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Lollards Tower
The term 'Lollards Tower' refers to the small prison under its roof where Lollards, or followers of John Wycliffe, were imprisoned in the 16th century.
Prison
Seven iron rings remain attached to the wood-lined walls and graffiti left by the prisoners can be found carved into the wood.
Lollards Tower was formally known as Chichele's Tower and is situated to the west of the Chapel. The post room on the first floor once served as an audience chamber for Archbishop Chichele between 1414 and 1443.
The tower also has a bell turret with a 1687 bell and outside an empty niche, which once containing a statue of St Thomas of Canterbury. For many years boatmen passing on the river doffed their hats to the statue until it was removed by order of Henry VIII.
During a Second World War air raid on the 10th May 1941 much of the tower was gutted. Parts of the wooden prison are now supported and protected by a brick surround.