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Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Tower of London, London EC3N 4AB, United Kingdom
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prisoners

Beauchamp Tower – Prisoners’ Inscriptions Explained

Decoding Beauchamp Tower’s prisoner carvings: style, meaning, and where to find the most evocative examples.

11/27/2025
12 min read
Beauchamp Tower interior with carved inscriptions

Why It Matters

Inscriptions transform walls into witnesses. They chart identity, allegiance, and faith pinned to moments of fear.

Craft and Code

  • Emblems, initials, and mottoes suggest networks beyond the cell.
  • Tool marks and letterforms reveal time, skill, and urgency.

Image Highlights

Entrance context Interior stonework


Reading Strategy

  • Sketch what you see; then read the panel notes.
  • Notice layers: older cuts beside sharper, more recent lines.

Bottom Line

The room hums with quiet records—history cut by hand into stone.


See Also

About the Author

Epigraphy Guide

Epigraphy Guide

I built this to help you enjoy the Tower of London smartly—clear pacing, better timing, and context that makes each chapel, crown, and stone corridor resonate.

Tags

Beauchamp Tower
inscriptions
graffiti
Tudor
prisoners

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