Though its original function was defensive, the Tower of London soon became a prison and a place of murders, executions and tortures. Prisoners belonged to all the social classes, they could be common thieves or lord and princesses. In fact, one of the most famous prisoners was Princess Elizabeth. Her half-sister Queen Mary I imprisoned her in order to protect the throne. Needless to say, when Mary died Elisabeth became Queen of England.
Another famous prisoner was Anne Bolein, the second wife of Henry VIII. The accuse was incest and adultery and it lead to Anne’s execution in 1536 on Tower Green. If you’re visiting the Tower you can hear her story told by the Yeomen Warders next to the place where she was beheaded.
The Tower of London is well known for being the place of many unbelievable tortures. Torturing prisoner was common during interrogations as it happened during the gunpowder plot in 1605. Guy Fawks was one of the conspirators against Parliament and he got imprisoned and killed at the Tower.