The Rise and Fall of the Tower of London A place to inspire visions of secret prisoners, torture and the axe - but the reality was less blood-soaked and more varied. Geoffrey Parnell chronicles the fortunes of the capital's royal fortress. Geoffrey Parnell | Published in History Today Volume 42 Issue 3 March 1992 To continue reading this article you will need to purchase access to the online archive. Buy Online Access Buy Print & Archive Subscription If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in. Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.