Landmark Study Sets Out How the Historic Setting of St Paul’s Cathedral Contributes to Its Significance
A new study published today explains, for the first time in detail, how the setting of St Paul's Cathedral contributes to its exceptional heritage significance and how that significance can be appreciated by anyone who visits, lives in and loves London.
The Setting of St Paul's Cathedral study has been commissioned by St Paul's Cathedral and Historic England, working in co-operation with the City of London, to support the management of the Cathedral's setting for planners, developers and decision-makers.
The setting of St Paul's Cathedral is fundamental to our understanding of its heritage significance
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St Paul's is a Grade I listed building of exceptional architectural, historical and cultural significance. It is a focus for faith in London and beyond, standing on the site of an enduring place of Christian worship with a history of over 1400 years. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1676-1711, it rose from the ashes following the Great Fire of London.
From the time of its completion until the late 20th century, the cathedral literally and symbolically dominated London. It is central to the identity of the capital as a world city, and the majestic silhouette of the dome and the west towers is embedded in our national consciousness.
As a listed building, the preservation of its setting carries the same legal weight as its physical fabric, in so far as it contributes to its significance. But until now there has been little detailed assessment of exactly how that setting contributes to the cathedral's significance, or why it matters.
This new study has identified four key contributing factors:
- The cathedral's elevated topography within the London basin
- The clear sky space that allows its architectural composition to be appreciated from near and far
- The role of the River Thames corridor in enhancing the visual prominence of the Cathedral
- The character of the cathedral's immediate setting, in St Paul's Churchyard, for giving a sense of the building's sheer scale and dominance.
Together, these factors allow the cathedral to be experienced and understood as a landmark of national and international importance, in a tradition dating back to its completion in 1711.
The report also charts how this setting has changed over time. From the completion of Wren's masterpiece until the mid-late 20th century, St Paul's dominated the London skyline both physically and symbolically. Over the last 70 years, and particularly in the last two decades, the pace and scale of development across London has changed the character of the skyline and the cathedral’s place upon it.
Importantly, the study finds that not all change has been harmful. Recent developments such as Paternoster Square, the Millennium Bridge, the reflecting pool at Cannon Street and New Change demonstrate that new development can make a positive contribution to how the Cathedral is experienced, when informed by a thorough understanding of the important contribution that setting can make to significance.
The study follows the methodology set out in Historic England's Good Practice Advice Note 3: the Setting of Heritage Assets, and was informed by extensive consultation, including with the Cathedral's Fabric Advisory Committee, the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England, Historic England, the City of London, the Greater London Authority and independent peer reviewers.
The evidence base will now be used by St Paul's Cathedral, Historic England and the City of London to inform planning policy and the assessment of development proposals affecting the Cathedral's setting.
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