THE POLAR BEAR THAT FISHED IN THE THAMES
9th August 2026 by | Uncategorized
THE POLAR BEAR THAT FISHED IN THE THAMES
The Tower of London once housed one of medieval Europe’s most extraordinary royal menageries.
In 1252, Henry III received a “white bear”—almost certainly a polar bear—from the King of Norway. The animal was kept muzzled and chained, but its keeper was permitted to lead it down to the River Thames, secured by a stout rope, so that it could swim and catch fish.
Three years later an African elephant arrived as a gift from the King of France. Londoners flocked to see it, although the elephant survived for only a few years despite being given its own specially built house.
The menagerie remained at the Tower for more than six centuries. Its story is captivating, but it also reminds us how profoundly attitudes towards the keeping and welfare of wild animals have changed.
Which animal would have astonished a medieval Londoner most—the polar bear or the elephant?
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The Reflection in the Mirror
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Source: https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/history-and-stories/the-tower-of-london-menagerie/
Gemma
Author & Historian
Member of The Norfolk Archaeological Trust
www.murderinthetower.london
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