Chapel of St. Thomas on Old London Bridge
Item
Description
This drawing by Peter Jackson depicts the Chapel of St. Thomas on London Bridge as it would have appeared in the late 14th century. The chapel was constructed on the London Bridge in the late 12th century on the largest central pier. During this period, the idea of public works as acts of piety became popular. It was believed that building chapels on bridges would ensure their protection. Dredging of the Thames beneath has revealed countless discarded pilgrimage badges depicting St. Thomas Becket, leading many scholars to believe that the chapel may have been the starting point for various pilgrimages. The Chapel of St. Thomas was built in commemoration of Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury, who was murdered in 1170 under the direction of Henry II. As penance for Becket’s murder, Henry II was forced to sponsor for the construction of a new stone bridge for the city of London.
Construction began in 1176 with the foundations of the first pier. The project was overseen by Peter of Colechurch, a parish priest who supervised the project for twenty-nine years. Ultimately, the process took thirty-three years and was completed in 1209. Peter of Colechurch died in 1205, four years before the bridge was completed, but the chapel was able to receive his remains. The chapel was maintained by the bridge wardens who were in charge of dispersing money for its upkeep, while several chaplains also attended to the running of the chapel. Daily mass was offered, as were seasonal observances, including the feast day of St. Thomas the Martyr on the 29th of December. From 1384-96 the chapel was rebuilt in the perpendicular style, a late medieval form of the gothic style that emphasized rich decoration. The new building was a five-sided, east-facing apsidal end over an undercroft/lower chapel. In this drawing, the large stained glass windows and decorative tracery can be observed as elements of the perpendicular style.
Construction began in 1176 with the foundations of the first pier. The project was overseen by Peter of Colechurch, a parish priest who supervised the project for twenty-nine years. Ultimately, the process took thirty-three years and was completed in 1209. Peter of Colechurch died in 1205, four years before the bridge was completed, but the chapel was able to receive his remains. The chapel was maintained by the bridge wardens who were in charge of dispersing money for its upkeep, while several chaplains also attended to the running of the chapel. Daily mass was offered, as were seasonal observances, including the feast day of St. Thomas the Martyr on the 29th of December. From 1384-96 the chapel was rebuilt in the perpendicular style, a late medieval form of the gothic style that emphasized rich decoration. The new building was a five-sided, east-facing apsidal end over an undercroft/lower chapel. In this drawing, the large stained glass windows and decorative tracery can be observed as elements of the perpendicular style.
Title
Chapel of St. Thomas on Old London Bridge
Creator
Jackson, Peter
Medium
Gouache on paper
Source
"Reconstruction of the Chapel of St Thomas on old London Bridge." Look and Learn
Location
London Bridge
St Thomas chapel
Period
Late medieval
Image Category
Modern drawing/painting
Image Publisher
Look and Learn
Image Right Holder
Look and Learn/ Peter Jackson Collection
Subject
Streets and bridges
eng
Church
Bibliographic Citation
Mount, Toni. Everyday Life in Medieval London. Gloucestershire: Amberly Publishing, 2015.
Watson, Bruce. Old London Bridge Lost and
Found. Museum of London Archaeology Service, 2004.
Watson, Bruce. Old London Bridge Lost and
Found. Museum of London Archaeology Service, 2004.
Cataloguer
Lewis, Clare
Type
Still Image
