St Michael Bassishaw, English Baroque church in City of London, England
St Michael Bassishaw is an English Baroque church building in the City of London that stood on Basinghall Street. It featured load-bearing Corinthian columns and brick-faced walls instead of traditional stone, topped by an octagonal drum steeple with a lantern and trumpet-shaped cone.
The building was first recorded in 1196 and was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. It was rebuilt by Christopher Wren's office between 1675 and 1679.
The name comes from the Basing family, medieval Londoners of prominence, with 'haw' meaning their yard in the area. It served as a gathering place for the local community and shaped religious life in this part of London.
The location sits in central London and experiences heavy foot traffic during peak times. The area has multiple access points and landmarks that make it easy for visitors to find their way around.
Archaeological digs revealed that the north wall sat upon Roman and medieval refuse pits, requiring additional buttress reinforcement. This hidden layer beneath the structure provided evidence of London's earliest settlements.
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