A view of St Mary-at-Hill, in Lovat Lane, Eastcheap, Billingsgate, London,
St Mary-at-Hill is an Anglican parish church in the Ward of Billingsgate, City of London and is situated on Lovat Lane, a cobbled street off Eastcheap. Originally founded in the 12th century, it was first known as "St. Mary de Hull" or "St. Mary de la Hulle". It was severely damaged in the Great Fire of London in 1666, afterwards being only partially rebuilt and has been much altered since, although some of its mediaeval fabric survives. The Church of St Mary-at-Hill is situated among some of the City's most ancient lanes: St Mary at Hill EC3, in which has a large double-faced clock extending several feet into the street and which provides the best view of the church's elegant exterior; a narrow alleyway running alongside, but with no right of way; and, its entrance on Lovat Lane EC3, its postal address. St Mary-at-Hill dates to 1336. The north aisle was rebuilt at the end of the 15th century, and a south aisle and steeple were added a little later. John Stow, writing at end of the 16th century, described it as "the fair church of Saint Marie, called on the Hill, because of the ascent from Billingsgate". Interior of St Mary at Hill's dome. The Great Fire of 1666 started in the neighbouring street of Pudding Lane severely damaging the church. After the blaze, the parish of St Mary's was united with that of St Andrew Hubbard, whose church was not rebuilt. Sir Christopher Wren rebuilt the church's interior and east end, managing to retain its medieval walls on the other three sides, and the west tower to which he added a lantern. Wren included in his design a venetian window at the east end, now blocked up, and a pediment, now broken. His interior displays four free-standing corinthian columns, supporting barrel vaults in a Greek cross pattern, and a coffered central dome. The church is 96 ft long and 60 ft wide. A hoard of coins (now known as the Mary Hill Hoard) was found in a basement near St Mary-at-Hill in the 18th century.
Size: 3744px × 5616px
Location: St Mary-at-Hill, in Lovat Lane, Eastcheap, Billingsgate, London,
Photo credit: © John Gaffen 2 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ancient, anglican, billingsgate, christianity, christopher, church, city, eastcheap, england, fire, great, historic, lane, london, mary--hill, sir, st, wren
