Edwin Snow – who tolled the curfew bell morning and evening in Newport for over 30 years until he was incapacitated by illness – passed away on this day in 1899, 125 years ago.
Until Mr Snow’s death, a curfew bell had been rung every day since Norman times in an unbroken tradition lasting approximately 1,000 years.
Edwin tolled the bell at 07:00 every winter morning (06:00 in the summer) and at dusk in the evening. He was said to have been so reliable and accurate that locals could set their clocks according to his bell ringing.
Mr Snow was a member of the Newport Company of Chimers and was the chief organ blower in St Thomas’ Church.
The curfew bell can still be seen in Newport, high up on the wall of Calvert’s Hotel on the appropriately named Watchbell Lane.
