Bells of the City of Westminster


 
St Gabriel
 

Pimlico, St Gabriel, Warwick Square


Photo: 15 Oct 2011

  • 8 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 15-3-10 in F.
  • Grid Ref: TQ291784
  • Rung from: Upstairs Ringing Room
  • Frame: 1855 Charles and George Mears timber
  • Building Listed Grade: II*. Click for Heritage details.

Details of the Bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)*
Diameter Note Date FounderRetuned
® 1 5-0-129" F 1855 Charles & George Mears, WhitechapelNever
® 2 5-1-830" E 1855 Charles & George Mears, WhitechapelNever
® 3 6-1-1732" D 1855 Charles & George Mears, WhitechapelNever
® 4 6-3-234" C 1855 Charles & George Mears, WhitechapelNever
® 5 7-2-1336" B♭ 1855 Charles & George Mears, WhitechapelNever
® 6 8-3-838" A 1855 Charles & George Mears, WhitechapelNever
® 7 11-0-1741½" G 1855 Charles & George Mears, WhitechapelNever
® 8 15-3-1046½" F 1855 Charles & George Mears, WhitechapelNever

* Source of weight figures: WBF records
®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes

Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
1 All bells 1855 Charles & George Mears, Whitechapel Timber
8.3

History

1853 A bell was supplied for the new church by Charles and George Mears. [1]
1854 The church was finished.
1855 The new church was equipped with a ring of 8 bells in a new frame by Charles and George Mears. The old bell was bought in part exchange. The fittings of the old bell were reused on one of the new bells. [2]
1888 The church was restored at a cost of £3,200.
1901 The fittings were repaired by Mears & Stainbank. [3]
1967 There was an unadvertised peal attempt (lost after 4,500 changes). The local band continued toring for a little while after this before ringing then stopped.
1978 Ringing resumed on the first Sunday of each month, however by the mid-1980s, all ringing stopped and the bells were silent for nigh on 20 years.
2002 Some remedial action in the belfry and goodwill in the church allowed the bells to be rung again, and regular ringing resumed.
[1] Rev. Brymer Belcher for St.Gabriel's Church, Warwick Square, Pimlico. To a Bell 6-0-9 @ 8/8/- £51.1.6, clapper stock wheel ironwork & brasses £6.10.0, frame for bell & fixing & hanging as per estimate £13.10.0 (Whitechapel daybook, 29 Mar 1853)
[2] Revd. Brymer Belcher for St.Gabriel’s, Pimlico. To a Peal of 8 Bells 5-0-1, 5-1-8, 6-1-17, 6-3-2, 7-2-13, 8-3-8, 11-0-17 and 15-3-10 (total 66-3-20) @ £8, £535.8.7, seven sets of fittings (clappers, stocks, wheels, ironwork & brasses) £51.15.0, A set of 8 ropes £4.4.0, and altering frame and hanging bells as per estimate £62. Buy old bell 6-0-9 @ £8, £48.12.10; (Whitechapel Daybook 17 April 1855)
[3] (Whitechapel Daybook 11 Dec.1901 - repairs to fittings [details given], £93)

Gallery


The belfry.
Photo: Dickon R Love, Oct 2011


Photo: Dickon R Love, Oct 2011


Photo: Dickon R Love, Oct 2011


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