Inventory Site Record

St John the Evangelist was built as a chapel of ease to St Dunstan's parish church of Stepney in 1617, and became the parish church of Wapping in 1694. The church was destroyed apart from its tower in WWII and the the former churchyard is now a small public garden. Two chest tombs remain in the garden, with headstones set against the west wall.

Previous / Other name:

St John's Churchyard

Site location:

Wapping High Street, Scandrett Street

Postcode:

E1

What 3 Words:

moving.legend.unit

Type of site:

Public Gardens

Borough:

Tower Hamlets

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

London Overground: Wapping. Bus: D3

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Research updated:

01/09/2008

Last minor changes:

14/07/2022

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.towerhamlets.gov.uk

St John the Evangelist was built as a chapel of ease to St Dunstan's parish church of Stepney in 1617, and became the parish church of Wapping in 1694. At the time it was in the north-west area of the churchyard, later rebuilt in 1760 at the same time as St John of Wapping School. The school remains, but St John's was destroyed all but the tower and north wall in WWII. The churchyard of St John's Wapping is now a small semi-circular garden encompassed on the west and north sides by 3.5m high brick walls, to the south by lower brick walls, and to the east by C19th railings with a gate and overthrow with lantern. The garden abuts Wapping Sports Centre to the north. In 1896 Mrs Basil Holmes described the churchyard as 'closed and fairly tidy, having many large altar tombs in it', also reporting that 'this ground used to be very low and full of water'. It is now laid to grass with perimeter gravel set in an asphalt path and has a number of notable plane trees, also horse chestnut trees. There are two chest tombs remaianing, and headstones are set against the west wall. Opposite is St John of Wapping School, which is now private residences.

Sources consulted:

Mrs Basil Holmes, The London Burial Grounds, London, 1896; LB Tower Hamlets 'Wapping Pierhead Conservation Area Character Appraisal and. Management Guidelines', 2009.

Grid ref:

TQ346801 (534615,180120)

Size in hectares:

0.2616

Site ownership:

LB Tower Hamlets

Site management:

Leisure Services, Parks and Open Spaces

Date(s):

C17th

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

LBII: St John's Church (Tower and North Wall); St John's Schools

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:

Yes

Conservation Area name:

Wapping Pierhead

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

None

St John's Gardens, February 2000. Photo: S Williams

Click a photo to enlarge.