Untitled Document
      Love's Guide to

The Bells of the City of London
St Clement Eastcheap
 

St Clement Eastcheap, Eastcheap


Photo: Dickon R Love

  • Single bell hung for full circle ringing without stay or slider
  • Tenor: 6¼ cwt approx. in C.
  • Grid Ref: TQ328808
  • Rung from: Upstairs Ringing Room
  • Frame: Timber frame.
  • Diocese: London
  • Building Listed Grade: I. Click for Heritage details.

Details of the Bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)
Diameter Note Date FounderRetuned
® Single bell 6¼ cwt approx.33¼" C 1928 Thomas Mears IINever

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Inscriptions

Prior to 1829

Bell Weight Diameter Note Date Founder Retuned Fate
Single bell1687Philip WightmanNeverRecast 1829

History

1552 Record of 3 larger bells, a sanctus bell and also two little bells of silver. [1]
1638 A new rope was provided for the sanctus bell. [2]
1646 Francis Hewet [or Lewet?] was paid "for tackinge up some of the bells & new hanginge them, 10s." [3]
1651 The 2nd (of 3) received a new wheel, and the sanctus bell was mended at a cost of £1.1.6. [4]
1666 The church was destroyed in the Great Fire.
1668 Money was paid "for mending the bells". This implies that the bells and tower were not badly damaged.
1670 Records say the little bell received a new rope.
1683 The present church was erected by Wren with a south west tower, 88ft high. It was finished in 1687.
1687 A new bell was cast, probably by Philip Wightman according to Walters, for £14.12.3 and hung for £4.12.3.
1829 The present bell was cast.
1939 The church only suffered minor wartime damage.
[1] Item in the Stepull of the said churche iij great bells and one sauncts bell (Edwardian Inventory, 1552)
[2] (Churchwarden Accounts (Ms.977))
[3] (Churchwarden Accounts (Ms.977))
[4] (Churchwarden Accounts (Ms.977))

Old pictures of the church



Photo:


Photo:

The church in 1830.
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Pictures of the belfry


The bell is seen here hanging in its timber frame with an electronic clock hammer on the near side.
Photo: Dickon R Love, Dec 2002


Photo: Dickon R Love, Dec 2002

The bell being rung up.
Photo: Dickon R Love, Dec 2002


Love's Guide to the Church Bells of the City of London Page updated: 13 October 2019