Untitled Document
      Love's Guide to

The Bells of the City of London
St Stephen Walbrook
 

St Stephen Walbrook, Walbrook


Photo: Dickon R Love

  • Single bell hung for swing chiming with a lever plus an unhung bell
  • Tenor: 9½ cwt approx. in B.
  • Grid Ref: TQ326810
  • 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
҂ Service Bell 9½ cwt approx.37½" B 1601 Robert Mot, WhitechapelNever
҈ Small unhung bell 2½ cwt approx.16" A 1761 Lester & Pack, WhitechapelNever

҂  - Hung for swing chiming
҈    - Unhung

Inscriptions

How the bells are tuned

History

1475 Records mention a second bell. [1]
1476 Records mention the purchase of clamps to let down the bells in the steeple, taking down the Lytell bell, for three baldricks of the "iij lest bellys" and payment to a chestyr for 3-1-3 of bell metal more than it weighed when it was changed. [2]
1480 The 5 bells were rehung in a new frame. John Kebyll wheelwright paid for "tymbur and Frame, making and hanging of v belles" etc £6.6.8. [3]
1552 Record of 5 bells in the tower. [4]
1558 Record of 5 bells. [5]
1601 The 4th (of 5) was recast by Robert Mot.
1652 Record of 5 bells and a sanctus. [6]
1666 The church was destroyed in the Great Fire, but it appears that the 5 bells and Sanctus remained undamaged.
1672 The church was rebuilt by Wren with a tower and spire rising to 130 ft, although part of the tower is pre-Reformation. It was completed in 1677.
1679 The vestry ordered that "the little bell be hung in the window of the tower next Wallbrook forthwith, for their better coming to Church". It had previously been suggested that it should hang in the lantern on the top of the tower.
1681 The vestry ordered that the 5 bells be sold except for the 4th, which was to be hung with the sanctus bell. [7]
1761 A small bell was cast by Lester & Pack.
1824 Record of 2 bells.
1888 The church was reopened on 15 Jun.
[1] (Churchwardens accounts, 1475)
[2] (Churchwardens accounts, 1476)
[3] (Churchwardens accounts, 1480)
[4] It'm five bellys and one small bell in the steple. Also in ye olde stepil over owre parsonage bene iij bellis, and hanging whelis and Ropis and al yt longith to hem (Edwardian Inventory, 1552)
[5] It'm five Belles and a Sayntes Bell in the steple (Parish Inventory, 1558)
[6] Five greate bells, one small Bell (Parish Inventory, 1652)
[7] The vestry ordered "that ye fourth bell be hung with ye saints bells and that the other four bells be sold". (Vestry minutes, 1681)

Articles

  • "The Lost Bells of London (4) St Stephen's, Coleman Street", Cook, William T (The Ringing World) 9 February 1973
  • Pictures of the church



    Photo:


    Photo:

    The church in 1917
    Photo: Spitalfields Life

    Pictures from the belfry



    Photo: Dickon R Love, 24 Nov 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 24 Nov 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 24 Nov 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 24 Nov 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 24 Nov 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 24 Nov 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 24 Nov 2011

    The upper concrete ring beam.
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 24 Nov 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 24 Nov 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 24 Nov 2011

    The Sanctus, unhung on one of the three concrete ringbeams.
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 24 Nov 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 24 Nov 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 24 Nov 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 24 Nov 2011


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 24 Nov 2011


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