Constable of the Tower facts for kids

General The Lord Dannatt, dressed in full ceremonial uniform of HM's Constable of the Tower

The Constable of the Tower is a very important role at the Tower of London. Long ago, in the Middle Ages, a constable was the person in charge of a castle when the king or owner wasn't there. The Constable of the Tower was especially important because they were in charge of the main fortress protecting England's capital city.

Today, the Constable's job is mostly about traditions and ceremonies. They take part in special events at the Tower and are part of the community that lives there. The Constable also helps manage places like Historic Royal Palaces and the Royal Armouries.

This special job is given to a very senior military officer, usually a field marshal or a retired general officer. They hold the role for five years. The Constable appointed in 2022 is General Sir Gordon Messenger. The Constable has a ceremonial helper called the Lieutenant of the Tower of London, who is usually a general officer of a slightly lower rank.

When a new Constable is officially welcomed, the Lord Chamberlain hands over the "King's House" (the Tower) to them. The Constable then gives this responsibility to the Resident Governor, who handles the daily running of the Tower.

History of the Constable

The job of Constable of the Tower is one of the oldest in England. It started soon after the Normans took over in 1066. It has always been a very respected position. In the past, important church leaders, politicians, and soldiers held this role. The very first Constable, Geoffrey de Mandeville, was chosen by William the Conqueror in the 11th century. Back then, if the King wasn't in London, the Constable was one of the most powerful people in the city. Today, the Constable can still speak directly with the King or Queen. Since 1784, the Constable has always been a senior military officer.

During the medieval times, the Constable managed everything at the Tower. This included keeping the buildings in good shape, paying the soldiers, and even looking after the 'Keeper of the King's Animals' because royal animals were kept there! They were also in charge of the prisoners. The first known prisoner was a Norman bishop named Ranulf Flambard in 1100. The last people officially held at the Tower were Ronnie and Reggie Kray for a few days in 1952. They were sent there because it was the barracks for the soldiers they were supposed to join for National Service.

The Constable's job of looking after prisoners was very serious. They were told they would be held responsible for the prisoners' safety.

The Lieutenant of the Tower used to be the Constable's main helper. Over time, the Lieutenant's job also became mostly ceremonial. The daily tasks were then given to a Deputy-Lieutenant and a Major. The Major's role eventually became the current Resident Governor.

The idea of the Constable serving for a five-year term began in 1932. Before that, they often held the job for their whole life.

Constable's Special Rights

In the Middle Ages, being Constable was a job that brought in a lot of money. The Constable had special rights to certain things, like:

• Any horses, oxen, pigs, or sheep that fell off London Bridge.
• Any cart that fell into the Tower moat.
• All the grass growing on Tower Hill.
• A yearly payment from each boat fishing near the Tower.
• A small payment from ships carrying herring to London.
• A small payment from each pilgrim who came to London by sea to visit a holy place.
• All the swans swimming under London Bridge.

Every ship coming up the river to London had to stop at Tower Wharf. They had to give a part of their cargo to the Constable. This was like a payment for the protection the Tower's cannons offered. These payments included things like oysters, mussels, and wine. This tradition continues today with the Royal Navy. Each year, a large ship gives the Constable a barrel of rum in a special ceremony called the Ceremony of the Constable's Dues.

Since 1784, the Constable has always been a senior military officer. Perhaps the most famous Constable was Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, who held the job from 1825 to 1852. During his time, the royal animal collection and old records were moved out. Many buildings were fixed up to look like they did in medieval times. The moat was drained and turned into a parade ground. Also, the Yeomen Warders (the Tower guards) could no longer buy their jobs. They had to be chosen from experienced Army sergeants. The Duke of Wellington wasn't happy about it, but more and more tourists started visiting the Tower during his time as Constable.

Each Constable is now appointed for five years. The new Constable is given the keys to the Tower as a symbol of their role. On important state occasions, the Constable is responsible for the crown and other royal jewels.

