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Beefeater Yeoman Warder the Tower of London - Ceremony of the Keys.
A Strictly Limited Edition Handmade Wooden Beafeater

The Beefeater

This limited edition soldier depicts a Beefeater from the Tower of London c.1953 dressed in ceremonial uniform.

The Tower of London was founded in the 11th Century and during its 900-year history has acted as a royal palace and fortress, prison and place of execution,arsenal, mint, menagerie and jewel house.

The Tower of London's Yeoman Warders are nicknamed 'Beefeaters'as in earlier times the Yeoman Warders were given a daily ration of meat for their duties. In the Early 1800's the daily ration for the thirty men on duty was 24lbs of beef, 18lbs mutton and 16lbs of veal!

The full and proper title for a Beefeater is 'Yeoman Warder of Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and Members of the Sovereign's Body Guard of the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary'. As well as their duties at the Tower, Yeoman Warder Beefeaters also attend the Coronation of the Sovereign, lying in state, the Lord Mayor's Show and other state and charity functions. New Yeoman Warders are sworn in on Tower Green after the Tower has closed to the public. The oath of allegiance dates back to 1337. After the ceremony the new recruit joins the other Yeoman Warders and his health is toasted by the Chief Yeoman Warder from the ceremonial punch bowl.

The Beefeater Yeoman Warder guards Britains Crown Jewels which have been used in Coronations and other ceremonial events by English kings and queens since 1660. The Crown Jewels are held by The Queen as Sovereign. The Tower of London Jewel House of 1842 enabled visitors to view the jewels in a glass cage in the middle of the room,but security was inadequate and a new Jewel House was opened in 1868 where the jewels remained for a hundred years. The collection was moved to a secret location during the Second World War, but was returned to the Tower in 1945.

At the Tower of London every night takes place the Ceremony of the Keys. Whereby the Tower is locked up by the Chief Warder who makes his way to the gates from the Byward Tower at exactly 21:53. Once all the Tower gates are locked, the last post is sounded by a trumpeter and the ceremony is concluded. This ceremony represents a 700 year-old tradition and lasts no more than 10 minutes.

Limited Edition Wooden Beafeater

Click here for details of the large hand carved wooden Beafeater.

Click here for our trophy sized Beefeater

Wooden Soldier Regimental Histories

All of my wooden soldiers are made in strictly limited editions, click here for a regimental history of each soldier.