Photo © Richard Lea-Hair/NTI/HRP

The dramatic winning entry in the Tower of London’s Hung, Quartered and Drawn! competition has been unveiled on the east face of the iconic White Tower.

Realised at a size of 15m by 23m on scaffolding sheets covering the famous keep in the centre of the Royal Palace, the drawing by artist Rydal Hanbury from St. Albans will protect the White Tower’s 1,000-year old stonework during a £2m, 3-year conservation project on three of the tower's faces.

“We look forward to delivering in 2012 a fully conserved and re-presented exterior to the White Tower, as a shining symbol of Britain for the London Olympiad and beyond,” said Major General Keith Cima, Resident Governor of the Tower of London.

The new artwork covering the historic tower is also highly visible in order to remind over 2million visitors a year and millions of passing Londoners of the drama, intrigue and significance of the White Tower’s stories and history.

Photo © Richard Lea-Hair/NTI/HRP

Performing many roles over the centuries, from royal apartments to prison, the 27m (90ft) high and 33m (107ft) wide White Tower was begun in 1078 by William the Conqueror and today is home to unique royal arms and armour including that of Henry VIII, as well as being the heart of the Tower of London World Heritage Site.

Whilst the skilled conservation work takes place, there will be a range of opportunities to get up close to the amazing structure with a programme of learning opportunities including work-based training placements, archaeology-in view for students and adult learners, visitor access during the Open House weekend in September and an academic conference.

An online blog at www.hrp.org.uk by the White Tower Project Manager will also give online visitors insights into the day-to-day management of this enormous conservation project.

The east face will undergo conservation until October 2008 and the north face and west face will be cleaned over the following two years. The south face was cleaned in 1997.

The conservation of the White Tower has been supported by Man Group plc Charitable Trust. Man Group plc is working in partnership with the Tower of London from 2008 until 2011, coinciding this year with their 225th anniversary.