Cuneiform Tablet: The oldest object in the City of London

London is home to many ancient and wondrous items, many of which are kept in museums and galleries. But, there are also ancient and historic objects simply dotted around London's many streets and thoroughfares.

The oldest of these objects would have to be the Needle of Thutmose III, which stands on Victoria Embankment. This obelisk dates from around 1450 BC.

Then there are the Roman remains, such as the amphitheatre, the old city walls and bastions, mosaics and the like. These were all created from 45 AD onwards.

However, this curious brown block, on display in St Vedast-alias-Foster Garden, is, I am sure, one of the oldest objects, as it dates from between 858 and 834 BC. 

So, how did it end up in a church courtyard in London?

Walking with friends: Barbican to Tower Bridge... and beyond

Thursday March 27, 2025.

Having celebrated my birthday, yesterday, I was eager to use my day off to visit London. With my girls at school I roped in my friend, Gary, to join me for the walk.

I took a bus to meet Gary at Rickmansworth station, where we caught a fast Aldgate-bound Metropolitan line train to Barbican. 

Our first stop was a visit to Postman's Park and the G.F. Watt's Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice, which Gary had never seen, before we continued our walk south towards St Paul's Cathedral.

Turning on to Foster Lane I spotted the two open blue doors and, after climbing the three stone steps, we found ourselves in a secluded courtyard. This courtyard, once part of a graveyard, is a public garden that is owned by the church of St Vedast-alias-Foster.

A tree acts as a centrepiece to the slabbed and pebbled space, with various potted plants and shrubs dotted around the space. Two white walls are in juxtaposition with the brick walls, while the covered arcade adds an almost Mediterranean feel to this tranquil space. A framed display of Roman pavement pieces along with various plaques adorn the walls, while a relief sculpture of Canon Mortlock, by Jacob Epstein, is affixed to another wall.

But, I was here to see a rather obscure brick. It is a mud brick, etched with cuneiform writing, that was unearthed in Iraq and is almost 3,000 years old. Strangely, there is no plaque or marker, so I had to do some research on this piece of ancient history, on my return home.

Just metres from this 'secret' garden we saw a London Plane tree, growing in the grounds of the former St Peter West Cheap Church grounds. This platanus x acerifolia tree is said to be the oldest tree in the City of London.

From here we continued our route, by following Cannon Street, to Eastcheap, before turning down Pudding Lane, passing the Monument, before reaching Lower Thames Street, where we visited the Church of St Magnus-the-Martyr.

The Church of St Magnus-the-Martyr is a wonderful Grade I listed church, which was one of the first buildings to be destroyed by the Great Fire of 1666. Although this church dates from 1687, there has been a church here since the 11th century. 

Inside this church there is a model of the Old London Bridge, which was created by David T Aggett, a member of the Metropolitan Police who rose to the rank of Detective Superintendent in the Fraud Squad. He was also a keen model maker and this model of Old London Bridge took almost three years to complete. As he was also a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers, he donated the model to St Magnus Church, which is the Plumbers' Company church. As a little joke he placed a Metropolitan Policeman on the bridge, which people can seek to find when admiring the model.

Having found the Policeman and some of the other interesting parts of the model we explored the rest of the building, before leaving the church and continued our walk along Lower Thames Street.

We stopped at Tower Hill Market for a bite to eat, which we ate on the square outside All Hallows by the Tower. The sun, by now, had burnt away the fog and mist, causing the temperature to soar, as we made our way across Tower Bridge to the south bank.

St Vedast-alias-Foster Public Garden and its Treasures, City of London

In the shadow of St Paul's Cathedral and hidden along a small passageway, from Foster Lane, is this wonderful public garden, that holds some intriguing and historic items.

The garden is built on what was once a graveyard belonging to St Vedast-alias-Foster, a church that was founded in around 1170. 

The church has been restored many times and rebuilt at least twice, the last by Sir Christopher Wren following the Great Fire of 1666.

The church was completely gutted during The Blitz, with its restoration being undertaken by Canon Charles Bernard Mortlock, Poet Laureate John Betjeman, Noel Mander a master organ builder and architect Stephen Dykes Bower.

An adjacent plot to the north, formerly the location of the Fountain Pub, was purchased and used for the construction of a new Rectory. On land between this new Rectory and what is now the parish hall of St Vedast a small secluded courtyard was built.

Passing through these blue doors and up the three small stone steps you will find yourself in a small courtyard, with a tree as a centrepiece, various plants and plaques. The white walls in contrast with the brick walls and the covered walkway gives this small courtyard an almost Mediterranean feel. 

But there are secrets to be discovered here: Roman tiles, sculptures and a 3,000 year old brick, from Iraq.

On the south wall you will find the remains of a Roman pavement, discovered 18 feet below the floor of the church of St Matthew, Friday Street, which was demolished in 1886.

There is a small sculpture of Canon Charles Bernard Mortlock, entitled 'Head', by Jacob Epstein.