This Tower, As Now Encompassed, Stands Upon Twelve Acres Of Ground,
And Something More, Being Of An Irregular Form, But
Approaching near
to that of an oblong, one of the longest sides lying next the river,
from whence it rises
Gradually towards the north, by a pretty deep
ascent, to the armoury, which stands upon the highest ground in the
Tower, overlooking the White Tower built by William the Conqueror,
and the remains of the castle below it on the Thames side, said to
be built by William Rufus.
As to the strength of the place, the works being all antique, would
not be able to hold out four-and-twenty hours against an army
prepared for a siege: the ditch indeed is of a great depth, and
upwards of a hundred feet broad, into which the water of the Thames
may be introduced at pleasure; but I question whether the walls on
the inside would bear the firing of their own guns: certain it is,
two or three battering-pieces would soon lay them even with the
ground, though, after all, the ditch alone is sufficient to defend
it against a sudden assault. There are several small towers upon
the walls; those of the largest dimensions, and which appear the
most formidable, are the Divelin Tower, on the north-west; and the
Martin Tower on the north-east; and St. Thomas's Tower on the river
by Traitor's Bridge; which I take to be part of the castle said to
be built by William Rufus. There is also a large tower on the
outside the ditch, called the Lions' Tower, on the south-west
corner, near which is the principal gate and bridge by which coaches
and carriages enter the Tower; and there are two posterns with
bridges over the ditch to the wharf on the Thames side, one whereof
is called Traitor's Bridge, under which state prisoners used to
enter the Tower.
The principal places and buildings within the Tower, are (1) The
parochial church of St. Peter (for the Tower is a parish of itself,
in which are fifty houses and upwards, inhabited by the governor,
deputy-governor, warders, and other officers belonging to the
fortress).
(2) To the eastward of the church stands a noble pile of building,
usually called the armoury, begun by King James II. and finished by
King William III., being three hundred and ninety feet in length,
and sixty in breadth: the stately door-case on the south side is
adorned with four columns, entablature and triangular pediment, of
the Doric order. Under the pediment are the king's arms, with
enrichments of trophy-work, very ornamental. It consists of two
lofty rooms, reaching the whole length of the building: in the
lower room is a complete train of artillery, consisting of brass
cannon and mortars fit to attend an army of a hundred-thousand men;
but none of the cannon I observe there were above four-and-twenty
pounders; the large battering-pieces, which carry balls of thirty-
two and forty-eight pounds weight, I perceive, are in the king's
store-houses at Deptford, Woolwich, Chatham, and Portsmouth.
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