https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/03/10/a-visit-to-great-tom-at-st-pauls-i/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Tue, 19 Mar 2024 00:28:02 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/03/10/a-visit-to-great-tom-at-st-pauls-i/#comment-1560619 Tue, 19 Mar 2024 00:28:02 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=199151#comment-1560619 When I was 18 (circa 1977) I worked in Lombard Street and from the ladies room window I could see the dome of St Paul’s. I loved that. I would commute by train from Essex into Liverpool Street and along Bishopsgate into the city taking in all the buildings. I am so enjoying revisiting London via these daily posts and the marvellous photographs. What a treat to venture to the bell.

]]> https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/03/10/a-visit-to-great-tom-at-st-pauls-i/#comment-1558517 Tue, 12 Mar 2024 19:50:20 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=199151#comment-1558517 I like to read all your Spitalfields stories. I am inchanted by all of the past history about places, streets, the people and so forth. Thankyou so much for doing this. I am a great anglophile and there many years ago.

]]> https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/03/10/a-visit-to-great-tom-at-st-pauls-i/#comment-1557449 Sun, 10 Mar 2024 15:43:32 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=199151#comment-1557449 Forgive me — I totally COVET those “spare clock hands”. I actually yelped, when I spotted them.
Iconic, handsome, functional, timeless (!?), fabulous, and highly-desired.

]]> https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/03/10/a-visit-to-great-tom-at-st-pauls-i/#comment-1557384 Sun, 10 Mar 2024 11:06:21 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=199151#comment-1557384 Forward this to my sister who will be age 80 next week. She has been a Ringer since her early teens, learning on the Bells of St Luke’s in Chelsea where we grew up. However, she ‘nearly’ married the son of the Head Virger of St Paul’s (called off at the last minute) but he was also a Ringer, and sister Kate had been up in this Belfry. During her married years in Windsor, she was also a Ringer at the Curfew Tower at Windsor Castle. I always got her complimentary tickets for the annual Garter Ceremony, so I benefitted from her ringing career too. She told me she’d been ringing earlier this morning!

]]> https://spitalfieldslife.com/2024/03/10/a-visit-to-great-tom-at-st-pauls-i/#comment-1557331 Sun, 10 Mar 2024 08:58:59 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=199151#comment-1557331 What a terrifying adventure! As one who does not favour being at great height, I am very glad that it was you undertaking this quest and providing this narrative and photographs rather than me.
I have heard Great Tom ring out on many occasions but thank you dear GA for recounting you dizzying experience and allowing me to see where the bell tolls.

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