St Sepulchre’s bell for the condemned

On 8 May 1705 Robert Dowe gave fifty pounds to St Sepulchre’s, the church beside Newgate prison, so that a bell would be tolled and an exhortation made to condemned prisoners the night before they were hanged. At midnight the sexton came with a handbell to the window of the condemned cell and recited a set rhyme telling them to prepare, for tomorrow they must die. Next day the cart for Tyburn paused at the church while the great bell tolled and a prayer was said. When hangings moved to Newgate the prayer lapsed, and the sexton’s offer to recite was always politely declined.