Fenchurch Street is a historic road in the City of London, now defined as much by contemporary architecture as by its history as a hay market (leading to the name ‘Fenchurch’, from the Latin word for hay, ‘faenum’). It’s home to landmarks such as 20 Fenchurch Street, known colloquially as the “Walkie-Talkie” due to its distinctive shape, and the Sky Garden, with its stunning panoramic views of the London skyline. It’s also the site of one of the most ambitious construction projects currently underway in the capital: Fifty Fenchurch.
The development replaces a block of outdated office buildings with a new commercial glass tower designed by Eric Parry Architects. At the heart of the site sits a significant constraint: the Grade I listed Tower of All Hallows Staining, over 700 years old, with the Grade II listed Lambe’s Chapel Crypt lying beneath it. Both had to be preserved, protected, and ultimately made publicly accessible as part of the finished scheme.
Their solution to this challenge is, frankly, breathtaking. The crypt was carefully excavated and conserved off-site, to be relocated later to a publicly accessible spot on-site. The medieval tower itself now stands on a network of steel stilts, held precisely in position while construction continues beneath and around it. When complete, the tower will stand in the forecourt of the new building, in the exact same spot it has occupied for 700 years.
In late 2025 I was commissioned by Yard Nine, one of the partners on Fifty Fenchurch, to photograph the construction project before the impressive scale was lost during later phases. The brief was to document the tower apparently hovering above the excavation, an iconic sight that will soon be gone forever. To minimise disruption on site, the shoot coincided with a visit from representatives from the Mayor’s office, other project partners, and members of the press.
Seeing it in person is an arresting experience, and I consider it one of the most special construction projects I’ve ever seen, let alone photographed. Jon from Multiplex, the principal contractor, walked me through the engineering process involved in stabilising the tower and excavating around it. Even with the explanation the practicalities are hard to fully grasp. Standing beneath a 700-year-old structure suspended above a deep construction site is an experience few people will ever have — and one that will soon disappear as the building rises around it.
Here’s a selection of images from the shoot, some of which have already been used in press and PR coverage of the project. If you’re commissioning a London construction photographer and would like to discuss documenting a complex or sensitive site, you can get in touch via my contact page with a few details and I’ll come back to you with availability and a tailored quote.
All images copyright Owen Billcliffe, and licensed exclusively to Yard Nine, Multiplex, and their construction partners. For editorial or other publication permission please get in touch with me by email.
