London’s most iconic fortress has welcomed two new feathered guardians to its ancient stones. Five-week-old raven chicks Henry and Poe have taken up residence at the Tower of London, continuing a tradition steeped in centuries of myth and royal decree.
Guardians of the Kingdom
The arrival of these jet-black youngsters is no ordinary event in the capital. According to legend, should the Tower’s ravens ever depart, both the fortress and the kingdom itself will fall – a superstition that has transformed these birds from mere corvids into living, breathing national insurance policies.
“It’s an honour to be introducing our new raven chicks Henry and Poe to the Tower of London, and I’m absolutely delighted with how they’ve settled in so far,” said Ravenmaster Barney Chandler, a former Royal Marine who served for 24 years before assuming his unique role as guardian of the Tower’s most famous non-human residents.
The naming of the two newcomers reveals the deep historical connections these birds maintain. Henry pays homage to the numerous monarchs of that name who have been associated with the 900-year-old palace, while Poe takes his name from American literary master Edgar Allan Poe, whose haunting poem “The Raven” has immortalised the bird in popular culture.
A Prestigious Avian Community
Henry and Poe join an illustrious feathered community at the Tower. The existing resident ravens – Jubilee, Harris, Poppy, Georgie, Edgar and Chaos – collectively form what is aptly termed an “unkindness” or “conspiracy” of ravens.
For now, the young birds will remain in an enclosure as they adjust to their surroundings. Over the coming weeks, they’ll gradually be introduced to their fellow ravens before being granted greater freedom to explore the Tower grounds – always under the watchful eye of the Ravenmaster and his team.
“The team and I have had a busy couple of weeks looking after these troublemakers, who require a lot of care and attention when they’re very young,” Chandler explained. “But now that they’re almost fully fledged, we’re ready to bring them into the fold and let the other ravens take over showing them the ropes.”
Royal Ravens: From Charles II to Today
The tradition of keeping ravens at the Tower dates back to the reign of Charles II in the 17th century. According to Tower folklore, the monarch was advised that should the ravens ever leave, disaster would befall both the Tower and the kingdom.
The story goes that the King’s astronomer, John Flamsteed, who operated an observatory in the White Tower, had complained that the resident ravens were disrupting his work and requested their removal. Faced with choosing between astronomical clarity and protecting the realm, Charles wisely sided with superstition – a decision that has shaped Tower life ever since.
A Life of Luxury
Life for a Tower raven is remarkably comfortable by corvid standards. Their daily menu includes a variety of raw meat, a weekly egg, and special blood-soaked biscuits as treats – a diet that would make many a Londoner’s pet quite envious.
Beyond their official duties as kingdom-preservers, the Tower of London notes that the ravens’ responsibilities include “posing for photographs and taste-testing packed lunch items” – undoubtedly making them among the most photographed birds in the capital.
The new chicks are products of the Tower’s own raven breeding programme, representing a commitment to maintaining this living tradition for future generations of Londoners and visitors alike.
A Tourist Attraction with Wings
For the millions of tourists who flock to the Tower each year, the ravens provide a living connection to London’s myths and legends. Their distinctive croaks echo off ancient stonework, creating an atmosphere that no audio guide or historical plaque could ever replicate.
As Henry and Poe grow into their roles, they’ll join their fellow ravens in captivating visitors from around the world. Their presence transforms a visit to the Tower from merely observing history to experiencing a living tradition that continues to this day.
The arrival of these new guardians ensures that one of London’s most cherished superstitions remains intact – the ravens stay, and so too does the kingdom. In a city where tradition and modernity constantly intertwine, these birds represent an enduring link to London’s storied past.
For Londoners and visitors planning a trip to the Tower in the coming months, keep an eye out for the newest and youngest members of this elite avian corps as they take their first hops into a role steeped in centuries of royal history.
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