The project


We plan to clean, repair and conserve the north, east and west external elevations of the White Tower and carry out repairs to the lead on the main roof and turrets.

The White Tower

The White Tower is a building of worldwide architectural, historical and cultural significance.

Begun by William the Conqueror shortly after the Norman invasion, the White Tower is emblematic of one of the defining moments in European civilization. A royal palace and fortress for almost half a millennium, the White Tower is interpreted throughout the world as a symbol of royalty, and of national and civic identity.

One of the most famous castle keeps in the world, it was built to awe, subdue and terrify Londoners and to deter foreign invaders. It’s now an iconic symbol of London and Britain and one of the world’s premier tourist attractions.

Why is the project taking place?

Along with the rest of the Tower complex, the White Tower is one of the most important historic buildings in the world.

From January 2008 until November 2010, we will be restoring three external elevations of the Tower. The issues to address are as follows:

• The historic fabric of both the rubble walling and stone dressings are deteriorating, or vulnerable to decay

• Other key agents of decay have been the build-up of sulphation and atmospheric pollutants on the sheltered returns of the buttresses and deeply contoured stones. These create an impermeable crust and further damage to the masonry.

Read the project manager's weekly diary:

Tracy Simmons, a Conservation Surveyor at Historic Royal Palaces, will be keeping a diary of the progress of the project. Click here to read her weekly diary.

Other links


Downloadable Resources

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    White Tower - project profile
    White Tower - project profile
    (Adobe PDF, 344KB)