Editing Tower of London (section)

==Crown Jewels==
{{See also|Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom|Jewel House}}
[[File:Saint Edward's Crown.jpg|thumb|upright|[[St Edward's Crown]]]]
The tradition of housing the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London probably dates from the reign of Henry III (1216–1272). The Jewel House was built specifically to house the royal regalia, including jewels, plate, and symbols of royalty such as the crown, sceptre, and sword. When money needed to be raised, the treasure could be pawned by the monarch. The treasure allowed the monarch independence from the aristocracy and consequently was closely guarded. A new position for "keeper of the jewels, armouries and other things" was created,<ref name="Wilson 29">{{harvnb|Wilson|1998|p=29}}</ref> which was well rewarded; in the reign of Edward III (1327–1377) the holder was paid 12d a day. The position grew to include other duties including purchasing royal jewels, gold, and silver, and appointing royal goldsmiths and jewellers.<ref name="Wilson 29" />

In 1649, during the [[English Commonwealth]] following [[Regicide of Charles I of England|Charles I's execution]], the contents of the Jewel House were disposed of along with other royal properties, as decreed by Cromwell. Metal items were sent to the Mint to be melted down and re-used, and the crowns were "totallie<!-- this is the spelling used by the original document--> broken and defaced".<ref name="I&P 106">{{harvnb|Impey|Parnell|2000|p=106}}</ref>

When the monarchy was [[Restoration (England)|restored]] in 1660, the only surviving items of the coronation regalia were a 12th-century spoon and three ceremonial swords. (Some pieces that had been sold were later returned to the Crown.)<ref>{{Cite web |title=British Crown Jewels |url=https://royalexhibitions.co.uk/crown-jewels-2/ |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815165715/https://royalexhibitions.co.uk/crown-jewels-2/ |archivedate=15 August 2018 |accessdate=23 August 2017 |publisher=Royal Exhibitions}}</ref> Detailed records of old regalia survived, and replacements were made for the coronation of Charles II in 1661 based on drawings from the time of Charles I. For the coronation of Charles II, gems were rented because the treasury could not afford to replace them.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gibson |first=William |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EB7BBAAAQBAJ&q=tower+of+london+jewels+1660&pg=PT16 |title=A Brief History of Britain 1660 – 1851 |date=23 June 2011 |publisher=Little, Brown Book Group |isbn=9781849018159 |via=Google Books}}</ref>

In 1669, the Jewel House was demolished<ref name="Parnell 1993 67" /> and the Crown Jewels moved into Martin Tower (until 1841).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rennison |first=Nick |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HWBquVNVZMUC&q=crown+jewels+tower+of+london+jewels+1669&pg=PA32 |title=The Book Of Lists London |date=31 August 2010 |publisher=Canongate Books |isbn=9781847676665 |via=Google Books}}</ref> They were displayed here for viewing by the paying public. This was exploited two years later when Colonel [[Thomas Blood]] attempted to steal them.<ref name="Parnell 1993 111" /> Blood and his accomplices bound and gagged the Jewel House keeper. Although they laid their hands on the Imperial State Crown, Sceptre and Orb, they were foiled when the keeper's son turned up unexpectedly and raised the alarm.<ref name="I&P 106" /><ref>{{Citation |title=Colonel Blood's raid |url=http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/stories/anattempttostealthecrownjewels.aspx |publisher=[[Historic Royal Palaces]] |accessdate=22 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706133644/http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/stories/anattempttostealthecrownjewels.aspx |archivedate=6 July 2010}}</ref>

Since 1994, the Crown Jewels have been on display in the [[Jewel House]] in the Waterloo Block. Some of the pieces were once regularly used by Queen Elizabeth II. The display includes 23,578 gemstones, the 800-year-old Coronation Spoon, St Edward's Crown (traditionally placed on a monarch's head at the moment of crowning) and the Imperial State Crown.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Royal Collection at The Tower of London: Jewel House |url=https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/near-you/jewel-house#/ |website=www.royalcollection.org.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Humphreys |first=Rob |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=96NlZrT5UkYC&q=crown+jewels+tower+of+london+on+display+waterloo+block&pg=PT373 |title=The Rough Guide to London |date=4 January 2010 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=9781405384759 |via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Crown Jewels |url=https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/explore/the-crown-jewels/#gs.WFXa90k |website=Historic Royal Palaces}}</ref>