Architecture

Tower of London bleeds red to commemorate war dead

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Blood swept lands and seas of red, at the Tower of London (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)
The installation was created by ceramic artist Paul Cummins and arranged by stage designer Tom Piper (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)
The first poppy was placed by long serving Tower of London Yeoman Warder YS Crawford Butler on July 7 (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)
The installation officially opened on August 5, the date marking 100 years since Britain officially entered the First World War (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)
A team of volunteers is tasked with helping fill the moat that surrounds the tower with poppies (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)
The poppies are available for purchase at a price of £25 (approx US$42), with proceeds split between six charities (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)
Shot of the installation from Tower Hill (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)
Each evening until the installation closes on November 11, there is a roll of honor read out that lists 180 serving military killed during the First World War (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)
The installation officially opened on August 5, the date marking 100 years since Britain officially entered the First World War (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)
Members of the public can view the poppies for free from Tower Hill or the moat paths (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)
A team of volunteers is tasked with helping fill the moat which surrounds the Tower with poppies (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)
Volunteers receiving their instructions (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)
The first poppy was placed by long serving Tower of London Yeoman Warder YS Crawford Butler on July 7 (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)
Poppies spilling out of a Tower window (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)
Volunteers receiving their instructions (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)
Volunteers receiving their instructions (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)
The installation was created by ceramic artist Paul Cummins and arranged by stage designer Tom Piper (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)
The installation will grow in size until the last poppy is placed on Armistice Day, November 11 (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)
Volunteers laying poppies (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)
Volunteers receiving their instructions (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)
Blood swept lands and seas of red, at the Tower of London (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)
The poppies are available for purchase at a price of £25 (approx US$42), with proceeds split between six charities (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)
View gallery - 21 images

The Tower of London is currently home to a poignant art installation titled Blood swept lands and seas of red that will eventually feature 888,246 handmade ceramic poppies within its dry moat – or one for each British and Colonial fatality during the First World War.

The first poppy was placed by long-serving Tower of London Yeoman Warder YS Crawford Butler on July 7 and the installation was officially opened on August 5 – 100 years to the day since Britain entered the First World War. Members of the public can view the poppy installation for free from Tower Hill or the moat paths.

Each evening until November 11, a roll of honor is read out that lists 180 serving military personnel killed during the First World War, which is then followed by the Last Post bugle call.

The poppies are available for purchase at a price of £25 (approx US$42), with proceeds split between six charities (Photo: Adam Williams/Gizmag)

The poppies are the work of ceramic artist Paul Cummins and are arranged by stage designer Tom Piper. To ensure enough poppies are created in the short time available, Cummins' team is working in round-the-clock shifts, and volunteers plant poppies into the Tower of London's moat daily.

The ceramic poppies are available for purchase for £25 (around US$42) each, with all profits evenly split between six service charities. Following the placement of the last poppy on Armistice Day, November 11, Blood swept lands and seas of red will be dismantled, and the poppies sent to their new owners.

Source: Historic Royal Palaces

View gallery - 21 images
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1 comment
Stephen N Russell
Super memorial any planned for mainland EU for Brit & Colony troops in WW2 or in Australia alone Now is time for tours of WW1 battlesites alone. & to fly over in W1 planes.