St Michael’s Church was erected in 1845 in Navy Row, Devonport in Plymouth, England. Built at a cost of £4000, in the Gothic style, it consisted of nave, aisles, north porch and a turret containing one bell.
Unfortunately due to its close proximity to the dockyards, on the night of 22 April 1941 the church received four direct hits from bombs dropped during a German air raid on Plymouth.
In 1953 the Church of St Michael was rebuilt on the original site - the first church in Plymouth to rise from the ashes of war.
In the meantime the original bell had been gifted halfway across the world to New Plymouth and installed as the centre-piece of this memorial Bell Tower "to those of the Westown District who served in the World War 1939 - 1945"; also erected in 1953.
The inscription on the bell is fairly difficult to read now but reads, below the coat of arms of the City of Plymouth...
In Memory of
The Scholars of the Westown School,
Plymouth, New Zealand,
who died in the War 1939-1945.
This Bell
from the Church of St Michael, Devonport,
Plymouth, England,
destroyed by Enemy Action on the 22nd April 1941,
is presented to the Westown School at the instance of
The Right Honourable Isaac Foot,
Lord Mayor of Plymouth,
on behalf of the Citizens of Plymouth, England,
by the Vicar and Churchwardens
of the Church of St Michael.
2nd November 1946.
There is no need to enter the school grounds. The Bell Tower, the bell and the cache can be visited from the footpath.
Stealth will be required especially during school hours.
There is only room for logbook. Please bring your own writing stick