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The Refortification of the Tower of London 1679–86
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 November 2011
Summary
Between 1679 and 1686 the Office of Ordnance sought to strengthen and modernize the defences of the Tower and to reorganize the accommodation of the garrison within. Rather than undertaking a massive programme of reconstruction, the Office simply equipped many of the existing, essentially medieval, defences with artillery platforms, though on the north-west and south-east corners of the outer enceinte a considerable amount of rebuilding was carried out. Despite the compromising nature of much of the work, these measures represent the last major attempt to refortify the castle. By 1714, however, the greater part of the improvements was deemed worthless and in the following year artillery reductions were set in motion.
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- Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1983
References
NOTES
1 Kingsford, C. L. (ed.), Survey of London, I (1908), p. 59.Google Scholar
2 Copy of communication in the possession of the Inspectorate of Ancient Monuments.
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6 Op. cit., note 2.
7 WO51/7, ff. 158 and 169.
8 WO51/8, f. 23.
9 WO51/9, f. 22. Previously the moat seems never to have been walled in a single operation, Instead, separate sections were erected at various points over the years. This unsatis-factory condition was compounded by encroachments along the counterscarp, which saw some of the walling undermined by the digging of allotments and other works. In addition to slippages of earth caused by this activity, there was a general tendency for people living in the vicinity to regard the moat as a convenient rubbish dump. As a consequence certain areas silted up very rapidly; this in turn interfered with the flow of water around the fortress and reduced its depth to something less than an effective defence (cf. Hatfield House, C.P. 119, f. 160).
10 WO51/12, ff. 146–8 and 157; WO51/13, ff. 55,.37,.46,.55,.79 and 100; WO51/14, f. 55; WO51/17, f. 4.
11 WO51/22, ff. 113–16.
12 Ibid., f. 168.
13 It is worth noting that the accounts strongly indicate the presence of a basement in this building (presumably medieval), which by now must lie concealed beneath the ground floor.
14 WO51/22, ff. 100–1.
15 Ibid., ff. 163–7.
16 G. Parnell, op. cit. (note 5), 149.
17 WO51/22, f. 145.
18 WO47/9, f. 7.
19 Formerly called the ‘Lyon Gate’ (see WORK 31/21), this had protected the now partly concealed causeway leading to the barbican.
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23 WO55/469.
24 WO47/13, f. 21; WO51/27, ff. 98 and 177.
25 WO47/12, f. 33.
26 WO47/13, f. 128.
27 WO51/27, f. 148.
28 WO47/13, f. 43.
29 Ibid., f. 8; WO51/27, ff. 116–17.
30 WO51/27, f. 20.
31 WO51/27, ff. 210–13.
32 WORK 31/793.
33 WO51/26, f. 211.
34 WO51/27, f. 21.
35 Ibid., f. 57.
36 Ibid., f. 21.
37 WO51/26, f. 209; WO51/27, f. 97.
38 WO51/26, ff. 208–9; WO51/27, ff. 57–9.
39 WO51/27, f. 20.
40 WO47/13, ff. 8–9; WO51/27, ff. 116–17.
41 WO47/13, f. 10. WO51/27, ff. 75–6.
42 WO47/13, f. 25.
43 Ibid., f. 59; WO51/26, ff. 208–9.
44 WO51/27, f. 105.
45 The passage cut through by the Martin Tower is probably that referred to in WO51/27, f. 76. That next to the Devereux Tower certainly appears to have been formed and is probably that shown on a plan dated 1692 (O/31 1253, Ancient Monuments Historic Plans Room).
46 WO51/27, f. 130.
47 WO47/I3, ff. 34 and 75.
48 Ibid., f. 18.
49 WO47/15, f. 88; WO51/36, ff. 4, 67–8 and 77.
50 WO47/13, f. 34.
51 Ibid., f. 21.
52 WO47/13, f. 127; WO51/27, ff. 198–9.
53 WO55/470, p. 268.
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55 Numerous entries listed in WO47/12–13 and WO51/26–27.
56 S.P. 29. 429/207, ff. 379–85 and Calendar of State Papers (Domestic Series) July-Sept. 1683, pp. 229–30.
57 Stowe MS. 477, f. 18.
58 WO55/346, p. 170.
59 Ibid., p. 169.