Royal beasts exhibition coming to Tower of London
Forget the merciless kings and queens – the Tower of London was once associated with beasts of a different kind.
Tigers, eagles, grizzly bears and alligators were just some of the creatures to have lived within the fortress’s high walls.
Since the reign of King John in the early 1200s, exotic beasts and birds from all over the world were housed at the tower to show off the might and power of the monarchs of the time.
Historical Royal Palaces, the charity which looks after the tower, has just announced an exhibition on the beasts, which will open in May.
Royal menageries started in Europe during the early medieval times.
You may also want to watch:
Increasingly exotic beasts from far flung corners of the globe would be offered as royal gifts.
The exhibition explains how the animals were fed, watered and housed.
Most Read
- 1 Tyrese Omotoye impresses on O's trial as Ouss Cisse looks set to depart
- 2 Guilty: Who was jailed across east London in July?
- 3 Vigil for June Harvey one year on from Bow crane tragedy
- 4 East London travel disruption round-up for the week ahead
- 5 'Vexatious charges': MP turns on accusers after acquittal in fraud trial
- 6 Home Office pours £1m into tackling drug-related problems in East End
- 7 Tower Hamlets stages Covid jab festival
- 8 Mum plans to use Raine's Foundation site for new East Park church school
- 9 Poplar MP acquitted of Tower Hamlets housing fraud
- 10 Jailed: Cyclist who rode off after fatal collision with 'gentleman', 72
