Drawn Into History By Roisin Inglesby (03-05), curator of architectural drawings, Historic Royal Palaces Above: Roisin Inglesby presenting architectural drawings to a group of visitors. Copyright Wienerberger Ltd Below: Architectural drawing showing the re-medievalisation of the Tower of London in the 1880s. Copyright Historic Royal Palaces
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t would be hard to find a more atmospheric place to work than the Tower of London. Once all the visitors have gone for the evening I leave my office and walk through the shadow of the White Tower, built by William the Conqueror in the 1070s. I walk past the execution spot on Tower Green, believed to be where Anne Boleyn lost her head, and through the vaulted arch of the Bloody Tower, prison to Sir Walter Raleigh and, legend has it, the unfortunate Princes in the Tower. In the winter months I make this journey in the dark and it is by turns beautiful, awe-inspiring, and slightly creepy. This is not to say that the Tower is deserted after dark. The site has continually served as a home to many for over 900 years and this tradition is maintained by the present community of Yeoman Warders (better known as Beefeaters), who live within the walls. There are also army barracks on site, all that remains of the Tower’s important military function — it was until the 19th Century the home of the Board of Ordnance, which supplied munitions and equipment to the Army and Navy. In its long history the Tower has also served as a palace for generations of kings and queens, the Public Records Office, a safe house for the Crown Jewels, and the Royal Mint. In comparison with its thousand-year history, I have only been at the Tower for a very short time indeed. In May 2015, I took up the position of curator of architectural drawings for Historic Royal Palaces, the organisation which cares for the Tower, Hampton Court, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace, and the Banqueting House in
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