Jewel Tower, built for King Edward III’s wealth, survived the 14th-century fire that destroyed the Palace of Westminster. It now serves as a British museum showcasing historical exhibits and lore. The tower was designed by Henry Yevele and built mainly of Kent stone rags. After the 1834 fire, it was used to store historical documents and later housed the official weights and measures for the Board of Trade’s Standards Department. It is now managed by English Heritage and open to the public.
Jewel Tower is a 14th century building located in the heart of Westminster, England. The structure was originally built for the safekeeping of King Edward III’s wealth, giving the building the alternative name of the King’s Private Cloakroom. Jewel Tower is one of the buildings left standing after the 14th fire that engulfed the medieval Palace of Westminster. The three-story tower now serves as a British museum offering visitors various historical exhibits and lore.
Built near the edge of the royal gardens known as the Privy Garden, the Jewel Tower was designed by Henry Yevele. The tower design included raised walls, a moat and an adjacent platform known as a quay. The tower itself was built mainly of Kent stone rags. Its construction and location away from the main building structures aided the tower’s survival during the fire. Inside the Jewel Tower is a ribbed vault that has been preserved in its original 14th-century condition.
The 1834 fire was preceded by another fire that would alter the course of the tower’s purpose. The Palace of Westminster was the principal residence of the kings of England until the fire of 1512. King Edward III reigned in 1512 and was the last king to use the Palace of Westminster as a royal residence. King Edward III, along with most of his treasures kept in the Jewel Tower, moved after the first fire. After the removal of the King’s Jewels, the tower was used to house the King’s wardrobe and later to store the papers of the House of Lords.
The fire of 1834 engulfed the House of Lords and later spread to other sections of the palace. The 1834 fire was caused by a dangerous fire in two downstairs stoves located in the basement of the House of Lords. Most of the structures that formed part of the Palace of Westminster were destroyed, including both Houses of Parliament. During the fire, the Jewel Tower was mainly used to store historical documents. These records and documents were later transferred to Victoria Tower.
In the late 1860s and late 1930s, the Jewel Tower was used to house the official weights and measures for the Board of Trade’s Standards Department. After the Second World War, it came under the management of English Heritage and was later opened to the public. Each floor of the tower features special exhibits highlighting the tower’s history, including the protection of the king’s treasures and the history of the weights and measures set in the tower prior to World War II.
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