The Tower of London’s new ravenmaster takes charge of the landmark’s iconic flock
According to legend, if the ravens go away the Eleventh-century fortress beside the River Thames, the Kingdom of England will fall
Updated: 7:50 AM EST Mar 2, 2024
If an historical prophecy is correct, Michael “Barney” Chandler has simply obtained a very powerful job in England.The 56-year-old former Royal Marine is the new ravenmaster on the Tower of London, liable for taking care of the feathered protectors of the 1,000-year-old fortress.According to legend, if the ravens go away the Eleventh-century tower beside the River Thames, its White Tower will crumble and the Kingdom of England will fall. In the seventeenth century, King Charles II was informed of the prophecy and decreed that there should at all times be six ravens on the tower.”We take that accountability very critically,” mentioned Chandler. “And now that I’m ravenmaster, there’s that additional accountability on my shoulders.”As for the prophecy, he mentioned, “We do not know if it is true or not, as a result of we have by no means let the quantity drop under six — and it is not going to occur whereas I’m right here.” Chandler, who formally takes up the submit on Friday, is one of the tower’s well-known Yeoman Warders, half of a corps based within the fifteenth century. Also often called Beefeaters, the warders are all navy veterans who gown in distinctive black and scarlet Tudor-style uniforms and carry out a hybrid position: offering safety, main excursions of the tower, and performing ceremonial duties.He heads a group of 4 different Beefeaters taking care of the tower’s seven ravens — the six decreed by Charles II and a spare. They are Jubilee, Harris, Poppy, Georgie, Edgar, Branwen and the newest addition, Rex, who was named in honor of the coronation of King Charles III final yr.The jet-black birds are a well-recognized function on the landmark, which has served as an arsenal, palace, jail, zoo and, extra not too long ago, vacationer attraction.Built by King William I after his conquest of England in 1066, it served as a royal residence for a number of hundred years, however is extra well-known as a jail.The Tower is the place “the princes within the tower,” sons of King Edward IV, had been confined in 1483 and allegedly murdered by their uncle, King Richard III, and the place Anne Boleyn was executed in 1536 after Henry VIII grew drained of his second spouse. Other well-known inmates have included Princess Elizabeth, the longer term Queen Elizabeth I; Guy Fawkes, who tried to explode Parliament; and Adolf Hitler’s deputy, Rudolf Hess.Nowadays, virtually 3 million vacationers come every year to absorb a millennium of historical past and see the glittering Crown Jewels, that are saved within the tower.The official title of ravenmaster is barely 50 years outdated, although the position is way older, and Chandler is the sixth holder of the submit. He is in charge of the well being and welfare of the birds, who normally roam freely across the tower grounds by day and sleep in cages at night time.Duties embrace sustaining the birds’ enclosures, arranging veterinary checkups and preserving them ate up their most popular weight loss plan of uncooked meat supplemented by the occasional deal with of a hard-boiled egg or a hard-tack biscuit soaked in blood.”They’re carrion birds,” mentioned Chandler. “They’ll eat virtually something.”The birds’ feathers are trimmed to forestall them from flying away, though they sometimes escape. According to Historic Royal Palaces, the charity that oversees the tower, a raven referred to as Grog flew off in 1981 and was final seen outdoors an East End pub named the Rose and Punchbowl.Chandler is endlessly fascinated by the extremely smart birds, which he says are as sensible as a 7-year-old baby. Pressed on his favourite, he names the mischievous Poppy, who hops throughout the grass beneath the White Tower and eagerly accepts his providing of a useless mouse as a snack.He says the bright-eyed corvids are “most likely one of probably the most clever animals there are. Sometimes, right here, too intelligent for their very own good. But for me, that is the attraction.”Chandler, who served in Afghanistan and world wide throughout 24 years within the Royal Marines, has been on chook dealing with programs and had different formal coaching for his position. But he says, “All the programs on the planet would not exchange truly being right here and being amongst the birds and figuring out their habits.””You by no means know what they are going to do,” Chandler mentioned. “They’re all completely totally different, personality-wise. Some will play ball, however others will not. It’s simply the unpredictability, which can be the attention-grabbing half of the job.””They’re at all times making an attempt to catch us out,” he mentioned fondly. “They know what we’re as much as.”
