Tom Tower facts for kids
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Tom Tower is a famous bell tower in Oxford, England. It gets its name from its very large bell, called Great Tom. The tower stands over Tom Gate, which is the main entrance to Christ Church, Oxford. This entrance leads into a large courtyard called Tom Quad.
The tower was designed by the famous architect Christopher Wren. It was built between 1681 and 1682. The design of Tom Tower is special because it uses a style called Late Gothic. This style was not common at the time, making Tom Tower an early example of the Gothic Revival style that became popular later. Wren wanted the tower to match the older parts of Christ Church, which were started by Henry VIII.
The building of the gatehouse was left unfinished by Thomas Wolsey in 1529. It stayed without a roof for many years until Wren completed it. Wren did not personally supervise the building. Instead, he recommended a skilled stonemason named Christopher Kempster to do the work.
Tom Tower has inspired other buildings around the world. For example, the tower of Dunster House at Harvard University in the United States looks very similar to Tom Tower. The Clock Tower at the University of Auckland in New Zealand was also inspired by it.
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Great Tom: Oxford's Loudest Bell
The bell inside Tom Tower is called Great Tom. It is known as the loudest bell in Oxford. This huge bell weighs over six tons. It was moved to Christ Church from an old church called Osney Abbey after the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
Great Tom has rung every night since World War II. The only time it stopped was in 2002, when some students played a prank and covered its clapper (the part that hits the bell).
History of Great Tom
The bell was originally named "Mary." It was moved to St Frideswide's church in 1545. At some point, it was renamed "Tom."
Great Tom has had problems since it was first made. It kept wearing out its clapper. It was recast (melted down and reshaped) in 1626 and 1654 to try and fix this.
In 1678 and 1679, a bell-maker named Richard Keene tried three times to recast the bell. He managed to make it much heavier, from two tons to over six tons. But it still wasn't right. Finally, in 1680, Christopher Hodson, a bell-founder from London, successfully recast the bell. This new bell, Great Tom, was then hung in the newly finished Tom Tower. It was rehung again in May 1953.
What the Bell Says
There is a message written in Latin on the bell. When translated, it says:
"Great Thomas the door closer of Oxford renovated April 8, 1680 in the reign of Charles II. Deacon John, the Bishop of Oxford and sub-Deacon give thanks to the knowledge of Henry Smith and the care and workmanship of Christopher Hodson".
How Great Tom Rings Today
Great Tom still rings 101 times every night. This number is special. It represents the 100 original students of Christ Church, plus one extra student who was added in 1663.
The bell rings at 9:05 PM UK time. This used to be 9:00 PM in "Oxford time," which was five minutes behind Greenwich Mean Time. In the past, the ringing of Great Tom was a signal for all the colleges in Oxford to lock their gates for the night.
The bell is usually only rung by swinging it on very special occasions. Great Tom is also featured in several traditional English folk tunes and songs, like "Old Tom of Oxford" and the rounds "Great Tom Is Cast" and "Bonny Christ Church Bells."
See also
In Spanish: Tom Tower para niños
