‘Great George’ bell to chime across Bristol following death of Queen Elizabeth

The bell, in the Wills Memorial Building, is only rung on rare occasions
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Bristol and the nation has entered a period of publc mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II dies in Balmoral, what is Operation Unicorn and where would she be buried?">Queen Elizabeth.

The monarch, who reigned for 70 years, passed away at Balmoral with her family by her side yesterday afternoon, at the age of 96.

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Cities up and down the country are paying tribute, not the least in Bristol, where books of condolence have been placed at Bristol Cathedral and City Hall.

The Queen during a visit to Bristol in 1958.The Queen during a visit to Bristol in 1958.
The Queen during a visit to Bristol in 1958.

The ‘Great George’ bell will also join churches and cathedrals up and down the country, including Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and Windsor Castle by tolling at noon today.

The bell will ring for 15 to 20 mins at 12pm, marking the Queen’s death and encouraging a moment of reflection across Bristol.

It will be rung by a team of bell ringers who swing the bell using its rope and mounted wheel to produce a louder and richer sound than when the clock hammer usually chimes.

A national book of condolence can be found here.

What is the Great George bell?

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The Great George bell is situated in the tower of the Wills Memorial Building, owned by the University of Bristol, and is only rung by bell ringers for significant national and local events - both sad and joyful.

Weighing in at 9.5 tonnes, Great George is England’s seventh largest bell and is believed to be the third largest bell in the country which can be rung by hand.

When cast in 1924, it was regarded as the finest E-flat bell in the whole of Europe. Today it is said to still be ‘one of the finest and deepest toned bells in the world’.

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