Following his successful invasion of England in 1066, William the Conqueror built a great tower in the south-east corner of London's city walls.  His intention was to dominate both the psychological and geographic landscape of the city, a statement of power needed to help William conquer all of England.  Within time this tower would be whitewashed and the site around this newly labelled White Tower would develop into a formidable fortress - the Tower of London.  Over the centuries, many of England's defining moments would play out within the Tower's walls, and the reverberations of these events can still be felt today in our attitudes and beliefs.

In early 2008 Historic Royal Palaces, the independent charity that looks after the Tower of London, started the White Tower Conservation Project, a three-year project to clean, as well as repoint or replace stones in the exterior of the building.  It is a significant project and will provide considerable insight into the Tower and how it was built.

But the White Tower is more than just a building of significant historical interest, it is a symbol of both the nation and the monarchy, and ultimately of how we see ourselves in relation to our own history.  This collection of portraits is not only intended to give insight into the roles and responsibilities involved in a large-scale conservation project, but also how this small group of people, by the nature of their work, will contribute to the ongoing debate about how we are seen - and see ourselves - as a nation.