St. Mary Somerset bell tower (City of London)
N 51° 30.678 W 000° 05.810
30U E 701447 N 5710682
Depicted Baroque bell tower with unique pinnacles, the only remaining part of former Church of St. Mary Somerset, is hidden among buldings of modern administrative complex in London's Queenhithe ward.
Waymark Code: WMMTHA
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 11/03/2014
Views: 7
Depicted Baroque bell tower with unique pinnacles, the only remaining part of former Church of St. Mary Somerset, is hidden among buldings of modern administrative complex in London's Queenhithe ward.
Church of St. Mary Somerset was one of many London' churches designed by Christopher Wren after Great Fire of London in 1666. St. Mary built between 1684-1694, was single nave simple structure with a flat roof with two columns supporting a gallery on the West. The most interesting piece of church's architecture was 38 m high belfry faced by Portland stone. Lines of tower's windows, alternately circular and round headed, run up each side, with grotesque masks and cherubs serving as keystones. The unique feature of the tower are the eight Baroque pinnacles. The four on each corner have pannelled bases and scrolls, surmounted by vases. Between each of these are 6 m obelisks, with ball finials. The style strongly suggests that they were designed by architect Nicholas Hawksmoor. Pinnacles create the optical illusion of changing heights when viewed from different vantage points.
The church itself was demolished in 1871, only this beautiful tower was preserved...