More thoughts about Old St Paul’s

After I wrote my post about Old St Paul’s I realised I had forgotten another important source, the copperplate map dated to 1553-59.

Although no original printed copy survives three of the copper plates used to print it have been rediscovered in recent years. The most recent find was in 1997 and that is the one which shows St Paul’s with its spire. A noteworthy feature are the tress and one must presume grass around Paul’s Cross and the tree the north-west end of the cathedral. Closes with trees and freeware were not just the setting of cathedrals such as Salisbury and Wells but also of urban centres such as London and Exeter.

The copperplate map showing St Paul’s in the reign of Queen Mary I

Image: Lost London Churches Project