Millar Buzzard

Appendix 3.0
The Alexandra Peal of Bells

Charles Gibson Millar’s mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Mary Millar, after her husband’s death in 1892, moved back to Melbourne from New Zealand. She made a gift of a peal of bells to the Prince of Wales, Queen Victoria’s eldest son. [A “peal” is a set of bells].

The Peal of Bells for the Imperial Institute

They were installed in the Queen’s Tower of the Imperial Institute, South Kensington, London, which was built to mark Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887. The Institute was established by Royal Charter for the purpose of carrying out research into the resources and raw materials of the Empire and to provide a meeting place for overseas visitors.

The Imperial Institute (with Queen’s Tower on Right) [115]

The belfry, in what was the tallest tower in London at the time, contains the Alexandra Peal of bells. The peal was named after Alexandra, the Princess of Wales. Each of the 10 bells is named after members of the Royal family at the time - Queen Victoria, her three sons, her daughter-in-law Alexandra and the five children of Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales.

Dedication of the bells [116]

When the bells were cast, by Taylor & Co of Loughborough, each bell was weighted according to “seniority” in the line of accession to the Throne and inscribed as follows:

Descriptions of the Alexandra Bells [117]

The bells in position in the belfry of “Queen’s” Tower [118]

The only condition specified by Mrs. Millar, on donating the bells, was that the bells were to be rung only on the birthday and accession day of the Sovereign and on the birthdays of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

This changed over time, and the bells are rung on the following occasions:

- The anniversary of the Queen’s Accession
- The Queen’s Birthday
- Imperial College Postgraduate Degree Ceremony
- The anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation
- The Duke of Edinburgh’s Birthday (no longer done with his death in 2021)
- The Princess Royal’s Birthday
- Imperial College Commemoration Day (and Undergraduate Degree Ceremonies)
- The Prince of Wales’s Birthday
- The Queen’s Wedding Anniversary (no longer done)
- Annual Peal Attempt, (usually)

Model of Complete Imperial Institute with Queen’s Tower [119]

On the official opening of the Imperial Institute in 1893, the Prince of Wales inserted a key into the model (above) which activated the peal of bells in the tower to mark the climax of proceedings. This model was presented to the Prince and Princess of Wales (later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra) by the Corporation of London, on occasion of their silver wedding anniversary in 1888, to recognise their contribution to the fundraising for the Imperial Institute, the foundation stone for which had been laid in 1887 by Queen Victoria. [120]

Keys used by the Prince of Wales to ring the Alexandra Bells [121]

The Prince of Wales was most pleased with the donation of the bells and sent a Jubilee Medal and a letter to Mrs. Millar.

The donor honoured by the Queen

Jubilee Medal Awarded to Elizabeth Mary Millar [122]

The Imperial Institute was partially demolished in the 1960’s, leaving only the Queen’s Tower and the Alexandra bells.

The Queen’s Tower [123]

There is a YouTube item where you can hear the ringing of the bells (scroll, left and right, to see views of the bellringers). [124]

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[115] Magic Lantern slide circa 1900 views London England
[116] Church Bells of Westminster
[117] Church Bells of Westminster
[118] Look and Learn History Picture Archive
[119] Royal Collection Trust - The Imperial Institute 1888
[120] Royal Collection Trust - The Imperial Institute 1888
[121] Look and Learn History Picture Archive
[122] Wikipedia - Queen Victoria Golden Jubilee Medal
[123] Wikipedia - Queen's Tower, London
[124] Youtube - The Queen's Tower: Bell Ringing at Imperial College, Kensington, London