History of St Michael's Tower Gloucester

The Tower’s Bells, Clocks and Flag

George Worrall Counsel writing in 1829 said the second largest bell in the tower was rung every night at eight o’clock. Formerly the ringing of this bell meant that fires and candles in houses were to be put out. In 1550 a bell was rung at 8 pm and also at 4 am when candles and fires could be lit. The bell was known as the “common” or “curfew” bell and was rung at the towns expense.
The curfew bell was rung at eight o’clock up to World War II. The bells were silent from 1854 to 1872. A bell also announced the beginning and ending of a market and later when it was the fire bell it hung in the tower from 1752 until 1849.

In 1611 St. Michael’s tower had six bells. In 1887, the Churchwardens’ Vestry records show that it was planned to add two new treble bells to the existing peal of six. An estimate was received from Warner and Sons of London for the erection of a new framework for the bells. That same year a flagpole with flag was given to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee.
The Vestry book also showed that in 1898 the old bell belonging to the corporation hung on the tower before its removal to the Tolsey. The Mayor and Corporation gave a second bell and they were added by Taylors of Loughborough. The fifth and sixth bells were dated 1667, the founder is unknown. The sixth bell had a letter ‘N’ engraved on it. There were then ten bells in the tower.
When the church was pulled down in 1956 the bells were taken down. The treble and second were given to the Cathedral and the rest were sold.
Gloucester bell-founder William Henshawe was immortalised on a brass engraving that was originally in St. Michael’s Church. It showed him between his two wives and there was a bell and a three-legged pot. Another later and famous Gloucester bell-founder was Abraham Rudhall.
A clock with chimes was installed in the church by 1546 and in 1612 it was decided to place a dial on the tower so that it would be useful for the town’s people to know the time. By 1770 it had to be removed because it was not in a good state. The City Corporation gave financial help with both the clock and the bells.
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Sources: Victoria County History Vol. IV, Fosbrooke’s Original History of Gloucester 1819, Geo. Worrall Counsel’s City of Gloucester 1829, Historic Gloucester 2005 Phil Moss, F.A. Hyett’s Gloucester 1906, Gloucester Illustrated Alan Ball 2001, Gloucester, A Pictorial History, John Jurica 1994, Gloucester Rental of 1455.
GCT/PD/2007