Misha Ewen, Curator of Inclusive History, reflects upon her research on the life of Edward Francis—an enslaved African man who lived at the Tower of London in the late seventeenth century. In the depth of winter, a sixteen-year-old African boy ran away from the household of Thomas Dymock, Keeper of the Lions, at the Tower of London. Apart from a notice that appeared in the London Gazette seeking the apprehension of this boy, who was enslaved by Dymock and wore a collar around his neck, there is no further record of him—not even his name. An artist’s illustration of Edward Francis, based o ..read more

This week marks the 731st anniversary of the Expulsion of the Jews from England in 1290, when the Jewish population of England were forced to convert or go into exile by Edward I. Over 1,400 Jewish people left from the wharf outside the Tower of London, ending a century of Jewish imprisonment, sanctuary, and employment in the castle. A new research project at Historic Royal Palaces has been investigating the Tower’s medieval Jewish history, creating biographies for over 200 Jewish people connected with the site. Postdoctoral researcher Rory MacLellan and Heritage Management MA student Lydia Mc ..read more

Last month saw the public launch of Historic Royal Palace’s new research project investigating the Jewish workers, prisoners, and refugees of the medieval Tower of London. A catalogue of archival sources and a dataset of the biographies of hundreds of Jewish people who stayed at the Tower are now available on the HRP website. Postdoctoral researcher Rory MacLellan reflects upon the research process and the significance of these new resources. Little remains above ground of medieval England’s two-hundred-year Jewish history. Unlike elsewhere in Europe, there are no surviving medieval synagogues ..read more

February is LGBT+ History Month in the UK, which aims to increase the visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT+) people through the exploration of their history and stories. Collections Curator Matthew Story explores one such story. This blog post explores themes of mental health problems and suicide, and of prejudice against an LGBT+ person. On Friday 9th June 1916, during World War I, a fashionably dressed figure appeared at Highgate Magistrates Court. They wore a richly braided long blue coat, white kid gloves, and a college cap style hat with a veil. A wig and a well made-up fa ..read more

Today sees the publication of the 1921 Census of England and Wales. The census is usually taken every 10 years, most recently in March 2021*, and it records information about every household in the country – including the royal palaces. In this blog, Archivist and Curator, Tom Drysdale looks at some of the remarkable insights that historic census records provide about the past residents of the palaces. If you have ever watched an episode of Who Do You Think You Are? – or even carried out research into your own family history – you will know that the census is a key source for tracing the lives ..read more

On 17 December 1881, Anthony Salvin, the Victorian architect who began the transformation of the Tower of London in the 19th Century, died. In today’s blog, Archivist and Curator of Architectural Drawings Tom Drysdale introduces Salvin and looks at four drawings in HRP’s archives that shed a light on his work and legacy at the Tower. Restorer of castles Anthony Salvin, who died on this day in 1881, has been described as ‘the most successful restorer and purveyor of castles in the second half of the nineteenth century’. It was a reputation that he had earned even before he was appointed to over ..read more

It’s December and many of us will be rushing about looking for gifts for friends and family. Meanwhile, others may be treating themselves to a new outfit to mark the season. If that’s you, you’re in keeping with a medieval royal tradition. Curator Charles Farris tells us more. King Edward I (d. 1307) isn’t the first monarch which springs to mind when we think of Christmas. He’s much better known for waging war in Scotland and Wales, building huge castles (including expanding the Tower of London) and erecting the “Eleanor crosses” – monuments to his much-missed Queen Eleanor of Castile, who die ..read more

This weekend in 1605, the British government brought Guy Fawkes to the Tower of London. Curator Brett Dolman reflects on the Gunpowder Plot that almost succeeded in blowing up the Palace of Westminster during the early years of the reign of James I. This is a tale of the prejudice and persecution, terrorism and fear that haunted the country 400 years ago. Please be aware that this blog post contains references to torture that some people might find distressing. Guy Fawkes leaving a trail of gunpowder by George Cruikshank, c1841. © London Metropolitan Archives, City of London (COLLAGE: the Lond ..read more

It’s Halloween when people turn their attention to all things spooky and supernatural. With this in mind, Curator Alden Gregory explores one of the many ghost stories associated with the palaces in our care: the Tower of London’s Phantom Bear.  A Frightening Beginning “Oh and keep your eyes open for the bear; if you see the bear it’s likely that you’re about to die!” I’ll admit that those were not the words I was expecting to hear in my workplace induction when I first joined the team at the Tower of London, but then the Tower of London is not your normal workplace. I’d seen the magnifice ..read more