Short answers, pulled from the story.
Dendrochronological evidence indicates construction began in the mid-1070s, with the decision to build occurring in 1078. The structure started as a timber fortification before evolving into a massive stone keep under the supervision of Gundulf, Bishop of Rochester.
Henry III ordered the Great Tower to be whitened inside and out in March 1240 to protect the stone from rain and weather. This strategic move included extending lead guttering to prevent the newly whitened walls from perishing and reflected contemporary European fashion for prestigious buildings.
Edward V and his brother Richard of Shrewsbury were confined to the Tower and last seen in public in June 1483 before disappearing. The most likely conclusion is that they were murdered late in the summer of that year, and bones discovered in 1674 were assumed to belong to them.
The White Tower evolved from a royal residence to a military store to accommodate powerful cannons and gunpowder. Timber platforms were added to the top for cannon emplacements, and by the 1560s, two armouries were created within the tower to house the country's most important military store.
The main building material was Kentish ragstone, though some local mudstone was also used. Caen stone was imported from northern France to provide details in the tower's facing, creating a structure that remains one of the most complete eleventh-century palaces in Europe.