Model of Old London Bridge, Church of St Magnus-the-Martyr

Inside St Magnus-the-Martyr Church, on Lower Thames Street, is a remarkable model of the Medieval London Bridge.

This four-metre long model was built by David T Aggett, a member of the Metropolitan Police. He was also a keen model maker and this model of Old London Bridge took him almost three years to complete.

The model shows how Old London Bridge would have looked in 1400 and is built, predominantly, from cardboard boxes. 

He was also a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers, so he donated the model to the Church, which is the church of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers. 

As a little joke he placed a Metropolitan Policeman on the bridge, which people can seek to find when admiring the model. 

Besides the Policeman there are countless other figures going about their daily routines, which can bring a smile to your face.

St Magnus-the-Martyr Church was once the entrance way to the old London Bridge, before the bridge was demolished and moved 30 metres to the west. So, it is fitting that the model resides here.

David T Aggett

In 1984 David was given the heart of a 14 year old girl, which made him close to being the oldest heart transplant person in the world. Following his operation he continued with his position in the Metropolitan Police rising to the rank of Detective Superintendent in the Fraud Squad.

In 1983 he became a liveryman of the Plumbers Company and also the Company’s second Steward, in 1985. As an active member of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers he sponsored and seconded a number of liverymen into the Company. 

He became a life member of the Guild of Freemen in 1971, a liveryman of the Fan Makers in 1998 and also a liveryman of the Master Mariners. He was also a member of a number of City of London Ward Clubs: Bridge, Cripplegate, Castle Baynard, Coleman Street and Farringdon. He was also a member of the City Livery Club, the Royal Society of St. George and a life member of the Friends of St. Paul’s.

It was after his heart transplant surgery that he began constructing his model of Old London Bridge, which was completed in just three years. In 1987  he gifted the model to the church as a permanent display.

Since its move to St Magnus-the-Martyr Church, hundreds, if not thousands, of people have visited the church just to see the model. It is included on many walking tours and has been shown on TV, but you need to see it in person to appreciate the detail and work involved in its construction.

If you do visit St Magnus-the-Martyr Church, remember that it is a working church, with services and such, so please respect the space and keep noise to a minimum.