Swan Bells

It is little known in England that the church bells of St Martin-in-the-Fields, the ones that ring in the new year at Trafalgar Square, are almost brand new and made from Western Australian metals. The original bells, cast in the 1700s from bell metal that was possibly first poured a thousand years ago and used to celebrate Captain Cook’s home-coming, were found to be stressing the church tower, and it was decided to gift them to WA to commemorate Australia’s bicentenary in 1988. Exerting a force of over 40 tonnes, the bells needed a substantial bell-tower to house them. Perth not only provided just that, but made the tower the centrepiece of Old Perth Port, a striking, sweeping construction soaring 80 m with twin, copper-clad sails. The bell-chamber is easily accessed and walled with almost sound-proof doubled-glazed windows. These are now the only church bells in the world you can watch without being deafened.