St Paul's Cathedral South West Tower

ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL

Ring of 12 bells
Additional service bell hung for ringing

SOUTH WEST TOWER

Photo DrL Aug 2002

	Great Paul (Bourdon), Great Tom (hour bell) plus 2 quarter jacks.
	Bourdon: 334-2-19 in E flat

Never subsequently retuned.

Upstairs Ringing Room

DETAILS OF THE BELLS

Bell

Weight

Diameter

Note

Cast
Founder

Great Tom 102-1-22 82⅝" A flat 1716 Richard Phelps

Qtr 1 12-2-9 ? 41" approx. A flat 1707 Richard Phelps

Qtr 2 24-2-26 ? 58" approx. E flat 1707 Richard Phelps

Great Paul 334-2-19 116ž" E flat 1881 John Taylor & Co.

Gt Tom RICHARD PHELPS MADE ME. 1716.

Qtr 1 RICHARD PHELPS MADE ME. 1707.

Qtr 2 RICHARD PHELPS MADE ME. 1707.

Gt Paul JOHN TAYLOR AND CO. FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH MDCCCLXXXI

VAE o MIHI o SI o NON o EVANGELISAVERO

There is some doubt regarding the inscription on the quarter bells. These need to be inspected to
identify the correct inscriptions. The 3 bells bear a Phelps border, a shield of St Paul's, and the
larger quarter jack may have some additional wording including the initials IB.
Prior to its recasting in 1709, Great Tom bore the following inscription:

TERCIUS APTAVIT ME REX EDWARDQUE VOCAVIT
SANCTI DECORE EDWARDI SIGNANTUR UT HORAE.
MADE BY PHILIP WIGHTMAN 1708
BROUGHT FROM THE RVINES OF WESTMINSTER

GALLERY

--- Great Paul ---

Great Paul on its way to the Cathedral, carried on a steam trailer. Tolling the Great Bell of St Paul's for the death of the Duke of Albany
(The Illustrated London News, April 5th, 1884)

Notoriously difficult to photograph, Great Paul swings in its massive wooden frame, barely contained by the tower.

The bulky headstock that attaches the bell to the wheel and bearings. These photographs taken from the pit of the bell while it is stationary and swinging. Here, the Dean of St Paul's, Dr John Moses, demonstrates how huge this bell really is. It swings at 1pm every day. While it is the largest bell in the country, it is by no means the loudest, and from outside the cathedral it rumbles quietly inside. Great Paul used to be swung by two ringers, one in a pit under each side of the bell. Jim Phillips, then Secretary of the St Paul's Guild, demonstrates how this was done.

Great Paul on its headstock.
(Jim Hedgcock Collection)

The following pictures appeared in "The Graphic", May 20th, 1882:
"GREAT PAUL:" THE NEW BELL FOR ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL

The Removal: Leaving Loughborough for London. Boring for the Clapper-bolt from the inside and outside

From "The Graphic", 27th May, 1882: From "The Illustrated London News" - front cover 14th January, 1882.
Testing the Great Bell for St. Paul's Cathedral, at Messrs. Taylor and Sons' Factory, Loughborough

--- Quarter Jacks ---

This is about the best I could do to photograph the quarter jacks. One is clearly visible from the ceiling. The other is hidden behind the grating, which at the time was inaccessible. Hopefully some better photographs will be obtained in the future. Photograph of the quarter jacks taken c.1960 with the lip of Great Tom seen above them.

--- Great Tom ---

Above is an engraving of the original "Great Tom of Westminster". This was given to St Paul's Cathedral in 1698 by William III. It used to be known as "Edward of Westminster" and weighed 82-2-21. Great Tom itself is virtually inaccessible and impossible to photograph, although hopefully the editor will get a chance to attempt this in the future.

Bell	Weight	Diameter	Note	Cast	Founder
Great Tom	102-1-22	82⅝"	A flat	1716	Richard Phelps
Qtr 1	12-2-9	? 41" approx.	A flat	1707	Richard Phelps
Qtr 2	24-2-26	? 58" approx.	E flat	1707	Richard Phelps
Great Paul	334-2-19	116ž"	E flat	1881	John Taylor & Co.

Gt Tom	RICHARD PHELPS MADE ME. 1716.

Qtr 1	RICHARD PHELPS MADE ME. 1707.

Qtr 2	RICHARD PHELPS MADE ME. 1707.

Gt Paul	JOHN TAYLOR AND CO. FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH MDCCCLXXXI
	VAE o MIHI o SI o NON o EVANGELISAVERO

--- Great Paul ---

Great Paul on its way to the Cathedral, carried on a steam trailer.		Tolling the Great Bell of St Paul's for the death of the Duke of Albany (The Illustrated London News, April 5th, 1884)

Notoriously difficult to photograph, Great Paul swings in its massive wooden frame, barely contained by the tower.

The bulky headstock that attaches the bell to the wheel and bearings.	These photographs taken from the pit of the bell while it is stationary and swinging. Here, the Dean of St Paul's, Dr John Moses, demonstrates how huge this bell really is. It swings at 1pm every day. While it is the largest bell in the country, it is by no means the loudest, and from outside the cathedral it rumbles quietly inside.	Great Paul used to be swung by two ringers, one in a pit under each side of the bell. Jim Phillips, then Secretary of the St Paul's Guild, demonstrates how this was done.

Great Paul on its headstock. (Jim Hedgcock Collection)

The following pictures appeared in "The Graphic", May 20th, 1882: "GREAT PAUL:" THE NEW BELL FOR ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL

The Removal: Leaving Loughborough for London.	Boring for the Clapper-bolt from the inside and outside

From "The Graphic", 27th May, 1882:	From "The Illustrated London News" - front cover 14th January, 1882. Testing the Great Bell for St. Paul's Cathedral, at Messrs. Taylor and Sons' Factory, Loughborough

--- Quarter Jacks ---

This is about the best I could do to photograph the quarter jacks. One is clearly visible from the ceiling. The other is hidden behind the grating, which at the time was inaccessible. Hopefully some better photographs will be obtained in the future.	Photograph of the quarter jacks taken c.1960 with the lip of Great Tom seen above them.

--- Great Tom ---
	Above is an engraving of the original "Great Tom of Westminster". This was given to St Paul's Cathedral in 1698 by William III. It used to be known as "Edward of Westminster" and weighed 82-2-21. Great Tom itself is virtually inaccessible and impossible to photograph, although hopefully the editor will get a chance to attempt this in the future.