St Olave's Church, Southwark - Depopulation of The Parish, Redundancy and Demolition of The Church

Depopulation of The Parish, Redundancy and Demolition of The Church

The church was restored and was very much a Docklands church, but as the industrial expansion of the area led to population decline, so the church became less used. In 1926 it was declared redundant and the nave was demolished, leaving a forlorn tower, removed in 1928, when its capping turret was relocated to Tanner Street Park, Southwark, where it was converted into a drinking fountain. This still stands in the Park and in 1998 was designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed structure.

The site of the church was sold and redeveloped with an Art Deco office building which became the headquarters of the Hay’s Wharf Company. This still stands on Lower Tooley Street and is now called St Olaf’s House; it bears a plaque giving information on the demolished St Olave's Church and its patron saint.