Project Information
Client
St Mary-le-Bow Church
Architects
RRA Architects
Project Managers
Sinclair Johnston and Partners
Archaeologist and Architectural Historian
John Schofield
The Building
Founded c1080 as the London headquarters of the Archbishops of Canterbury, the medieval church of St Mary-le-Bow survived three devastating collapses before being completely destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. Rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren, it was destroyed once more in 1941 but was again rebuilt and re-consecrated in 1964.
St Mary-le-Bow is a Grade I Listed Church in London EC2. English Heritage and the City of London Council both approved the Sesame lift at the front entrance to this historic building.
The benefit of Sesame's bespoke design
Each Sesame lift is designed bespoke to the building. Due to the age of the building, St Mary-le-Bow had limited pit survey information. When the pit was excavated, a historic wall was discovered in the pit which needed to be protected. The project team was worried that the Sesame lift was no longer possible. However, our talented Sesame design team were able to adapt the bespoke wheelchair lift design, to protect the historic wall and still provide disabled access to the Listed Building. The benefit of clever bespoke design!
"Wow!" moment for Sesame
St Mary-le-Bow has so much history. Legend has it that if you were born within the sounds of the Mary-le-Bow bells you could call yourself a Cockney Londoner!
Also St Mary-le-Bow Church is part of the children's nursery rhyme "Oranges and Lemons..the bells of St Clements".
A very British Church.