THIS SITE FORMED PART OF THE TOWER LIBERTY, AN AREA OF LAND ORIGINALLY KEPT OPEN FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE TOWER OF LONDONS. IN 1687 A CHARTER WAS GRANTED GIVING PRIVILEGED STATUS TO THOSE LIVING WITHIN ITS CONFINES, AMONGST THEM THE FREEDOM FROM THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY OF LONDON. ALTHOUGH THE LAST VESTIGES OF THESE PRIVILEGES WERE FINALLY DISSOLVED IN 1894, THE TRADITION OF THE BEATING OF THE BOUNDS TAKES PLACE EVERY THIRD YEAR ON ASCENSION DAY.

[Relief of the area, with the Thames river, the tower, and more, locations are marked with numbers]
These numbered stones mark the Liberty boundary.

WILLIAM PENN, FOUNDER OF PENNSYLVANIA, WAS BORN IN THE LIBERTY IN 1644 AND BAPTISED IN THE NEARBY CHURCH OF ALL HALLOWS, BARKING.

The Liberties of the Tower of London area includes Tower Hill and the Tower of London. The area defined around 1200 defined an area around the Tower of London, to ensure the defense of the tower. The residents of the area had a special status and an independent administration.

The plate has a relief with a map of the area, shown here at magnification Click for a larger image

The sign is on the ground surrounded by a circle and near the sundial at the Tower Hill tube station Click for a larger image