What echoes linger beneath our feet? We are standing in Bermondsey Square now. It is a place steeped in more than a thousand years of history.
Bermondsey Square sits on the historic core of the medieval Bermondsey Abbey. This was once the main quadrangle of the Abbey. The square has transformed over the centuries. Today, it is a vibrant mix of apartments, offices, a hotel, restaurants and an art gallery.
Let’s take a step back in time. Imagine this area around 1080. A Norman church stood here. It was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. This was the start of something significant.
The Abbey grew. Bermondsey Market took root within its grounds. The market still thrives weekly in Bermondsey Square. Long Lane stretches northwest connecting the Abbey to St George the Martyr church. Bermondsey Street heads north towards Tooley Street and London Bridge station. These routes shaped the area’s development.
In 1699 a chapel was erected by a Puritan divine. Later, it became a wool warehouse before its demolition. The Abbey’s gatehouse stood at the square’s entrance between the King John’s Head pub and an oil shop. It was removed in the early 19th century. The Mansion House was built using materials from the Abbey. It stood between the entrance to the Long Walk and a salt warehouse.
Archaeological investigations between 1998 and 2011 revealed much about Bermondsey Square. Evidence of a Saxon minster was found. Also uncovered were remains of the Norman and medieval Cluniac priory. This later became a Benedictine Abbey church and cloisters. The southwest flanking tower of the western entrance to the great abbey church was discovered.
Imagine the scene. Excavators unearthed the south flanking tower at the western entrance to the abbey church. Behind it was a late medieval well. The kitchen basement of the 16th-century mansion built by Sir Thomas Pope was also visible.
The Liber Niger of Peterborough mentions Pope Constantine addressing Haedda as abbot of Vermundsei. This suggests Bermondsey might have been the site of a minster in the middle Saxon period. Fragmentary wall foundations hinted at the existence of this minster. Disarticulated human bones were found nearby. These may point to a disturbed middle Saxon cemetery. Some bones showed evidence of sharp and blunt force trauma.
The Cluniac Priory of St Saviour’s was founded in 1089. The 13th and 14th centuries were challenging for the priory. Economic mismanagement, political turmoil and flooding all took their toll. However, this period also saw growth and reconstruction. By the late 14th century, the priory’s economic fortunes revived.
Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries. On January 1 1538 the abbey was surrendered to the crown. Demolition of the monastic buildings began swiftly. In 1541, Sir Thomas Pope acquired the entire site. He built a splendid house using stone and timber from the Abbey church.
Pope’s mansion was part of a trend. Influential courtiers transformed monastic sites into country houses. The mansion’s main wing was built between the south wall of the former church and the foundations of the former cloister arcade.
The Industrial Revolution transformed Bermondsey into a bustling industrial area. Warehouses and factories sprung up. Bermondsey market opened in Bermondsey Square in 1950. The Old Caledonian market in Islington closed for redevelopment.
The late 20th century saw Bermondsey Square decline. Many industrial businesses closed. But, a regeneration effort in the early 2000s revitalized the area.
Middle Saxon finds included dress fastenings, tweezers and coins. An iron padlock and hasp suggest some community members had valuable possessions. A sculpted stone block from the early 14th century was incorporated into the cellar steps of the 16th-century mansion.
Today, Bermondsey Square stands as an example of urban regeneration. It offers a blend of history, culture, dining and residential living. It has transformed into a vibrant space. The area contributes to the character of Bermondsey and London.
So, as we stand here in Bermondsey Square remember the layers of history beneath our feet. From Saxon minster to Norman abbey to industrial hub to modern square, each era has left its mark.