London’s Wandering Architecture: A City in Motion
London exhibits a unique architectural phenomenon: “buildings that can’t keep still,” where structures are dismantled and relocated, often multiple times. This encompasses entire buildings, significant fragments, and major landmarks, moved for diverse reasons from urban development to heritage preservation. The article highlights this “disorder” as a testament to the city’s evolving landscape and efforts to adapt its history.
The benefits of such movements are manifold. Preservation is a primary driver, saving historic edifices like Crosby Hall, a medieval house moved to Chelsea, or All Hallows church tower, rebuilt in Twickenham after being in bad repair. Relocation also facilitates crucial urban planning, making way for new infrastructure; St Luke’s Euston, for instance, was moved to Wanstead for St Pancras station, and Henry VIII’s Wine Cellar shifted slightly for the Ministry of Defence. Structures can find new purposes, such as the King’s Cross Gasholders becoming a park and apartments, or St Mary Aldermanbury, a bombed Wren church, being re-erected in Fulton, Missouri, as a Churchill museum. Risks, though less emphasized, include the potential loss of original context, the complex engineering challenges, and structures becoming forlorn in new settings.
Numerous examples illustrate this mobility. Marble Arch was relocated from Buckingham Palace to Hyde Park. The iconic Crystal Palace moved from Hyde Park to Sydenham. The original London Bridge now stands in Arizona, while fragments of its successor are scattered. “Eros” at Piccadilly Circus has been moved several times for construction and wartime protection. The Kilmorey Mausoleum moved twice with its occupants, and Temple Bar migrated to Hertfordshire before returning to Paternoster Square. Even the Roman Temple of Mithras was moved across the street before being reinstated closer to its ancient site. These examples underscore London’s dynamic relationship with its built heritage, constantly adapting and repurposing its most significant structures.
(Source: https://londonist.com/london/history/bits-of-london-that-moved-around)
