Chapel of St Thomas on the Bridge, Bridge chapel in City of London, GB
The Chapel of St Thomas on the Bridge was a two-story religious building constructed directly into the bridge structure itself. The upper chapel could be entered from street level, while the lower chapel was built into the bridge's supporting piers.
The chapel was built before 1205 by Peter de Colechurch and was destroyed by fire in 1212. It was later rebuilt as part of the bridge restoration work.
The chapel served as a central gathering point for religious pilgrims traveling to Canterbury Cathedral to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket.
The site is no longer accessible today because the chapel was completely demolished over time. Those interested in its history can view the location from the modern bridge deck or visit nearby museums to learn more about the former structure.
Nicholas Hawksmoor conducted a detailed architectural survey of the structure in 1736, which remains our main source of information about its original design. These historical measurements and drawings allow us to understand the lost architecture even though nothing of the original survives today.
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