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CHURCH OF ST MAGNUS THE MARTYR

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The Church of St Magnus the Martyr, probably founded before 1067, was burnt down in the Great Fire. Work was started on rebuilding it in 1668 by the parish and completed by Wren, 1671-84 with the cupola added in 1703-6. The main body of the church was much altered by George Dance in 1762-8. The steeple is one of Wren's most impressive, with a dominant octagonal lantern in stone, finished with a lead dome and spire. It was one of the great great landmarks of London as seen from the river Thames until the 20th century when buildings rose up to obscure it. The rest of the church has a somewhat problematic history in that the parish had already built part of the north front when Wren took over the job. Before the 1760s it was of nine bays with a three-bay pediment emphasising the centre. However, between 1762-68 the two west bays were demolished for a pedestrian route through the tower, allowing the roadway on to old London Bridge to be widened. The north aisle pediment and flanking parapet were removed in 1782, when J Tricker made the windows round. In 1803 the south wall was rebuilt by Samuel Robinson, who omitted key-blocks from the round-headed windows. Rendering took place on the south wall and east front circa 1980 by Laurence King and Partners. Internally, the upper parts of the original layout were reconstructed circa 1839 by Peter Biggs following a fire. The arrangement of the bays was altered in the 1760s when the first bay west of the tower was taken to make a lobby under the organ, and again during Martin Traver's restoration of 1924-5, when an extra pair of columns was inserted in the double bay. So now there are six not quite regular bays in all, including the organ bay. In 1841, the bibliographic source, "The Beauties of England and Wales" states that the church was 'beautified', although it is unsure what work was carried out at this time.

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