Iconic London monument DEMOLISHED after 'miscommunication' between councils

London’s iconic Tower of London has been accidentally demolished after a series of miscommunications between local councils and a construction firm.

The mix-up, which unfolded in the early hours of the morning, has left historians and residents stunned as one of the city’s most important historical landmarks was torn down in what’s being described as an “unprecedented blunder.”

The confusion began when a junior planner at Islington Borough Council, tasked with overseeing an unrelated redevelopment project, misinterpreted a set of building plans.

According to sources, the plans, which were intended for an abandoned office block in Southwark, were mistakenly swapped with the coordinates for the Tower of London.

A coffee stain on the original document further complicated the situation, leading planners to misread the plans as part of a new housing scheme rather than a protected heritage site.

Early on the morning of the demolition, the construction firm BigBuild Ltd. was instructed to begin work at the site, unaware that it was the Tower of London they were set to dismantle.

The confusion was compounded by a last-minute email sent by a council employee stating that the building in question had been “deemed unsuitable for heritage preservation” and was scheduled for clearance to make way for new housing development.

A spokesperson for BigBuild Ltd. explained, “We received instructions that the site was an old government building, and the plans indicated it was marked for demolition. We were under the impression that this was part of a wider redevelopment scheme.”

The demolition team, which had been given the go-ahead to begin clearing the site at 5 am, immediately set to work, initially removing non-structural parts of the Tower, including the outer walls.

A worker on site said: “We thought it was an old office block. We had no idea we were working on one of London’s most famous landmarks. It wasn’t until we started breaking down the walls that we realised something wasn’t right. There were ancient bricks and stones that didn’t look like they belonged to a modern building.”

It wasn’t until a passing historian spotted the demolition in progress that the true nature of the error became apparent. Alarmed by the sight of construction workers tearing down the walls of the Tower of London, the historian immediately contacted local authorities.

By the time the demolition team was stopped, much of the outer structure had already been dismantled, including parts of the Bloody Tower, which had stood for more than 700 years.

Authorities have expressed deep regret over the situation, with Islington Borough Council issuing an apology for the miscommunication.

“This was a deeply regrettable incident, and we are working with experts to assess the full extent of the damage,” said a council spokesperson. “We sincerely apologise for the confusion and are doing everything we can to rectify the situation.”

The Tower of London is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the city’s most visited tourist attractions. Built in 1066 by William the Conqueror, it has housed the Crown Jewels, served as a royal residence, and acted as a prison for notable figures throughout British history.

The building’s demolition has caused an outcry from both the public and historians, many of whom are questioning how such a mistake could occur.

“I can’t believe this has happened,” said Dr. Williams, a historian at the British Museum. “The Tower of London is one of the most important historical landmarks in the country. To see it treated like this is shocking. It’s not just a building; it’s part of our national heritage.”

The council and BigBuild Ltd. have promised to rebuild the Tower, although experts warn that it may take years, if not decades, to fully restore the site to its former glory.

“We are committed to restoring the Tower of London as quickly as possible,” said the spokesperson for BigBuild Ltd., “but given the historical significance of the site, the process will be complex and require input from a range of specialists.”

In the meantime, a large tarpaulin has been draped over the remaining structure, with a sign reading, “Renovation in progress. We apologise for the inconvenience.” It is expected that the Tower will remain closed to the public until further notice.

As investigations into the incident continue, many are left wondering how such a costly and avoidable mistake could have occurred. Questions have been raised about the coordination between councils, construction companies, and historical preservation groups.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has said that it will conduct a full review of the circumstances surrounding the demolition.

While the public awaits updates on the Tower’s reconstruction, the focus is now on how to prevent such a blunder from happening again. In the meantime, a smaller-scale project has been launched to recover what’s left of the Tower’s historical artefacts, with several items already being returned to storage for safekeeping.