Decoration in the Tower of London and St. Paul's Cathedral

Both the Tower of London and St. Paul’s Cathedral are key sites and visitor attractions in London. However, the two places have some stark differences. The Tower of London was used as a prison, place of torture, and execution site. It was a key defensive fortress with a mini-community inside its walls containing everything from food to a chapel. St. Paul’s Cathedral, on the other hand, has been an important historical place of worship. Some interesting comparisons and contrasts can be made when examining the décor of the two places.

The Tower of London has a longer history than St. Paul’s Cathedral. This longer history is evident in the buildings within the Tower. White Tower especially shows its age as the bricks have obviously been laid centuries ago. Various places within the Tower of London are decorated differently. White Tower is fairly plain, but currently houses the “Henry VIII Dressed to Kill” exhibition. The narrow staircases and old walls create the feeling of standing in an important historical location. Beauchamp Tower contains my favorite decorations- etchings in the walls of prisoners made throughout the centuries. Some prisoners carved full coats of arms and other intricate designs, suggesting a lengthy imprisonment. Others simply carved a name or some initials to leave their mark. St. Paul’s Cathedral, unlike the Tower of London, contains no sign of prisoners. Like the White Chapel, however, climbing up the stairs to the dome and standing in the crypt make visitors aware that they are currently in a very important place. Standing on the balconies of the dome gives visitors an incredible view of the extravagant artwork in the dome. While in the crypt, people stop to look at the various memorials and tombs and clearly have a sense of the magnificence of the place.

The major similarity I noticed between the Tower of London and St. Paul’s Cathedral concerning decorations were the various memorials and tombs. The Royal Chapel of the Tower of London is the burial site for many important historical figures, such as Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell. Plaques on the wall, floor markings, and actual tombs remind visitors of the important lives of those buried within the chapel. Similarly at St. Paul’s Cathedral, the crypt contained some tombs and many plaques commemorating heroic and noteworthy individuals. The back of the church even contained a memorial for the fallen American soldiers of World War II. Both places recognize status and achievements of individuals who have died and present an atmosphere reminding visitors of their importance in the history of London.