Description
A church dedicated to St Clement, a C1st Roman converted to Christianity, was recorded here in a charter of 1067, the locality called Eastcheap by reason of the medieval market or 'Cheap' that served the east of the City. Celebrated lectures on the Creed were delivered here in the later C17th by Bishop Pearson, who became Bishop of Chester and at one time Henry Purcell was organist. The church had been rebuilt in 1658 but was destroyed in the Great Fire and rebuilt by Wren in 1683/87, one of the smallest of his parish churches. The parish was joined by that of St Martin Orgar whose site became the burial ground for the parishes. The former churchyard of St Clement survives as a raised garden with entrance gate and C18th-style railings on the alleyway of St Clement's Court on the north side of the church.
Practical Information
| Site location | St Clement's Court/Clement's Lane |
|---|---|
| Postcode | EC4N 7AE |
| What3Words | ///sudden.comet.lucky |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | City of London |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | weekdays, as church (to check times) |
| Public Transport | Tube: Bank (Central, DLR, Northern, Waterloo & City) / Monument (Circle, District). |
| Research Updated | 1 June 2010 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
A church dedicated to St Clement, a C1st Roman converted to Christianity, was recorded here in a charter of 1067, the locality called Eastcheap by reason of the medieval market or 'Cheap' here serving the east of the City. Nearby and within the parish of St Clement, Shakespeare set his 'Boar's Head Tavern' frequented by Prince Hal and Falstaff; in the early C15th Eastcheap 'was noted as the residence of cooks . . and was resorted to by those who desired to dine or sup' (Godwin) rather than having a tavern, although a Boar's Head is referred to in church records of the early C18th. In 1637 its rector was Dr Benjamin Stone of Corpus Christi College Cambridge, who was removed from office and imprisoned under Cromwell for Papist views, finally restored in 1660 when Charles II took the throne. Celebrated lectures on the Creed were delivered here in the later C17th by Bishop Pearson, who became Bishop of Chester and is represented in the west window. At one time Henry Purcell was organist here. The church had been rebuilt in 1658 soon after which it was destroyed in the Great Fire. It was rebuilt by Wren in 1683/87, one of the smallest of his parish churches, and the parish was joined by that of St Martin Orgar (q.v.), the site of which latter church becoming the burial ground for the two parishes. St Clement's was later altered in 1872 and 1889 by Butterfield and again in the 1930s by Sir Ninian Comper.
The former churchyard survives as a raised garden reached from steps with an entrance gate and C18th-style railings on the alleyway of St Clement's Court on the north side of the church. Largely paved, there are a number of tombs, trees and shrubbery.
The former churchyard survives as a raised garden reached from steps with an entrance gate and C18th-style railings on the alleyway of St Clement's Court on the north side of the church. Largely paved, there are a number of tombs, trees and shrubbery.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ328809 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.0142 |
| Site Ownership | Diocese of London |
| Site Management | Church |
| Dates | medieval; 1683-87 |
| Listed Structures | LBI: St Clement's Church |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | City of London |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Bank |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Strategic View - Consultation Area |
Gallery
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Nearby parks and gardens
The church of St Martin Orgar formerly stood here, its name arising from a Deacon called Ordgarus who owned the church, which he presented prior to c.1181 to the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's. It had a churchyard by c.1250. The building was damaged but not entirely destroyed in the Great Fire and part of the tower and nave were subsequently repaired and converted as a meeting place and chapel for French Huguenot Protestants. By c.1820 this had become ruinous and all but the tower was demolished, which acted as the entrance to the burial ground for the parish of St Clement and now occupied the site of the old church. The former churchyard remains as a raised garden in private use.
George Yard had long existed as a narrow alleyway and was opened out in 1929-32 to provide a large paved courtyard as office development took place, becoming George Square. It has changed over the C20th as new building has taken place. In 1986-94 Barclays Bank built new premises here with the main entrance onto George Square, where 5 decorative reliefs commissioned for the Bank's previous premises at Lombard Street were mounted, showing old street signs of former properties and occupants of the site. The courtyard is largely hard landscaped.
St Laurence Pountney is so-named after Sir John Poultney or de Pulteney, Lord Mayor of London in the 1330s, who founded Corpus Christi College in the parish of St Lawrence. Church and college were destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666 and not rebuilt, the parish then united with that of St Mary Abchurch. The site consists of two raised and railed gardens divided by a lower pedestrian passage to Martin Lane, the area in the north being the site of the church, which was used for burial after its destruction, with the original burial ground to the south. Both gardens are private, and contain trees, shrubs and a number of tombs, that to the south for private use of adjoining residences.
