ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL |
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SOUTH WEST TOWER |
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DETAILS OF THE BELLS |
Bell Weight
(measured 1878)Diameter
Note Cast Founder Great Tom 102-1-22 825/8" A flat 1716 Richard Phelps Qtr Jack 1 13 cwt approx. 41" approx. A flat 1717 Richard Phelps Qtr Jack 2 35 cwt approx. 58" approx. E flat 1717 Richard Phelps Great Paul 334-2-19 116¾" E flat 1881 John Taylor & Co.
INSCRIPTIONS |
| GREAT TOM | RICHARD PHELPS MADE ME. 1716. |
| QUARTER JACK 1 | RICHARD PHELPS MADE ME. 1717. |
| QUARTER JACK 2 | RICHARD PHELPS MADE ME. 1717. |
| GREAT PAUL | JOHN TAYLOR AND CO. FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH MDCCCLXXXI |
| VAE o MIHI o SI o NON o EVANGELISAVERO |
Prior to its recasting in 1709, Great Tom bore the following inscription:
TERCIUS APTAVIT ME REX
EDWARDQUE VOCAVIT |
PHOTOGRAPHS of GREAT PAUL |
 Great Paul on its way to the Cathedral, carried on a steam trailer. |
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Notoriously difficult to photograph, Great Paul swings in its massive wooden frame, barely contained by the tower. |
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These photographs taken from
the pit of the bell while it is stationary and swinging. On the left, the Dean of St
Paul's, Dr John Moses, demonstrates how huge this bell really is. The bell 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. |
| The bulky headstock that attaches the bell to the wheel and bearings. |  |
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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. |
PHOTOGRAPHS of the QUARTER JACKS |
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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. |
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Photograph of the quarter jacks taken c.1960 with the lip of Great Tom seen above them. |
GREAT TOM |
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| 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. |
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Tolling the Great Bell of
St Paul's for the death of the Duke of Albany The following pictures
appeared in "The Graphic", May 20th, 1882: |
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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 |
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