There is a legend that at least six ravens must guard the Tower of

London, or the monarchy will fall. Records recently released under

the Freedom of Information Act, show that in May, a fox killed
two. As there were eight to start off with, this still left six ravens
to safeguard the queen. However, a Tower spokesman said that the
fox had nearly killed three ravens, and this would have left only
five ravens on guard. Since then, security has been ‘beefed up’.

Disaster The birds, named Grip and Jubilee, were just about to
go into their overnight cages when the fox struck. They go into
overnight cages to protect them from urban foxes, but this fox got
them just as they were going in. Warders immediately bought two
new birds to replace them and gave them the same names.

Here is a
The ravens, known as ‘guardians of the
Beefeater
Tower’, are treated very well. They eat top
feeding
one of the quality meat from the famous Smithfield
ravens market and biscuits soaked in blood. For
who guard treats, they have salt and vinegar crisps.
the Tower. There is an annual budget of £4000 to look
after the birds. The Beefeaters take care
of them.

The Tower of London is a medieval castle that

was for many years a prison. Now, it houses the
Crown Jewels – all the Queen’s crowns and
fantastic state jewellery
The Tower of London
 Match up the word and its synonym/definition

Legend drenched/dipped in Answer the questions:

Monarchy to do with ‘town’ 1) What is the legend about the Tower

Safeguard old story of London and the ravens who live there?
2) How did this information (that a fox
‘beefed up’ yearly or every year
killed two ravens), come to light?
Urban kings and queens 3) Why have they strengthened the
security for the ravens?
soaked look after
4) What do the ravens eat?
annual strengthened/reinforced 5) What is the annual budget to keep the
ravens?
6) Who looks after the ravens?
7) What happened immediately after
Answer the questions true or false the two birds were killed?
1) For many years, it has been believed that the six 8) What kind of castle is the Tower of
ravens at the Tower of London protect the king or London?
queen of the day. 9) Can you describe a Beefeater?
2) In May, an urban fox killed three of the Tower of 10) What is hosed at the |Tower these
London ravens. days?
3) ‘Beefed up’ is a play on words to do with the
Beefeaters.
4) The fox grabbed the ravens as they were eating Many people were beheaded at the
their meal of meat and biscuits soaked in blood. Tower of London, including Anne Boleyn,
wife of Henry 8th and mother of Queen
5) Every year, there is a budget of £4000 for the
Elizabeth 1st.
upkeep of the ravens.
6) The Tower of London used to be a dungeon where
prisoners were kept.
7) They bought two new birds to replace the two
that the fox ate, but they gave them different
names.
8) Now, the Tower of London houses the Crown
Jewels.