The Vincent Street Fireplace

The Vincent Street Fireplace AdOYo (Atlas Obscura User)

In the heart of London’s City of Westminster sits the remains of a fireplace. During the Blitz bombings of World War II, much of London was reduced to rubble. With over 40,000 civilian deaths and over a million homes destroyed, the German bombing campaign left much of the city in ruins.

On Vincent Street alone, one attack saw 21 properties so badly hit that they were deemed “damaged beyond repair.” From the 7th of October 1940 to the 6th of June 1941, 64 incendiary explosives were dropped on the area of Vincent Square Ward.

A lone reminder still stands of that bombing aftermath. Though the surrounding terrace house it belonged to was destroyed, this small red brick fireplace survived the bombing campaign. The fireplace has stood as a reminder for more than 80 years since.

Know Before You Go

The fireplace can be found opposite Napier Hall (15B Vincent Square), on the left-hand side of the black wrought iron gates to the car park of the brick flats opposite.

If you stand with your back to the memorial stone on the side of Napier Hall, it is directly in front of you, on the far side of a small hedge. Close to the intersection of Vincent Street and Hide Place.