Building    From 1250  To 1962

St Swithin's church, London Stone

Categories: Religion

Of medieval origin, the church was destroyed by the Great Fire of London, and rebuilt to the designs of Sir Christopher Wren. It was badly damaged by bombing during WW2, and the remains were demolished in 1962.

At first known as "St Swithin in Candlewick Street" (the medieval name of Cannon Street). The name "St Swithin at London Stone" was first used in 1597. London Stone itself stood on the south side of Candlewick Street, opposite the church. In 1742 London Stone was moved from the south side of the street to a location beside the church door. In the 1820s it was placed in an alcove within a stone casing set into the south wall of the church, where it remained until the demolition of the church in 1962.

This drawing shows the casing as it was in 1839.  It is remarkable how similar the design is to that of the 1962 cubicle, and then the 2019 one.

Saint Swithin was a 9th-century bishop of Winchester.

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St Swithin's church, London Stone

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