Old St. Paul's Cathedral

Step inside the vanished world of London’s great medieval cathedral, guided by a careful, illustrated narrative that brings the stone, glass and timber of Old St. Paul’s back to life. The first sections walk you through the outer walls, the bustling precincts that surrounded the church, and the soaring interior spaces, all described with the clarity of a seasoned scholar and supported by detailed engravings that capture the building’s appearance before the fire. You’ll hear vivid explanations of the nave, choir, lady chapel and the striking rose window, each rendered in sketches that once served as the only visual record of a structure now lost.

Beyond architecture, the book delves into the lives that animated the cathedral—from the bishops and canons who presided over its services to the ordinary worshippers who filled its aisles. Interwoven with these histories is the story of Wenceslaus Hollar, the 17th‑century engraver whose meticulous drawings provide our most reliable glimpse of the cathedral’s final form. Together, the text and images create a compelling portrait of a landmark that shaped London’s spiritual and cultural landscape.