Throughout the years, the Tower of London, which is made up of several different towers, has served as a treasury, fortress, palace, as well as public records office. The Tower of London was designed by William the Conqueror and built in 1078, positioned in the east of London’s financial district, close to the River Thames and Tower Bridge.
What makes this building so interesting is that there are many tales regarding ghosts who make themselves known to the public at this location. These stories stem from the fact that the Tower of London frequently held executions and was a prison at one point, holding some of the more upper class offenders in its day, such as Elizabeth I. The last prisoner to stay in the Tower was Rudolf Hess, who served under Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party during World War II.
There have been many lives claimed at this Tower, including two of Henry VIII’s executed spouses, Catherine Howard and Anne Boleyn. Henry VI was also killed at this location in 1471. Lady Jane Grey, who was a great granddaughter of Henry VII and Robert Devereux, who was the Earl of Sussex, also lost their lives at the Tower. This is why the Tower of London is thought to be one of the most haunted locations within Britain because there have been many sightings of these individual’s ghosts.
During the 13th century, the ghost of Thomas Becket was sighted during the building of the Traitor’s Gate. Becket served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162-1170 and was assassinated by followers of King Henry II when they disagreed over the rights of the Church. A priest, who claimed to have seen the ghost strike the gate with a crucifix, reported the sighting. He then claimed that the gate fell shortly afterwards.
There have also been claims stating that ghosts of a 12-year-old King Edward V and his 9-year-old brother Richard Duke of York were sighted. They were supposedly encountered in the Bloody Tower where they appeared in white gowns.
There haven’t been any specific sightings of a ghost within the Salt Tower, but it is also deemed haunted because some claim that even dogs will not set foot within. When it comes to the Queen’s House, the ghost of Sir Walter Raleigh, who was a well-known writer, poet and spy, is said to claim this site as his haunting grounds. This spot is located close to where he was held as prisoner.
Another superstition regarding the Tower is that there have always been ravens residing within the Tower. There is a belief that if the ravens ceased to live within the Tower, that England would perish because of it.
Today, the Tower is an official unoccupied royal residence that serves more as a tourist attraction. Some of the visitors to this sight come in search of encountering a ghost within this haunted landmark. The history of the Tower is dotted with bloody tales of battle that are illustrated through the 40,000 or so artifacts that can be found in the Royal Armory.