If an historical prophecy is correct, Michael “Barney” Chandler has simply obtained a very powerful job in England.
The 56-year-old former Royal Marine is the new ravenmaster on the Tower of London, liable for taking care of the feathered protectors of the 1,000-year-old fortress.
According to legend, if the ravens go away the Eleventh-century tower beside the River Thames, its White Tower will crumble and the Kingdom of England will fall. In the seventeenth century, King Charles II was informed of the prophecy and decreed that there should at all times be six ravens on the tower.
“We take that accountability very critically,” mentioned Chandler. “And now that I’m ravenmaster, there’s that additional accountability on my shoulders.”
As for the prophecy, he mentioned, “We do not know if it is true or not, as a result of we have by no means let the quantity drop under six — and it is not going to occur whereas I’m right here.”
Chandler, who formally takes up the submit on Friday, is one of the tower’s well-known Yeoman Warders, half of a corps based within the fifteenth century. Also often called Beefeaters, the warders are all navy veterans who gown in distinctive black and scarlet Tudor-style uniforms and carry out a hybrid position: offering safety, main excursions of the tower, and performing ceremonial duties.
He heads a group of 4 different Beefeaters taking care of the tower’s seven ravens — the six decreed by Charles II and a spare. They are Jubilee, Harris, Poppy, Georgie, Edgar, Branwen and the newest addition, Rex, who was named in honor of the coronation of King Charles III final yr.
The jet-black birds are a well-recognized function on the landmark, which has served as an arsenal, palace, jail, zoo and, extra not too long ago, vacationer attraction.
Built by King William I after his conquest of England in 1066, it served as a royal residence for a number of hundred years, however is extra well-known as a jail.
The Tower is the place “the princes within the tower,” sons of King Edward IV, had been confined in 1483 and allegedly murdered by their uncle, King Richard III, and the place Anne Boleyn was executed in 1536 after Henry VIII grew drained of his second spouse. Other well-known inmates have included Princess Elizabeth, the longer term Queen Elizabeth I; Guy Fawkes, who tried to explode Parliament; and Adolf Hitler’s deputy, Rudolf Hess.
Nowadays, virtually 3 million vacationers come every year to absorb a millennium of historical past and see the glittering Crown Jewels, that are saved within the tower.
The official title of ravenmaster is barely 50 years outdated, although the position is way older, and Chandler is the sixth holder of the submit. He is in charge of the well being and welfare of the birds, who normally roam freely across the tower grounds by day and sleep in cages at night time.
Duties embrace sustaining the birds’ enclosures, arranging veterinary checkups and preserving them ate up their most popular weight loss plan of uncooked meat supplemented by the occasional deal with of a hard-boiled egg or a hard-tack biscuit soaked in blood.
“They’re carrion birds,” mentioned Chandler. “They’ll eat virtually something.”
The birds’ feathers are trimmed to forestall them from flying away, though they sometimes escape. According to Historic Royal Palaces, the charity that oversees the tower, a raven referred to as Grog flew off in 1981 and was final seen outdoors an East End pub named the Rose and Punchbowl.
Chandler is endlessly fascinated by the extremely smart birds, which he says are as sensible as a 7-year-old baby. Pressed on his favourite, he names the mischievous Poppy, who hops throughout the grass beneath the White Tower and eagerly accepts his providing of a useless mouse as a snack.
He says the bright-eyed corvids are “most likely one of probably the most clever animals there are. Sometimes, right here, too intelligent for their very own good. But for me, that is the attraction.”
Chandler, who served in Afghanistan and world wide throughout 24 years within the Royal Marines, has been on chook dealing with programs and had different formal coaching for his position. But he says, “All the programs on the planet would not exchange truly being right here and being amongst the birds and figuring out their habits.”
“You by no means know what they are going to do,” Chandler mentioned. “They’re all completely totally different, personality-wise. Some will play ball, however others will not. It’s simply the unpredictability, which can be the attention-grabbing half of the job.”
“They’re at all times making an attempt to catch us out,” he mentioned fondly. “They know what we’re as much as.”
