The earliest medieval remains found in Bermondsey Square were a Norman church from around 1080, which was recorded in the Domesday Book.
Long Lane, which leads northwest to Borough High Street, originally linked the Abbey with St George the Martyr church. To the west of Bermondsey Square is Bermondsey Street, which heads north towards Tooley Street and London Bridge station.
Bermondsey Square was once referred to as the Court Yard and served as the primary quadrangle of Bermondsey Abbey. In 1699, a Puritan divine erected a chapel, which was later converted into a wool warehouse before being demolished. The entrance to the square was once marked by the Abbey’s gatehouse, which stood between the King John’s Head public house and an oil shop but was removed in the early 19th century. The Mansion House was situated between the entrance to the Long Walk and a salt warehouse, and it was built using materials taken from the Abbey.
In 2008 Bermondsey Square was redeveloped with flats, offices, a boutique hotel, restaurants and a 52 seat cinema. Bermondsey Market operates here every Friday and is an antiques market.