List of Constables

Constables of the Tower (1068–date)

Portrait	Name	From	To	Note
Constable of the Tower
	Geoffrey de Mandeville	1068 (?)		First Constable, appointed by William the Conqueror
	William de Mandeville	1100	1116 (?)	Son of Geoffrey I de Mandeville, held Ranulf Flambard
	Richard de Lucie	1153	1179 (d.)	also Chief Justiciar
	John de Beauchamp, 1st Baron Beauchamp de Warwick
	Edward (Plantagenet)	January 1392	September 1397	Earl of Rutland
	Ralph de Neville, 4th Baron Neville	September 1397	October 1397	1st Earl of Westmorland from 29 September 1397
	Edward Plantagenet (again)	October 1397	August 1399	Duke of Albemarle and Earl of Rutland
	Edward (Plantagenet) (again)	November 1406	1413	now Duke of York, slain at Agincourt, 1415
	James Fienes, Lord Say	1447	July 1450	Murdered by Jack Cade's mob, 4 July 1450
	Sir John Gage	October 1540	1553
	Edward Clinton, 9th Baron Clinton	July 1553	August 1553	1st Earl of Lincoln from 1572
	Sir John Gage (again)	August 1553	1556
	Sir William Wade (Lieutenant)	1605	1611
	Sir Gervase Helwys (Lieutenant)	1611	1615
	Francis, Baron Cottington	1640		William Balfour was his Lieutenant
	Mountjoy Blount, 1st Earl of Newport	1641
	John Byron, 1st Baron Byron (Lieutenant)	1641	1642
	Sir Thomas Fairfax	August 1647	1650	Robert Tichborne was his Lieutenant.
Constable of the Tower and Lord Lieutenant of the Tower Hamlets
	Sir John Robinson, 1st Baronet	3 October 1660	1675
	James Compton, 3rd Earl of Northampton	30 July 1675	1679
	George Legge, 1st Baron Dartmouth	29 June 1685	1688
	Algernon Capell, 2nd Earl of Essex	23 May 1706	1710
	Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Carlisle	26 October 1715 (Constable) 12 July 1717 (Lord Lieutenant)	29 December 1722
	Henry Clinton, 7th Earl of Lincoln	30 January 1723	1725
	Charles Cornwallis, 2nd Earl Cornwallis	1770	1784	Lord Lieutenant from 4 January 1771
	Charles Cornwallis, 2nd Earl Cornwallis	26 November 1784	5 October 1805	1st Marquess Cornwallis from 1792
	Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings	24 February 1806	28 November 1826
	Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington	29 January 1827	14 September 1852	Lord Lieutenant from 1826
	Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere	20 October 1852	21 February 1865
	Sir John Burgoyne, Baronet	12 April 1865	7 October 1871
	Robert Napier, 1st Baron Napier of Magdala	6 January 1887	14 January 1890	Died in office as Constable; the Lord Lieutenancy of the Tower Hamlets had been abolished they previous year.
Constable of the Tower
	Sir Daniel Lysons	24 March 1890	29 January 1898	Died in office.
	Sir Frederick Stephenson	21 March 1898	10 March 1911	Died in office
	Sir Henry Evelyn Wood	11 May 1911	2 December 1919	Died in office
	Paul Methuen, 3rd Baron Methuen	23 June 1920	30 October 1932	Died in office
	George Milne, 1st Baron Milne	19 February 1933	18 February 1938
	Sir Claud William Jacob	19 February 1938	18 March 1943
	Sir Philip Chetwode, 7th Baronet	19 March 1943	18 March 1948	1st Baron Chetwode from 1945.
	Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell	19 March 1948	24 May 1950	Died in office.
	Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke	1 August 1950	31 July 1955
	Henry Maitland Wilson, 1st Baron Wilson	1 August 1955	31 July 1960
	Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis	1 August 1960	31 July 1965
	Sir Gerald Templer	1 August 1965	31 July 1970
	Sir Richard Hull	1 August 1970	31 July 1975
	Sir Geoffrey Baker	1 August 1975	8 May 1980	Died in office.
	Sir Peter Hunt	1 August 1980	31 July 1985
	Sir Roland Gibbs	1 August 1985	31 July 1990
	Sir John Stanier	1 August 1990	31 July 1996
	Sir Peter Inge	1 August 1996	July 2001	Baron Inge from 1997.
	Sir Roger Wheeler	1 August 2001	31 July 2009
	Sir Richard Dannatt	1 August 2009	July 2016	Baron Dannatt from 2011
	Sir Nick Houghton	31 July 2016	1 August 2022	Baron Houghton of Richmond from 2017
	Sir Gordon Messenger	1 August 2022