THE TOWER OF LONDON, England
Few castles have such a grisly histor y as this famous London landmark. Built as a defensive stronghold in 1066, the Tower has ser ved variously as an armoury, a treasur y, a menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a public record office and the home of the Crown Jewels of England. However, its most infamous use was that of a prison, and if you were sent to the Tower in disgrace – par ticularly in the 16th and 17th centuries – you’d be lucky to get out alive. It wasn’t just celebrities who’d be shouting “get me out of here” before meeting their fate on nearby Tower Hill. The Tower’s dark cells were home to both rich and poor. It is one of London’s most popular attractions par ticularly for its display of the Crown Jewels. These are housed in the Jewel House and include 23,578 gemstones, the 800-year-old Coronation Spoon, St Edward’s Crown (worn during all coronations at Westminster Abbey) and the Imperial State Crown. Although there are no humans in residence, there are some feathered inhabitants. At least six ravens are kept at the Tower at all times, in accordance with the belief that if they are absent, the crown of Great Britain will fall.