The old Palace at Westminster, although it may have suited the peaceful Edward to be close to his half-finished Abbey of Westminster and his beloved monks, was hardly a suitable residence for a warrior-king, whose foot was continually in the stirrup and his sword in hand.
Nor was he altogether confident or secure about the loyalty of London; he therefore began building a very strong fortress or castle, capable of resisting any siege, at the south eastern angle of the city, where a fortification had existed from very remote times, and surrounded it with a strong wall and very deep moat.
This still exists under the name of the White Tower, and with its subsequent additions is called "The Tower" to distinguish it above and beyond all others.
In his own Normandy, at Caen, were large quarries of a fine white freestone, which he imported in large quantities, and the external wall of the huge and lofty square building was cased with this, and probably from its whiteness and newness the structure was called the White Tower.
In subsequent reigns, as we know, it was whitewashed in order that its pristine whiteness might be maintained. But however outwardly it may have assumed the robe of innocence, we know that its walls are stained with the blood of the weak and innocent, and the flowing river, as it glided by, must have been the silent witness of countless midnight murders, the secrets of which are locked in its depths.
Next page: Norman kings' improvements to city