The Refortification of the Tower of London 1679–86

Between 1679 and 1686 the Office of Ordnance sought to strengthen and modernize the defences of the Tower and to reorganize the accommodation of the garrison within. Rather than undertaking a massive programme of reconstruction, the Office simply equipped many of the existing, essentially medieval, defences with artillery platforms, though on the north-west and south-east corners of the outer enceinte a considerable amount of rebuilding was carried out. Despite the compromising nature of much of the work, these measures represent the last major attempt to refortify the castle. By 1714, however, the greater part of the improvements was deemed worthless and in the following year artillery reductions were set in motion.