WESTMINSTER
(KNIGHTSBRIDGE) |
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DETAILS OF THE BELLS |
Bell
Weight
Diameter
Note
Cast
Founder 1
6-2-16 29½" F 1893
John Taylor & Co. 2
7-2-21 30½" E flat 1893 John Taylor & Co. 3
8-1-5 33" D flat 1893 John Taylor & Co. 4
9-0-19 34" C 1893 John Taylor & Co. 5
10-3-14 37½" B flat 1893 John Taylor & Co. 6
13-1-18 40⅝" A flat 1893 John Taylor & Co. 7
16-2-19 44½" G flat 1893 John Taylor & Co. 8
20-2-24 47½" F 1893 John Taylor & Co. 9
27-0-0 52½" E flat 1893 John Taylor & Co. 10
38-1-15 59⅜" D flat 1893 John Taylor & Co.
1. |
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![]() MAUD |
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2. |
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![]() VICTORIA |
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![]() LOUISE |
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![]() GEORGE |
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![]() ALBERT VICTOR |
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ARTHUR | |||
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ALFRED | |||
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![]() ALBERT EDWARD |
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10. |
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VICTORIA
R.I. 1837 - 1887 |
DEDICATIONS OF THE BELLS |
The bells were named after Queen Victoria and members of her family, as follows: |
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Edward and Alexandra's living children: |
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1 |
Maud 1869 - 1938 |
2 | Victoria 1868 - 1935 |
3 | Louise 1867 - 1931 |
4 | George (later George V) 1865 1936 |
5 | Albert Victor 1864 1892 |
Queen Victoria's children: |
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6 | Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert 1850 - 1942 (Edward's brother) |
7 | Prince Alfred Ernest Albert 1844 - 1900 (another brother of Edward) |
8 | Princess Alexandra (wife of Edward) 1844 - 1925. |
9 | Prince Albert Edward (later Edward VII) 1841 - 1910. |
(A further brother, Leopold George Duncan Albert 1853 - 1884 died before the bells were cast) |
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And the Monarch herself: |
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10 | Queen Victoria 1819 - 1901. |
ACCESS |
Staircase | Type | No of steps |
Position |
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Ground floor to balcony | Octagonal, around the walls | 60 |
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Balcony level to first room | Metal spiral | 29 |
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First room to second room | Metal spiral | 24 |
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Second room to third room | Stone spiral | 29 |
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Third room for fourth room | Stone spiral | 44 |
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Fourth room to tank level | Stone spiral | 23 |
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Tank level to ringing chamber | Stone spiral | 30 |
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Ringing chamber to belfry | Stone spiral | 28 |
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Belfry to viewing gallery | Metal spiral | 30 |
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Viewing gallery to base of dome | Metal spiral | 28 |
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Base of dome to top of dome | Wooden spiral | 53 |
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There are 239 steps from the ground floor to the ringing room, and 378 to the top of the dome. |
HISTORY |
1887 | Building of the Imperial Institute, designed by Thomas Edward Collcutt FRIBA began. | |
1893 | A ring of 10 bells was cast by John Taylor & Co. originally as a gift to Queen Victoria from the Australian millionairess Elizabeth M. Millar of Melbourne. They were dedicated to the Princess of Wales (as is recorded on the 8th Bell) and thus known as the "Alexandra Peal". | |
1893 | 10th May |
The Imperial Institute was opened by Queen Victoria and the bells were rung by the College and Cumberland Youths. |
GALLERY |