Torture dungeon – White Tower, The Tower of London

White Tower: Torture in the Dungeon

Within a castle complex the "dungeon" serves as the prison area. A dungeon (a term that evolved from the Norman word donjon) was located in the basement, or lowest level, of a keep and was normally used as a prison. In architecture, the most fortified area and the heart of a medieval castle was referred to as a "keep." Gundolf, Bishop of Rochester (d. 1108), is thought to be the original architect for this layout when he had the White Tower (Tower of London) built. Gundolf, Bishop of Rochester (d. 1108), is thought to be the original architect for this layout when he had the White Tower (Tower of London) built. A Norman keep is typically a very large square tower. Wells were often cleverly concealed within the medieval keep in a thick pillar or wall. Read the rest of this entry »