The Tower of London, with its battlements, dungeons, and storied past, has long been regarded as a symbol of England’s turbulent history. Within its walls lies Tower Green, a small, enclosed space that belies its enormous historical significance. To casual observers, Tower Green might appear to be no more than a patch of lawn within a fortress. Yet this quiet square has borne witness to some of the most dramatic and tragic episodes in English history. It is here, rather than in the public spectacle of Tower Hill, that some of the most notable figures of the Tudor period were executed.
The stories associated with Tower Green speak of betrayal, religious conflict, shifting loyalties, and above all, the ruthless power struggles at the heart of the English monarchy. Today, it is both a place of commemoration and reflection, visited by millions each year who come to stand where queens, nobles, and martyrs once met their end.
Location and Setting
Tower Green lies within the inner ward of the Tower of London, close to the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula, where many of those executed were later buried. The green is a relatively small, open area, enclosed by the surrounding towers and walls. Its proximity to the chapel ensured that those executed on Tower Green could be interred swiftly, often without the pomp or public ceremony that accompanied executions on nearby Tower Hill.
Today, the spot of execution is marked by a circular glass memorial created in 2006 by artist Brian Catling. Etched into the glass are the names of those who died on Tower Green, along with words of remembrance, ensuring that the site remains a place of solemnity and reflection.
Tower Green vs. Tower Hill
It is important to distinguish between executions carried out on Tower Green and those that took place on Tower Hill, which lies just outside the Tower walls. Tower Hill was the site of most executions for high-ranking prisoners, intended as public spectacles that reinforced the power of the crown and served as warnings to the populace.
Tower Green, by contrast, was reserved for a select few—usually members of the nobility or royalty—for whom a public execution might have provoked unrest, sympathy, or scandal. Executions here were private, witnessed only by a small number of officials and attendants. This exclusivity lends Tower Green its particularly tragic aura, as it was reserved for victims whose deaths carried exceptional political or symbolic weight.
The Executions on Tower Green
Only seven people are known with certainty to have been executed on Tower Green, though the exact number may be slightly higher. These include three English queens whose tragic fates forever tied their names to the place.
1. Anne Boleyn (1536)
Perhaps the most famous execution at Tower Green was that of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII and mother of the future Elizabeth I. Arrested on charges of adultery, incest, and treason—charges widely regarded by historians as fabricated—Anne was condemned to die in May 1536.
Henry granted her the unusual “mercy” of being executed with a sword, rather than the traditional axe, and a skilled French executioner was brought in. On the morning of May 19, 1536, Anne was escorted from her lodgings in the Tower to Tower Green, where she was beheaded with a single stroke. Her remains were buried in the nearby chapel of St Peter ad Vincula.
Anne’s execution shocked Europe, not only for its brutality but also for the swiftness with which Henry moved on, marrying Jane Seymour just days later. Tower Green became indelibly linked with Anne’s story, symbolizing both the ruthless nature of Tudor politics and the vulnerability of even the most exalted figures.
2. Catherine Howard (1542)
Just six years later, another queen met her end on Tower Green. Catherine Howard, Henry VIII’s fifth wife and cousin of Anne Boleyn, was accused of committing adultery while married to the king. Arrested in late 1541, Catherine was held in the Tower and executed on February 13, 1542, at the age of around 19.
Accounts suggest that Catherine was hysterical in the hours before her execution, though some reports claim she faced her death with dignity. Like Anne, she was buried in St Peter ad Vincula. Catherine’s tragic story reinforced the sense that Tower Green was a stage upon which the dangers of proximity to royal power played out.
3. Lady Jane Grey (1554)
Known as the “Nine Days’ Queen,” Lady Jane Grey was placed on the throne in 1553 after the death of Edward VI, but her reign lasted only briefly before Mary I claimed the crown. Though initially spared, Jane became too great a political threat to Mary once rebellions broke out in her name.
On February 12, 1554, Jane was led to Tower Green to be executed. Barely 16 or 17 years old, Jane delivered a moving speech before laying her head on the block. Her execution shocked contemporaries, many of whom viewed her as an innocent pawn in the power struggles of ambitious men.
Jane’s husband, Guildford Dudley, was executed on Tower Hill the same day. Their tragic deaths cemented Tower Green’s reputation as a place of royal sacrifice and political ruthlessness.
4. Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury (1541)
One of the most harrowing executions on Tower Green was that of Margaret Pole, the 67-year-old Countess of Salisbury and last surviving member of the Plantagenet royal line.
Arrested on charges of treason—likely fabricated to eliminate a dynastic threat—she was condemned to death in 1541. Contemporary accounts describe her execution as a gruesome affair: the inexperienced executioner required multiple blows to kill her. Her death exemplified the brutality of Tudor justice and the dangers of royal blood.
5. Others Executed
Other notable figures executed on Tower Green include:
- Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford (1542), sister-in-law to Anne Boleyn, executed alongside Catherine Howard.
- Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (1601), a favorite of Elizabeth I who was executed after leading a failed rebellion against the queen.
Each of these deaths added layers of tragedy and legend to Tower Green’s history.
Tower Green as a Symbol
Tower Green’s significance extends beyond the individuals who died there. It embodies the broader themes of Tudor and early modern history:
- The Fragility of Power: Even queens and noblewomen could fall victim to political intrigue.
- Religious Conflict: Executions like that of Lady Jane Grey highlight the fierce struggle between Catholicism and Protestantism during the 16th century.
- Monarchal Authority: The secrecy of Tower Green executions demonstrated that the monarchy’s power was absolute, yet also calculated in avoiding public sympathy for victims.
Commemoration and the Modern Era
Today, Tower Green is preserved as one of the most solemn areas of the Tower of London. The modern glass memorial installed in 2006 marks the site of executions with dignity. Its circular design symbolizes eternity, while inscriptions remind visitors of the human cost of political ambition and religious division.
The Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula remains the final resting place for many of Tower Green’s victims, their graves marked inside the chapel. Services are still held there, offering a reminder that the site continues to function as a place of worship and remembrance.
Visitors to Tower Green often describe the area as eerily quiet, despite the bustling crowds elsewhere in the Tower. The combination of historical knowledge and physical presence lends the space a haunting atmosphere.
Legends and Ghost Stories
Like much of the Tower, Tower Green is said to be haunted. Tales abound of apparitions, most notably the ghost of Anne Boleyn, who is said to wander near the site of her execution or within the chapel where she is buried. Lady Jane Grey, too, has reportedly been seen on the anniversary of her death.
Though such stories cannot be proven, they reflect the enduring fascination with Tower Green as a place where history and legend intertwine.
Conclusion
Tower Green is one of the most hauntingly significant places within the Tower of London. While executions elsewhere in the city were public demonstrations of power, those on Tower Green were private, reserved for individuals whose deaths were too politically sensitive to display openly.
The tragic fates of Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, Lady Jane Grey, and others turned this small patch of lawn into a stage upon which some of the most dramatic moments of English history unfolded. Today, Tower Green serves as both a memorial and a reminder: a quiet space where visitors can reflect on the dangers of ambition, the ruthlessness of political power, and the human stories behind the sweep of history.
Through its association with royalty, betrayal, and martyrdom, Tower Green remains one of the most poignant landmarks in Britain, a place where past and present meet in silent remembrance.
