Bells of the City of Westminster


 
Glockenspiel
 

Westminster, Glockenspiel, Leicester Square


Photo: Alex Thompson, 2010

  • 27 bells attached to a clock, tune machine and keyboard port
  • Tenor: 5-0-14 in C.
  • Grid Ref: TQ298807
  • Frame: 2011 Smith of Derby, 3 tiers

Details of the Bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)*
Weight
(Prior to retuning in 2011)
Weight
(Prior to retuning (metric))
Diameter Note Date FounderRetuned
1 Switzerland 0-0-125.5kg200mm E 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
2 Switzerland 0-0-177.5kg230mm D 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
3 Zurich 0-0-2612kg240mm C# 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
4 Berne 0-0-2612kg240mm C 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
5 Lucerne 0-1-113kg250mm B 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
6 Schwyz 0-1-314kg260mm A# 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
7 Unterwalden 0-1-716kg275mm A 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
8 Glarus 0-1-1218kg285mm G# 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
9 Zug 0-1-1620kg300mm G 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
10 Solothurn 0-1-2323kg315mm F# 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
11 Basel 0-2-126kg330mm F 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
12 Shaffenhausen 0-2-829kg345mm E 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
13 St Gallen 0-2-1733kg360mm C# 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
14 Appenzell 0-2-2537kg380mm D 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
C# Aargau 0-3-842kg395mm C# 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
16 Uri 0-3-1947kg420mm C 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
17 Thurgau 1-0-051kg435mm B 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
18 Liechtenshtein 1-0-1156kg450mm A# 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
19 Vaud 1-0-2763kg470mm A 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
20 Neuchatel 1-1-1872kg495mm G# 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
21 Fribourg 1-2-1985kg520mm G 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
22 Valais 1-3-1797kg550mm F# 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
23 Geneva 2-0-22112kg580mm F 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
24 Ticino 2-2-13133kg620mm E 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
25 Jura 3-0-5155kg650mm D# 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
26 Switzerland 3-2-15185kg690mm D 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi
27 Graubunden 5-0-14261kg770mm C 1985 Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland2011 Rüetschi

* Source of weight figures: Dispatched weights 1985
 - Hung dead

History

1985 Known as "The Glockenspiel", 25 bells were presented by Switzerland Tourism on behalf of the people of Switzerland and Leichtenstein to the City of Westminster in 1985. They were cast by Rüetschi of Aarau in Switzerland and given to mark the City’s 400th anniversary. They were opened on 20 Nov, 1985. Shortly afterwards, more bells were added bringing the total to 27 by November thefollowing year. As well as being a clock chime and acting as a manual carillon, up to two hundred different tunes could also be played on themautomatically.
2008 The Swiss Centre was demolished and the bells were put into storage. Efforts were made to see the bells restored to a new location in Leicester Square in the face of opposition from local businesses.
2011 A new 10m high tower was constructed by Smith of Derby. The bells were tuned and restored by Rüetschi, given new hammers and hung in the tower. The Glockenspiel was inaugurated on 28th November.

Articles

  • "Glockenspiel Planning Application", Jestico & Whites on behalf of Switzerland Tourism (City of Westminster) 22 July 2010
  • The chime as it used to hang on the Swiss Centre


    The Glockenspiel hanging from the side of the Swiss Centre before demolition in 2008.
    Photo: Dickon R Love


    Photo: Dickon R Love


    Photo: Dickon R Love

    The chime in its new tower



    Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011


    Love's Guide to the Bells of the City of Westminster Page updated: 15 April 2022