In the early 1990s Oxford Archaeology entered into a framework agreement with the Royal Household and Historic Royal Palaces to supply heritage services. For 30 years we have supported the Royal Household and Historic Royal Palaces in their care of these iconic sites and monuments and continue to do so. 

One of the first projects involved the monitoring of trenches for a new ring main in the Tower of London which revealed the line of the City’s Roman wall below one of the curtain wall towers and an investigation of the moat that revealed lost parts of its history. Hear the story from the archaologists that were there.

The Tower behind the scenes

For an archaeologist, working at the Tower of London is very, very special. The site features prominently in English history and bore witness to many of its most famous episodes. From fortress for William the Conqueror and mark of his new Norman order to hosting Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, two of the six wives of Henry VIII, in their final days, the Tower is a symbol of London and the United Kingdom recognised all over the world.

Here Richard Brown talks about the discoveries made by Oxford Archaeology through excavations and what it is like to be inside the Tower when the doors are closed for visitors.

  • Plan of the Tower with all the trenches of the excavations during 1995-7.
  • Richard Brown at work under the supervision of a Beefeater.
  • The trench excavated by the south-western causeway entrance.
  • Reconstruction of the Tower before 1241. Painting by Ivan Lapper.
  • A Beefeater with the just-exposed fish trap still in situ.
  • The foundations of a medieval turret in the outer curtain wall exposed by the excavations.
  • The Cradle Tower during excavations.
  • Aerial view of the Tower of London.
  • A fish trap found during the excavations of the moat.
  • Photograph of the excavations taken from the Byward Postern.
  • Photograph of one of the trenches that shows the extreme waterlogging found in the lower levels of the excavations. The water was pumped out during the day to allow works to continue, but the trenches were allowed to flood overnight to help preserve any timberwork and other organic finds. pumping
  • Plan of the Tower with all the trenches of the excavations during 1995-7.
  • Richard Brown at work under the supervision of a Beefeater.
  • The trench excavated by the south-western causeway entrance.
  • Reconstruction of the Tower before 1241. Painting by Ivan Lapper.
  • A Beefeater with the just-exposed fish trap still in situ.
  • The foundations of a medieval turret in the outer curtain wall exposed by the excavations.
  • The Cradle Tower during excavations.
  • Aerial view of the Tower of London.
  • A fish trap found during the excavations of the moat.
  • Photograph of the excavations taken from the Byward Postern.
  • Photograph of one of the trenches that shows the extreme waterlogging found in the lower levels of the excavations. The water was pumped out during the day to allow works to continue, but the trenches were allowed to flood overnight to help preserve any timberwork and other organic finds. pumping