Latest news with #TowerofLondon
Fox News
6 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Tower of London dig reveals Black Death-era skeletons below popular tourist site: 'Tip of the iceberg'
Archaeologists recently uncovered the ancient skeletons of possible Black Death victims – buried just beneath one of London's most popular tourist spots. Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), the organization that manages the Tower of London, shared the news with Fox News Digital. The discoveries were made during an excavation in the spring, marking the first dig at the Tower of London in three decades. It took place ahead of a scheduled renovation of the Church of St. Peter ad Vincula, a chapel that dates back to the 15th century. "As a final resting place for many who lived or were imprisoned within the Tower's walls – including three queens and two Catholic saints – [the church] undoubtedly has a few stories to tell," HRP said. "But much of its earlier history remains unknown." It added, "Now, finds from the most significant excavation at the Tower in a generation are beginning to shed light on both the development of its chapel and some of the people connected with it." One of the most eyebrow-raising finds was a mass grave of 14th-century skeletons, which officials said were "possibly linked to the Black Death." In a separate discovery, archaeologists found even older graves in coffins – likely belonging to high-status individuals. "Three skeletons from the late 12th or early 13th century were also uncovered," the statement read. "These individuals appeared to have been buried in coffins — an unusual practice at the time, possibly indicating high-status burials." In total, the remains of 20 individuals were found during the excavation. Officials also identified a fragment of a burial shroud at the site, which HRP described as "extremely rare" since it is made of fabric. "This is just the tip of the iceberg — there is so much more to learn through further analysis about the people, as well as the buildings." "One separate burial contained two 12th- to early 13th-century pots filled with charcoal – exceptionally rare examples of medieval grave goods previously recorded only once in England," the statement added. "These finds will now undergo further scientific analysis." Alfred Hawkins, a curator of historic buildings at HRP, described the excavation as a "generational opportunity." "These excavations were essential as part of our mission to provide greater access for people to visit this important place of worship, but they have also given us an amazing opportunity to explore the site in more depth than ever before," he said. In addition to the skeletal finds, archaeologists also uncovered "tantalizing hints of the chapel's earlier incarnations," HRP said. "This marks the first major archaeological dig in this part of the Tower." Though the current chapel was built in 1520, officials found evidence of "a large-scale burning event," which points towards the destruction of an earlier structure — likely the one built by Edward I in 1287. "A compacted layer of Reigate stone unearthed during the dig may date even earlier – potentially to works by Henry III in 1240," HRP said. "Elsewhere, a large section of wall and what may be a floor surface could be remnants of Henry I's 12th-century chapel, about which very little is known." "This marks the first major archaeological dig in this part of the Tower, offering a rare opportunity to redraw the map of the medieval fortress and enhance our understanding of those who lived, worshiped, and died there." Jane Sidell, principal inspector of ancient monuments at Historic England, said the project helps gain insight into Tower residents "in a way we have never been able to do before." "But this is just the tip of the iceberg — there is so much more to learn through further analysis of the people, as well as the buildings, of one of England's most evocative historic monuments."
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City of London Corporation approves two sustainable office towers in Square Mile
The City of London Corporation has granted permission for two new office developments in the Square Mile (London). The 45-storey scheme at 63 St Mary's Axe and the 32-storey project at 85 Gracechurch Street will provide more than 110,000m² of Grade A office space, focusing on sustainability. The developments are stated to be integral to enhancing the Square Mile as a global destination, aligning with the corporation's 'Destination City' growth strategy. The move aims to enhance the area's cultural heritage and hospitality offerings. Both towers have been designed to respect the city's skyline, including views of the Tower of London and St Paul's Cathedral. The 45-storey mixed-use office development at 63 St Mary's Axe will contribute 85,000m² of the city's required floor space to meet future economic and employment growth, accounting for 4.2% of the total need. It is expected to generate more than 4,500 jobs. The scheme also promises new public spaces, including the Camomile Park, and will showcase a section of the historic London Wall. At 85 Gracechurch Street, the amended proposal builds upon an earlier approved plan, offering 34,000m² of office space and accommodating 2,200 jobs. The redesign incorporates the discovery of a first-century Roman forum-basilica, which will be part of a new public exhibition. The project also includes plans to revitalise Leadenhall Market with shops and event areas and reopen a pedestrian route, with access to a public terrace on the fifth floor. City of London Corporation Planning and Transportation Committee chair Tom Sleigh said: 'Every new building must earn its place in the Square Mile, and these are two standout schemes that do just that. Both 85 Gracechurch Street and 63 St Mary's Axe capture the dynamic of our city: ambitious, inclusive, and rooted in our extraordinary heritage. 