Alas! Those Chimes.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 411, 9 May 1902, Page 2

Alas! Those Chimes.

(To the Editor of the Times.) Sir,—The following extract may lie of interest to your readers; —1 am, ctc a ’ TICKj

The near advent of the Coronation has served to direct attention to the structural weakness of the bell tower in Westminster Abbey. Tne tower is ' unsafe, and it is a question whether the fine peal of bells which it contains wilt be rung at the great ceremony to be enacted within the Abbey’s walls. The upper portion of the tower was added towards the end of the seventeenth century by Sir Christopher Wien, and it is the weight of this upper structure that is probably the cause of the weakness. The bells are supposed to ring out at the moment when the Crown is placed on the King’s head, but in the present state of tile tower the ringing of the bells will be attended with considerable danger to the stability of the structure, Either the peal must remain'■silent on the eventful day, or else something like £7OO will have to be expended in re-hanging the bells so as to lessen the vibration, and in strengthening the tower. This will no doubt lie done, for the silence of the bells would rob the Coronation of one of its oldest and most prominent features. The present peal at Westminster Abbey consists of six beiis, noted not only for their unusual weight, but also for the beauty of their tones. The big teuor bell/ * which weighs 36cwt., is one of the finest in London. The third and fifth bells were presented to the Abbey by • Gabriel Goodman, who was Dean from 1561 to 1601. The fourth bell is inscribed Thomas Lester of London made me And with the rest I will agree.