All Hallows Staining

Little but the tower remains from this early church, believed to be one of the first built in the City of London.

Certainly it was in existence in the 16th century, for Princess Elizabeth, later Elizabeth I, donated new bell ropes to the church, as she said that the church bells had been music to her ears during her imprisonment at the nearby Tower of London. One of those famous bells, dated to 1458, is preserved at Grocers Hall, London.

All Hallows Staining collapsed in 1671, due perhaps to weakening of the foundations from the high number of burials at the church. A new church was built, but this was dismantled in 1870, leaving only the tower. This tower, a severe example of Perpendicular Gothic style, was sold to The Clothworkers' Company, on condition that they maintain the site in perpetuity. It appears they have held to their bargain, for the tower still stands, amid more modern, but perhaps less appealing, London architecture.

As an aside, the name "Staining" does not refer to discolouration, or to a district of old London, but derives from "Staniggecherch" or "stone church".

Location
Mark Lane
EC3
Tower Hill
Location map