9 May 1671: Colonel Blood's brazen attempt to steal the Crown Jewels

Atlas Obscura15 h ago

Stone walls of the Tower of London — Photo: Abdus Samad Mahkri / Pexels

Disguised as a parson, Blood befriended the keeper of the Tower's Jewel House, Talbot Edwards. On the morning of 9 May 1671 he stunned Edwards and tried to make off with the crown, orb and sceptre.

As they slipped away, Edwards's son returned unexpectedly. Blood and his accomplices were caught at the Iron Gate. Despite the brazen evidence, Charles II rewarded him with profitable land in Ireland, fuelling theories that the king wanted Blood close for political or intelligence reasons.

The Tower's jewel display has been behind vacuum-sealed plates ever since. According to the National Trust, the Tower of London's Jewel House draws more than 3 million visitors a year. The 2026 Crown Jewels exhibition reopens on 14 May with refreshed luminance lighting.

This article is an AI-curated summary based on Atlas Obscura. The illustration is a stock photo by Abdus Samad Mahkri from Pexels.