Untitled Document
      Love's Guide to

 The Bells of the City of London
 

,

Details of the Bells
Bell Weight
(most recent)		Diameter Note Date FounderRetuned
® 1 Maud 6-2-1629½" F 1893 John Taylor & Co., LoughboroughNever
® 2 Victoria 7-2-2130½" E♭ 1893 John Taylor & Co., LoughboroughNever
® 3 Louise 8-1-533" D♭ 1893 John Taylor & Co., LoughboroughNever
® 4 George 9-0-1934" C 1893 John Taylor & Co., LoughboroughNever
® 5 Albert Victor 10-3-1437½" B♭ 1893 John Taylor & Co., LoughboroughNever
® 6 Arthur 13-1-1840⅝" A♭ 1893 John Taylor & Co., LoughboroughNever
® 7 Alfred 16-2-1944½" G♭ 1893 John Taylor & Co., LoughboroughNever
® 8 Alexandra 20-2-2447½" F 1893 John Taylor & Co., LoughboroughNever
® 9 Albert Edward 27-0-052½" E♭ 1893 John Taylor & Co., LoughboroughNever
® 10 Viictoria 38-1-1559⅜" D♭ 1893 John Taylor & Co., LoughboroughNever

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes
Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
1 All bells 1893 John Taylor & Co., Loughborough Cast iron, Oak
7.A.b

History
1887 The building of the Imperial Institute, designed by Thomas Edward Collcutt FRIBA began.
1893 A ring of 10 bells was cast by John Taylor & Co. originally as a gift to Queen Victoria from the Australian millionairess Elizabeth M. Millar of Melbourne. They were dedicated to the Princess of Wales (as is recorded on the 8th Bell) and thus known as the "Alexandra Peal". The Imperial Institute was opened by Queen Victoria on 10 May and the bells were rung by the College and Cumberland Youths.

Articles

  • "The "Queen's" Tower of the former Imperial Institute", The Editor (Ringing World) 12 May 1972
  • "Centenary of the Alexandra Peal", Buswell C, Edwards, C F (The Ringing World) 7 May 1993
  • "The Imperial Institute Bells", Crowest, F J (Supplement to The Graphic) 13 May 1893
    		•

    Documents

    The frame layout.
    Photo: James White, 2007
    The tower moves considerably when the bells are rung. This movement is closely followed by engineering students in the College.
    Photo: James White, 2007
    The inscriptions in the dome of the tower.
    Photo: James White, 2007

    Ringing at the Queen's Tower.
    Photo: Newspaper, 18 Mar 1893

    The belfry

    The 8th inscription.
    Photo: James White, 2007
    The founder's mark.
    Photo: James White, 2007

    Dedications of the bells

    The bells were named after Queen Victoria and members of her family, as follows:

    Edward and Alexandra's living children:

    1

    		 Maud 1869 - 1938
    2 Victoria 1868 - 1935
    3 Louise 1867 - 1931
    4 George (later George V) 1865 1936
    5 Albert Victor 1864 1892

    Queen Victoria's children:
    6 Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert 1850 - 1942 (Edward's brother)
    7 Prince Alfred Ernest Albert 1844 - 1900 (another brother of Edward)
    8 Princess Alexandra (wife of Edward) 1844 - 1925.
    9 Prince Albert Edward (later Edward VII) 1841 - 1910.

    (A further brother, Leopold George Duncan Albert 1853 - 1884 died before the bells were cast)

    And the Monarch herself:
    10 Queen Victoria 1819 - 1901.

    Access
     
    Staircase Type No of steps

    Position
    Ground floor to balcony Octagonal, around the walls 60

     
    Balcony level to first room Metal spiral 29

    •
    First room to second room Metal spiral 24

    •
    Second room to third room Stone spiral 29

    •
    Third room for fourth room Stone spiral 44
    •
    Fourth room to tank level Stone spiral 23
    •
    Tank level to ringing chamber Stone spiral 30
    •
    Ringing chamber to belfry Stone spiral 28
    •
    Belfry to viewing gallery Metal spiral 30
    •
    Viewing gallery to base of dome Metal spiral 28
    •    •
    Base of dome to top of dome Wooden spiral 53

      • •
    There are 239 steps from the ground floor to the ringing room, and 378 to the top of the dome.
     
    Recent Peals
    The most recent performances, according to BellBoard.
    2023-06-035136 Avon Delight Maximus
    2023-06-035040 Surprise Minor (7m)
    2023-06-035088 Spliced Surprise Major (7m)
    2023-06-035040 Doubles (42m/v)
    2023-06-035019 Stedman Cinques
    2023-06-035088 Gibside Delight Major
    2023-06-035088 Bristol Surprise Major
    2023-06-035760 Spliced Treble Dodging Minor (147m)
    2023-06-035040 Cambridge Surprise Royal
    2023-06-035000 Bristol Surprise Royal
    2023-06-025040 Spliced Surprise Minor (41m)
    2023-06-025040 Surprise Minor (7m)
    2023-06-025040 Surprise Minor (7m)
    2023-06-025040 Jenner Delight Royal
    2023-06-015040 Stedman Triples
    2023-06-015076 Bristol Surprise Major
    2023-06-015184 Yorkshire Surprise Major
    2023-05-315056 Bristol Surprise Major
    2023-05-315024 May Surprise Major
    2023-05-315040 Spliced Surprise Minor (24m)
    2023-05-315152 Deeping St James Delight Major
    2023-05-315040 Surprise Minor (11m)
    2023-05-305024 Yorkshire Surprise Major
    2023-05-305040 Stedman Septuples
    2023-05-305080 Cambridge Surprise Royal
    Recent Quarter Peals
    The most recent performances, according to BellBoard.
    2023-06-041280 Doubles (2m)
    2023-06-031260 4m Doubles
    2023-06-031320 Reverse Canterbury Pleasure Place Doubles
    2023-06-031280 Spliced Surprise Major (5m)
    2023-06-031272 Norwich Surprise Minor
    2023-06-031260 Plain Bob Doubles
    2023-06-031260 Stedman Triples
    2023-06-031260 Grandsire Doubles
    2023-06-031260 Grandsire Triples
    2023-06-031260 Plain Bob Minor
    2023-06-031282 Cambridge Surprise Royal
    2023-06-031440 London No 3 Surprise Royal
    2023-06-031282 Malvern Link Surprise Royal
    2023-06-031296 Grandsire Caters
    2023-06-031260 Grandsire Doubles
    2023-06-031260 Doubles (3m)
    2023-06-031260 Grandsire Triples
    2023-06-031250 Moonlight Treble Place Minimus
    2023-06-031260 Plain Bob Doubles
    2023-06-031260 1p/5m Doubles
    2023-06-031376 Plain Bob Major
    2023-06-031260 Doubles (2p/3m/6v)
    2023-06-031260 Plain Bob Minor
    2023-06-031260 London Surprise Minor
    2023-06-031320 St Clement's College Bob Minor
    Full list of peals on Bellboard here
    		 Full list of quarters on Bellboard here

    Love's Guide to the Church Bells of the City of London Page updated: 4 June 2023