Plaque

St Mary Somerset - Wren

Inscription

The church and tower were redesigned and rebuilt under the direction of Sir Christopher Wren in 1695 following the Great Fire of London.

Site: St Mary Somerset Church (4 memorials)

EC4, Lambeth Hill, St Mary's Somerset Church

The wall plaque, for the tower, is on the south side. The other three are in the paved area around the tower, on three sides. 2013: The north side has been a builders' store area for at least 3 years so we can't see the ground but we don't think there is a fourth plaque there.

A modern information board informs: "This garden covers the site of St Mary's Somerset which may have derived its name in the twelfth century from one Ralph de Somery. In 1666 the church was damaged in the Great Fire of London and then rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren in 1695. In 1869-74 all but the church's 120 foot tower was demolished under the Union of Benefices Act."

As the population of the City reduced fewer churches were found necessary. Under the Union of Benefices Act over 20 churches in the City were demolished to make way for constructions such as railway stations.

We love the riot of finials and pinnacles on the top of the tower.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
St Mary Somerset - Wren

Subjects commemorated i

St Mary Somerset church

First recorded in the 12th century. Destroyed in the Great Fire it was rebuil...

Read More

Great Fire of London

Started on a Sunday morning. After 4 days the destruction included: - an area...

Read More

Sir Christopher Wren

Born East Knoyle, Wiltshire, died London.  Designer of 54 London churches, o...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
St Mary Somerset - Wren

Also at this site i

St Mary Somerset  - Ewan Christian

St Mary Somerset - Ewan Christian

The dates given on the plaque are about the time that the church ceased funct...

Read More

St Mary Somerset - tower

St Mary Somerset - tower

What was in the air in the fifties that made plaque carvers so inventive with...

Read More

St Mary Somerset - Weavers

St Mary Somerset - Weavers

Wikipedia explains: "According to John Stow, in 1370, the Brabant weaver comm...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Hoyland

Hoyland

SE1, Snowfields

Hoyland was interviewed by Charles Booth regarding this mission on 2 February 1900.

1 subject commemorated
Church Street pavement plaque - 1831 - theatre

Church Street pavement plaque - 1831 - theatre

NW8, Salisbury Street, Morris House

The eleven pavement plaques can be seen randomly distributed over this paved area. The Nightingale Street Buildings plaque can just be se...

2 subjects commemorated
Olaudah Equiano - Riding House Street

Olaudah Equiano - Riding House Street

W1, Riding House Street, 67-73

Olaudah Equiano (1745 - 1797), 'The African', lived and published here in 1789 his autobiography on suffering the barbarity of slavery, w...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Baker Street and Waterloo Railway Centenary - Elephant and Castle

Baker Street and Waterloo Railway Centenary - Elephant and Castle

SE1, London Road

Bakerloo Line Centenary of the Baker Street & Waterloo Railway, 1906 - 2006

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Balham firefighters

Balham firefighters

SW12, Hydethorpe Road, Henry Cavendish Primary School

The plaque is located behind a high exterior wall which makes it difficult to get a sharper photograph.

Civilian war dead | WW2
13 subjects commemorated, 1 creator

Previously viewed

Albert Campion

Albert Campion

Fictional detective. Created by Margery Allingham. He first appeared in 'The Crime at Black Dudley'. Eight of the subsequent novels featuring him were adapted by the BBC in 1989/90 with Peter Davis...

Fiction, Fictional

1 memorial