Born within sound of Bow bells. A true cockney. St.
Mary-le-Bow has long had one of the most celebrated bell-peals in
London. John Dun, mercer, gave in 1472 two tenements to maintain the
ringing of Bow bell every night at nine o'clock, to direct travellers
on the road to town; and in 1520 William Copland gave a bigger bell for
the purpose of “sounding a retreat from work.” Bow church is nearly the
centre of the City. (This bow rhymes with flow.)
More on Bow Bells from Infoplease:
See a map of "" in the Visual Thesaurus
