St John Horsleydown

St John Horsleydown was a stone church in Bermondsey with a distinctive tapered spire topped by a weather vane depicting a comet, located on Fair Street near Tower Bridge Road. The building displayed classical architectural features that defined the character of the neighborhood.

The building was designed between 1726 and 1733 by Nicholas Hawksmoor and John James as part of a major initiative to build fifty new churches. Substantial damage during the 1940 Blitz caused its eventual decline and closure.

The church served as a gathering place for worship and community events, where ten bells cast in 1783 rang out across the neighborhood. These bells shaped the sound of religious life in Bermondsey and marked important moments in the lives of local residents.

The site preserves visible portions of the original plinth up to about 10 feet in height within the churchyard grounds. The remains are located in an accessible open area, making it straightforward to view the remnants of this former structure.

The ruins were featured in a 1969 promotional film by Manfred Mann for their song 'Ragamuffin Man'. This cinematic moment captured the decay of the site before it was eventually developed into Nasmith House.

Location: London Borough of Southwark

GPS coordinates: 51.50190,-0.07833

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:04