A watercolour of the wesrn approach of All Hallows-by-the-Tower. All Hallows-by-the-Tower is the oldest church in the City of London, founded in AD 675 by the Abbey of Barking, predating the nearby Tower of London by nearly 300 years. It stands on Byward Street, right next to the Tower, and is a Grade I listed building.
 
The church features layers of history, including a Roman pavement, a visible Saxon arch, medieval stonework, and remnants from the Blitz. It survived the Great Fire of London in 1666 thanks to Admiral Penn, who ordered the destruction of nearby buildings to create a firebreak.
 
Interesting facts.
You can visit the layers of history in the museum crypt. The crypt also served as a temporary resting place for those executed on Tower Hill, such as Sir Thomas More, Bishop John Fisher, and Archbishop Laud.