Description
St Olave Silver Street was dedicated to Olaf, the first Christian King of Norway who fought in England alongside Ethelread in 1013 against the Danes. The church was rebuilt and enlarged in 1609 and 1619 but destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666 and not rebuilt. On the site of the churchyard is a partly raised garden surrounded by shrubs, with trees and a few tombstones in the grass. Either side of a short flight of steps leading to the raised area are two much-weathered plaques with inscriptions relating to the church, one of which showing a skull and crossbones.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Noble Street Gardens |
|---|---|
| Site location | London Wall/Noble Street |
| Postcode | EC2V 7EE |
| What3Words | ///boxing.aura.upper |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | City of London |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Tube: St Paul's (Central); Barbican (Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Circle). Rail: Barbican |
| Research Updated | 1 May 2010 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
First reference to a church here is to St Olave de Mukewelle-Strate c.1200; it is dedicated to King Olaf the first Christian King of Norway who fought in England alongside Ethelread in 1013 against the Danes. The church was rebuilt and enlarged in 1609 and 1619 but was destroyed in the Great Fire and not rebuilt, the parish united with that of St Alban Wood Street. Stow described it as 'a small thing and without any noteworthy monuments'. On the site of the churchyard is a garden on two levels surrounded by shrubs, with a conifer hedge to London Wall, tombstones, trees, rose beds and an oak tree at the entrance. A large granite birdbath is set in an area of lawn to the north of the raised area of the garden, which is reached by a short flight of steps. Either side of the steps are two much-weathered plaques set into the brick, probably late C17th or C18th, with inscriptions relating to the church, a skull and crossbones visible on one. In the raised area a few gravestones remain within the grass.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ322815 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.0647 |
| Site Ownership | Diocese of London (former churchyard); garden extension City of London Corporation |
| Site Management | City of London Corporation Open Spaces Dept. |
| Dates | C12th |
| 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 | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | City Walkway Network |
Gallery
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Nearby parks and gardens
Noble Street Gardens is a sunken garden made post-WWII adjacent to the Plaisterers' Hall. The area suffered heavy bomb damage in WWII and the excavated garden contains remains of the old Roman Wall. The Worshipful Company of Plaisterers was incorporated in 1501 and its original hall was built in 1556 in Addle Hill off Carter Lane, rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666 and then again in 1882 after another fire. The hall here dates from 1970-3, rebuilt c.2002. Noble Street is named after a C14th landowner, Thomas Noble.
In 1189 there is a reference to the church here as 'Ecclesia de Staningehage', Staining probably referring to a landowner from Staines. Oat Lane is probably so-called for an oat market that existed here by the C16th. St Mary Staining Church was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666 and not restored. In 1965 the Corporation of London took over the maintenance of the open space created on the site of the church and churchyard. The garden is a raised area of lawn with a large plane tree, path on two sides and tombstones ranged along the back. It is overlooked by Pewterers' Hall, which was built here in 1959-61 after the Company's hall in Lime Street was demolished in 1932.
Barber-Surgeons' Hall Gardens are on the site of Hadrian's fort around the City of AD122 with remains of a bastion of AD300. The Worshipful Company of Barbers was founded in 1308, whose livery hall stood near here by 1441. In 1540 they amalgamated with the Worshipful Company of Surgeons although the two split again in 1745. There are records of a garden here by 1555 and in 1597 of preparations for a garden of plants advocated by John Gerard,a plantsman famous for his 'Herbal', a Member and later Master of the Company. The present garden was begun in 1987 on what was by then a derelict bomb site. It contains the Worshipful Company of Barbers Herb Garden, a number of commemorative trees, formal and informal areas, and overlooks an area of water towards St Giles Church, whose churchyard once extended here.
