At the Tower (again)

RejsendeThis photo captures the Tower of London, one of the most iconic historic sites in all of England. A Brief Background: • Founded: In 1066 by William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings. • Function: Over the centuries, it has served as a royal palace, fortress, prison, treasury, armory, mint, and even a zoo. • Famous for: • Housing the Crown Jewels (which are still kept there today). • The imprisonment and execution of famous figures like Anne Boleyn, Thomas More, and Lady Jane Grey. • The Yeoman Warders (a.k.a. Beefeaters), who still live and work within the Tower. In the photo, you’re looking at the outer curtain wall and moat area (now grassy rather than water-filled), with parts of the White Tower (the central Norman keep) visible behind.

RejsendeThis striking photo shows another part of the Tower of London, and those sculpted lions are a nod to one of its most unusual chapters: when the Tower housed a royal menagerie. What You’re Seeing: • The sculptures: These life-size lions represent the exotic animals once kept at the Tower, especially lions, which became symbolic of royal power. • Location: The sculptures are positioned near the Lion Tower, the original entrance to the fortress, where cages for real lions once stood. • To the right: You can see the Middle Tower, one of the defensive gatehouses visitors pass through. A Quick History of the Tower Menagerie: • Began in the early 1200s under King John. • Included lions, leopards, an elephant, monkeys, and even a polar bear (which reportedly fished in the Thames on a leash!). • The menagerie lasted until 1835, when the animals were relocated to what is now London Zoo in Regent’s Park. This image beautifully combines the Tower’s military past with its lesser-known role as one of the earliest zoos in England.

RejsendeThis educational sign offers a rich summary of the River Thames, covering its natural history, wildlife, human use, and pollution challenges. Here are the key takeaways: ⸻ 🌍 Overview of the Thames • Origin: Begins at Thames Head in Gloucestershire. • End: Flows into the North Sea at the Thames Estuary. • Length: The longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the UK. • Tidal influence: Tidal up to Teddington Lock, with a rise/fall of 7 meters. • Tributaries: Over 20 tributaries and 80 islands. ⸻ 🐟 Wildlife Highlights • Fish: Over 125 species, including salmon, sea trout, bass, and eels. Fish have returned in large numbers since the river was declared biologically dead in 1957. • Birds: Many species like herons, kingfishers, ducks, swans, gulls, and cormorants. • Mammals: Otters, seals (especially near the estuary), and even porpoises have been spotted. • Invertebrates: Butterflies, worms, snails, freshwater shrimp—key indicators of a healthy river. • Amphibians: Common frog, newts, lizards. • Plants: Salt-tolerant and freshwater species like dock, gorse, sea lavender, and bulrushes. ⸻ 🧑‍🏭 Human Use • Teddington to Putney: Mainly used for rowing and recreation. • Putney to Estuary: A mix of capital operations—industrial, commercial, and commuter routes. • Estuary: Used by large sea-going ships and commercial vessels. ⸻ 🧪 Pollution • Historically very polluted, but major cleanups began in the 1960s. • Plastic waste, road runoff, and chemicals remain modern threats. • Thames receives 90% of London’s rainwater runoff, which often includes dirt and toxins. ⸻ 🏛️ History • The Thames was a prehistoric migration route and played a key role for the Romans. • Roman artifacts and even the remains of ancient animals have been found in the Thames mud. ⸻ 🐚 Fun Fact • Tideway Tunnel (under construction) aims to reduce sewage overflow into the Thames—one of Europe’s largest engineering projects for clean water.