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London Festival of Architecture: Cloth Fair – where mediaeval meets modern


  • The Worshipful Company of Founders 1 Cloth Fair London, England, EC1A 7JQ United Kingdom (map)

As part of the London Festival of Architecture, guided walks and a talk explore the layered history and evolving streetscape of Cloth Fair, one of the City’s most distinctive historic enclaves.

A chance to win a stay in a Landmark Trust Cloth Fair Apartment

In celebration of the London Festival of Architecture, the Landmark Trust, in collaboration with the Worshipful Company of Founders, is offering everyone attending the event walk the chance to win a stay at one of our Cloth Fair apartments. Opposite the churchyard of St Bartholomew the Great, the building is part of the only remaining house in the City built before the Fire. This is your chance to stay amongst the history of the City for a weekend or midweek stay in January or February 2027.

The Landmark Trust saves endangered historic buildings before sensitively restoring them and making them available for short breaks. In its care are 200 remarkable places - from castles and cottages, forts and follies, railway stations and towers, even a pigsty and prison. Buildings date from 1250 to 1972 and span the breadth of Britain, with a handful in Italy. Landmark was recently voted the best holiday accommodation provider in the UK, with 5 stars for customer service, quality and cleanliness.

Those who attend these events will have an opportunity to win a stay at one of the Landmark Trust apartments.  


Event Dates & Times (Booking essential, see below)

  • Thursday 25 June

    • Walk: 16:30–18:00 (Start point Gatehouse, St Bartholomew the Great Church, EC1A 9DS) NOW FULL

    • Talk (at Founders’ Hall): 18:00 - 20:00

  • Saturday 27 June

    • Walk: 16:30–18:00 (Start point: Gatehouse, St Bartholomew the Great Church, EC1A 9DS) NOW FULL


The Walks

On the walks, City Guide Pete Zymanczyk leads a 90-minute walk from St Bartholomew's Church, along Cloth Fair, to Founders' Hall. Features include:

  • 900 year-old priory church of St Bartholomew (the Great) (NOTE: St Bartholomew the Great will not be open to visitors on Saturday 27th, the walk will explore the exterior)

  • octagonal church of of St Bartholomew (the Less), within the precincts of St Bartholomew's Hospital

  • 16th century houses, 39-45 Cloth Fair, rare survivors of the Great Fire of London

  • 43 & 45a now owned by the Landmark Trust

  • 24 Middle Street (modern Glass and steel building)

  • Founders' Hall, 1980s building honouring mediaeval design.

The route illustrates how mediaeval and modern meet, both belonging.

The Talk

City Craft: where Medieval meets Modern

Talk at Founders’ Hall

Speakers:

  • Matthew Lloyd - Director of Matthew Lloyd Architects; son of Sam Lloyd, Founders’ Hall architect

  • Dr Neal Shasore - Hon FRIBA; historian of the built environment and architectural educator; has researched and published extensively on architecture in Imperial Britain in the twentieth century; for 4 years was Chief Executive and Head of the London School of Architecture; member, Historic England's London Advisory Committee and the London Diocesan Advisory Committee.

  • Carlos Finlay - Senior Heritage Consultant at Alan Baxter; Architectural History DPhil student at Oxford University, in partnership with English Heritage, investigating life and work of architects Seely & Paget.

Start point Gatehouse, St Bartholomew the Great Church, EC1A 9DS

Booking

Please note that booking is limited to one place per person and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to limited capacity, we ask that you register using the form below; once maximum capacity has been reached, a waiting list will operate.

This event is free of charge. However, if you are no longer able to attend, please inform us at the earliest opportunity so that your place may be offered to another attendee.

Submitting your details

We will collect your contact details solely for the purpose of administering this event and to inform you of your booking status. Your information will not be used for any other purpose.

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