NM: The foundations for it were laid by William the Conqueror in 1078. Later, it was used as a mint, and King Henry VII made it his home. Queen Elizabeth I and her mother lived there, as did Sir Walter Raleigh. Name this London landmark.

This iconic London landmark, known for its rich and often dark history, is indeed the Tower of London. Its origins trace back to 1078 when William the Conqueror began construction on the White Tower, the formidable stone keep that forms the castle's heart. This initial structure was intended to assert Norman power over London and served as a royal residence. Over the centuries, the Tower expanded into a complex fortress with multiple defensive walls and a moat, evolving from a royal palace to a symbol of both power and oppression.

Beyond its role as a fortress and occasional royal home, the Tower of London also served as the Royal Mint for over 500 years. Edward I moved the mint to the Tower around 1279, recognizing the need for maximum security to protect the kingdom's wealth. The noisy and dangerous process of coin-making took place within its walls until 1810, when the Mint relocated to a new purpose-built facility on Tower Hill.

The Tower's long history is further marked by its famous residents, many of whom were prisoners. King Henry VII, the first Tudor monarch, resided there, and it was also where his wife, Elizabeth of York, died in 1503. Perhaps most famously, Queen Elizabeth I spent time imprisoned there under suspicion of treason during the reign of her half-sister, Mary I. Her mother, Anne Boleyn, also tragically met her end within the Tower's precincts. Sir Walter Raleigh, the renowned explorer, was imprisoned in the Tower on multiple occasions, spending over a decade there and even cultivating a medicinal garden during his confinement.