Ash next Sandwich

ASH (near Sandwich), St Nicholas
(and Trinity House, Westmarsh)

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	28˝"	1978	John Taylor & Co.
3	6-2-5	6-0-20	30⅞"	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	39Ľ"	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	50ľ"	1927	Mears & Stainbank

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

1.

CAVE DEUS VIDET
CECIL EDRIC FOAT, JAMES REMPHREY HUDSON CHURCHWARDENS
1978

2. CHRIST CHURCH, DOVER LLEWELLINS & JAMES 1904

JAMES REMPHREY HUDSON CHURCHWARDEN
RECASTING DONATED BY
CECIL EDRIC FOAT CHURCHWARDEN
1978

3. .ROB^T TOMLIN & RICH^D SUTTON CH. WARDENS

THO^S MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT. 1790.

4. [1 Whitechapel loop] .ROB^T TOMLIN & RICH^D SUTTON CH. WARDENS

THO^S MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT. 1790.

5. . ROB^T TOMLIN & RICH^D SUTTON CH. WARDENS THO^S MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON

FECIT 1790

6. . ROB^T TOMLIN & RICH^D SUTTON CH. WARDENS THO^S MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT

1790

7. RECAST BY M & S. LONDON. 1927 .

S. COLDHAM KNIGHT,
WALTER G. VINING, CHURCHWARDENS.

8. THO^S MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1790 ROB^T TOMLIN & RICH^D SUTTON CH. WARDENS

9. THO^S MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1790 ROB^T TOMLIN & RICH^D SUTTON CH. WARDENS

10. RECAST BY MEARS & STAINBANK, FOUNDERS. LONDON. 1927.

S. COLDHAM KNIGHT,
WALTER G. VINING, CHURCHWARDENS.

EARLIER BELLS

Bell Cast Weight Diameter Cast Founder Fate

5 (of 8)

10-0-6

39˝"

1790

Thomas Mears II
Recast 1927

8 (of 8)

21-1-9

50ľ"

1790

Thomas Mears II (Maiden bell)
Recast 1927

5. THO^S MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1790 ROB^T TOMLIN & RICH^D SUTTON CH. WARDENS

8. THO^S MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1790 ROB^T TOMLIN & RICH^D SUTTON CH. WARDENS

Prior to the supposed ring of 8 of 1778 there were 5 bells:

Bell Cast Founder

1 1581 Unknown

2 1615 Joseph Hatch

3 1620 Joseph Hatch

4 1620 Joseph Hatch

5 1641 Henry Wilnar

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

The present treble was recast from the bell at Christ Church Dover. It's details were as follows:

Bell	Weight	Diameter	Note	Cast	Founder
Single Bell	6˝ cwt approx.	32"	C	1904	Llewellins & James

This was installed to replace a bell of 1844.

HISTORY

1581

Treble (re)cast, 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.

1760 Rev'd Bryan Faussett wrote:

This Church consists of The Great, and North, Chancells, The Body, and 2 Side Isles. The Tower, which is cap’t with a Spire, stands between the Great Chancell and the Body. In it hang 5 Bells, thus inscribed.
1. …………./ 1581.
2. Joseph Hatch made Me. 1615.
3. Joseph Hatch made Me. 1620.
4. Joseph Hatch made Me. 1620.
5. Henry Wilner made Me. 1641.

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
Dec.
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 for a couple of years while works were put in place to strengthen it.

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 (Ł256.6.10) would have been about right for a new ring and framework; in fact the cost of the recasting by Mears in 1790 was only Ł161.1.9 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 assertion 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.

GALLERY

The Dover bell prior to recasting.

WESTMARSH, Trinity House (Ware)
(formerly Holy Trinity Church)

1 bell weighing approx. ˝ cwt

Grid Ref. TR278609

With peg argent.

In the village of Ware

Formerly a single bell removed in 1969 to form part of the treble of St Mary's, Ashford

►"A Treble for Ashford" by Rev'd David Cawley.

Bell Weight Diameter Cast Founder

1

˝ cwt approx.

12" approx

?

?

EARLIER BELL

Bell Weight Diameter Cast Founder

1

0-2-7

14" approx

1841

Thomas Mears II

1841 Single bell cast by Thomas Mears II.

1842 A small church was built as a satellite church to the parish of St Nicholas, Ash.

1849 Westmarsh was formed into a separate ecclesiastical parish.

1895 Church was renovated.

1958 Further repairs were made to the church.

1960 Electric heating was installed in the church.

1969 The parish of Westmarsh was reunited with that of Ash.

1969 The bell was removed by the KCACR to Ashford (St Mary) as metal for the new treble of ten.

1971 29th Jun Church declared redundant.

1972 30th May Declaration of Redundancy Scheme. The church was later renovated into a house called "Trinity House". At some point a small bell was placed in the empty gable end.

Bell	Cast Weight	Diameter	Cast	Founder	Fate
5 (of 8)	10-0-6	39˝"	1790	Thomas Mears II	Recast 1927
8 (of 8)	21-1-9	50ľ"	1790	Thomas Mears II (Maiden bell)	Recast 1927

5.	THO^S MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1790 ROB^T TOMLIN & RICH^D SUTTON CH. WARDENS

8.	THO^S MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1790 ROB^T TOMLIN & RICH^D SUTTON CH. WARDENS

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

1841		Single bell cast by Thomas Mears II.
1842		A small church was built as a satellite church to the parish of St Nicholas, Ash.
1849		Westmarsh was formed into a separate ecclesiastical parish.
1895		Church was renovated.
1958		Further repairs were made to the church.
1960		Electric heating was installed in the church.
1969		The parish of Westmarsh was reunited with that of Ash.
1969		The bell was removed by the KCACR to Ashford (St Mary) as metal for the new treble of ten.
1971	29th Jun	Church declared redundant.
1972	30th May	Declaration of Redundancy Scheme. The church was later renovated into a house called "Trinity House". At some point a small bell was placed in the empty gable end.