Wren Churches Walk with James Newton, Architect – Following the journey of the stone to St. Paul's Cathedral, Wren's greatest masterpiece
St Mary Aldermary Church, Watling Street, Bow Lane, Greater London, Greater London, EC4M 9BW
The guided interpretation walk starts at 10.30 am and is approx. 1.5 miles where we will look at the architectural details of Wren’s St Mary Aldermary Bow Lane (Mansion House), St James Garlickhythe (Garlick Hill), passing across Paul’s Wharf (Thames) where the stone arrived by barges for the building of St Paul’s Cathedral, to St Benet Paul’s Wharf (Queen Victoria Street), and St Martin Within Ludgate (Ludgate Hill) – the nearest Wren church to St Paul’s. We will stop at Paternoster Square opposite St Paul’s Cathedral for refreshments at approx. 12.30pm.
The wider story behind the walk is about Portland Sculpture and Quarry Trust regeneration project on the isle of Portland that keeps alive the skills of the quarrymen and stone carvers who quarried and worked the stone by hand. This included thousands of tons of large stones that were quarried and ingeniously transported from the cliff via a 10ft wide zig- zag road that Wren built before being loaded onto barges for a three-day journey to London by sea.
The guided walk will connect to Portland’s geology, ecology and working histories of the older network of quarry landscapes creating a parallel walk through the quarries of Portland that links and architecture of Wren’s London.
Timings & Tours
- Thursday 12 September:
- 10.30 - 13.30
Location & directions
St Mary Aldermary Church, Watling Street, Bow Lane, Greater London, Greater London, EC4M 9BW
- Directions:
- Walking Tour starts from St Mary Aldermary Church at the junction of Watling Street and Bow Lane, London EC4M 9BW directly North and opposite to Mansion House Underground Station. Walk Leader James Newton will be holding a sign showing Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust.
- Contact on day:
- Hannah Sofaer
- Telephone number:
- +447528600944
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking required
- Booking conditions:
- To book a place call Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust: t – 01305 826736 / m- 07528600944 / e – [email protected]
- Booking telephone number:
- +441305826736
- Booking email:
- [email protected]
Accessibility details
Walking shoes and outdoor clothing recommended
Additional information
- Max no of people per tour:
- 20
- Est. tour duration:
- 2 hour(s) 30 minute(s)
