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LOVE'S GUIDE TO THE
CHURCH BELLS OF WESTMINSTER

(Site launched: 23rd Jan 2006. Last updated: 22nd Jan 2007)

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INTRODUCTION FROM THE LORD MAYOR OF WESTMINSTER

The City of Westminster boasts 10 interesting towers with rings of 8 or more bells, and a plethora of churches and other buildings with an enviable range of chimed bells, carillons and glockenspiels.   As an active ringer in the City, may I commend this site as an excellent source of useful information about the rings and their histories.

For those of you who don’t ring, do follow the link to the website of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers to learn more about the fascinating art of English Church bell ringing.

For those of you who do, I hope you take the opportunity to visit and join one of the practices held at most of the towers.   Details can be found through the website of the Middlesex County Association and London Diocesan Guild of Change Ringers.

Tim Joiner
Lord Mayor of Westminster

January, 2006

Westminster achieved the status of a city in 1540 when it became a bishopric. Its first recorded civic administration dates from 1586 in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, when an Act authorised the establishment of a Court of Burgesses. The London Government Act of 1899 established 28 Metropolitan Borough Councils, each having an elected Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors. A Royal Charter was granted on 29th October, 1900, reconfirming the status of Westminster as a City. The new City of Westminster incorporating the Boroughs of Paddington and St Marylebone was constituted by Royal Charter on 1st April 1965. This guide examines the bells in this newly constituted city.

Big Ben

Big Ben
There was a lot of press coverage when the bells of Westminster Clock Tower were cast, recast, hung and installed. Here is a selection of articles and illustrations from newspapers at the time.

WHAT'S NEW
(new pages given links)

22nd Jan - St George Hanover Sq
4th Oct - Articles on Big Ben and the Imperial Institute
29th Jun - Fortnum & Mason Store
22nd Mar - St George, Hanover Square
21st Mar - Palace of Westminster, All Soul's, Langham Place
1st Feb
- Atkinson's building
24th Jan
- All Saints Margaret St (pic)
23rd Jan - Launch date.

Particular thanks go to...

Chris Pickford and Rev'd David Cawley for providing and QAing published information.

LINKS

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To Contact the Web Master

This information is taken from a more complete database, all of which is hoped to become available on this site. Any corrections, comments or additions would be gratefully received by Dickon R. Love.

Weights of bells are given in the manner traditional among ringers, namely using the form cwt-qtr-lbs.