint, armory and treasury, and it was the site of some of England’s most famous imprisonments and executions. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988, the landmark is one of Britain’s most popular attractions, drawing visitors with its centuries of history, iconic “Beefeater” guards and dazzling crown jewels.
Last year, archaeologists completed the first major excavation at the Tower of London in more than 30 years. While a new elevator was being installed, researchers dug beneath the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula, which was constructed between 1519 and 1520 under Henry VIII and serves as the final resting place for several famous historical figures who were imprisoned and executed at the tower.
Archaeologists found what appears to be a mass grave from the 14th century, possibly full of victims from the Black Death, the bubonic plague that ravaged England starting in 1348. They also unearthed a variety of artifacts, including rare charcoal pots, sewing needles, cannon balls, stained glass, a ring and a pendant, as well as the foundations of the original 13th-century building that stood at the site.
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