Underrated Ghost Stories And Mythical Creatures All Over The World: Seventeenth Stop – London, England  

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Underrated Ghost Stories And Mythical Creatures All Over The World: Seventeenth Stop – London, England  

Aside from the famous rhyme “London Bridge Is Falling Down,” being the hometown of David Bekcham, the area where Big Ben will be found, fish and chips, the Beatles, Red Buses, and tea, London is also famous for the Tower of London –which is actually one of the most haunted places in the capital of England.

The Tower of London

The Tower of London. (Link: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/travel/article/the-smart-guide-visit-tower-of-london/)

History Of The Tower Of London

The Tower of London was built by William The Conqueror back in the 1070s. He built it after he succeeded from defeating its warring counterpart but because he was scared of rebellion, he constructed the Tower of London. The tower took around 20 years to build and stones from Caen in France were used to construct it.

William The Conqueror built the Tower of London

William The Conqueror built the Tower of London. (Link: https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/history-and-stories/the-story-of-the-tower-of-london/)

It was his fortress and many people were in awe as to how great the stone tower was. It was regarded as the most secure castle in London so it guarded the royal possessions and housed royal families during war or rebellion. To this day, Crown Jewels are being guarded by soldiers at the Tower of London. Also, arms and armors were stored and made inside the tower until the 1800s and the money was produced at the Mint Tower until the 1810.

One of the Crown Jewels inside the Tower of London

One of the Crown Jewels inside the Tower of London. (Link: https://u.osu.edu/dangelo69hseportfolio/2016/01/14/the-crown-jewels-at-the-tower-of-london/)

After almost 1,000 years since it was built, many people still visit the Tower of London. People visit it for a number of reasons – the Ceremony of the Keys, wherein the locking and unlocking of the tower is done through a ceremony, and other traditions still take place but more so because of the stories about torture and execution thus the tower being haunted by these unsilenced souls. Most people who were tortured and executed at the Tower of London were the enemies and rivals of kings and queens.

The Ravens At The Tower Of London

The Tower of London is also surrounded by the legend of the ravens. Accordingly, when the Ravens decide to leave the Tower, it will be the fall of the tower and the Kingdom. Today, seven Ravens live at the tower and it is being cared for by a guard called the Ravenmaster. These Ravens actually have one flight feather trimmed so they will surely not fly away from the tower.

A Raven at the Tower of London

A Raven at the Tower of London. (Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-45576051)

The Deaths At The Tower Of London

Although the Tower of London was known for how mighty it was and how it secured the royal possessions and royal families, many stories about deaths inside the tower also made rounds. Accordingly, during the Wars of the Roses, Henry VI was killed there.

Henry VI was killed at the Tower of London

Henry VI was killed at the Tower of London. (Link: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-VI-king-of-England)

That was during the year 1471. In 1483, the children of Henry VI’s rival, Edward IV, also reportedly vanished one night while they were inside the castle and were never seen again. By 1674, two skeletons were found at the Tower and after thorough examination, they reportedly belonged to two boys aged 10 and 12. These were the ages of the princes when they disappeared so it is believed that the kids of Edward IV were murdered.

The princes at the Tower of London

The princes at the Tower of London. (Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princes_in_the_Tower)

Another death pertained to Anne Boleyn. She was accused of adultery and treason so she was executed with a sword on one of the towers at the Tower of London.  Lady Jane Grey was also executed in one of the towers and was also accused of adultery and treason. However, Lady Jane Grey was later found out to have been a pawn in the plot in order for Mary I to replace her as the wife of Henry VIII. Both Boleyn and Grey were the wives of Henry VIII. The bodies of these Queens were buried without any ceremony at the Chapel.

Anne Boleyn was killed at the Tower of London

Anne Boleyn was killed at the Tower of London. (Link: https://twitter.com/society_anne)

Lady Jane Grey was also killed at the Tower of London

Lady Jane Grey was also killed at the Tower of London. (Link: https://guildhalllibrarynewsletter.wordpress.com/2017/07/07/lady-jane-grey-famous-trials-at-guildhall/)

The 72-year-old Countess of Salisbury was executed in 1541. However, her death was more tragic since she refused to put her head on the block when she was supposed to be beheaded. She tried to get away but was later caught by the executioner and she was hacked to death.

Elizabeth I died of starvation as she was imprisoned because she got married without Royal permission.

German spies were also reportedly taken to the Tower of London and were shot there. Anyone who was a threat to the national security was brought there and they were unaware of what would their fate be.

The Ghosts At The Tower Of London

If it were true that Boleyn and Grey really haunted the Tower of London, it might be understandable since they were victims of execution based on unfounded crimes. According to reports, Boleyn’s headless body is frequently spotted at the Tower’s corridors near where she was beheaded. Also, she was spotted leading a procession of Lords and Ladies towards her resting place under the altar as if saying she deserved a ceremony.

Grey, on the other hand, is frequently seen near a window. She reportedly had the habit of waving to children from that side of the tower when she was still alive.

The Countess of Salisbury reportedly returns to the tower during the anniversary of her death. She reenacts her grisly death.

The ghosts of the two princes who were murdered are also seen most of the time at the Tower of London. Often, they wear night gowns when they are seen and are holding hands. They reportedly have a look of terror on their faces and it is believed that they were running away from their killer.

In the White Tower, guards have claimed that there were inexplicable things that happen there. Some guards said that when they entered St. John’s Chapel, they smell a strong stench of perfume and it has made them gag and feel sick. Other guards shared that when they enter the gallery where the armors of Henry VIII stands, they feel a terrible crushing sensation. Such sensation goes away when they manage to leave the room.

Also, there were reports about the ghost of a bear. The Tower of London housed exotic animals in the past such as bears, lions, monkeys, and more. On January 1815, guards claimed that they saw a bear coming out of the Jewel Room. One of the guards threw his bayonet at the bear and said that it went straight through the apparition.

After reading about this haunted place, would you dare visit the Tower of London?

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