Didn’t know St Laurence Pountney was once a prominent Church of England parish here in London? It stood proudly in the Candlewick ward. Today nothing is left of St Laurence Pountney. Its story is one of faith, fire and forgotten grandeur.
Let’s journey back to the origins of St Laurence Pountney. The earliest mention appears in a charter dating back to the reign of William I. However, it was later revealed to be a mid-12th century forgery. The charter confirmed a previous grant of St Laurence to Westminster Abbey. Over time, St Laurence Pountney was known by different names. These included St Laurence next the Thames and St Laurence in Candlewigstrate.
The name Pountney came from Sir John de Pultneye. He was a mayor who significantly impacted the church. He founded the Chapel of Corpus Christi and St John the Baptist. It adjoined the north side of St Laurence Pountney as a college. This college was for a master and seven chaplains. By 1332, the college was already in existence. Pultneye obtained the patronage of St Laurence Pountney from Westminster Abbey. Later it became part of the college’s endowment. The college was suppressed during Edward VI’s reign.
Imagine St Laurence Pountney in its prime. It had a tower with a tall wooden spire covered in lead. In 1631 and 1632, improvements were made. The spire was releaded. A new frame held five new bells. The floors were raised and leveled. A churchyard lay to the south. It included a substantial retaining wall.
Then came the Great Fire of London in 1666. St Laurence Pountney was destroyed. An eyewitness claimed the fire broke out inside the steeple. This happened when no fire was near it. Some even suspected arson. St Laurence Pountney was never rebuilt. The parish was united with St Mary Abchurch.
The old churchyard continued as a burial ground. In the 1850s, it became the garden of a neighboring house. That house is now 7a Laurence Pountney Hill. The site of St Laurence Pountney became known as the Church Ground. It served as an additional burial ground after the Great Fire. Today it is a privately owned garden.
Consider the layers of history beneath our feet. 7a Laurence Pountney Hill has medieval walls resting on Roman walls dating from around 54 AD. This makes it one of the earliest examples of Roman construction in London.
After the fire, Robert Hooke helped rebuild the city. By 1675, 7a Laurence Pountney Hill was complete.
In 1688, Samuel Clay leased the house. He was a gentleman and merchant. His widow lived there until 1716. Later Henry Blunt owned it. He made changes to the house throughout the 18th century. In the late 18th century, a hop merchant owned the house. He used a trapdoor to deposit bales of hops into the basement.
The L’Anson family owned it in the 19th century. Edward L’Anson worked on London’s drainage. His son was an architect. The house narrowly escaped destruction during World War II. A bomb landed nearby. By the late 20th century, it was known as Rectory House. It gained Grade II listed status in 1950. After refurbishments, it became a private home. It was sold in 2007.
So, while St Laurence Pountney no longer stands, its story remains. It echoes through the streets and buildings around us. It reminds us of London’s resilience. It also shows the ever-changing tapestry of its history.