Short answers, pulled from the story.
William the Conqueror ordered the construction of the White Tower in the year 1078. This structure was the first of its kind in England and rose from the north bank of the River Thames to dominate the skyline of Saxon London.
Bishop Ranulf Flambard became the first recorded prisoner held at the Tower of London in 1100. He was a man loathed by the English for his harsh tax collection and later escaped using a smuggled rope hidden inside a butt of wine.
Only seven people were executed within the walls of the Tower of London before the world wars of the 20th century. Executions were more commonly held on the notorious Tower Hill to the north of the castle where 112 people were put to death over a 400-year period.
The Crown Jewels were moved into Martin Tower in 1669 where they were displayed for viewing by the paying public. Since 1994, the Crown Jewels have been on display in the Jewel House in the Waterloo Block.
The menagerie was closed in 1835 and the animals were moved to the London Zoo. The tradition of keeping ravens at the Tower continues to this day with at least six ravens kept at the Tower at all times.
The last person to be executed at the Tower of London was German spy Josef Jakobs who was shot on the 15th of August 1941. The executions for espionage during the wars took place in a prefabricated miniature rifle range which stood in the outer ward and was demolished in 1969.