Cathedral Oxford Old Bells

CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL

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ARUNDEL TOWER

CENTRAL TOWER

CAMPANILE

FORMER BELLS IN THE OXFORD TOWER

	3 bells & a Chapter Bell (from the Arundel Tower)
	1499 Set of 5 bells and Mariebelle
	1625 Augmented to 6 (later sold to St Peter, Sandwich)
	1727 Ring of 8
	1802 Augmented to 10
	1923 Augmented to 12
	Peals
	Ż The Old Ring of 12 (9.86s)
	Current Ring in this Tower

DETAILS OF THE BELLS ON REMOVAL

Bell	Weight (measured when cast)	Weight (measured in 1981)	Diameter	Pitch	Cast	Founder	Fate
Treble	6-0-16	6-0-18	28⅞"	G	1923	Mears & Stainbank	Recast 1981
2	6-1-15	6-1-18	30"	F	1923	Mears & Stainbank	Recast 1981
3	6-3-24	6-3-16	31˝"	E	1802	Thomas Mears I	Recast 1981
4	7-1-0	7-1-14	32"	D	1802	Thomas Mears I	Arundel Tower
5	7-1-17	7-1-8	34"	C	1855	Charles & George Mears	Arundel Tower
6	not weighed	8-0-23	36"	B	1726	Samuel Knight	Arundel Tower
7	not weighed	8-3-25	38"	A	1726	Samuel Knight	Arundel Tower
8	10-2-25	10-2-7	40"	G	1855	Charles & George Mears	Arundel Tower
9	not weighed	12-2-6	43˝"	F	1727	Samuel Knight	Recast 1981
10	not weighed	16-3-5	46˝"	E	1728	Samuel Knight	Recast 1981
11	not weighed	21-3-2	51˝"	D	1726	Samuel Knight	Recast 1981
Tenor	32-0-6	32-0-6	57"	C	1951	Mears & Stainbank	Recast 1981

The pitches of these bells as recorded by Ranald Clouston in 1979:

Bell	Hum	Prime	Tierce	Quint	Nominal
Treble	Ab +0	E+15	Bb+9	D+43	G-20
2	F+13	Eb-35	Ab-23	C-28	F-20
3	F#-39	C#-8	G+11	C-5	E-2
4	E+2	C#-46	F#-48	B-46	D+33
5	C#-14	B+14	Eb-6	Ab-12	C-7
6	B+7	Bb+14	D-6	F#+11	B-23
7	A+16	A-12	C+18	Eb+29	A-24
8	Ab-14	G+17	Bb-12	Eb+21	G-25
9	G-36	F#-48	Bb+43	F-24
10	F-37	E+7	G+9	B+21	E-52
11	Eb-18	E+2	F#+18	A+0	D-22
Tenor	C-25	C-25	Eb-12	G-9	C-25

1.

A.D. 1923
KENT COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF CHANGE RINGERS
V
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN MEMORY OF
THE MEMBERS WHO FELL IN
THE GREAT WAR.
1914 - 1918

2.

A. D. 1923
K.C.A.C.R.
1914-1918

3. THOS. MEARS LONDON FECIT --------- ...... A.D. 1802. PACE REDDITA

4. T.POWYS. DN, W.WELFITT, V, DN, H.RADCLIFFE, TR, E,WALSBY, RR,. T.MEARS FECIT 1802 ---------- .............

5. SAMUL NORRIS, GULS GOSTLING AM SK 1726

A D MDCCCLV
BENJ HARRISON A M THESAURO
H.G.AUSTIN ARCHTO
ˇ ˇ ˇ C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON ˇ ˇ ˇ

6. GVL = AYERST S.T.B. GVL EGERTON. L.L.D.ˇˇ IOHANNES ˇ GOSLING ˇ ˇ A M SAM = KNIGHT 1726

7. SAM = THOLCOMBE Œ T \ P \ IOHAN = CLARK: S \ T \ P \ SK 1726

R ˇ B (head of Charles I) ˇ ˇ

8. DAVID WILKINS S T P EDWARD WAKE S T P S K 1726

A D MDCCCLV
BENJ HARRISON A M THESAURO
H.G. AUSTIN ARCHTO
ˇ ˇ ˇ C & G MEARS FOUNDERS ˇ ˇ ˇ

9. IOHNNES GRANDORGE STP JOHNNES HANCOCKE STP SK 1727

10. EDUARDUS ˇTENISON S.T.P. HON = EDUARDUS FINCH. A.M. SK FECIT 1728 ˇ ˇ

11. 1726 RADULPHUS BLOMER STP ELLAS SYDAL STP SK FECIT

12. YE RINGERS ALL THAT PRIZE YOUR HEALTH & HAPPINESS, BE SOBER MERRY WISE & YOU'LL THE SAME
(same line) POSSESS PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1778

