How a 1091 tornado and a 1666 fire shaped London's most iconic church spire.

Science · Published 20 October 2026 · Updated 21 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: St Mary-le-Bow is a survivor of history, defined by its architectural resilience. From its Norman origins to Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece, this City of London landmark has weathered natural disasters and wartime destruction. Its bells, famous in nursery rhymes and legend, have rung through centuries of urban transformation and rebirth.

Founded in 1080 by Archbishop Lanfranc, the original St Mary-le-Bow was a Norman statement of power. Its name, derived from the stone arches of its undercroft, reflects the innovative construction techniques of the era. However, the building faced immediate challenges; in 1091, a violent tornado destroyed the upper church, leaving only the lower level intact. Centuries later, the Great Fire of London in 1666 reduced the structure to a shell, though the tower remained standing until fire damage rendered it structurally unsound.

Sir Christopher Wren, the King's Surveyor of Works, led the church's reconstruction starting in 1670. His design, completed in 1680, featured a towering spire of Portland stone that became a landmark known as the Cheapside pillar. The project cost £15,421, making it the second most expensive of Wren's churches. Wren’s work was later tested during the Blitz; while the church interior was gutted by fire in 1941, the tower’s stone construction helped it survive, leading to a sympathetic restoration by Laurence King between 1956 and 1964.

The church’s bells hold a unique place in London folklore, famously linked to the legend of Dick Whittington, who supposedly heard them calling him back to the city in 1392. Over the centuries, the peal has been expanded and recast multiple times, including a significant 1933 restoration funded by Harry Gordon Selfridge. Today, the church remains a Grade I listed site, housing the Court of Arches and serving as a testament to the endurance of London’s ecclesiastical architecture.

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