James Street Police Station Bell Restoration Is Music To The Ears

WHILE the James Street Police Station on MG Road looks stunning after its painstaking restoration, those admiring the structure may not be aware of an important fact—the clock bell now rests ensconced in a glass case on the ground floor instead of in the belfry.

- MIR QUADIR ALI @ Hyderabad

Weighing nearly 400 kg, the brass bell had remained largely untouched since its installation at the turn of the 20th century. It was cast by Mears and Stainbank, a noted bell foundry based in Whitechapel, London, known for its precision and craftsmanship. For decades, the bell formed a central part of the clock tower, sounding the hours through a mechanical, self-chiming system powered by suspended chains and a weighted motor.