RECAST

19
51

EARLIER BELLS AND HOW THIS RING WAS BUILT UP

-- The 1499 John Bayle Bells --

Bell	Weight	Cast	Founder
1.	9-0-14	1499	John Bayle
2.	12-1-0	1499	John Bayle
3.	15-1-9	1499	John Bayle
4.	18-0-1	1499	John Bayle
5.	25-1-15	1499	John Bayle
le Mariebelle	33-0-22	1499	John Bayle

4 of these bells were recast by Joseph Hatch in 1625. The resultant ring of six was sold to St Peter's Sandwich in 1726, at which point the tenor was recast by Samuel Knight (1727). The whole ring amounting to 55-1-6.

-- The 1726/7 Samuel Knight Ring of Eight --

Bell	Weight	Diameter	Pitch	Cast	Founder	Fate
Treble	7-1-14		C	1726	Samuel Knight	Recast 1854
2	8-0-23	36"	B	1726	Samuel Knight
3	8-3-25	38"	A	1726	Samuel Knight
4	11-0-24		G	1726	Samuel Knight	Recast 1854
5	?		F	1726	Samuel Knight	Recast 1727
6	?		E	1726	Samuel Knight	Recast 1728
7	21-3-2	51˝"	D	1726	Samuel Knight
Tenor	30cwt approx.		C	1726	Samuel Knight	Recast 1778

1. SAMUL NORRIS, GVLS GOSTLING AM SK 1726

2. GVL = AYERST S.T.B. GVL EGERTON. L.L.D.ˇˇ IOHANNES ˇ GOSLING ˇ ˇ A M SAM = KNIGHT 1726

3. SAM = THOLCOMBE Œ T \ P \ IOHAN = CLARK: S \ T \ P \ SK 1726

R ˇ B (head of Charles I) ˇ ˇ

4. DAVID WILKINS S T P EDWARD WAKE S T P S K 1726

5. (unknown - possibly similar to the inscription on the 1727 recast by Samuel Knight)

6. (unknown - possibly similar to the inscription on the 1728 recast by Samuel Knight)

7. 1726 RADULPHUS BLOMER STP ELLAS SYDAL STP SK FECIT

8. (unknown)

The following bells were later recast:

Bell	Weight	Diameter	Pitch	Cast	Founder	Fate
5	12-2-6	43˝"	F	1727	Samuel Knight
6	16-3-5	46˝"	E	1728	Samuel Knight
Tenor	28-1-0		C	1778	Pack & Chapman	Recast 1951

5. IOHNNES GRANDORGE STP JOHNNES HANCOCKE STP SK 1727

6. EDUARDUS ˇTENISON S.T.P. HON = EDUARDUS FINCH. A.M. SK FECIT 1728 ˇ ˇ

8. YE RINGERS ALL THAT PRIZE YOUR HEALTH & HAPPINESS, BE SOBER MERRY WISE & YOU'LL THE SAME
(same line) POSSESS PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1778

-- Augmentation to 10 bells --

Bell	Weight (measured when cast)	Weight (measured in 1981)	Diameter	Pitch	Cast	Founder	Fate
Treble	6-3-24	6-3-16	31˝"	E	1802	Thomas Mears I	Recast 1981
2*	7-1-0*	7-1-14	32"	D*	1802	Thomas Mears I
* later tuned to a different weight and pitch

1. THOS. MEARS LONDON FECIT --------- ...... A.D. 1802. PACE REDDITA

2. T.POWYS. DN, W.WELFITT, V, DN, H.RADCLIFFE, TR, E,WALSBY, RR,. T.MEARS FECIT 1802 ---------- .............

Of this ring of ten, the following bells were recast:

Bell	Weight	Diameter	Pitch	Cast	Founder	Fate
3	?	?	C	1854	Charles & George Mears	Recast 1855
6	?	?	G	1854	Charles & George Mears	Recast 1855

Inscriptions unknown.

Bell	Weight (measured when cast)	Weight (measured in 1981)	Diameter	Pitch	Cast	Founder
3*	7-1-17	7-1-8	34"	C	1855	Charles & George Mears
6*	10-2-25	10-2-7	40"	G	1855	Charles & George Mears

* later tuned to different weight and pitch

1. SAMUL NORRIS, GULS GOSTLING AM SK 1726

A D MDCCCLV
BENJ HARRISON A M THESAURO
H.G.AUSTIN ARCHTO
ˇ ˇ ˇ C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON ˇ ˇ ˇ

2. DAVID WILKINS S T P EDWARD WAKE S T P S K 1726

A D MDCCCLV
BENJ HARRISON A M THESAURO
H.G. AUSTIN ARCHTO
ˇ ˇ ˇ C & G MEARS FOUNDERS ˇ ˇ ˇ

-- Augmentation to 12 bells --

Bell	Weight (measured 1923)	Weight (measured 1981)	Diameter	Pitch	Cast	Founder	Fate
Treble	6-0-16	6-0-18	28⅞"	G	1923	Mears & Stainbank	Recast 1981
2	6-1-15	6-1-18	30"	F	1923	Mears & Stainbank	Recast 1981

1.