'At 85 Gracechurch, we're bringing people closer than ever to Roman London, whilst 63 St Mary's Axe, with its elevated walkways and cultural experience, will offer a new way to move through and enjoy the city. Together, these buildings deliver over 100,000m² of top-grade office space and thousands of new jobs, cementing the city's status as the engine room of the UK economy. Their addition to the future skyline will preserve our capital's status as a leading global city.' Earlier this year, the Planning Applications Sub-Committee of the City of London Corporation also approved a 33-storey sustainable office building at 70 Gracechurch Street. "City of London Corporation approves two sustainable office towers in Square Mile" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Telegraph
08-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
China's super-embassy in London ‘must be blocked' after US warning
Plans for a new Chinese 'super-embassy' in London must be blocked after a warning from the White House, the Tories have said. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said the proposals for a huge new complex near the city's financial hub pose a 'security risk' and should be thrown out. The proposed 'mega embassy' at the former Royal Mint site near the Tower of London has been locked in a planning battle for years, with the decision called in for review last year. The proposal has proved extremely controversial, with fears the building could effectively become a nest of spies in the heart of London. It has now been reported that the White House has warned the UK to reject the proposals on security grounds, given the site's proximity to a hub of sensitive data near key financial centres. It comes after cyber experts for the UK Government privately sounded the alarm about the plans in an exchange sent to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. A senior US official told The Sunday Times: 'The United States is deeply concerned about providing China with potential access to the sensitive communications of one of our closest allies.' On Sunday, Mr Philp said it was 'likely' the embassy would be used as a base for Chinese espionage and urged the Government to block it. Asked for his view on the reports in The Sunday Times, he told Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: 'Well, I agree with the United States. We think it is a security risk. 'In government the Conservatives were very clear, we should not be allowing the Chinese to build this super-embassy. 'It is likely to become a base for their pan-European espionage activities and it sits very close to, of course, the UK's financial centre. 'It's very close to three critical data centres … data cables connecting, for example, Canary Wharf to the City, run very close or indeed even underneath the site, and it is very likely the Chinese would use it to organise espionage activities. 'We've seen the Chinese government cracking down on dissidents, running secret police stations in the UK, even putting bounties on the heads of dissidents, some of whom I've met. We should not be giving permission to this.' The row presents an awkward dilemma for Sir Keir Starmer, who has pursued a strategy of engagement with Beijing while attempting to maintain a positive relationship with Donald Trump, a prominent China sceptic. The White House official quoted by The Sunday Times said: 'The United States expects that all decisions will be taken with our (both US and UK) national security interests in mind and after thorough mitigation as recommended and approved by counter-intelligence professionals.' Peter Kyle, the Science Secretary, said the UK would offer a 'fulsome response' to any security concerns raised. He told Phillips: 'These issues will be taken care of assiduously in the planning process. 'But just to reassure people, we deal with embassies and these sorts of infrastructure issues all the time. 'We are very experienced of it, and we are very aware of these sorts of issues constantly, not just when new buildings are being done, but all the time.' Asked about the US warning, he said: 'These are the issues that we talk about as two countries all the time… we're in the Five Eyes agreement, America and Britain share intelligence… We are one of the few countries in the world that share intelligence.' He added: 'If people raise security issues even though it relates to planning, then I'm sure we will have a fulsome response for them. But look, the key thing is, these are issues which are quite routinised in the way that we deal with the security of our country. 'This is not new. It's going through planning. These are issues that will be dealt with in that process.'
