Bells of the City of Westminster


 
St James
 

Westminster, St James, Piccadilly


Details of the Bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)*
Diameter Note Date FounderRetuned
Q1 1-1-1411¾" 1967 Mears & Stainbank, WhitechapelNever
Q2 2-2-2422" 1967 Mears & Stainbank, WhitechapelNever
Hour 5½ cwt approx.27" 1967 Mears & Stainbank, WhitechapelNever
Service 22 cwt approx.49½" E♭ 1686 William & Philip Wightman, ClerkenwellNever

* Source of weight figures: WBF records (hour bell never weighed)
 - Hung dead

Prior to 1967

Bell Weight Diameter Note Date Founder Retuned Fate
Q11¼ cwt approx.17⅛"1815Thomas Mears IINever? Scrapped 1967
Q22½ cwt approx20½"1815Thomas Mears IINever? Scrapped 1967
Q33 cwt approx.23½"1749Robert CatlinNever? Scrapped 1967

History

1686 Service bell cast by William & Philip Wightman.
1749 An hour bell was cast by Robert Catlin. This bell was also used for services.
1815 Two quarter chime bells were supplied through Thwaites, cast by Thomas Mears. These bells were hung dead above the clock without clappers and had a combined weight of 3-0-17. [1] [2]
1884 The church was reopened on 18 Oct after restoration, at a cost of £3,500.
1960 The "Survey of London XXIX" noted that the Wightman bell was standing in the churchyard.
1969 New clock bells were supplied by Mears & Stainbank``. The hour bell was a stockbell and never weighed.
[1] 2 new bells for the quarters of the clock particularly to suit the hour bell & strike louder than bells of that size generally do being thicker & of a different shape. (Whitechapel Day Book 1815)
[2] New bells hung above the clock. Combined weight 3-0-17. (Thwaites & Reed daybook, MS 6788/5 - 25 Mar (entry deleted) and 1 Apr1815))



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