What Was It Like To Be Tortured In The Tower Of London? | The Tower

The Tower Of London is the United Kingdom's foremost tourist attraction - an imposing stronghold that has been part of London's royal heritage for more than 1,000 years. It has changed roles, from fortress to palace to prison; if the stones of this mighty citadel could talk imagine what stories they could tell. The events that have taken place here and the tragic and heroic characters that have passed through the gates have shaped the destiny of the United Kingdom.

Every imaginable execution method took place at The Tower of London in its 1000-year-old past. The most grisly of all was live disembowelment. The method was so gross and barbaric that Queen Elizabeth I finally banned the practice. The last time it was used was in 1586 on the conspirators of the Babington Plot. The plot was the work of Francis Walsingham, the father of modern espionage. He was known as The Spymaster.

In this film, we walk the modern streets of London to uncover the scars of a night that should have broken the nation's morale. From the "grimy-faced heroes" of the Auxiliary Fire Service—many of whom were taxi drivers towing pumps with rope—to the frantic struggle to save St Paul’s Cathedral under direct orders from Winston Churchill, we explore the courage that kept the city standing. 💚 Join the Absolute History club to get access to exclusive member benefits! 📺 You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more.

From the simple stone axe to firearms that helped conquer the land. Documentary Central is the home for compelling documentaries tackling subjects like history, climate change, wildlife, conspiracy and more.

Although they are blamed for the fall of Rome, the barbarians were more than just fearsome warriors. Converted to Christianity in the fourth century, the Vandals, Goths, and Huns went on to produce some of the greatest artistic and architectural achievements of the Dark Ages.

Who were the first Europeans, and what did they actually look like? In this feature-length documentary, cutting-edge genetic science and archaeology combine to rewrite thousands of years of human history. By extracting ancient DNA from skull bones buried deep within ancient tombs and ring forts, researchers are peeling back the millennia to uncover the truth about our ancestors—from dark-skinned, blue-eyed hunter-gatherers to the Neolithic farmers who erected Europe’s most magnificent megaliths. Plus, journey into the early Middle Ages to uncover shocking "deviant burials," pagan rituals that survived the arrival of Christianity, and the chilling ancient fear of the living dead. 💚 Join the Absolute History club to get access to exclusive member benefits! 📺 You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more.