Page 171 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

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5 St Bartholomew- a finely decorated plaster
the-Great ceiling, a rich brown wooden
organ case and galleries, and
West Smithfield EC1. Map 6 F5. Tel 020 an oak pulpit resting on a
7600 0440. 1 Barbican. Open carved palm tree. The original
8:30am–5pm Mon–Fri (to 4pm mid- box pews have been kept in
Nov–mid-Feb), 10:30am– 4pm Sat, the galleries rather than in the
8:30am–8pm Sun. Closed Christmas
week. 5 9am, 11am, 6:30pm Sun. & body of the church. Some of
7 8 by appt. - = Concerts. the memorials come from a
∑ greatstbarts.com 14th-century church that
originally existed on the site.
One of London’s oldest churches, The former churchyard
St Bart's was founded in 1123 by alongside was converted in
the monk Rahere, whose tomb is 1880 into a green space known
inside. A courtier of Henry I, he as Postman’s Park, because it
dreamed that the saint saved was used by workers from the
him from a winged monster. nearby Post Office headquarters.
The 13th-century arch used to In the late 19th century, the
be the door to the church until Victorian artist G F Watts
the nave of that earlier building dedicated one of the walls to a
was pulled down when Henry quirky collection of plaques that
VIII dissolved the priory. commemorate people – often
Today the arch leads from children – who sacrificed their
West Smithfield to the burial lives to save others. Each is
ground; the gatehouse above it remembered on a hand-painted St Bartholomew’s gatehouse
is from a later period. The present tile. There are three St Botolph
building retains the crossing and churches in the City; the other badly damaged by a World
chancel of the original, with its two can be found at Aldgate War II bomb that only the
round arches and other fine and in Bishopsgate. tower survived. St Giles was
Norman detailing. There are also refurbished during the 1950s to
some fine Tudor monuments. In serve as the parish church of
the south transept is a shining 8 St Giles, the Barbican, and now stands
gilded statue of St Bartholomew Cripplegate awkwardly amidst the stark
by Damien Hirst modernity of the area. It is one
Parts of the church have been Fore St EC2. Map 7 A5. Tel 020 7638 of the few UK churches to
used for secular purposes. In 1997. 1 Barbican, Moorgate. Open boast two complete organs.
1725, US statesman Benjamin 11am–4pm Mon–Fri. 5 8am Mon–Fri, Here, Oliver Cromwell
Franklin worked for a printer 8am, 10am & 4pm Sun. 8 2–5pm married Elizabeth Bourchier in
Tue. 7 ∑ stgilescripplegate.co.uk
in the Lady Chapel. The church 1620 and the poet John Milton
also featured in the films Four was buried in 1674. Well-
Weddings and a Funeral, Completed in 1550, this church preserved remains of London’s
Shakespeare in Love and The survived the ravages of the Roman and medieval walls can
Other Boleyn Girl. The café in Great Fire in 1666, but was so be seen to the south.
the cloisters is a peaceful spot.
6 Museum of
London
See pp170–71.

7 St Botolph,
Aldersgate
Aldersgate St EC1. Map 15 A1.
Tel 020 7283 1670. 1 St Paul’s,
Barbican, Moorgate. Open 9am–3pm
Mon–Fri. 5 1pm Tue & Thu, 10:30am
Sun. 7
A modest late Georgian exterior
(completed in the late 18th
century) conceals a flamboyant,
well-preserved interior with St Giles, Cripplegate

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