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ASH (near Sandwich), St Nicholas

Photo RCO 2006

  
10 bells
Tenor 21-3-0 in E flat
Grid Ref. TR287584
Canterbury District
Frame: 1978 John Taylor
Retuning: 1926 Mears & Stainbank
               then 1978 John Taylor
Upstairs Ringing Room
PEALS

DETAILS OF THE BELLS

Bell

Weight*
(before retuning)

Weight
(after retuning)

 Diameter

Cast

 Founder

1

 -

5-1-16

 27

1978

John Taylor & Co.

2

 -

5-2-18

 281/2"

1978

John Taylor & Co.

3

 6-2-5

6-0-20

307/8"

1790

Thomas Mears I

4

 6-3-21

6-1-17

32"

1790

Thomas Mears I

5

 7-1-16

7-0-18

34"

1790

Thomas Mears I

6

 8-3-19

8-1-24

36"

1790

Thomas Mears I

7

 10-1-19

10-1-2

391/4"

1927

Mears & Stainbank

8

 12-0-7

11-1-11

41"

1790

Thomas Mears I

9

 16-0-26

15-1-17

45"

1790

Thomas Mears I

10

 21-1-18

21-3-0

503/4"

1927

Mears & Stainbank

* According to Mears & Stainbank in 1926. Taylor's probably have better details as the retuned tenor appears heavier!

INSCRIPTIONS
1.      
CAVE DEUS VIDET
CECIL EDRIC FOAT, JAMES REMPHREY HUDSON CHURCHWARDENS		 jtaylor83.jpg (2207 bytes)
1978
2. CHRIST CHURCH, DOVER LLEWELLINS & JAMES 1904
JAMES REMPHREY HUDSON CHURCHWARDEN
RECASTING DONATED BY
CECIL EDRIC FOAT CHURCHWARDEN		 jtaylor83.jpg (2207 bytes)
1978
3. THOS MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1790 ROBT TOMLIN & RICHD SUTTON CH. WARDENS
4. THOS MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1790 ROBT TOMLIN & RICHD SUTTON CH. WARDENS
5. THOS MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1790 ROBT TOMLIN & RICHD SUTTON CH. WARDENS
6. THOS MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1790 ROBT TOMLIN & RICHD SUTTON CH. WARDENS
7. THOS MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1790 ROBT TOMLIN & RICHD SUTTON CH. WARDENS
RECAST BY M & S LONDON 1927
S. COLDHAM KNIGHT WALTER G. VINING CHURCHWARDENS
8. THOS MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1790 ROBT TOMLIN & RICHD SUTTON CH. WARDENS
9. THOS MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1790 ROBT TOMLIN & RICHD SUTTON CH. WARDENS
10. THOS MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1790 ROBT TOMLIN & RICHD SUTTON CH. WARDENS
RECAST BY M & S LONDON 1927
S. COLDHAM KNIGHT WALTER G. VINING CHURCHWARDENS

HISTORY

1581

Treble recast, probably by Robert Mot.

1615

2nd of ring of 5 recast by Joseph Hatch.

1620

3rd and 4th of 5 recast by Joseph Hatch.

1641

Tenor of 5 recast by Henry Wilnar.

1778

Thomas Swain asked to provide a new ring of 8. The frame was built and while there are no records of the bells ever being cast, it is quite possible he provided a new ring of 8. (See below)

1790

Ring of 8 recast by Thomas Mears.

1904

Bell recast at Christ Church, Dover.

1927

Frame strengthened; 5th and tenor recast.

1977

 December

The bell from Christ Church, Dover was removed and stored at St Nicholas, Dover until required for Ash.

1978

Bells rehung in new frame and augmented with 2 bells by John Taylor & Co. The treble was recast from the metal from the bell from Christ Church, Dover.

1996

Tower found to be cracked: ringing curtailed.
Local historian David Cave wrote a booklet on the bells when they were rehung and augmented to 10 in 1978. In it, he makes a good case for Thomas Swain recasting the old 5 into 8 in 1789. The cost alone (£256.6.10) would have been about right for a new ring and framework; in fact the cost of the recasting by Mears in 1790 was only £161.1.9 which, presumably, would have been for bells only (and maybe a few fitttings). There are some similarities to Cranbrook where the old tenor in 6 was recast into 3 trebles and put in a new frame by Mears in 1782, but the result was so unsatisfactory that the bells were replaced within 20 years. Perhaps something like this happened at Ash also? David Cave reports that Mears claimed he used the old bells by Mot, Hatch & Wilnar, but the source for this ascertion has not been found; it unlikely that Mears would have detailed it in this way although he might have mentioned the number of old bells traded in.

PRIOR TO 1927
Bell Cast Weight Diameter Cast Founder

Former 5th

10-0-6

39½"

1790

Thomas Mears II - recast 1927

Former Tenor

21-1-9

50¾"

1790

Thomas Mears II (Maiden bell) - recast 1927

INSCRIPTIONS ON THE 5 BELLS PRIOR TO 1788
1. .... 1581
   
2. ioseph hatch made me 1615
   
3. ioseph hatch made me 1620
   
4. ioseph hatch made me 1620
   
5. HENRY WILNAR MADE ME 1641
   

DETAILS OF THE BELL FROM DOVER
Bell Weight Diameter Note Cast Founder
Single Bell 6½ cwt approx. 32" C 1904 Llewellins & James

This was installed to replace a bell of 1844. Here is a photo of it prior to recasting.

Photo DLC