The White Tower is a fortress of enormous proportions, symbolic of William the Conqueror’s fierce suppression of a newly conquered capital. It is the oldest medieval building at the Tower. 

Construction began in the 1070s and was probably completed by 1100.  Its primary function was to serve as a fortress but it was also designed to provide the king with royal accommodation for his occasional use and to provide the setting for both ceremonial and government functions. However, from the 14th to the 19th century, the White Tower’s main use was as a military storehouse.