New
New
Year 10
AQA

The residents of the White Tower

I can describe the different people who lived in the White Tower.

New
New
Year 10
AQA

The residents of the White Tower

I can describe the different people who lived in the White Tower.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The White Tower could accommodate royals and nobles.
  2. In the king's absence, the keeper (castellan) was the most important resident of the White Tower.
  3. The White Tower housed a garrison who likely stayed in barracks in the bailey or in the first floor hall.
  4. The White Tower also housed craftsmen to create and maintain weapons and a chaplain or priest to serve St John's Chapel.

Common misconception

The White Tower was always bustling with royal activity.

Royal residents were seldom present. Most of the time, the White Tower was managed by the keeper and housed a garrison of soldiers.

Keywords

  • Noble - a member of the ruling elite

  • Castellan - the governor of a castle

  • Chapel - a small church, or a room used as a church in a larger building

Encourage students to think critically about the dual roles of historical buildings like the White Tower. Highlight the balance between their function as defensive strongholds and as residences for royalty.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Complete the sentence: The White Tower had multiple ; as a military defence, administrative centre and royal residence.
Correct Answer: functions, purposes
Q2.
Complete the sentence: The White Tower was designed to defend a against attack.
Correct Answer: garrison
Q3.
How many years was it until the motte-and-bailey castle on the site of the White Tower was replaced with a stone structure?
one year
five years
Correct answer: 10 years
15 years
Q4.
Which of the following are examples of the White Tower's defences?
inclusion of St John’s Chapel
a well in the basement to get fresh water
Correct answer: each floor was divided in two by a thick ‘spine’ wall with doorways
Correct answer: a metre-wide passageway was built into the thick outer wall
riverside location meant that trade on the river came under its control
Q5.
What was the purpose of the tower's fireplaces built in a sloped style?
Correct answer: allowed people to live comfortably instead of in rooms full of smoke
ensured the best heat retention in each room
meant that inhabitants did not get soot and ash on their clothes
Correct answer: tricked outsiders into thinking that there were more soldiers inside
Q6.
What did William's Charter of 1067 declare?
Correct answer: that all Londoners,“whether French or English” would be safe under his rule
that all "French Londoners" would be safe under his rule
that all "English Londoners" would be safe under his rule

6 Questions

Q1.
Which word describes the governor of a castle?
Correct Answer: castellan
Q2.
Which word describes a small church, or a room used as a church in a larger building?
Correct Answer: chapel
Q3.
Which of the following would have provided some comfort for the royal residents of the White Tower?
small windows
Correct answer: fireplaces
Correct answer: garderobes
Correct answer: tapestries and rugs
large kitchen
Q4.
Which of the following was the role of the keeper at the White Tower?
leading the defence in the case of an attack
Correct answer: the maintenance of the tower’s defences
preparing the food for the royal residents
Correct answer: paying and supervising the tower's garrison of soldiers
Correct answer: collecting taxes from the area under the tower’s control
Q5.
Which of the following would have been part of the White Tower's garrison?
Correct answer: knights
Correct answer: archers
fryd
housecarls
Q6.
Which of the following occupations were also employed at the White Tower?
Correct answer: chaplain
teachers
Correct answer: scullions
Correct answer: laundresses
artists

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