St Dunstan-in-the-East

St Dunstan-in-the-East stands on St Dunstan’s Hill between London Bridge and the Tower of London. The church was first built around 1100 and enlarged in the 14th century. After the Great Fire of 1666 it was patched up and later received a new steeple designed by Sir Christopher Wren. The building was rebuilt in the early 19th century by David Laing and William Tite after the walls leaned seven inches out of true. During the Second World War bombing in 1941 only Wren’s tower survived, leaving the rest as a shell. The ruins were turned into a public garden in 1971 by the City of London Corporation. A lawn and trees now grow among the remaining walls and arches, with a low fountain marking the nave’s centre. Wren’s tower still rises above the garden and houses the All Hallows House Foundation. The site is Grade I listed and occasionally hosts open-air services such as Palm Sunday processions. The combined parish with All Hallows by the Tower continues to use the space. Visitors walk through the old walls and under the surviving tower to reach the quiet garden. The contrast between medieval masonry and modern planting creates a calm spot in the City. The tower’s flying buttresses and needle spire can be seen from outside the walls. The garden’s layout keeps the church’s footprint clear while allowing greenery to soften the stone. Occasional services remind visitors that the ruin remains a place of worship. The site offers a rare blend of history and horticulture in the heart of London.