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Night scene JLP01_08_064434
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Historic England
Night scene JLP01_08_064434
PATERNOSTER SQUARE, CITY OF LONDON. A night-time view looking south-east across the Paternoster development, showing the site during construction with St Pauls Cathedral in the background.
Work on the Paternoster development was carried out in a joint venture by John Laing Construction Limited, Trollope and Colls Limited, and George Wimpey and Company Limited. The scheme involved the redevelopment of a seven acre site on the north side of St Pauls Cathedral. The site had been almost entirely devastated during an incendiary raid in December 1940. The development consisted of a series of office blocks, a shopping precinct, an extensive piazza and a three-level car park. The various blocks were named after former Bishops of London. The tallest block was 18-storeys in height and was called Sudbury House. The three 10-storey blocks were Courtenay, Walden and Grendall Houses, and the five-storey blocks were Laud, Sheldon and Bancroft Houses
Historic England is the public body that champions and protects England's historic places
Media ID 24561423
© Historic England Archive
1960s Construction Cranes Lighting Night Scene Office Post War Redevelopment Scaffolding Urban Darkness
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a mesmerizing night scene in Paternoster Square, City of London. Taken during the construction phase, the image showcases the remarkable transformation of this urban area after it was devastated during a World War II incendiary raid in 1940. In the background stands the iconic St Paul's Cathedral, its majestic silhouette illuminated against the dark sky. The scene is filled with an air of mystery and intrigue as scaffolding and cranes dominate the foreground, symbolizing progress and renewal. The Paternoster development project was a joint venture by John Laing Construction Limited, Trollope and Colls Limited, and George Wimpey and Company Limited. Spanning seven acres on the north side of St Paul's Cathedral, this ambitious scheme aimed to revitalize the area through office blocks, a shopping precinct, an expansive piazza, and a three-level car park. Each block within this redevelopment bears names honoring former Bishops of London. Sudbury House rises as the tallest at 18 storeys while Courtenay, Walden, Grendall Houses stand tall at 10 storeys each. Laud, Sheldon, and Bancroft Houses complete this architectural ensemble with their five-storey structures. Capturing both history and progress in one frame, this photograph from Historic England Archive serves as a testament to human resilience amidst destruction—a visual reminder that even in darkness there is always light waiting to emerge.
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