The Church Bells of the City of London

ST BENET PAUL'S WHARF,
QUEEN VICTORIA STREET
Photo DrL
2 bells
Tenor: 5 cwt approx. in D
Never subsequently retuned
Treble now unhung
Formerly 5 bells and sanctus before the Great Fire
Church no longer parochial and is used for Welsh services. It is part of the benefice of St Nicholas Cole Abbey.

DETAILS OF THE BELLS

Bell

Weight

Diameter

Note

Cast

 Founder

1

 2 cwt approx. 22" A

1683

 William Wightman

2

 5 cwt approx. 271/2" D 1683 William Wightman

INSCRIPTIONS
1 THOMAS PINFOLD DR AT LAWS 1683
2 W WIGHTMAN FECIT J683

The inscription on the tenor was subsequently incised.

HISTORY
1552 Record of 3 bells and a sanctus bell ("iij belles & a saunce bell in the Steple").
1605-6 Churchwardens accounts record the purchase of 2 new bellropes.
1614-5 Churchwardens accounts record 11s paid to Mr Farram for new trussing fower of the bells.
1618 One of the bells was recast and "second casting of the bell". The name of the founder was not recorded.
1622-3 Churchwardens accounts record a new wheel for the 2nd bell and trussing a bell.
1623-4 Churchwardens accounts record the purchase of 4 new bellropes.
1628-9 Churchwardens accounts record the purchase of ropes for all the bells.
1630-1 Churchwardens accounts record the purchase of ropes for all 5 bells.
1631-2 Churchwardens accounts record: "pd the bell hanger for mending the bell wheels and for new catches to all the bells and for new hanging them as by his bill appears" £2.10.0, to the smith for iron work for the bells 12s.6d; 1634-5 for carrying of the old Saints bell."
1635-6 Churchwardens accounts record a sum "for a new saints bell and placing the clocke upon it £9.7.8; 1635-6 new wheels for the bells and work about the bells (£4.1.10), new ropes, for 2 clappers and mending and cutting the other (£1.2.0); 1637-8 Paid for a set of bell ropes and a new Sants bell rope and Tenor rope and hanging them, £1.1.6."
1666 Church and bells destroyed by the Great Fire.
1683 Church rebuilt (1681-7) by Wren and 2 bells cast by William Wightman for the new tower.
1708 Record of 2 bells.
1714 Paterson records that "no Peal of Bells yet set up".
1724 Record of 2 bells.