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CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL
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Oxford Tower
OXFORD TOWER

 Arundle Tower
ARUNDEL TOWER		 Central Tower
CENTRAL TOWER		 Campanile
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
¯ THE OLD RING OF 12 (9.86s)
INSCRIPTIONS ON
THE OLD 12

THE JOHN BAYLE SIX

 THE SAMUEL
KNIGHT OCTAVE		 AUGMENTATION
TO 10		 AUGMENTATION
TO 12		 PHOTOGRAPHS OF OLD BELLS

SUMMARY OF THE OLD 12 REMODELLED IN 1981

Bell

Weight
(measured when cast)

Weight
(measured in 1981)

Diameter

Pitch

Cast

Founder

Treble

6-0-16

6-0-18

 287/8" G

1923

Mears & Stainbank
2 6-1-15 6-1-18 30" F 1923 Mears & Stainbank
3 6-3-24 6-3-16 311/2" E 1802 Thomas Mears I
4 7-1-0 7-1-14 32" D 1802 Thomas Mears I
5 7-1-17 7-1-8 34" C 1855 Charles & George Mears
6 not weighed 8-0-23 36" B 1726 Samuel Knight
7 not weighed 8-3-25 38" A 1726 Samuel Knight
8 10-2-25 10-2-7 40" G 1855 Charles & George Mears
9 not weighed 12-2-6 431/2" F 1727 Samuel Knight
10 not weighed 16-3-5 461/2" E 1728 Samuel Knight
11 not weighed 21-3-2 511/2" D 1726 Samuel Knight
Tenor 32-0-6 32-0-6 57" C 1951 Mears & Stainbank

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

INCRIPTIONS
1.  
A.D. 1923
KENT COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF CHANGE RINGERS
?
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN MEMORY OF
THE MEMBERS WHO FELL IN
THE GREAT WAR.
1914 - 1918		 wc1923.jpg (2327 bytes)
2.
A. D. 1923
K.C.A.C.R.
1914-1918		 wc1923.jpg (2327 bytes)
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
¡ ¡ ¡   C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON ¡ ¡ ¡
6. GVL = AYERST S.T.B. GVL EGERTON. L.L.D.¡¡ IOHANNES ¡ GOSLING ¡ ¡ A M SAM = KNIGHT 1726
7. SAM = THOLCOMBE ΠT \ P \ IOHAN = CLARK: S \ T \ P \ SK 1726
R ¡ B (head of Charles I) ¡ ¡
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
¡ ¡ ¡   C & G MEARS FOUNDERS ¡ ¡ ¡
9. shield.jpg (966 bytes)  IOHNNES GRANDORGE STP JOHNNES HANCOCKE STP SK 1727
10. shield.jpg (966 bytes) EDUARDUS ¡TENISON S.T.P. HON = EDUARDUS FINCH. A.M. SK FECIT 1728 ¡ ¡
11. 1726 shield.jpg (966 bytes) 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

 wc1951.jpg (2432 bytes)

51

PREVIOUS BELLS AND HOW THIS RING WAS BUILT UP

THE 1499 JOHN BAYLE BELLS

Bell

Weight

Diameter

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

Treble

7-1-14

 C

1726

Samuel Knight
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
5 ? F 1726 Samuel Knight
6 ? E 1726 Samuel Knight
7 21-3-2 51½" D 1726 Samuel Knight
Tenor

30cwt approx.

 C 1726 Samuel Knight
1. SAMUL NORRIS, GVLS GOSTLING AM SK 1726
2. GVL = AYERST S.T.B. GVL EGERTON. L.L.D.¡¡ IOHANNES ¡ GOSLING ¡ ¡ A M SAM = KNIGHT 1726
3. SAM = THOLCOMBE ΠT \ P \ IOHAN = CLARK: S \ T \ P \ SK 1726
R ¡ B (head of Charles I) ¡ ¡
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 shield.jpg (966 bytes) RADULPHUS BLOMER STP ELLAS SYDAL STP SK FECIT
8. (unknown)

The following bells were later recast:

Bell

Weight

Diameter

Pitch

Cast

Founder

5

12-2-6

43½"

 F

1727

Samuel Knight

6

16-3-5

46½"

 E

1728

Samuel Knight

Tenor

28-1-0

 C 1778 Pack & Chapman
5. shield.jpg (966 bytes)  IOHNNES GRANDORGE STP JOHNNES HANCOCKE STP SK 1727
6. shield.jpg (966 bytes) EDUARDUS ¡TENISON S.T.P. HON = EDUARDUS FINCH. A.M. SK FECIT 1728 ¡ ¡
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 TEN BELLS

Bell

Weight
(measured when cast)

Weight
(measured in 1981)

Diameter

Pitch

Cast

Founder

Treble

6-3-24

 6-3-16

31½"

 E

1802

Thomas Mears I

2*

7-1-0*

 7-1-14

32"

 D* 1802 Thomas Mears I
* later tuned to 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
(measured when cast)		 Weight
(measured in 1981)		 Diameter Pitch Cast

Founder
3 ? n/a C 1854 Charles & George Mears
6 ? n/a G 1854 Charles & George Mears
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
3 (unknown)
6 (unknown)
3. SAMUL NORRIS, GULS GOSTLING AM SK 1726
A D MDCCCLV
BENJ HARRISON A M THESAURO
H.G.AUSTIN ARCHTO
¡ ¡ ¡   C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON ¡ ¡ ¡
6. 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
¡ ¡ ¡   C & G MEARS FOUNDERS ¡ ¡ ¡

AUGMENTATION TO TWELVE BELLS

Bell

Weight
(measured in 1923)

Weight
(measured in 1981)

Diameter

Pitch

Cast

Founder

Treble

6-0-16

6-0-18

287/8"

 G

1923

Mears & Stainbank

2

6-1-15

6-1-18

30"

 F 1923 Mears & Stainbank
1.  
A.D. 1923
KENT COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF CHANGE RINGERS
?
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN MEMORY OF
THE MEMBERS WHO FELL IN
THE GREAT WAR.
1914 - 1918		 wc1923.jpg (2327 bytes)
2.
A. D. 1923
K.C.A.C.R.
1914-1918		 wc1923.jpg (2327 bytes)

Of this ring of twelve, the tenor was recast:

Bell

Weight
(measured in 1951)

Weight
(measured in 1981)

Diameter

Pitch

Cast

Founder

Tenor

30-0-6

32-0-6

57"

 C (258Hz)

1951

Mears & Stainbank
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

 wc1951.jpg (2432 bytes)

51

The whole ring was then remodelled in 1981:

 1 Þ

2 Þ
3 Þ
Ü 4
Ü 5
Ü 6
Ü 7
Ü 8
9 Þ
10 Þ
11 Þ
12 Þ
Ü DUNSTAN

Hung in the Arundel Tower.

Recast for the new ring
in the Oxford Tower.

PHOTOGRAPHS

RCO collection

Bells 5,6,7 and 8 of the old ring.

RCO collection
The tenor being recast at Whitechapel in 1951.

RCO collection
The "new" 1951 tenor.
RCO collection RCO collection
The "new" tenor removed from the tower in 1951. The "new" tenor being hoisted back up the tower.
Photo DLC 1981 Photo DLC 1981
11th on the ground, 1981. Tenor on the ground.
Photo DLC 1981
Tenor on the ground.
Photo DLC 1981
Tenor lifted out of its pit from which the inner frameside has been removed to allow Great Dunstan to pass.
Photo DLC 1981

The treble in 1981.
Photo DLC 1981

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).
Photo DLC 1981 The old 11th and the old treble..