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

Untitled Document

St Benet Paul's Wharf

St Benet Paul's Wharf, Paul's Wharf

Photo: Dickon Love

2 bells
Tenor: 5 cwt approx. in D.
Grid Ref: TQ320809
Diocese: London
Building Listed Grade: I. Click for Heritage details.

Details of the Bells

	Bell		Weight (most recent)	Diameter	Note	Date	Founder	Retuned
	Smaller		2 cwt approx.	22"	A	1683	William Wightman	Never
	Larger		5 cwt approx.	27½"	D	1683	William Wightman	Never

Inscriptions

Prior to 1666

Bell		Weight	Diameter	Note	Date	Founder	Retuned	Fate
Sanctus						Unknown		Destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666
Treble (of 5)						Unknown		Destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666
2nd (of 5)						Unknown		Destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666
3rd (of 5)						Unknown		Destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666
4th (of 5)						Unknown		Destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666
Tenor (of 5)						Unknown		Destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666

History

	1552		Record of 3 bells and a sanctus bell. [1]
	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 no peal of bells, and clearly didn't note the 2 that were there. [2]
	1724		Record of 2 bells.

[1]	"iij belles & a saunce bell in the Steple" (Edwardian Inventory,1552)
[2]	It was consumed in 1666, but repaired by Act of Parliament of Brick and Stone, and finished in 1683, in very good Order and Fashion, adorned with the Donations of some well disposed Benefactors; but no new Monuments, Organ, nor Peal of Bells are yet set up. ("Pietas Londinensis Or the Present Ecclesiastical State of London", James Paterson AM, 1714)

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

Page updated: 13 October 2019