Constable of the Tower

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Constable of the Tower of London is the governor of the Tower. The office is currently occupied by General Sir Roger Wheeler GCB CBE who commenced in the post on 3 October 2001. He is the 158th Constable.

The actual number of Constables is uncertain but 158 is the number arrived at after the number was guessed at last century.

1 History
2 Constable's Dues
3 List of Constables
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

Constable of the Tower is an ancient office in England. The first Constable, Geoffrey de Mandeville was appointed by William the Conqueror (AD 1066-87) in the 11th century.

During the mediæval period the Constable ran the Tower. He had buildings maintained, he paid soldiers, he supervised the Keeper of the King’s Animals (the Royal Menagerie was housed in the Tower) and was responsible for the Prisoners gaoled in the Tower.

The Constable’s responsibility for prisoners was made clear in the words with which he was entrusted with them; “You are to guard them securely in the prison of our said Tower in such a way that you shall answer for them body for body ... Fail in no part of this on pain of forfeiture of life and limb and all property you hold in our realms.”

Until the expulsion of the Jews in 1290, the Constable was responsible for the regulation of London Jewry.

[edit] Constable's Dues

In the Middle Ages it was a profitable position. Among the Constable’s entitlements were:

any horses, oxen, pigs or sheep that fell off London Bridge.
any cart that fell into the Tower moat,
all herbage growing on Tower Hill,
6/8d (six shillings and eight pence) annually from each boat fishing between the Tower and the sea,
1s (1 shilling) a year from all ships carrying herring to London
2d (2 pence, pronounced tuppence) from each pilgrim who came to London by sea to worship at the shrine of St James,
all swans swimming under London Bridge,
a set quantity of wine from any ship taking wine into the city.

Even today, every large Royal Navy vessel presents the Constable with a barrel of rum.

Since 1784 the tradition has been for the Constable to be a senior military officer, usually a general officer. Perhaps the most famous Constable was Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington between 1825 and 1852. During his tenure, the Royal Menagerie and Record Office was removed and many buildings were restored to their mediæval state. The moat was drained and converted into a parade ground. Yeomen Warders were no longer permitted to buy and sell their places but were to be drawn only from sergeants of the army. Much against His Grace’s wishes, tourism at the Tower increased during his Constableship.

Each Constable is now appointed for five years. The new Constable is handed the keys as a symbol of his office. At State occasions the Constable has custody of the crown and other regalia.

[edit] List of Constables

This is an incomplete list of people who have served as Constable of the Tower of London, a post traditionally combined with that of Lord Lieutenant of the Tower Hamlets.