Japan Forward
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Japan Forward
NHK Mile Cup: Panja Tower Edges Magic Sands in a Thrilling Finish
The Tower of London progeny held off Magic Sands and Cerbiatto in a pulsating dash to the wire in the 30th NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo Racecourse. Panja Tower (11), ridden by Kohei Matsuyama, wins the 2025 NHK Mile Cup by a head on May 11 at Tokyo Racecourse. (©KYODO) Ninth favorite Panja Tower claimed his first G1 and second graded title in the 30th NHK Mile Cup on Sunday, May 11 at Tokyo Racecourse. The bay colt, who is among the first crop of Tower of London, who won the 2019 Sprinters Stakes, broke his maiden in his debut start in September 2024 (Chukyo, 1,200 meters). And he immediately registered his first grade-race victory in the Keio Hai Nisai Stakes (Tokyo, G2, 1,400 meters) two months later. On Sunday, Panja Tower provided trainer Shinsuke Hashiguchi with his second JRA G1 success following the 2018 JBC Sprint with Graceful Leap. Jockey Kohei Matsuyama scored his sixth G1 title and his first since the 2021 Champions Cup with T O Keynes. Panja Tower was swift out of gate 11 and was reserved in a wide mid-pack position of the 18-horse field. Making the widest turn into the straight, the son of Tower of London unleashed a furious closing kick, drawing even with the frontrunner 300 meters out. Panja Tower pulled away while rallying with, and narrowly holding off, Magic Sands (Yutaka Take's ride) on the inside and Cerbiatto (Michael Dee) digging in between them in the final strides. ( Watch the race on the JRA's YouTube channel. ) Winning jockey Kohei Matsuyama (©SANKEI) "We were able to sit in a good position, but the rhythm was more of an important factor," Matsuyama said in a post-race interview. "And I'm happy he ran steadily in a good rhythm today." The jockey added, "As you know, he's shown his strength since his debut and has a graded win in Tokyo, and the way he stretched incredibly today proves he has a bright future ahead of him." The 30th running of the NHK Mile Cup. (©SANKEI) Third choice Magic Sands was unhurried, settling second from the rear, and was steered to an inner route by Take rounding the final corner to make a bid. The Kizuna colt, while launching the fastest drive over the last three furlongs (33.7 seconds) from behind, found a clear path 300 meters out and eventually dueled with the winner in the last 100 meters. But Magic Sands was a head short at the wire and had to settle for second. Cerbiatto, the 12th pick, sat on the rails just behind Panja Tower and after straightening away, increased speed to shoot out from the pack. The filly dug in fiercely in the final strides, nearly catching the top two finishers but was a head-and-nose short at the wire to finish third. Mondo dell'Amore (Keita Tosaki) and Lance of Chaos (Seinosuke Yoshimura) finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Breaking smoothly from stall eight, race favorite Admire Zoom (Yuga Kawada) was a bit keen in the backstretch but settled on the rails to stalk the pace in second. Picking off the pacesetter in the early stretch, the Maurice-sired colt showed effort in sustaining his lead. But he dropped away once, overtaken by the eventual winner, and faded to 14th. Kawada stated after the race that the colt had lost a shoe 200-300 meters out of the gate. The Victoria Mile on Sunday, May 18 at Tokyo Racecourse is the next G1 race on the JRA calendar. Read the full report , including details on each of the NHK Mile Cup entrants, on JRA News. Author: JRA News
Telegraph
10-05-2025
- Telegraph
The UK's best castles, and how to visit them
Castles come in all shapes and sizes – castellated or moated, ruined or repurposed, fantasy or bouncy – and they've been a feature of the UK's landscape since 1066. One definition might be a battle-station crossed with a domestic abode: the Tower of London, for example, one of Britain's earliest castles, was a fortress and working palace, with a handy private mooring that we now call Traitors' Gate. Castles defended borders and fiefdoms and evolved according to the weapons technology they faced. All this makes them both fun to clamber over and fascinating to find out about. Here's a list of our favourites across the UK. Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight A motte-and-bailey structure built on older earthwork, King Charles I was imprisoned here for 14 months before his execution and allegedly once got stuck in a window trying to escape. Walk the walls, see the former King's private room, then explore the contemporary garden inspired by Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Beatrice, who was also the island's Governor for 48 years. Insider tip: Meet the castle's much-loved resident donkeys, who help to demonstrate how water was once drawn from the well house. Price: Admission from Visit Isle of Wight; £13.10, adult; £8.10, child; £11.80, concession Where to stay: The Bowling Green Apartment in the grounds of Carisbrooke Castle (0370 333 1181) sleeps four from £435 for three nights, excluding breakfast. Warwick Castle, Warwickshire Warwick Castle delivers a hectic schedule of commercial events, from siege engine demonstrations to birds of prey shows. It's great fun (over-10s: risk the immersive Castle Dungeon show if you dare) but there's plenty of serious history on offer, too – this is, after all, a 1,000-year-old powerhouse with pioneering