Sebastapol Bell, Windsor

The Sebastapol Bell in Windsor is one of two large bells captured at the Siege of Sebastopol in 1855.[1] It is hung in the Round Tower of Windsor Castle and is only rung on the death of the most senior members of the royal family.[2] On 19 February 1856 Queen Victoria viewed captured war trophies from the Siege of Sevastopol at the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich.[3] Victoria decided that one of the captured bells be sent to Windsor Castle.[3] It was presented to Victoria in late December 1868 at Windsor Castle and initially placed on the castle's North terrace alongside a large gun captured during the siege.[4] It was hung in the Round Tower above the steps in the centre of the tower.[4] The bell weighs 17 cwt (771 kg).[4] The bell is inscribed "Sevastopol-Nicolas Sanctus" and with the record of its weight in poods.[4] The Times described its tone as "rich and sonorous" in 1868.[4]

The Round Tower at Windsor Castle

The bell was rung following the death of Edward VII in 1910,[2] 101 times for the state funeral of George V on 27 January 1936,[5] 56 times at the announcement of the death of George VI on 7 February 1952,[6] at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 2002, and 96 times to mark the 96 years of Elizabeth II's life on 9 September 2022 following her death the previous day.[2]