A Historic Hidden Courtyard And Its Amazing Carved Benches

One of my favourite things about walking around the City of London is the number of hidden pocket parks you find. Many of these are on the sites of old churches and churchyards lost either in the Great Fire or during the Blitz.

I love that despite what must be astronomical land values, you get these little areas of tranquility given over to plants and public art for everyone to enjoy.

On Pancras Lane you will find one of these such spots: St Pancras Church Gardens.

St Pancras Church Gardens

Tucked away, just off bustling Cheapside, you will find St Pancras Church Gardens. It is surrounded on three sides by tall modern buildings and can only be accessed from Pancras Lane.

St Pancras, Soper Lane, a church from the 11th century, was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. The infamous blaze destroyed 436 acres of the medieval city including 13,200 houses and 87 of London’s 109 churches.

Of these 87 churches, 51 were rebuilt under the directorship of Christopher Wren. St Pancras Church was not one of these churches. Its parish was amalgamated into that of the nearby St Mary-le-Bow.

Below is Wren’s street plan for post-fire London. It was not implemented but gives a good idea of the spread of the fire.

Under the Rebuilding Acts of 1667 and 1670, regulations were introduced to ensure housing was not so densely distributed. As well as this, many people simply moved out of the City after the fire and did not return to live there. A lower population density meant they simply did not need as many churches.

Below you can see St Pancras Church in the centre on a map of medieval London from Layers of London. Below that is a map of the same view today with the green square in the centre marking where St Pancras Church Gardens are.

Rebirth

After the fire, the area was used as a burial ground and then laid derelict, abandoned and forgotten. The space was partially excavated in 1963 by the Guildhall museum, removing the burials, as well as uncovering the church’s foundations.

In 2010 the City of London acquired the space to turn it into a communal garden.

A proposal was submitted by Studio Weave to redesign the space in honour of the church, the remains of which now lie just beneath the surface. Their proposal was accepted and work began in the summer of 2011.

The design consists of stone and wood paving in an irregular herringbone pattern. The wooden elements rise to become carved wooden pew-like benches. The idea is to give the impression that the church, forgotten for so long, is re-emerging in this little hidden courtyard in the City. Interspersed amongst these are plants and trees.

I think it is a great nod to the history of the City itself, which is one defined by fire and rebirth. It is always looking to move forwards but generally makes sure its heritage and past is suitably honoured.

The Benches

The City & Guilds of London Art School were commissioned to create the benches and they were carved over the summer of 2011 by the students and tutors. Each has a sense of charm and individuality to them but fitting in with the overall look.