Love's Guide to the Church Bells of the City of London

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Details of the Bells

	Bell		Weight (most recent)	Diameter	Note	Date	Founder	Retuned
ꓕ	1	Switzerland		200mm	E	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	2	Switzerland		230mm	D	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	3	Zurich		240mm	C#	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	4	Berne		240mm	C	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	5	Lucerne		250mm	B	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	6	Schwyz		260mm	A#	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	7	Unterwalden		275mm	A	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	8	Glarus		285mm	G#	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	9	Zug		300mm	G	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	10	Solothurn		315mm	F#	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	11	Basel		330mm	F	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	12	Shaffenhausen		345mm	E	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	13	St Gallen		360mm	C#	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	14	Appenzell		380mm	D	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	C#	Aargau		395mm	C#	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	16	Uri		420mm	C	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	17	Thurgau		435mm	B	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	18	Liechtenshtein		450mm	A#	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	19	Vaud		470mm	A	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	20	Neuchatel		495mm	G#	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	21	Fribourg		520mm	G	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	22	Valais		550mm	F#	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	23	Geneva		580mm	F	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	24	Ticino		620mm	E	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	25	Jura		650mm	D#	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	26	Switzerland		690mm	D	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi
ꓕ	27	Graubunden		770mm	C	1985	Rüetschi of Aarau, Switzerland	2011 Rüetschi

ꓕ - Hung dead

History

	1985		Known as "The Glockenspiel", 25 bells were presented by Switzerland Tourism on behalf of the people of Switzerland and Leichtenstein to the City of Westminster in 1985. They were cast by Rüetschi of Aarau in Switzerland and given to mark the City’s 400th anniversary. They were opened on 20 Nov, 1985. Shortly afterwards, more bells were added bringing the total to 27 by November thefollowing year. As well as being a clock chime and acting as a manual carillon, up to two hundred different tunes could also be played on themautomatically.
	2008		The Swiss Centre was demolished and the bells were put into storage. Efforts were made to see the bells restored to a new location in Leicester Square in the face of opposition from local businesses.
	2011		A new 10m high tower was constructed by Smith of Derby. The bells were tuned and restored by Rüetschi, given new hammers and hung in the tower. The Glockenspiel was inaugurated on 28th November.

Articles

"Glockenspiel Planning Application", Jestico & Whites on behalf of Switzerland Tourism (City of Westminster) 22 July 2010

The chime as it used to hang on the Swiss Centre

The Glockenspiel hanging from the side of the Swiss Centre before demolition in 2008.
Photo: Dickon R Love

Photo: Dickon R Love

The chime in its new tower

Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011	Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011	Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011
Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011	Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011	Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011
Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011	Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011	Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011
Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011	Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011	Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011
Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011	Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011	Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011
Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011	Photo: Dickon R Love, 2011

Recent Peals

The most recent performances, according to BellBoard.

2023-06-03	5136 Avon Delight Maximus
2023-06-03	5040 Surprise Minor (7m)
2023-06-03	5088 Spliced Surprise Major (7m)
2023-06-03	5040 Doubles (42m/v)
2023-06-03	5019 Stedman Cinques
2023-06-03	5088 Gibside Delight Major
2023-06-03	5088 Bristol Surprise Major
2023-06-03	5760 Spliced Treble Dodging Minor (147m)
2023-06-03	5040 Cambridge Surprise Royal
2023-06-03	5000 Bristol Surprise Royal
2023-06-02	5040 Spliced Surprise Minor (41m)
2023-06-02	5040 Surprise Minor (7m)
2023-06-02	5040 Surprise Minor (7m)
2023-06-02	5040 Jenner Delight Royal
2023-06-01	5040 Stedman Triples
2023-06-01	5076 Bristol Surprise Major
2023-06-01	5184 Yorkshire Surprise Major
2023-05-31	5056 Bristol Surprise Major
2023-05-31	5024 May Surprise Major
2023-05-31	5040 Spliced Surprise Minor (24m)
2023-05-31	5152 Deeping St James Delight Major
2023-05-31	5040 Surprise Minor (11m)
2023-05-30	5024 Yorkshire Surprise Major
2023-05-30	5040 Stedman Septuples
2023-05-30	5080 Cambridge Surprise Royal

Recent Quarter Peals

The most recent performances, according to BellBoard.

2023-06-04	1280 Doubles (2m)
2023-06-03	1260 4m Doubles
2023-06-03	1320 Reverse Canterbury Pleasure Place Doubles
2023-06-03	1280 Spliced Surprise Major (5m)
2023-06-03	1272 Norwich Surprise Minor
2023-06-03	1260 Plain Bob Doubles
2023-06-03	1260 Stedman Triples
2023-06-03	1260 Grandsire Doubles
2023-06-03	1260 Grandsire Triples
2023-06-03	1260 Plain Bob Minor
2023-06-03	1282 Cambridge Surprise Royal
2023-06-03	1440 London No 3 Surprise Royal
2023-06-03	1282 Malvern Link Surprise Royal
2023-06-03	1296 Grandsire Caters
2023-06-03	1260 Grandsire Doubles
2023-06-03	1260 Doubles (3m)
2023-06-03	1260 Grandsire Triples
2023-06-03	1250 Moonlight Treble Place Minimus
2023-06-03	1260 Plain Bob Doubles
2023-06-03	1260 1p/5m Doubles
2023-06-03	1376 Plain Bob Major
2023-06-03	1260 Doubles (2p/3m/6v)
2023-06-03	1260 Plain Bob Minor
2023-06-03	1260 London Surprise Minor
2023-06-03	1320 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