A.D. 1923
KENT COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF CHANGE RINGERS
V
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN MEMORY OF
THE MEMBERS WHO FELL IN
THE GREAT WAR.
1914 - 1918

2.

A. D. 1923
K.C.A.C.R.
1914-1918

Of this ring of twelve, the tenor was recast:

Bell

Weight
(measured
1951)

Weight
(measured
1981)

Diameter

Pitch

Cast

Founder

Fate

12

30-0-6

32-0-6

57"

C

1951

Mears & Stainbank

Recast 1981

12. YE RINGERS ALL THAT PRIZE YOUR HEALTH & HAPPINESS, BE SOBER MERRY WISE & YOU'LL THE SAME
(same line) POSSESS PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1778

RECAST

19
51

The whole ring was then remodelled in 1981 as is shown here.

GALLERY

Bells 5,6,7 and 8 of the old ring.
The tenor being recast at Whitechapel in 1951. The "new" tenor removed from the tower in 1951.

The "new" 1951 tenor. The 1951 tenor coming back down the tower. 11th on the ground, 1981.

Tenor lifted out of its pit from which the inner frameside has been removed to allow Great Dunstan to pass. Tenor on the ground. Tenor on the ground.

The old 11th and the old treble. The 8th on the ground. Note that this bell was recast with the same profile as the Samuel Knight bell next to it (the 2nd). The treble in 1981.

1.	SAMUL NORRIS, GVLS GOSTLING AM SK 1726

2.	GVL = AYERST S.T.B. GVL EGERTON. L.L.D.ˇˇ IOHANNES ˇ GOSLING ˇ ˇ A M SAM = KNIGHT 1726

3.	SAM = THOLCOMBE Œ T \ P \ IOHAN = CLARK: S \ T \ P \ SK 1726
	R ˇ B (head of Charles I) ˇ ˇ
4.	DAVID WILKINS S T P EDWARD WAKE S T P S K 1726

5.	(unknown - possibly similar to the inscription on the 1727 recast by Samuel Knight)

6.	(unknown - possibly similar to the inscription on the 1728 recast by Samuel Knight)

7.	1726 RADULPHUS BLOMER STP ELLAS SYDAL STP SK FECIT

8.	(unknown)

5.	IOHNNES GRANDORGE STP JOHNNES HANCOCKE STP SK 1727

6.	EDUARDUS ˇTENISON S.T.P. HON = EDUARDUS FINCH. A.M. SK FECIT 1728 ˇ ˇ

8.	YE RINGERS ALL THAT PRIZE YOUR HEALTH & HAPPINESS, BE SOBER MERRY WISE & YOU'LL THE SAME (same line) POSSESS PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1778

1.	THOS. MEARS LONDON FECIT --------- ...... A.D. 1802. PACE REDDITA

2.	T.POWYS. DN, W.WELFITT, V, DN, H.RADCLIFFE, TR, E,WALSBY, RR,. T.MEARS FECIT 1802 ---------- .............

1.	SAMUL NORRIS, GULS GOSTLING AM SK 1726
	A D MDCCCLV BENJ HARRISON A M THESAURO H.G.AUSTIN ARCHTO ˇ ˇ ˇ C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON ˇ ˇ ˇ
2.	DAVID WILKINS S T P EDWARD WAKE S T P S K 1726
	A D MDCCCLV BENJ HARRISON A M THESAURO H.G. AUSTIN ARCHTO ˇ ˇ ˇ C & G MEARS FOUNDERS ˇ ˇ ˇ

Bell	Weight (measured 1951)	Weight (measured 1981)	Diameter	Pitch	Cast	Founder	Fate
12	30-0-6	32-0-6	57"	C	1951	Mears & Stainbank	Recast 1981


Bells 5,6,7 and 8 of the old ring.	The tenor being recast at Whitechapel in 1951.	The "new" tenor removed from the tower in 1951.

The "new" 1951 tenor.	The 1951 tenor coming back down the tower.	11th on the ground, 1981.

Tenor lifted out of its pit from which the inner frameside has been removed to allow Great Dunstan to pass.	Tenor on the ground.	Tenor on the ground.

The old 11th and the old treble.	The 8th on the ground. Note that this bell was recast with the same profile as the Samuel Knight bell next to it (the 2nd).	The treble in 1981.