Inventory Site Record

St Olave Silver Street was dedicated to Olaf, the first Christian King of Norway who fought in England alongside Ethelread in 1013 against the Danes. The church was rebuilt and enlarged in 1609 and 1619 but destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666 and not rebuilt. On the site of the churchyard is a partly raised garden surrounded by shrubs, with trees and a few tombstones in the grass. Either side of a short flight of steps leading to the raised area are two much-weathered plaques with inscriptions relating to the church, one of which showing a skull and crossbones.

Previous / Other name:

Noble Street Gardens

Site location:

London Wall/Noble Street

Postcode:

EC2V 7EE

What 3 Words:

boxing.aura.upper

Type of site:

Public Gardens

Borough:

City of London

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Tube: St Paul's (Central); Barbican (Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Circle). Rail: Barbican

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Research updated:

01/05/2010

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/openspaces

First reference to a church here is to St Olave de Mukewelle-Strate c.1200; it is dedicated to King Olaf the first Christian King of Norway who fought in England alongside Ethelread in 1013 against the Danes. The church was rebuilt and enlarged in 1609 and 1619 but was destroyed in the Great Fire and not rebuilt, the parish united with that of St Alban Wood Street. Stow described it as 'a small thing and without any noteworthy monuments'. On the site of the churchyard is a garden on two levels surrounded by shrubs, with a conifer hedge to London Wall, tombstones, trees, rose beds and an oak tree at the entrance. A large granite birdbath is set in an area of lawn to the north of the raised area of the garden, which is reached by a short flight of steps. Either side of the steps are two much-weathered plaques set into the brick, probably late C17th or C18th, with inscriptions relating to the church, a skull and crossbones visible on one. In the raised area a few gravestones remain within the grass.

Sources consulted:

Simon Bradley & Nikolaus Pevsner, 'The Buildings of England, London 1: The City of London', 1997 (1999 ed.); B Plummer and D Shewan, 'City Gardens', London, 1992; on-site history board; London Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches data

Grid ref:

TQ322815 (532260,181530)

Size in hectares:

0.0647

Site ownership:

Diocese of London (former churchyard); garden extension City of London Corporation

Site management:

City of London Corporation Open Spaces Dept.

Date(s):

C12th

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

None

On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens:

No

Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:

No

Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:

No

Local Authority Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

In Conservation Area:

No

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

City Walkway Network

St Olave Silver Street, May 2010. Photo: S Williams

Click a photo to enlarge.