St. Paul's Cathedral

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The first building contracts were confirmed in July 1675. Just 35 years later the cathedral was finished, making it the first English Cathedral to be completed in the lifetime of the original architect. This speed was even more remarkable because there was a shortage of skilled labour in the aftermath of a plague which had ravaged the country in 1665.

Despite this, Wren gathered leading artists and craftsmen to work on the building. He took an active role, personally hiring and supervising workers, scrutinising the accounts and visiting the site every Saturday.

Even so, some people felt that progress was too slow. In 1697, they put pressure on Wren by persuading Parliament to suspend half his salary until the building was finished.

The perimeter walls were begun at once and the work took place behind screens, partly to hide the changes Wren was making to the approved design, but also so nobody could see the building until it was complete - unless they paid.

St Paul's has been charging tourists for entry since 1709. Indeed, a temporary suspension of the two-pence entry fee in the 19th century resulted in mayhem, according to one observer.

"In less than an hour, between 2,000 and 3,000 people entered the church, many of them of the lowest description with their hats on, laughing, talking and making uproar totally incompatible with any idea of religion", he wrote.

Even with charges, he added, "we see beggars, men with burdens, women knitting, parties eating luncheon, dogs, children playing, loud laughing and talking, and every kind of scenery incompatible with the solemnity of worship."

Entrance fees did not pay for the building itself. This was funded by a special tax on coal coming into the Port of London, which was levied to finance the rebuilding of the City after the Great Fire. According to the cathedral accounts, the total cost of new St Paul's was £738,845, 5 shillings, 2 and a half d - approximately £50 million in modern terms.

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