THE CONSTABLE OF THE TOWER

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 26 August 1933, Page 11

THE CONSTABLE OF THE TOWER

TVTO longer doe's the Colnisitablo of the Tower of London look through a slit to sec how many .prisoners the barge is bringing along the Thames to the historic fortress. To-day the old prison, begun SSO years ago, is more of a sightseers-’ paradise than a gaol. But though the Constable’s duties have eea-sed to be strenuous, the ceremony of accepting the keys ol the Tower is still an impressive one (says the “New York Times”). - _ The recent induction of FieldMarshal Lord' Milne into the office wu:s attended 'by 'the satm-c .ritual tint was followed in the days' of the Tudlo.rs-. “The Coroner of the Tower,” we are told, “read the Inti tors patent 'creating Lord Milne Constable, and the Lord Chamberlain, in the name of the King, presented him with the keys t-O' the Tower.” , , . In early days, the Constable lived m! the Tower and gave his orders to gnrrjso'n officers and wardens by word of j mouth. Now the office is purely com- j pi im cut ary, an honour conferred on a I

Office Dating From Norman Conquest

. soldier of distinction for tong and loyal ! i service. The daily routine is directed j by a Besiden.t Governor. \ The office, of Constable of the Tower 11 of London, one of the oldest in Eng- : | land, dates back to within a few yeans ! of -the Noimian Conquest.. Geoffrey de > i M-and'cville:, appointed by William the ■! Conqueror, was the first. Constable. The i ! post, which carried rich emolument's in ' Tu-do'r days, Aims for -eenltturie.s conferred I by the King on prelates of the chunc-h. - .Certain privileges were always accord- :! ed the 'Constable. Even 'to-day he has i! authority to correspond direetilv with , i the King should <|?ca.sion arise, one ol 11 the few subjects so -honoured. The familiar “beefeaters,” or Yeomen of -the Guard, are still appointed j by the Constable,' A\-ho chooses them, 1 according -to 'custom, from every branch iof the service. As ritual marked the i investment -of Lord (Milne the o-tlier i day, so ritual marks flip passing of (the iTo AVer’s keys each night, with the i chief Avar der and the guard as pruiI cipals.