The Yeomen Warders

The Yeomen Warders (21)

DOWNLOAD THIS AUDIO (0.48 MB)

DOWNLOAD ALL (72.16 MB)

HOTEL NEAR

The Yeomen Warders, more commonly known as the “Beefeaters”, are the body of the Royal Guard entrusted to guard the Tower of London. The creation of this military unit dates back to the 15th century, during the reign of Edward IV, and their nickname could refer to the generous rations of meat that they received as part of their salary.

Although today their work is mainly as guides and they have a symbolic nature, officially this detachment of 36 soldiers dedicates its work to safeguarding the integrity of the Crown Jewels.

Their sentry work is symbolised by the Ceremony of the Keys, during which each night, at about ten o’clock, they close the main doors of the precinct in a formal way.

One of the Yeomen Warders has the post of Ravenmaster, the person responsible for taking care of the ravens of the Tower of London. Among their duties features feeding the birds, whose diet is basically made up of raw meat.

This group of guards is very well known for their Tudor red and white uniform with golden adornments. This uniform, similar to that of the Yeomen of the Guard, is reserved for special occasions, such as the visit of the Queen to the Tower or the coronation of a monarch. In this latter case they are armed with a halberd.

This is why you will probably see the Yeomen Warders with their regular uniform. This uniform is navy blue with red trimmings and was designed in the 19th century.

Aspirants who wish to join this body must have served in the armed forces for at least 22 years and their service record must be impeccable. If they pass the selection process, they must live in special lodgings within the precinct of the Tower of London.

The summer of 2007 marked a turning point for this military detachment, since for the first time in 500 years, a woman, the Scot Moira Cameron, was accepted to form part of it.

ALL POINTS OF INTEREST

INFORMATION

P&T London (0)

The Red Phone Boxes (84)

Changing the Guards Buckingham Palace (28)

The Yeomen Warders (21)

History of the city (1)

Saint Martin-in-the-Fields - Art (65A)

ESSENTIAL

Bank of England (55)

Chinatown (41)

Leicester Square (43)

Oxford Street (5)

Queen Victoria Memorial (68)

The Crown Jewels (20)

Trafalgar Square (4)

Big Ben (42)

Covent Garden (39)

London City Hall (107)

Pall Mall (26)

Regent Street (6)

The Shard (117)

Westminster Abbey (79)

Buckingham Palace (27)

Houses of Parliament (66)

London Eye (18)

Parliament Hill (16)

Saint Paul’s Cathedral (29)

The Yeomen Warders (21)

Westminster Abbey - Chapel Edward the Confessor - Chapel of Henry VII (80)

Changing the Guards Buckingham Palace (28)

Hyde Park (23)

London Tower (19)

Picadilly Circus (8)

Soho (7)

Tower Bridge (22)

Westminster Abbey as Necropolis (81)

INTERESTING

10 Downing Street (46)

Admiralty Arch (69)

Battersea Park (73)

Camden Market (78)

Columbia Road Flower Market (10)

Greenwich (108)

Horse Guards (95)

Leadenhall Building (109)

Millenium Bridge (111)

Parliament Square (83)

Richmond Park (13)

Royal Hospital Chelsea (72)

Saint Jame’s Park (94)

Smithfield Market (100)

St Mary-le-Bow (45)

The Barbican Estate (116)

The Old Vic (85)

Victoria Park (119)

Wembley Stadium (15)

20 Fenchurch Street (118)

Albert Memorial (74)

Bond Street (40)

Carnaby Street (106)

County Hall (62)

Guildhall and the Lord Mayor of the City (54)

Kensington Gardens (76)

Leadenhall Market (110)

Neal's Yard (112)

Petticoat Lane Market (97)

Royal Albert Hall (48)

Royal National Theatre (91)

Saint Martin-in-the-Fields (65)

Southbank Centre (63)

Stratford (113)

The Dome (50)

The Routemaster (90)

Wallace Collection (51)

Westminster Cathedral (67)

30 St Mary Axe - The Gherkin (2)

Alexandra Palace (17)

Borough Market (105)

Charing Cross (47)

Dr. Johnson's House (120)

Harrods Department Store (77)

Kensington Palace (75)

Madame Tussaud’s (38)

Notting Hill (11)

Portobello Road Market (12)

Royal Courts of Justice (57)

Royal Opera House (89)

Saint Pancras Station (92)

Southwark Cathedral (59)

Stratford - ArcelorMittal Orbit Center (115)

The Monument (82)

The West End Theatres (98)

Waterloo Station (88)

Winsor Castle (30)

Abbey Road (104)

Apsley House (102)

British Library (53)

Cleopatra’s Needle (64)

Globe Theatre (86)

HMS Belfast (99)

Lambeth Palace (61)

Marble Arch (71)

One Canada Square (3)

Regent’s Park (25)

Royal Exchange (56)

Saint Jame’s Palace (93)

Shepherd’s Bush (14)

Speaker’s Corner (24)

Stratford Sports Facilities (114)

The Old Curiosity Shop (58)

Tower 42 (103)

Wellington Arch (70)

MUSEUM

British Museum (31)

Madame Tussaud’s (38)

Natural History Museum (33)

Tate Britain (35)

Winsor Castle (30)

Churchill Museum (49)

Museum of London (101)

Science Museum (32)

Tate Modern (36)

Imperial War Museum (60)

National Gallery (34)

Sherlock Holmes Museum (87)

The Crown Jewels (20)

London Zoo (44)

National Portrait Gallery (96)

Sir John Soane’s Museum (52)

Victoria and Albert Museum (37)