St Augustine's Tower

The lowdown

Marooned in a green churchyard in the middle of Hackney stands a lone stone tower, all that remains of the medieval parish church of St Augustine, demolished when a bigger church was built nearby in the 1790s. Dating from around the thirteenth century, it is the oldest building in the whole borough.

Inside survives a rare original turret clock movement from the sixteenth century, one of the oldest still in its place in the country. On open days, run by volunteers, you can climb the narrow stairs for free to see the clockwork and enjoy a view out over Hackney from the top, a real hidden gem worth timing a visit for.