The site of St Paul's Cathedral has been a place of Christian worship for over 1400 years, a cathedral having been established around 604. The cathedral has been destroyed a number of times in its history, although the most well-known was during the Great Fire of London in 1666.

The medieval cathedral was larger and broader than the present building, the overall length being 178 metres. Its tower and spire reached 149 metres. The spire was struck by lightning in 1341 and 1444 but was rebuilt both times. It burned down in 1561 and was not replaced. The cathedral's interior was used as a thoroughfare, a meeting place and a market place and over the centuries fell into a state of disrepair.

Following destruction by the Great Fire, Sir Christopher Wren spent nine years (1666-75) planning a new cathedral and its construction continued until 1710. The domed building seen today has been the scene of many national occasions, from the funerals of Viscount Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Winston Churchill to jubilee celebrations for Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II.

This gallery presents some of our finest historical images of St Paul's Cathedral. To discover more, try searching or use the London Picture Map to focus on a location.