The Queen's House looks
nothing like the other buildings inside the Tower. That's because it was
made in a different style. While most of the buildings are stone, or brick,
or a mix of the two, the Queen's House is largely made of timber or wood.
And where the other towers are tall or bulky, the Queen's House only has a
couple of floors or stories. Isn't that a funny name when you think of it?
Stories?
There was a huge fire long ago, which was called the Great Fire of London,
and a lot of the houses in the city of London were burned because they were
largely made of wood. Because the Queen's House was inside the stone walls
of the Tower of London, it was saved. That makes it the only surviving
house of that style from that time!
But wait! There's more interesting things about this house and history ...
If you live in England you will know the very famous story of Guy Fawkes.
For those of you who live elsewhere, Guy Fawkes was a man who tried to blow
up the English Houses of Parliament. Imagine that!
He and some of his friends decided to dig a tunnel under Parliament,
which is where the laws are made in England . They rolled barrels of
gunpowder into the basement and stacked them there. They planned to set off
the barrels of gunpowder on November 5th. However, Just before it was time
to light the fuses to the gunpowder the plot was discovered.
Guy Fawkes
was captured and taken to the Tower of London as a prisoner. At the
Tower -- in fact in a hall known as the Council Chamber inside of the Queen's House -- he was made to confess that he was going to blow up Parliament,
and he told them the
names of all the other people who had helped him.
Now, every November 5th Guy Fawkes Day is celebrated in England. Boys and
girls get an old suit or maybe an old pair of dads pants and an old jacket,
and stuff it with straw to make a straw figure that looks like Guy Fawkes.
If they can get a hat they put that on too. This figure is called a Guy.
It's something like a scarecrow. The children then put the guy in a wooden
cart and take him door to door asking people for "A penny for the Guy
please."
When they have collected enough pennies they go and buy fireworks ... rockets,
and sparklers and bangers. As soon as it gets dark everyone, children and adults, build a huge bonfire with wood and sticks, and they throw the straw Guy on it and set the bonfire alight. As the straw Guy burns up fireworks are set off and everyone chants a rhyme:
Please to remember
The 5th of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot
We know of no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot. |
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