The White Tower: Not a Nickname—It's the Tower of London's Central Keep

Correct Terminology

The White Tower is the central keep (donjon) of the Tower of London complex—not a nickname for the whole fortress.

Why "White"?

• Built by William the Conqueror starting 1078.
• Original exterior: whitewashed Caen limestone (imported from Normandy) – gleamed visibly for miles.
• Henry III (1240s) ordered regular whitewashing; hence the name stuck.

What It Housed

• Royal apartments (early).
• Chapel of St. John (finest Norman ecclesiastical interior in England).
• Armories (Line of Kings display).
• Prison cells (high-status: Raleigh, Guy Fawkes, Princes in the Tower).
• Record storage, mint, observatory.

Today

• Heart of UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Displays Royal Armouries collections.
• Ravens roam the grounds (not inside White Tower).

Summary

Tower of London = entire 18-acre fortress. White Tower = its 90-ft stone keep, named for its whitewashed Norman walls.