After hours tour of the Tower of London

I have been to the Tower many times now, although fortunately always as a visitor and never a prisoner. It is a place I admire greatly. Originally built as a castle and a fortress for William the Conqueror, it was meant to represent his lasting legacy on Saxon Britain. In a way it overreached his ambition and has since become a iconic monument to British culture and nationhood.

When I went to visit the Tower on this occasion, it was on a private tour arranged by my Grandmother. The main benefit to an after hours tour is that the Tower is empty and you have the whole of the grounds to yourself. In an odd way, it feels as though it all belongs to you and you are filled with gratitude to have so much history at your fingertips. We were very lucky visitors and I am fortunate that my Grandmother knows the right people.

The Tower is an ancient castle bounded in on all sides by a very in a modern city. During the reign of Henry VIII it was used as a prison and many people have been confined within its walls. When one looks around the castle you cannot help but think upon the executions which took place on the Green within the Tower's walls. I think the most interesting of these was the execution of Anne Boleyn in 1553. In these times, the common folk were beheaded by axe, which was a messy business. Royal blood, however, was spilled by the sword. Hence why Henry brought over a special swordsman from France to behead his wife.

For me, the most fascinating execution for treason is not of royal blood but is equally famous; in fact we remember him every November. He is of course the notorious Guy Fawkes. Many visitors do not associate Guy Fawkes (1605) with the Tower of London. Yet when he tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament he was kept as a prisoner there.

General Nick Borton, who was our tour guide, had previously been a cavalry officer and seen action in Iraq. It is through these experiences that he came to become good friends with my father who was also in the army. General Borton was an inspirational tour guide, telling us all about each room's function, as well as its history. In 2015 General Nick Borton was the minister of Overseas Defence, so it is apt that he now works at the Tower, being in the right place to imprison any agitants in its dungeons.

As head of the Yeomen Warders General Nick Borton is therefore the main protector of the Crown Jewels. Like General Borton, all Yeomen Warders are ex-soldiers who have served in the military. They have to fulfil a strict amount of criteria in order to be allowed to apply to become Warders. However, once they pass these obstacles the Warders main purpose is to be tour guides to the public.

The Warders are not the only guardians of the the Tower of London; there are the ghosts too and, of course, the ravens. There are seven resident ravens which live in the Tower of London. They have a dedicated Yeoman to look after them called the Ravenmaster.

I have been lucky enough to have seen the Crown Jewels in person, and I almost felt like a king I was so close. The original ones were lost under King John I in the Wash, and their replacements were melted down in the time of Oliver Cromwell as he took a dislike to anything connected to the Monarch. However the new ones are amazing, so it is perhaps not such a bad thing that the older iterations disappeared.

I was particularly taken by the diamonds, which have always hypnotised me as they are like shining stars. Some people say they are a women's best friend, however, if one has seen the film Blood Diamond one also realises that many who own diamonds, particularly old ones, have blood on their hands. Even the Crown Jewels have a a dark past.

When one is up close to the Crown Jewels it really is a privilege, especially when you have one of the museum stewards telling you all the history. I learnt about the Cullinan Diamond which is the size of 3,106 carat diamonds. This was split into several smaller diamonds, one of which is on the Imperial State Crown. What a item to wear on your head. Apparently the Queen has to practise wearing the Crown before coronation day. The other Crown that which really stood out for me was the Crown of St Edward, which the Queen has not worn since 1953; the day of her coronation.

The Tower is filled to the brim with English history, it was particularly amazing to see Traitor's Gate in the after hours tour as it is usually surrounded by tourists. General Borton mentioned that he even had one American ask why the Tower of London had been built underneath Heathrow fly pass. With this in mind, I was pleased to have Traitor's Gate all to myself. The legend goes that once you passed through the gate and into the Tower, you would never be able to leave again. Fortunately I was able to leave and took with my many fond memories of our private tour.