This 700-year-old church tower is now sitting on stilts above a London construction site

THE Tower of All Hallows Staining has seen a lot during the seven centuries that it's been standing in the heart of London - but surely nothing quite like this. 

Thanks to the development of the 36-storey Fifty Fenchurch, a new scheme designed by Eric Parry Architects, the Grade I-listed tower now finds itself balancing on stilts above a bustling Multiplex-run construction site while new below-ground foundation and basement works are completed beneath it.

Passers-by at street-level might not notice the landmark's precarious position, but take a look at the site from above and the jeopardy is all too clear. 

Above: The Tower of All Hallows Staining sitting above the Fifty Fenchurch construction site. Image: Fred Mills. Below: Fred Mills talking to BBC News about the project. Image: BBC News.

The tower was first constructed in 1320 and now has Grade I-listed status in the UK, meaning that it is of "exceptional interest" and cannot be altered, extended or demolished. 

It is all that's left of the church it was once attached to, which collapsed during the Great Fire of London in 1666. 

In many ways it's much more than a piece of old masonry. It’s a marker of resilience — a reminder of London’s ability to endure, adapt, and reinvent itself.

Above and Below: The Fifty Fenchurch development will retain the Grade I listed tower. Images: Eric Parry Architects / DBOX.

Fifty Fenchurch is an island site in the square mile City of London, bounded by Fenchurch Street, Mincing Lane, Dunster Court, and Mark Lane. 

Addressing the inclusion of the Tower of All Hallows Staining, Eric Parry Architects says: "The scheme will set the Tower within a new street level public realm, with the aspiration of providing public access to the interior."

The plans also make provision for the Lambe’s Chapel Crypt, a 12th-century vaulted undercroft that will be re-sited and displayed as part of the development. Together, these heritage elements are positioned as integral features of the public realm, helping to connect the new commercial tower with the City’s past.

Indeed, the integration of the tower and crypt aligns with the City’s wider strategy of blending heritage with contemporary use, particularly in high-profile locations.

The Fifty Fenchurch development is due to complete in 2028.

Above: The tower at an earlier stage of the works. Image: Alamy licensed to The B1M. Below: The Fifty Fenchurch project site in August 2025. Image: Fred Mills.