landscaping courtesy of the 18th-century gardener Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. Castle accommodation ranges from glamping to tower suites. Insider tip: Climb the ancient Mound for views over the town of Warwick. Where to stay: The Warwick Castle Hotel (01926 406610) has double rooms from £99, including breakfast. Dunnottar Castle, Aberdeenshire Dunnottar crouches on a promontory between two bays, glaring at the North Sea. St Ninian built a chapel here in 400, the Vikings invaded in 900, William Wallace attacked 400 years later, and the Honours of Scotland were kept safe here. Later, stripped bare, it was rescued by the Cowdrays, who still own it. Insider tip: Walk from Stonehaven via the Black Hill War Memorial and get the X7 back from near Dunnottar. Allow 90 minutes each way. Where to stay: Ship Inn, Stonehaven (01569 762617) has sea views and 11 rooms. Doubles from £130, including breakfast. Leeds Castle, Kent This beauty, reflected in its own moat, rose on older foundations in the 13th century and has been much altered, most notably in the 1820s. Associated with many queens, it became a glamorous home in the 1920s under chatelaine Olive, Lady Baillie. Children love the obstacle course and yew maze with a grotto at its heart. Insider tip: 1) It's not in Yorkshire. 2) See the original Norman cellars, used for salted meat, dry goods, wines and candle wax. Where to stay: There's plenty of places to stay in the castle itself, but book early. Doubles from £145, including breakfast. Enniskillen Castle, Co Fermanagh For 600 years, Enniskillen Castle has dominated the waterways south of Lough Erne. Built by the Maguires, it was in English hands by 1609, and its distinctive gatehouse symbolises the Plantation of Ulster. Six buildings include a local history museum and a military museum for not one but two famous local regiments. Insider tip: Ulster ancestry? Book a free 30-minute session at the Fermanagh Genealogy Centre in the former castle barracks. Where to stay: Killyhelvin Lakeside Lodges & Hotel has double rooms from £130 per night, including breakfast. Chepstow Castle, Monmouthshire Earl William FitzOsbern built Chepstow Castle in 1067, just pipping the Tower of London to the post. Now ruined, it crowns a ridge with the town of Chepstow on one side and the River Wye on the other. It was owned by a series of magnates keeping a watchful eye on Wales; what survives is the remains of a rare triple bailey, an 11th- century Great Hall and magnificent walls, mostly walkable. Insider tip: Europe's oldest castle doors, thought to be 12th century, are on display inside (today's gatehouse doors are replicas.) Price: Admission to Chepstow Castle is £10, adult; £7, child; £9, concession Where to stay: The St Pierre Marriott Country Club (01291 625261) occupies a 14th-century manor house in parkland, with spa, pool and two golf courses. Doubles from £164, including breakfast. Middleham Castle, North Yorkshire Middleham sits on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales and in 1260, via marriage, became a stronghold of the powerful Neville family. Edward IV stayed here with Warwick 'the Kingmaker' and the future Richard III grew up in his household and wed his daughter. See the replica gold and sapphire Middleham Jewel, found here in 1985 (the original is in the Yorkshire Museum). Insider tip: The castle is just near the Middleham Gallops; stop to watch the racehorses and jockeys fly past in training. Where to stay: The Priory Hotel opposite (01969 623279) has double rooms from £155 per night, including breakfast (minimum two-night stay). Burgh Castle Roman Fort, Norfolk That Burgh Castle's flint walls are still guarding the 'Saxon Shore' after 1,700 years is a tribute to Roman builders. It overlooks Breydon Water, which divides the southern and northern Norfolk Broads; three rivers join here on route to the sea at Great Yarmouth and wading birds stalk the tidal mud flats. Perfect for a picnic or a jaunt to the nearby pub. Insider tip: Walk the Angles Way from Great Yarmouth and get the X11 Coastlink bus back. Where to stay: Fritton Lake (01493 484008), four miles south on the Somerleyton estate, has double rooms from £180, room only. Castell Harlech, Snowdonia This hulking beast, standing foursquare over the sand dunes in Harlech (and caravan park) that now separate it from the Irish sea, is an essay in mediaeval aggression. It is one of four Welsh castles built for King Edward I that share Unesco World Heritage status, and at one time was taken by the Welsh prince Owain Glyndwr. Insider tip: Board a train for a coastal journey on the scenic Cambrian Line from Barmouth to Harlech from £6.80, adult; £1.45 child (Anytime Day Return). Where to stay: Penmaenuchaf Hall Hotel (01341 422129) is a cosy, 14-room Victorian country house, 35 minutes' drive away. Doubles from £191, including breakfast. Old Sarum, Wiltshire Talk about value for money: Old Sarum is a perfect Norman castle mound sitting on the perfect ramparts of a 400 BCE Iron Age fort, with the perfect outline of the original cathedral and perfect views of Salisbury Cathedral below. The cathedral moved to Salisbury in 1220, due to friction with the castle's garrison. Insider tip: The loos in the car park occupy a Second World War pillbox and wireless station. Where to stay: The Riverside Salisbury (01722 338388), by the River Nadder, has plenty of parking and doubles from £120, including breakfast.
