Untitled Document
      Love's Guide to

The Bells of the City of London
St Swithin London Stone
 

St Swithin London Stone, Cannon St


Photo: ASCY archive

  • Formerly 2 bells, 3-1-19
  • Grid Ref: TQ330813
  • Diocese: London

Earlier bells

Bell Weight*Weight
(Weight now (JT records))
Diameter Note Date Founder Retuned Fate
Service bell3-1-193-1-826¼"D♯1680James BartlettNeverTransferred to Westminster College, Oxford in 1856
Sanctus bell1 cwt approx.17¼"1755Thomas LesterNeverFate unknown

* Source of weight figures: John Taylor records (432/5)

History

1552 Record of 4 bells and a sanctus. [1]
1603 Records mention ropes for 4 bells and a saunce bell. [3]
1607 Records mention ropes for the 4th and 5th bells. [2]
1608 Records mention "purchase of bells for quarter clockes" (£4.9.0). [4]
1661 Records refer to payments for ringing. [5]
1666 The ancient church was destroyed in the Great Fire. A "parcell of bell mettle" was sold for £13. [6]
1678 The church was rebuilt by Wren with a north west tower reaching a height of 150 ft.
1680 A bell was cast by James Barlett.
1683 There was a payment to "Mr. Bartlett the bell founder (£5.8.0)", presumably to cast the service bell of 1680 (late payments were not that uncommon).
1708 Record of 1 bell.
1755 A sanctus bell was cast by Thomas Lester.
1897 Record of 2 bells (large and small). [7]
1940 The church was slightly damaged in the War - the roof and the spire were burned. The pulpit was transferred to All Hallows by the tower, as was (at least) the larger bell. The fate of the smaller bell is unknown. Perhaps it was in the burned out spire, or perhaps it was just scrapped or otherwise destroyed.
1954 The parish was united with that of St Stephen, Walbrook.
1956 The larger bell was transferred to John Taylor's in Loughborough. The canons were reported to have been broken and half missing. Here the canons were removed although the bell was not tuned. The bell was transferred to Westminster College, Oxford, which was having new premises built on Harcourt Hill (opened in 1959). [8]
1962 The site was sold (in 1960) and the church ruins demolished.
[1] four bells and a saunce bell (Edwardian Inventory, 1552)
[2] (Churchwarden accounts, 1607)
[3] (Churchwarden accounts, 1603-4)
[4] (Churchwarden accounts, 1608-9)
[5] (Churchwarden accounts, 1661-2)
[6] (Churchwarden accounts, 1683)
[7] (Eeles, FC, 1897)
[8] Bell from "London, All Hallows", received May 1956 for New Westminster College, North Hinksey, Oxon [now]. Bell 26¼" with broken canons (half missing), weight 3-1-19 nett (3-1-21 gross). Inscription RICHARD PIERCE RICHARD POYNTER CHURCHWARDENS 1680 Waist: (Founder’s mark with three bells). Job book 400 p.77 -Westminster College, Harcourt Hill, North Hinksey, Berks [then]. Job, July 1958. Old bell (1680) ex All Hallows, London [recte St Swithin London Stone] 26¼" 3-1-8. Not tuned. Remains of canons removed. Hung with trigger-action clapper; Tuning book (old bells received) 2 p.441 - May 1956, All Hallows London, 1. Nominal 1222 [E♭-32] (full partials 329, 615, 749, 963, 1222) (John Taylor Job Book, Taylor File 432/5)

Pictures of the church



Photo:

Pictures of the London Stone


An old photo of the London Stone set into the wall of the church.
Photo: ASCY archive

The stone today set into one of the office buildings on Cannon Street
Photo: Dickon R Love, 1 Dec 2002

The churchyard after the demolition


The Churchyard is preserved as an open area.
Photo: Dickon R Love, 1 Dec 2002


Love's Guide to the Church Bells of the City of London Page updated: 9 August 2020