The King's Tower

The King's Tower was a strongly fortified but comfortable residence. Accounts show that the present tower was built around 1300 and King Edward II took a keen interest in the building work. The Constable of the Castle, appointed to run the Castle for the King, had chambers on the ground floor. The main chamber on the 1st floor had four rooms leading off it, including the garderobe or toilet which still has its original toilet shaft., The first floor was the King's Chamber or the King's Hall. At one end was a raised dais with a throne niche. To one side was a large window with detailed tracery. The room was lined on either side with low stone benches. A spiral stair connected this grand interior to a bedchamber. Opening off it was a small chapel, above the entrance lobby of the tower and this is where the portcullises controlling the entrance were operated from., The foundations of an earlier tower were found during excavations in 1990. In this earlier tower in 1210, the first Royal Maundy took place when King John gave clothes, forks and food to the poor. Today the present monarch gives coins in a leather purse to deserving people on the Thursday before Good Friday, which is known as Maundy Thursday., The lowest level of the tower was the dungeon accessed by an external staircase. This was a secure place for storing supplies, but also served as a prison in later times. The dungeon's central column with rib vaults is very unusual., The King's Tower is open during the spring/summer season., (Left) How a banquet held in the King's Chamber might have looked when Edward III and his wife, Queen Philippa, visited the castle in 1333.