The Tower of London: an ancient monument on paper​

The White Tower has stood at the heart of the Tower of London for over 900 years. ​This drawing depicts one of the four turrets that give the Norman castle its iconic outline.

The cupolas (domes) were added in 1532, in preparation for the coronation of Queen Anne Boleyn.​

Look at how carefully the draughtsman has drawn the roof structure beneath the dome...​

By the 1850s, the Tower had become severely overcrowded, with modern buildings obscuring historic parts of the castle, such as the Beauchamp Tower.

The Tower's authorities called on architect Anthony Salvin to restore the Beauchamp Tower so that it could be opened up to visitors, in response to growing interest in the historic graffiti carved into its walls by former prisoners.

Unfortunately, the identity of the person who created this drawing is unknown as it is not signed.

Drawings made for the Office of Works – the government department that was responsible for public buildings and ancient monuments – often remain anonymous. We can only speculate about who made many of these beautiful artworks.

The restoration of the Tower begun by Salvin in the 1850s continued throughout the second half of the 19th century.​

The new elements were meant to be more in keeping with the Tower's architecture than the 'modern' features which had been added in the recent past.​

In this drawing the draughtsman has used a historical style of lettering to invoke the Tower's ancient pedigree and add legitimacy to the proposal.

This charming proposal for a teahouse takes its inspiration from the timber-framed buildings of the Tudor period, of which the King's House in the Tower is an important surviving example.​

Although the design was approved, the teahouse was never built. The proposal was postponed until after the First World War, and eventually a new refreshment room was constructed in 1935.

The King's House was built in 1540 and is one of the most important timber-framed buildings in London, having escaped the Great Fire of 1666.​

One of the main attractions for visitors is the Crown Jewels, which have been housed securely at the Tower for centuries.

This top security showcase was designed by famed locksmiths, Chubb & Sons. Security was stepped up following the theft of the Irish Crown Jewels from Dublin Castle and the presentation of the Cullinan diamond to King Edward VII by the Transvaal government.

The gift symbolised the healing relationship between Britain and South Africa following the South African Wars.

Yeoman Warders have played an important role in protecting the Crown Jewels and guarding prisoners at the Tower for more than five centuries.​

This drawing shows four alternative designs for new sentry boxes.​

The Tower of London came under attack repeatedly during the Second World War. This survey records the locations of bomb strikes between September and December 1940.​

Several parts of the Tower sustained damage during the Blitz, including the Hospital Block, the Main Guard, and the former Master of the Assay Office in the Outer Ward.

The North Bastion was completely destroyed. Two of its occupants – Lily Lunn and Yeoman Warder Samuel Reeves – were killed as a result of the attack

The Main Guard replaced an earlier guardhouse to the south west of the White Tower. Built in 1898-1900, it contained offices, stores, lecture rooms and recreation areas for the Tower’s garrison.

The building incorporated a medieval wall (shown here in grey) that was built in the 13th century as part of the Tower’s defences. The wall was opened to public view again after the Main Guard was  demolished in 1944, having been severely damaged during the Blitz.

This is one of a set of four drawings which show the Main Guard in plan, section and elevation. The support is drafting linen - a durable material that was used until the middle of the 20th century.