when was the tower of london built
The Tower of London began construction in the late 1060s and was largely built in the 1070s under William the Conqueror, with the main stone keep (the White Tower) underway by about 1077–1078 and taking around 20 years to complete.
Quick Scoop
Short answer
- The Tower of London was built in the late 11th century , mainly in the 1070s, after William the Conqueror’s victory in 1066.
- The iconic White Tower, which gives the whole complex its name, was started around 1077–1078 and finished by about 1100.
A bit of story
Right after conquering England in 1066, William I wanted a powerful fortress to control London and show his new royal authority. He brought expert masons and fine limestone from Caen in Normandy to raise a massive stone keep on the old Roman wall line beside the Thames. Over the next two centuries, later kings like Richard I, Henry III and Edward I wrapped this core in more walls, towers, and a moat, turning it into the sprawling castle complex you see today.
Key facts in bullets
- Builder: William the Conqueror, first Norman king of England.
- Start of fortifications on the site: just after his coronation in 1066.
- Main stone keep (White Tower) begun: about 1077–1078.
- Largely complete: by around 1100.
- Later expansions: 12th–13th centuries under Richard I, Henry III, Edward I.
HTML table of core timeline
| Period | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1066 | William the Conqueror wins the crown and begins fortifying the London site soon after. | [8][9][3]
| 1070s | Construction of the main stone fortress (later called the White Tower) is underway. | [1][3][6]
| c. 1077–1078 | White Tower formally begun as a great stone keep inside the old Roman wall. | [9][3][6]
| By ~1100 | White Tower completed enough to be used as a royal stronghold and residence. | [3][6]
| 12th–13th c. | Major expansions: extra curtain walls, moat, and wards added by later kings. | [5][10][3]
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
