St Olave Old Jewry, Medieval church tower in City of London, England
Description
St Olave Old Jewry is a church building in the City of London with a tower reaching about 88 feet (27 meters) high and featuring a Doric portico with distinctive wider foundations at the base. The structure combines medieval walls with English Baroque design and now serves as office space.
History
Following the Great Fire of London in 1666, architect Christopher Wren rebuilt the church between 1671 and 1679, reusing medieval walls and foundations from the original building. This approach of incorporating earlier elements meant the site's long religious history remained embedded in the structure.
Culture
The church is named after St Olaf II Haraldsson, an 11th-century Norwegian king who became a Christian martyr and shaped London's religious landscape. His veneration left marks on the local neighborhood and its street names over centuries.
Practical
The tower and structure are now converted into office space and not open to the public for visits, though the exterior can be viewed from the street. The location sits within the compact City of London and is easily accessible by public transport.
Did you know?
Excavations in 1985 revealed that the original construction used recycled Roman bricks alongside Kentish ragstone. This blend of Roman and medieval materials shows the overlapping settlement layers at this long-inhabited location.
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