h-i-noor in its original
setting.

In the cases in the recesses are also exhibited the insignia of the
British and Indian orders of Knighthood, their collars, stars, and
badges, and the Victoria Cross.

Leaving the Wakefield Tower, we descend the slope and turn to the left
near the site of what was the Cold Harbour Tower, a name the exact
meaning of which is unknown. The original Jewel House was behind it to
the east, forming with the south side of the White Tower, and portions
of the palace, a small courtyard, in which some remains of the ancient
buildings may still be traced. On a raised platform is the gun-carriage
and limber on which the body of Her Majesty the late Queen Victoria
was conveyed on the occasion of her funeral, 2nd February, 1901, from
Windsor Railway Station to St. George's Chapel. This was placed here by
order of the Houses of Parliament. We now reach a doorway made in the
south wall of the

_White Tower_ (Pl. VII),

or Keep, the oldest part of the whole fortress.

[Illustration: WHITE TOWER. Plan of Middle Floor.]

The Conqueror, before he entered London, formed a camp, eastward of
the city, and probably on part of the ground now occupied by the Tower.
Immediately after his coronation he commenced the works here. At first,
no doubt, they consisted of a ditch and palisade, and were formed partly
on the lower bastions of the old City Wall, first built by the Romans,
and rebuilt in 885 by King Alfred. The work of building the Keep was
entrusted to Gundulf, a monk of Bec, in Normandy, who was shortly
afterwards made Bishop of Rochester, and who probably commenced
operations in 1078. In 1097, under William Rufus, the works were still
going on and the inner ward was enclosed. A great storm in 1091 damaged
the outworks. Ralf Flambard, Bishop of Durham, being imprisoned in the
Tower by Henry I, contrived to escape, 1101. During the wars between
Stephen and Matilda, the Earl of Essex was Constable of the Tower, and
obtained a grant even of the City of London from the Empress. When he
fell into Stephen's hands the Tower formed his ransom, and the citizens
regained their ancient liberty. When Richard I was absent on the
Crusade, his regent, Longchamp, resided in the Tower, of which he
greatly enlarged the precincts by trespasses on the land of the city and
of St. Katharine's Hospital. He surrendered the Tower to the citizens,
led by John, in 1191. The church of St. Peter was in existence before
1210,