The Secrets of ST PAUL’S

The current St Paul’s Cathedral is the fifth iteration to be built on Ludgate Hill in the heart of the City of London. Christopher Wren had been tasked with redesigning the cathedral even before the Great Fire of London raged for four days in September 1666 and razed the old building to the ground. In doing so, it gifted the architect carte blanche to start afresh with what was London’s tallest building for more than 250 years. Work began in earnest in 1675 and the £1 million construction costs (about £150 million in today’s money) were secured with the help of a tax on coal. Though routinely described as Wren’s masterpiece, the true secrets of this remarkable building are still only now being understood. Here are six aspects of the historic cathedral that often get overlooked.

Tiny reminders

Given the sheer scale and age of St Paul’s Cathedral, there are hidden reminders of its long history dotted everywhere – if you know where to look. These are particularly