The Bell of the Demodocus

The bell of this Blue Funnel ship was kept outside the Art Room at the front of the building on the first floor.

At one time, the bell on the plinth had its clapper attached to the Headmaster's table on the stage in the hall by a length of fishing line, along with a written invitation to yank the line. The practice of ringing of the bell and running off was a popular way to get teachers running from the three rooms opposite the staircases, sometime even from the Staff Room.

On another occasion the bell had been lifted and the bar from which it was suspended had been pinched.

There was a story that it had been stolen, but this is not so.

Jan Clein (Councillor for Arundel Ward, Liverpool City Council & "Old" Girl of Blackburne House, tells me that the Bell of the Demodocus was never owned by LIPA. The Bell never disappeared nor was it stolen. The Bell was owned by the Liverpool Institute High School and was sold to the Liverpool Museum (NMGM) - where it resided when the school closed - for £500. The money went into the Liverpool Institute Educational Foundation Trust (set up by the Charity Commission). Thanks for that Jan !

John Hughes also reports that according to the Liverpool Museum's website, the bell is at Sudley House Museum Mossley Hill. The following appears on the