Could Your Picture End Up On The Side Of The Tower Of London?

How do you fancy seeing one of your drawings covering the side of the Tower of London?

Imagine your picture printed onto a huge sheet covering the east side of the 27-metre-high White Tower, the oldest and most famous part of the Tower of London.

© HRP

For your chance of artistic fame, all you have to do is to draw a picture that captures the history and legends of the Tower.

It was started in 1078 - almost 1,000 years ago.

Will your picture feature the famous Beefeaters or the ravens that live at the Tower of London?

© HRP

Whatever you choose to draw, you need to send the finished picture in to the Hung, Quartered and Drawn! competition. The closing date for entries is January 14 2008, so there's plenty of time to get your pens and pencils out and plan your design.

The Tower of London is actually made up of several towers and buildings, and the White Tower is the best-known and oldest part of it. It's being covered so that it can be given a good clean, which isn't an easy job and will take until 2011 to complete.

That means the winning drawing will be seen by the millions of people who visit the Tower each year.

The White Tower has been used for lots of things over the years - it's been a fortress to protect the city, it's had lots of important prisoners in it and was also used as accommodation for royal visitors.

This is what Ranulf Flambard might have looked like - he was an unpopular bishop (important priest) who was locked up in the White Tower in the year 1100. He eventually escaped after spending half a year imprisoned.

© HRP

From the 14th century, about 700 years ago, the Tower's main use was as a store for weapons and armour.

You can read loads about it on the Stories of the White Tower website.

They've also got some fun games and activities to try - see how you do in the Beat the Gaoler game. Here he is, lurking in his dungeon...

© HRP

To find out all about the competition go to the Hung, Quartered and Drawn! website, and download the entry form. You then have to fill it in and send it to the Tower of London along with your picture, and remember to read the rules carefully!

Good luck and happy drawing!