Thomas More’s cell in the Bell Tower in the Tower of London. Photo June 2000.
During the millennium celebrations, the Tower had a special display on Thomas More (with his hair shirt among other items) and opened the Bell Tower to the public. If I remember correctly, they escorted us in small groups through the private residences/offices and then up in to the tower. I seem to recall it being a tight fit, and of course, a working and living space, so not really appropriate to being open all the time. I’m glad I got a chance to see it while I did!
That’s very cool!
how neat. Very lucky to have gone in there. Thanks for sharing!
Wow. I love it!!!
awesome photo. I have been to the Tower but I don’t remember seeing this? It must have been closed then.
You were lucky Lara. Now you can still go in there but you have to right quite far in advance and ask permission from the Governor to see it. It was bad access but also people kept going in and taking home souveniers (chipping into the stone work for example!) so they closed it, but it is a really special area.
If you’ve ever watched Man For All Seasons, the shot of the tree growing outside the window is a real tree. They had a steady cam rigged up and recorded it growing for a year and it’s still there…Completely useless but mildly interesting fact for you 😉 x
I wrote to to the Governor at the Tower about 3 months before my trip to London in November 2008 for permission to see the cell. They wrote back quickly with an appointment time and were very accommodating, generous and friendly. In my letter I noted that I am Catholic (since Thomas More is a Catholic saint). I’m not sure if that that is needed for entry, but since I’d heard of pilgrimages to his cell, I did mention it in my email.
The guard was wonderful and he let us take as much time as we wanted. It really is spectacular. You really get a true sense of what it must have been like. Also, it’s inside of a guard’s house! So we walked by kids shoes, coats, etc to get there. Can you imagine living in such a cool place?!!
Also, while you’re not allowed up there, the cell above the More cell is the cell (supposedly) where Elizabeth was imprisoned. Just being there is amazing.
It was well worth getting the special tour! If you’re planning to check it out, my only suggestion is to be genuine and respectful in your letter to the Governor. They were very receptive to our deep interest and reverence for the history.