This is the first volume concerned solely with the archaeology of a
major late 17th century building in London, and the major changes it has
undergone. St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London was built in
1675-1711 to the designs of Sir Christopher Wren and has been described
as an iconic building many times.
In this major new account, John Schofield examines the cathedral from an
archaeological perspective, reviewing its history from the early 18th to
the early 21st century, as illustrated by recent archaeological
recording, documentary research and engineering assessment. A detailed
account of the construction of the cathedral is provided based on a
comparison of the fabric with voluminous building accounts which have
survived and evidence from recent archaeological investigation. The
construction of the Wren building and its embellishments are followed by
the main works of later surveyors such as Robert Mylne and Francis
Penrose.
The 20th century brought further changes and conservation projects,
including restoration after the building was hit by two bombs in World
War II, and all its windows blown out. The 1990s and first years of the
present century have witnessed considerable refurbishment and cleaning
involving archaeological and engineering works. Archaeological
specialist reports and an engineering review of the stability and
character of the building are provided.
