The White Tower (2028 exams) Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

Where was the White Tower built, and when was it begun?

In the south-east corner of London's Roman walls, beside the Thames; begun c1078 on the site of William's earlier earth-and-timber castle.

Who oversaw the building of the White Tower for William I?

Gundulf, Bishop of Rochester.

What was the function of the White Tower?

A royal fortress and palace: a stronghold to dominate and control the people of London, and a secure residence for the king.

True or false? The White Tower was built entirely from English stone.

False. The walls are mostly Kentish ragstone, but the finer dressed stone was Caen stone shipped from Normandy, a display of Norman wealth and power.

Give one way the design of the White Tower displayed Norman power to the people of London.

Its huge scale — about 27m high with walls up to 4.6m thick — dominated the city's low timber buildings.

True or false? The White Tower was built in the Romanesque style, with rounded arches and thick walls.

True. Romanesque (Norman) design, seen in its rounded arches and the massive pillars of St John's Chapel, was the fashion the Normans brought from Normandy.