Barrack Square, Riverside Drive, Perth
(08) 6210 0444
info@thebelltower.com.au

The Bell Tower History

Home of the Swan Bells

Experience one of the most historical and fascinating things to do in Perth city.

The Bell Tower includes the twelve bells of St Martin in the Fields, which are recorded as being in existence from before the 14th century and recast in the 16th century by Queen Elizabeth I. The bells were again recast between 1725 and 1770 by three generations of the Rudhall family, (bell founders from Gloucester, England) under the order of the Prince of Wales,  later crowned King George II. They are one of the few sets of royal bells and are the only ones known to have left England.

From one of London’s most famous churches, in Trafalgar Square, the St Martin-in-the-Fields bells have rung out to celebrate many historic events such as, England’s victory over the Spanish Armada in 1588, The World War II victory at El Alamein in 1942, ringing in the New Year at Trafalgar Square for more than 275 years, celebrating the coronation of every British monarch since King George II in 1727, the homecoming of Captain James Cook after his voyage of discovery in 1771. On his return to London in 1771, the bells of St-Martin-in-the-Fields, the bells of the admiralty, rang out to welcome back a hero of the Age of Discovery. This fact adds a distinctively Australian connection to the bells.

Book your tickets for the Bell Tower now and find out about group bookings and school excursions in Perth here.