Middle Tower

The Middle Tower stands at the south-western edge of the Tower of London, a fortified gatehouse set within its moat. It forms the first barrier visitors pass through on entering the fortress. A narrow causeway links it to the Byward Tower, which once formed part of the outer curtain wall. Before the Middle Tower rose, the Lion Tower guarded this approach, though nothing remains of it today. Edward I ordered the tower built in the 1280s as part of the outermost ring of defences. Two large round towers flank the gate on the city side, connected by a wall, while smaller rectangular turrets on the inner side once housed living quarters. The tower’s medieval brick vaults in the ground floor survive from the 13th century. These are among the earliest uses of fired brick in royal fortifications under Edward I. By the early 18th century the structure was ruinous, so its façade was clad in Portland stone to house the Ordnance Barrack Master’s rooms. The rebuilding followed the Board of Ordnance style, aiming for a medieval martial look without closely copying the original fabric. Parts of the connecting causeway date back to the 13th century, with later 18th-century repairs. A slight bend in the middle of the causeway may have been designed to deflect direct assaults. Visitors today walk across the restored causeway and pass beneath the twin round towers. Remains of the original drawbridge still lie in front of the gate. On the south side a fragment of the curtain wall with arrow slits survives, once used to defend the moat. The brick vaults inside show the early use of burnt clay bricks in royal works. The Portland stone façade, added in the 18th century, gives the tower its present appearance. The connecting passage to the Byward Tower retains its medieval curve, a reminder of the fortress’s layered history.