Imagine stepping back in time to a period when the Jewel Tower was the heart of the Palace of Westminster. Before the imposing Houses of Parliament were constructed, the Jewel Tower stood as a symbol of royal power and wealth. This imposing stone structure, built in the 14th century, was meant to house the personal treasures of King Edward III, an extravagant king who amassed a vast collection of jewels and precious objects.
King Edward III was known for his love of fine things. Although his ceremonial regalia was kept safe within the Tower of London, his own personal treasures were stored here in the Jewel Tower, protected behind thick stone walls and strong iron grilles.
The tower is three storeys tall with a sturdy stone roof. It is remarkably well-preserved, making it one of the few surviving remnants of the original Palace of Westminster. While the Tower of London is famous for keeping the Crown Jewels, the Jewel Tower held a different kind of treasure. In this tower, King Edward stored items of incredible value, such as fine textiles, gold and silver plate and ornate jewelry.
But the Jewel Tower wasn’t just a safe for valuables. It played a vital role in the administration of the country, serving as a repository for the crown’s accounts, correspondence and records. The Jewel Tower witnessed a flurry of activity, with clerks recording the king’s spending, merchants bringing in new riches, and craftsmen polishing gleaming silverware.
The tower continued to be used for storing treasure for centuries, until a fire destroyed much of the palace in 1512. The fire forced King Henry VIII to move his court to Whitehall Palace, leaving the Jewel Tower, then called the “Tholde Juelhous” to take on a more humble role. It became a storage place for the House of Lords, and later, a testing facility for weights and measures.
The Jewel Tower stands proudly, a silent witness to the grand history of Westminster and a reminder of the days when kings ruled from their palaces.