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The Tour
The History of the Tower of London is bloody and cruel and Traitor's Gate
has its part to play in its story. The
water-gate under St Thomas's Tower has been known for over 400 years as
'Traitors' Gate' because of the number of prisoners, accused of treason,
who have passed through it.
Unfortunate and important state prisoners were committed to the Tower of
London through the River Thames entrance to the Tower of London called
Traitors Gate. The journey of these prisoners was made by barge along the
River Thames. Often their journey would take them past London Bridge where
the heads of recently executed traitors were displayed on the roof of the
stone gate house. The heads were placed on spikes, attached to poles and
displayed on the Bridge. The young and tragic Catherine Howard had to pass
the gruesome sight of the head of her lover Thomas Culpepper on her
journey to the Tower of London and Traitors Gate. This grisly practice
continued until around 1678.
