Tower of London, Wardrobe Tower
Wardrobe Tower is a surviving fragment of a former tower. Originally this is thought to date to the 1190s, being part of Longchamp's work during the reign of Richard I. The fragment is D-shaped in plan and is known to stand on the line of the Roman landward wall. It incorporates the base of a Roman bastion still visible as the foundation of Roman bricks and a section of the Roman city wall.
The external face of the wall is of neat rows of squared ragstone rubble with tile bonding courses set at regular intervals. The twelfth-century walling above is of ragstone rubble with Caen and Reigate ashlar. Repairs in 18th-century red brick are also evident.
Repairs undertaken were as follows: cleaning programme using the ThermaTech system, brick replacement, structural repair - underpinning with SS rod, and Helifix ties. Also lime mortar re-pointing, conservation of Reigate stone including grouting to rubble core masonry and mortar repairs to the very friable stone, as well as lime mortar re-capping to wall head with flaunching and tile re-bedding.
Stonework cleaning using the ThermaTech cleaning system
Stonework cleaning using the ThermaRech cleaning system
Wardrobe Tower after conservation