London Background-Early Years

Since we are starting in London here is a brief refresher of its long history. Founded in 50 CE by the Romans as Londinium, burned in 61 by Celts rebuilt and populated by Romans & Britons until temporarily abandoned in the 460’s when the Roman Legions left Britain. By the 600’s Saxons had resettled the area the town slowly growing until Danish Raiders looted and then burned the town in the mid 800’s. Rebuilt again, the town prospered and built Westminster Abby, completed in 1065-just in time to crown William the Conqueror King of England in 1067. William began work on a stone keep called the Great Tower in 1078 that became the center piece of his fortifications in the city. The fabulous history of the Tower of London had begun and London was set to enter the Middle Ages.