Family: William THOMPSON / Ann HARRISON

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Old St Paul Shadwell

The north-east view of St Paul's Shadwell, built in 1656 and demolished in 1817-1818. The church served many seamen, and was sometimes known as the church of the Sea Captains.

In the churchyard of this church was discovered a stream (when digging a well); thus the nearby Spring Street. This was possibly the stream or well after which the area was named – a religious foundation called Our Lady of St Chad's, or Shad's, Well. Its church stood on the site of this well. St Paul's had become very dilapidated by the start of the nineteenth century � a piece of the ceiling fell down just before the start of a Sunday service, causing much confusion and panic as the church was evacuated (the parishioners "crowded out of the building in confusion and consternation, and dispersed in every direction"). The church remained closed for 10 years, save for occasional use for baptisms and burials. Eventually an Act of Parliament was obtained for the rebuilding of the church, most of the interior of the old church was auctioned off in 1817, and by 1820 a new church had been erected on the spot (costing £14,000).

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