Jewel House facts for kids
The Jewel House is a super secure place at the Tower of London. It's where the amazing British Crown Jewels are kept safe. This special vault is inside the Waterloo Block, which used to be a place for soldiers. Queen Elizabeth II opened the Jewel House in 1994, and it was updated again in 2012. The Crown Jewels have been stored in different parts of the Tower since the 1300s. This happened after some attempts to steal them from Westminster Abbey.
Contents
History of the Crown Jewels' Home
Early Days of Jewel Keeping
A special person was first put in charge of the Crown Jewels in 1207. Over many years, their job title changed a lot. They were called things like Keeper of the King's Jewels or Master of the Jewel House. This person also managed other royal items and money.
Even though there was a treasury at the Tower of London very early on, a separate Jewel House was built in 1255. This was for the most important crowns and royal items. It was located near Westminster Abbey.
By 1378, the keeper gained more control over the royal jewels. They kept them in a special box with two keys for extra security. One key was for the keeper, and the other was for the Lord Treasurer. This was the start of the Jewel House Department. Royal treasures were usually kept at the Tower of London. Also, items used for coronations were often stored in the Chamber of the Pyx at Westminster Abbey.
After a robbery attempt at the Chamber of the Pyx in 1303, some royal items were moved. They went to the Tower of London to be safer. A new Jewel House was built near the White Tower in 1378. By the 1530s, most jewels were kept together in this rebuilt Jewel House. The coronation items stayed at Westminster Abbey until the 1600s.
Jewels on Display: 1660 to 1814
After the monarchy was restored in 1660, Sir Gilbert Talbot was the first keeper. He was the last person to manage the Jewel House every day. From 1665, the royal items were put on show for the public. This made the Jewel House a very important place for visitors.
In 1669, the jewels were moved to a new room in the Martin Tower. A person named Talbot Edwards showed the jewels to visitors for a small fee. This was a very informal way of showing them. But this relaxed way of doing things ended in 1671. A man named Colonel Thomas Blood attacked the custodian. He tried to steal the Crown Jewels with three friends. Luckily, all the items were found, but some were damaged. St Edward's Crown was squashed, and the Sovereign's Orb got a dent.
After this theft attempt, big changes were made. An armed guard was put in place. The collection was moved behind bars in a room with no windows. The first guidebook to the Crown Jewels was also published. This made it a formal visitor attraction. People were locked inside the tower during their visit. They could only see the jewels from a distance. For a small fee, they could reach through the bars and touch some of the jewels.
In 1782, the Jewel Office department was closed down. The Lord Chamberlain's Office took over managing the jewels. From 1782 to 1814, only a caretaker guarded the jewels at the Tower of London. In 1814, a Keeper of the Jewel House was appointed again. This keeper had a servant who showed the jewels to visitors.
New Homes and More Visitors: 1815 to 1966
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In 1815, a visitor grabbed the State Crown and pulled it apart. This caused damage worth more than £10. Because of this, and the poor living conditions for the keeper, big changes were made in 1816. A rail was put up to keep the public further away from the jewels. The repaired State Crown and other items were put in glass cases on spinning tables. Six bright argand lamps lit up the whole collection.
By this time, the Jewel House was making a lot of money. In the 1830s, the keeper earned £550 a year. When the entrance fee was lowered in 1838, more visitors came. The keeper's income jumped to £1,500. The Treasury, which paid for the jewels' upkeep but got no money from visitors, started making new plans. In 1840, they planned a new building at the Tower of London to hold the collection. It opened in 1842.
The Crown Jewels were shown in glass cases in the middle of a room. This room had large windows so people could walk around and see them clearly. In 1852, the keeper was officially part of the Royal Household and paid a set salary. Sadly, the new Jewel House building was thought to be a fire risk. So, a new room was built on the upper floor of the Wakefield Tower in 1868. The Crown Jewels stayed there until 1967, except when they were moved for safety during wars or for ceremonies.
Modern Displays: 1967 to 1993
After the Second World War, the old Jewel House from the 1800s wasn't good enough. It wasn't secure enough, and too many people wanted to visit. At busy times, 1,500 visitors came each day. The 1967 Jewel House was built in the Waterloo Barracks. It cost £360,000 and was designed for up to 5,000 visitors a day.
A secret underground vault was built under the lawns in front of the barracks. This vault held the priceless coronation items. Other items like State Trumpets were displayed on the ground floor. Visitors walked down 49 steps to enter the concrete vault. It was said to be strong enough to protect the jewels from a nuclear attack. The main items were in a large star-shaped case. Visitors walked around it under the watch of wardens. A raised viewing area let people see the collection more slowly.
In 1968, a new group of wardens was created to protect the jewels. The job of Keeper of the Jewel House was combined with the Resident Governor of the Tower of London. In 1990, the Jewel House became part of the new Historic Royal Palaces agency.
The Latest Jewel House: 1994 to Today
By the 1980s, up to 15,000 people visited the jewels every day. This caused queues that could last an hour. The display also started to look old-fashioned. In 1992, it was decided to build a brand new Jewel House. This new one would be on the ground floor and cost £10 million. Ideas for the new layout came from places like Disneyland and other jewel houses in Europe.
Queen Elizabeth II opened the new Jewel House on 24 March 1994. It takes up almost the entire ground floor of the Waterloo Block. It's designed to let up to 20,000 people a day see the collection. There are over 100 priceless objects and 23,578 diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. They were lit by modern fibre optics and rested on soft French velvet.
Some people thought the new experience was "just about managing crowds." They mentioned the very thick, heavy steel doors and the moving walkways used at busy times.
In 2012, the exhibit was updated again for £2.5 million. It now has a new introduction area with a video. This video shows the history of the Crown Jewels. It also explains how they are used in the coronation ceremony. The jewels themselves are displayed in the order they are used in the ceremony. Handel's coronation anthems can be heard as visitors walk around. Brighter lights were added to show the jewels more naturally. A new lift helps people with disabilities reach the viewing platform. The Princess Royal officially reopened the Jewel House on 29 March 2012.
The underground vault built in 1967 now holds 25,000 architectural drawings of historic royal palaces.
Security of the Crown Jewels
The Crown Jewels are protected by very strong, bombproof glass. Visitors to the Tower are watched closely by over 100 hidden CCTV cameras. The overall security of the Tower of London is handled by the 22-person Tower Guard. This group of soldiers from the British Army has been at the Waterloo Block since 1845. They follow special orders to make sure the Crown Jewels are safe.
The 38 Yeomen Warders also help with security. These are former military personnel who work for Historic Royal Palaces. While they help with security, their main job during the day is to manage the many visitors. Unlike the soldiers, the Yeomen Warders live permanently in the Tower. This group has been around since 1485. They wear uniforms similar to the King's bodyguards.
The jewels are only moved with permission from the Lord Chamberlain. He is the head of the Royal Household. His deputy signs a paper when receiving items from the Deputy Governor. Only the Crown Jeweller is allowed to handle the royal items. Armed police officers are usually present at all times. In 2011, Colonel Richard Harrold became the Keeper of the Jewel House. By May 2023, Brigadier Andrew Jackson was the Keeper. He carried the King's ring in the Royal Procession at the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla.
The Chief Exhibitor of the Jewel House is Keith Hanson. The Deputy Chief Exhibitor is Lyn Jones.
See also
- Jewel Tower, which was the King's wardrobe at the Palace of Westminster until the 1500s.
