Name: Tower Green and Scaffold site
Start: 2023-07-04T12:00
End: 2033-07-04T12:00
Location: Tower of London

Walk in the footsteps of those condemned to death by order of the state

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Included in palace admission (Members go free)

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Things to see

Tower Green’s lawns stretch out before the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula to the west of the White Tower. A tranquil space that belies the darker moments in its history.

On or near this spot ten people have been executed. Seven by beheading and three by firing squad.

Famous heads that rolled at the Tower

Execution inside the Tower was a privilege reserved for those of high rank, or for those who had dangerously strong popular support, to keep them away from the gawping crowds. A scaffold, or raised platform is likely to have been erected for such beheadings.

Most condemned prisoners endured a public execution outside the battlements on Tower Hill or across the city at Tyburn.

The beheaded queens

The most well known among those executed on or near Tower Green were three former queens of England. Two of those queens were wives of Henry VIII.

Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, was in her early 30s and Catherine Howard, Henry's fifth wife, was barely in her 20s. Both were accused of adultery, but neither may have been guilty.

The third queen to meet her end within the Tower was 16-year-old Lady Jane Grey. She was on the throne for just nine days, and was the innocent pawn in a failed military coup by her father-in-law, the Duke of Northumberland.

Scaffold Site and Tower Green (showing the Beauchamp Tower, the Chaplain's House and Doctor's House and the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula). — Image: Scaffold Site and Tower Green with the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula on the right hand side. © Historic Royal Palaces

Expert and blundering executions

Anne Boleyn was executed by the clean stroke of an expert swordsman shipped in from France especially for the occasion. On the day of her execution, she enquired, 'I heard say the executioner was very good, and I have a little neck.'

By contrast, Margaret Pole who was another victim of the axe was said to be much less lucky in her final moments. A blundering executioner was said to have ‘hacked her head and shoulders to pieces’.

The execution site memorial

Today, on Tower Green you can see a memorial sculpture and quote dedicated to those who were condemned to death by order of the state.

The memorial stands where Queen Victoria had some paving laid, after enquiring about the exact location of the executions. Other accounts say the executions took place on the parade grounds between the Waterloo Block and the White Tower, just beyond Tower Green.

'Gentle visitor pause awhile: where you stand death cut away the light of many days: here jewelled names were broken from the vivid thread of life: may they rest in peace while we walk the generations around their strife and courage : under these restless skies.'

Brian Catling, creator of the execution site memorial.

The King's House

At the far end of Tower Green stands the King’s House, part of a group of timber-framed houses built in the sixteenth century. A guard is always on duty at the sentry box outside.

The official residence of the Constable of the Tower, it was formerly known as the Queen’s House until 11 September 2022 when Charles III was proclaimed King. Part of the proclamation ceremony took place on Tower Green.

Each year, the Ceremony of the Constable’s Dues finishes on Tower Green as a barrel of wine is delivered to the King’s House for the Constable to enjoy.

Next door to the King’s House are numbers 4 and 5 Tower Green. This pair of houses was built as accommodation for Yeoman Warders in the late seventeenth century. 5 Tower Green was historically the home of the Yeoman Gaoler.

Prisoners and execution Prison Tudor Architecture and building history