A. On Christmas Day 1066 William, Duke of Normandy, was crowned
King of England. He ordered at once the building of an earth-and-
timber castle within the ancient Roman city walls. Ten years later
this simple fort was turned into a massive palace-fortress. A great
stone tower was built: the White Tower.
B. In ten years, Henry III's son, Edward I, spent twice as much on the
Tower as his father had done during his entire reign. He made the
Tower into one of the great castles of 13th century England.
C. In the time of Queen Victoria the Tower began to take on the
character of a national monument. By 1901 half a million
people visited it each year. Nowadays the Tower has become
one of the world's great tourist attractions. It is guarded
by the famous Beefeaters who also take part in the many
colourful ceremonies organized there on various occasions.
D. In 1189, while Richard the Lionheart was away on crusade, his
chancellor began the first expansion of the Tower's defences. It
was completed by Richard's brother, John, who succeeded him
to the throne in 1199.
REMEMBER!
Names of kings and queens
are read using ordinal
numerals.
e.g. Henry VIII is read
Henry the Eighth.
reign /rein/ - domnie
timber /timbe/ - (aici) lemn
crusade /kru:'seid/ - cruciadă
chancellor /tfæ:nsələ/-cancelar
expansion /ik'spænfen/ - extindere
defences /di'fensiz/ - sistem de
apărare
to acknowledge /ek'nolidz/ -
a recunoaşte
Ann Boleyn /bo'lin/
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