A Chilling Visit to St. Sepulchre’s Execution Bell, Courtesy of London Sightseeing Taxi Tours
London is a city bursting with rich history and intriguing tales at every corner, and our famous black cab tours are your perfect vessel for exploring them. Today, we journey to the chilling past of London’s penal system by visiting St. Sepulchre’s Church, home to the infamous execution bell synonymous with the summary sentence of death.
The St. Sepulchre’s Execution Bell is not merely an artefact but a powerful embodiment of unparalleled historical significance. The bell is tied to the adage, “For whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.” Today, it stands as an eerie reminder of London’s penal past.
The Midnight Toll of St. Sepulchre’s Bell
Bought in 1605 for a whopping £50 by London merchant, John Dowe, the bell had one chilling task. On the eve of a condemned prisoner’s execution, the bellman would ring it twelve times outside the convicts’ cell – a practice that went on for nearly 200 years.
During this haunting ceremony, a chilling verse was read aloud, “All you that in the condemned hole do lie, prepare you, for tomorrow you shall die…” The chilling process ended with the prisoner being handed a set of rosary beads in a bid for them to repent their sins as they headed towards the gallows.
Such spine-tingling tales have wormed their way into literary works, with the bell even earning mentions in John Webster’s ‘The Duchess of Malfi’ and Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’.
Book Your Journey into London’s Past Today
Are you enthralled by such tales that weave the rich tapestry of London’s past? Then, London Sightseeing Taxi Tours presents the perfect opportunity to delve into these historical narratives through our fascinating taxi tours. Dive into London’s past with our experienced tour guides, ready to uncover hidden tales tucked away in the city’s most famous sites.
Our London Sightseeing Tour https://londonsightseeingtaxitours.com/product/london-sight-seeing-tour/ will take you through London’s prominent landmarks, including St. Sepulchre’s Church. Expect to face the haunting Execution Bell, whose toll was once synonymous with impending doom.
Explore Deeper with London Sightseeing Taxi Tours
As you set foot in the church and explore the chilling history of the Execution Bell, don’t forget to visit the white marble arch to your left – once the doorway used by the bellman to access the convict cells.
To satiate your curiosity further, you can also unravel the connection between St. Sepulchre’s Church and the renowned nursery rhyme ‘Oranges and Lemons.’ Can you uncover why the rhyme mentions, “When will you pay me? Say the bells of Old Bailey?”
From the famous Execution Bell to the alluding nursery rhymes, this tour will submerge you in the eerie yet intriguing history of London’s penal system.
Uncover this location and many more through our sightseeing taxi tours. Book your London Sightseeing Taxi Tour https://londonsightseeingtaxitours.com/product/london-sight-seeing-tour/ today and embark on a thrilling journey into London’s fascinating history.”