14 Fun Facts About the Tower of London

Book excerpt: After William, the French Duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold of England at the Battle of Hastings, William became King of England. He built a fortress along the River Thames where he could maintain control of London and watch any invaders coming along the river. The fortress became The Tower of London. Over the years, it has been added to and destroyed. It has been a palace, zoo, Museum, Royal Mint, observatory, prison, and a place of execution and murder for many unlucky souls. Today, its Towers display the secrets of its past while its ghosts wander the grounds at night. Do you know: Why are ravens kept at the Tower of London? What happened to the first prisoner held at the Tower? How many towers did King Henry III build? What happened to the original crown jewels of England? Why is the Garden Tower called the Bloody Tower? Find out the answers to these questions and more and amaze your family and friends with these fun facts. Ages 8 and up. All measurements in American and metric. Reading Level: 6.9 LearningIsland.com believes in the value of children practicing reading for 15 minutes every day. Our 15-Minute Books give children lots of fun, exciting choices to read, from classic stories, to mysteries, to books of knowledge. Many books are appropriate for hi-lo readers. Open the world of reading to a child by having them read for 15 minutes a day.