Comments on: A Visit To Great Tom At St Paul’s

By: Robert

Robert — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 23:32:51 +0000

What a great back story and photos revealing the St Paul’s only known to certain people to the world.

By: pauline taylor

pauline taylor — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 17:48:54 +0000

Very interesting and fascinating photos, thank you.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 17:18:51 +0000

Helen Breen, I am with you in missing London … and am also in Boston. Glad you found the GA’s wonderful and evocative writing.

Love the pictures. What narrow stairways! Such a treat to see behind the scenes and above the city, along with the rich history of these bells.

By: Liz

Liz — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 12:27:31 +0000

Great photos. Must have been wonderful to get to see the bell.

By: Helen Breen

Helen Breen — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 11:13:43 +0000

Greetings from Boston,

GA, great story and pics. Thanks for the perspective from “up there.” You were wise to time your visit between the hours.

Missing London today …

By: Dean Armond

Dean Armond — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 09:22:08 +0000

What a superb article!

The words and pictures so vividly bring to life the history and heritage of the great city of London.

By: Bailey Jones

Bailey Jones — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 09:09:51 +0000

So much history here. I wonder what happened to the person who was responsible for dropping Big Tom on its way from Westminster?

I do hope that this campaign has a successful outcome.

With an education system keen to promote British values and British history, I can think of no better way to engage children and develop a love of history than through the stories of our bells. I can imagine a set of History and English lessons on this topic. If I was retired, I would develop some or write a children’s book.

I hope someone does

By: John Barrett

John Barrett — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 08:16:07 +0000

Great Tom was a super bell but had to be re-cast due to flaws in the casting mix I suspect. Same happened in Pepys time he records flaws in a batch of castings for lower level ships guns failing proof test, they just fell apart. Manufacturing was a bit hit or miss then scrap rate must have been high. Something must be saved from the closure of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. Big Business and London Auth (your heritage & duty) must help the East End Society. I know lots has been said before on these pages-its worth saying again. Poet John

By: Valerie-Jael

Valerie-Jael — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 05:23:00 +0000

What a fabulous place to visit! Valerie

By: Robin

Robin — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 02:15:02 +0000

May I add ,from far across the sea that in my hometown of Burlington ,N.J. ,the parish of St.Mary’s Episcopalian church has bells from Whitechapel foundry. Here is a little grab off the wikipedia page about this lovely church…”It is a massive brownstone church with a long nave. The crossing is topped by a tall stone spire that has eight bells cast in England by Thomas Mears II at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 1865.[4] The church was designated a National Historic Landmark”. It is a beautiful old church and you can hear those beautiful bells peal across the town.
I pray that this are going well with the petition to stop the sale and auction. There is just too much history to lose in an area of London that has already lost so much of it’s history to bombs and maniacal city planners and architects.