St Dunstan-in-the-East

Tranquility Amongst Ruins

Not just content with being destroyed by the Great Fire London in 1666, The church of St.Dunstan-in-the-East also got devastated by The Blitz for the second time in it’s history and is an incredible reminder of London’s history as well as serving as an area of peace and tranquility when visiting the busy streets of London.

Located in between London Bridge and The Tower of London and built during the Saxon times, the church was faithfully rebuilt after being burnt to ashes in the Great fire, and topped with a steeple designed by Sir Christopher Wren. However, a direct hit on the church during the 60 consecutive night bombing of the capital in 1941 destroyed everything apart from the north and south walls, and Wren’s steeple and the church was left to decay for years afterward.

The Blitz destroyed over a million lives, homes and buildings that belonged to Londoners, including the old church itself. St. Dunstan-in-the-East remained in ruins until 1967 when the City of London Corporation decided to turn the burnt out and destroyed ruins of the church into a public garden.

The gardens themselves are hard to find – hidden away down a side street and surround by tall skyscrapers it remains a secret and incredibly tranquil location and the perfect resting point for the busy London lives. It’s a poignant reminder of the turmoil the city has endured and survived and is a fascinating and insightful place to check out on your visit London.

Jake Taylor

TripTide User