Welcome to one of the most beautiful little gardens in London!  The remains of St. Dunstan-in-the-East are tucked away not too far from The Tower of London, and they’re well worth the walk.

St. Dunstan-in-the-East was built around 1100 (1100, you guys!) and went through several changes over the years.  The Great Fire of London in 1666 caused great damage to the church, but it was patched up.  A few years later Sir Christoper Wren designed a new tower and steeple for it, then the building was completely rebuilt in the early 1800s.  (Wren’s steeple stayed!)

During World War II, German planes destroyed much of London with a massive bombing campaign that came to be known as the London Blitz.  St. Dunstan-in-the-East was nearly destroyed by a direct hit in 1941, but Wren’s steeple along with two main walls of the church remained standing.  The church remained in rubble until 1967 when the City of London Corporation turned the remains into a public garden.

The gardens provide an oasis of quiet beauty right in the middle of London. This place is filled with such bittersweet peace. I couldn’t get over it!

We had never heard of this amazing place before this trip.  We’re SO glad we heard about it, and we highly recommend that you spend a few minutes here whenever you’re in London.

Beauty from ashes.

 

 

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