Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

St Helens Church
Hob Uid: 404791
Location : Greater London Authority City and County of the City of London Non Civil Parish
Grid Ref : TQ3320681281
Summary : Church documented as extant in 1010-13 when the body of St Edmund was moved there to avoid it being captured by the Danes. A church here was in existence by the mid 12th century; passages of walling of this date are believed to remain on the south side. In about 1210, a nunnery of the Benedictine Order was established to the north of the church and connected with it. The basic plan form and dimensions of St Helen's today are the result of the consequent rebuilding. The church itself divides into the nuns' choir on the north and the parish nave and chancel on the south, with a south transept added south of the chancel c1360 and consisting of two chapels. The present nave arcade dates from 1470-5 and the internal form of the main roofs also dates from this period. Between the nuns' choir and the parish church are four great arches which dominate the building and were constructed in about 1480. The nunnery was dissolved in 1538 and in 1543 the convent buildings were acquired by the Leathersellers' Company, but the nuns' choir passed into the possession of the parish, and became part of the parish church. Early in the 17th century the south window of the south transept was inserted , and in 1633 the south nave doorway was built and the church generally restored. The timber cupola over the west front was erected in the early 18th century, and in 1799 the east range of the monastic buildings were removed and the north wall of the nuns' choir made good. The principal 19th century alterations took place in 1807-9, 1865-8, 1892-3 (J L Pearson). In the 20th century alterations took place in 1919, 1933 and 1966-8. On 10 April 1992 an IRA bomb exploded in the heart of the City, badly damaging the church. Following this damage the church was restored and re-ordered to the designs of Quinlan Terry in 1995-97.
More information : 1. [TQ 33208131] SITE OF THE PRIORY OF ST HELEN [AT] A [TQ 33208130] SITE OF THE NUNS' HALL [AT] B [TQ 33218129] SITE OF THE NUNS' CHAPEL [AT] C [TQ 33128129] SITE OF ST HELEN'S BELFRY [AT] D [TQ 33148128] SITE OF PLEASAUNCE [AT] E [TQ 33178128] THE PRIORY CLOSE [AT] London, St Helen's Bishopgate. The nunnery was founded by William the son of William the goldsmith before 1216, he being patron of the church which existed in the time of Henry II (1154-1189). The priory was surrendered in 1538. (2).

Sources :

Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : OS 1/1056 1916
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Source Number : 2
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Page(s) : 254,260
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Source Number : 3
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Page(s) : 87-92
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Source Number : 4
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Source details :
Page(s) : 47,51,52-3,58,60,61,63-4,65,85,86,221-6
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Plates : 16,22,31
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : District of City of London, 10/11/1977
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Early Medieval
Display Date : Documented as extant
Monument End Date : 1010
Monument Start Date : 1010
Monument Type : Church
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

Monument Period Name : Early Medieval
Display Date : Circa 1010-1066
Monument End Date : 1066
Monument Start Date : 1010
Monument Type : Cemetery
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : 1807-9
Monument End Date : 1809
Monument Start Date : 1807
Monument Type : Parish Church
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : 1865-68
Monument End Date : 1868
Monument Start Date : 1865
Monument Type : Parish Church
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : 1892-93
Monument End Date : 1893
Monument Start Date : 1892
Monument Type : Parish Church
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : 20th Century
Display Date : 1919
Monument End Date : 1919
Monument Start Date : 1919
Monument Type : Parish Church
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : 20th Century
Display Date : 1933
Monument End Date : 1933
Monument Start Date : 1933
Monument Type : Parish Church
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : 20th Century
Display Date : 1966-68
Monument End Date : 1968
Monument Start Date : 1966
Monument Type : Parish Church
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : 20th Century
Display Date : Bomb damaged in 1992
Monument End Date : 1992
Monument Start Date : 1992
Monument Type : Parish Church
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : 20th Century
Display Date : Restored 1995-97
Monument End Date : 1997
Monument Start Date : 1995
Monument Type : Parish Church
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Mid C12
Monument End Date : 1166
Monument Start Date : 1133
Monument Type : Parish Church
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : circa 1210
Monument End Date : 1210
Monument Start Date : 1210
Monument Type : Benedictine Nunnery, Priory, Church
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : circa 1360
Monument End Date : 1370
Monument Start Date : 1350
Monument Type : Benedictine Nunnery, Priory, Church
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : 1470-75
Monument End Date : 1475
Monument Start Date : 1470
Monument Type : Parish Church, Priory, Church
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : 1480
Monument End Date : 1480
Monument Start Date : 1480
Monument Type : Parish Church, Priory, Church
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : From 1538
Monument End Date :
Monument Start Date : 1538
Monument Type : Parish Church
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Dissolved in 1538
Monument End Date : 1538
Monument Start Date : 1538
Monument Type : Benedictine Nunnery, Priory
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : 1633
Monument End Date : 1633
Monument Start Date : 1633
Monument Type : Parish Church
Evidence : Extant Building

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : NBR Index Number
External Cross Reference Number : 94274
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Listed Building List Entry Legacy Uid
External Cross Reference Number : 199492
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : NBR Index Number
External Cross Reference Number : 108610
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Unified Designation System UID
External Cross Reference Number : 1286458
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TQ 38 SW 265
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date :
End Date :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1989-01-01
End Date : 1990-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1992-01-01
End Date : 1992-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1993-01-01
End Date : 1993-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1994-01-01
End Date : 1995-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1995-01-01
End Date : 1995-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1995-11-14
End Date : 1995-11-14

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1996-01-01
End Date : 1996-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 2000-01-01
End Date : 2000-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2011-01-01
End Date : 2011-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2012-01-01
End Date : 2012-12-31

Historic England Research Records

St Helens Church