Bishopsbourne

BISHOPSBOURNE, St Mary

	4 bell
	Tenor: 6˝ cwt approx. in B flat
	Grid Ref. TR187527
	Canterbury District
	Treble only retuned: 1975 Whitechapel
	Frame: Mediaeval with later additions
	Nos 1,4,5,6 of 6
	Hung dead with Ellacombe

DETAILS OF THE BELLS

Bell Weight Diameter Pitch Cast Founder

1

2-2-0

22ľ"

G

1597

Robert Mot

2

3Ľ cwt approx.

25ľ"

D

1685

Christopher Hodson

3

5 cwt approx.

30Ľ"

C

1618

Joseph Hatch

4

6˝ cwt approx.

33ľ"

B flat

1618

Joseph Hatch

INSCRIPTIONS

1. + 1 + 5 + 9 + 7 +

2. CHRISTOPHER ○ HODSON ○ MADE ○ ME ○ 1685 ○ ○

3.

io∫eph hatch made me TC + CW + 1618

4.

IOSEPHVS HATCH ME FECIT TC CW 1618

EARLIER BELL

Bell Weight Diameter Cast Founder Fate

2 (of 4)

4 cwt approx.

27⅞"

1618

Joseph Hatch

Scrapped 1974

io∫eph hatch made me TC + CW + 1618

HISTORY

c.1400 Tower built.

c.1500 Frame four 4 bells put up; it survives to-day and is made for bells the size of the pre-1974 four, and disproportionately small for the size of the tower.

1597 Bell cast by Robert Mot for St Mary Bredman, Canterbury.

1618 At least the back three bells were recast by Joseph Hatch; curiously the 2nd and 3rd appeared to be of similar tone (though this may have been exacerbated by the 2nd later becoming cracked).

c.1650 During the 17th century, the four bell frame was adapted for full circle ringing.

1685 The then treble (present 2nd) was recast by Christopher Hodson, and the bells hung in ringing fittings with huge wheels which survived till 1974.

1887 The bells were still being "sometimes rung". Subsequently the 2nd became cracked. By 1960 only one was being "clocked".

1900 St Mary Breadman, Canterbury, was demolished and the bell transferred to the West Gate.

1974 The cracked 2nd which had the same note as the third was broken up in the tower as it was far too large to fit through the trap door . It was sold for scrap and 1,3 and 4 were rehung dead in the old frame by Whitechapel without leaving the tower.

1975 The ex-St Mary Breadman bell was acquired from Canterbury's West Gate and was tuned at Whitechapel and hung for chiming at Bishopsbourne to make bells 1,4,5,6 of six. A 6-bell chiming manual was provided. The new treble was manhandled up the stair turret!

Bell	Weight	Diameter	Pitch	Cast	Founder
1	2-2-0	22ľ"	G	1597	Robert Mot
2	3Ľ cwt approx.	25ľ"	D	1685	Christopher Hodson
3	5 cwt approx.	30Ľ"	C	1618	Joseph Hatch
4	6˝ cwt approx.	33ľ"	B flat	1618	Joseph Hatch

c.1400	Tower built.
c.1500	Frame four 4 bells put up; it survives to-day and is made for bells the size of the pre-1974 four, and disproportionately small for the size of the tower.
1597	Bell cast by Robert Mot for St Mary Bredman, Canterbury.
1618	At least the back three bells were recast by Joseph Hatch; curiously the 2nd and 3rd appeared to be of similar tone (though this may have been exacerbated by the 2nd later becoming cracked).
c.1650	During the 17th century, the four bell frame was adapted for full circle ringing.
1685	The then treble (present 2nd) was recast by Christopher Hodson, and the bells hung in ringing fittings with huge wheels which survived till 1974.
1887	The bells were still being "sometimes rung". Subsequently the 2nd became cracked. By 1960 only one was being "clocked".
1900	St Mary Breadman, Canterbury, was demolished and the bell transferred to the West Gate.
1974	The cracked 2nd which had the same note as the third was broken up in the tower as it was far too large to fit through the trap door . It was sold for scrap and 1,3 and 4 were rehung dead in the old frame by Whitechapel without leaving the tower.
1975	The ex-St Mary Breadman bell was acquired from Canterbury's West Gate and was tuned at Whitechapel and hung for chiming at Bishopsbourne to make bells 1,4,5,6 of six. A 6-bell chiming manual was provided. The new treble was manhandled up the stair turret!