Church of St Sepulchre, Holborn (London)

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  Bakerloo_BadBoy

  This is the church referred to in the childrens nursery rhyme "Oranges and Lemons", with regards to the line When will you pay me? say the bells of Old Bailey. The Old Bailey which is across the road from this church does not have any bells, so these church bells are used in its place. Whe will you pay me, most likely refers to people sentenced to terms of imprisonment in Newgate Gaol which used to be directly oppersite this church. The bells of this church also chimed the time on the hour, which later became known as the "Death Knell" The original childrens nursery rhyme is sung thus: "Oranges and lemons" say the Bells of St. Clement's" "You owe me five farthings" say the Bells of St. Martin's" "When will you pay me?" say the Bells of Old Bailey" "When I grow rich" say the Bells of Shoreditch" "When will that be?" say the Bells of Stepney" "I do not know" say the Great Bells of Bow" "Here comes a Candle to light you to Bed" Here comes a Chopper to Chop off your Head" Chip chop chip chop - the Last Man's Dead." Each church refered to in the rhyme has some connection with what is being sung about it

  16 years ago | reply | hide comment
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  Jono (guest)

  great info ^^

  16 years ago | reply | hide comment