7 June 08
www.stpauls.co.uk
- Good Picture ref. here
- List of burials at St. Paul's
- Brilliant 360˚ tour link here
- The old St.Paul's
- Sir Christopher Wren
Whether you live in London, or you're just passing through, a visit to St. Paul's is a must! £10 gets you a ticket allowing complete freedom to explore from the Crypt up!
There has been a church on Ludgate Hill dedicated to St. Paul, London's patron saint, since 604. The Normans began building another cathedral on this site in 1087. By the 17th century it was in a state of decay and in 1634 Inigo Jones was employed to restore it to its former glory.
On 2nd September, 1666, the Great Fire of London destroyed a huge area of the city including St. Paul's Cathedral. Sir Christopher Wren was given the task of designing and rebuilding St. Paul's - it took him thirty-five years to complete, and when he died in 1723 he became the first person to be buried in the Cathedral. The most magnificent aspect of St. Paul's is its great dome. It is the second largest dome ever built, after St. Peter's in Rome. Both domes are based on the one in the Pantheon, also in Rome.
The main body of the Cathedral houses the Nave, Transepts, Quire, Organ and High Alter. 257 steps up you find the impressive Whispering Gallery, here you get a wonderful view of the Alter and Pulpit. Climb another 119 steps and you reach a small door taking you outside to the Stone Gallery, do stop to enjoy the views over the City! A further 152 steps, via the fantastic spiral staircase between the two domes, and you are rewarded with the Golden Gallery (85 metres above the Cathedral floor)... The panoramic views will indeed take your breath away - that's if you have any left!
The Crypt is now the final resting place for an impressive list of famous names including: Admiral Lord Nelson, Florence Nightingale, The Duke of Wellington, Sir Alexander Fleming, Sir Henry Moore, Sir Joshua Reynolds, William Blake and Sir Christoper Wren. A Cafe, toilets and well stocked shop can also be found down here!
9 out of 10
