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ELHAM, St Mary the Virgin |
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DETAILS OF THE BELLS |
Bell Weight Diameter Cast Founder 1
3-2-16
26"
1970
Whitechapel
2
4-1-11
27"
1970
Whitechapel
3
4-3-27
28½"
1970
Whitechapel
4
5-0-20
30"
1970
Whitechapel
5
6-2-8
32½"
1970
Whitechapel
6
7-1-26
34"
1970
Whitechapel
7
9-3-0
38"
1970
Whitechapel
8
13-2-15
42¼"
1970
Whitechapel
INSCRIPTIONS |
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1. |
LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1763 |
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2. |
LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1763 |
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3. |
LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1763 |
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4. |
LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1763 |
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5. |
LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1763 |
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6. |
LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1763 |
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7. |
THOMAS MEARS & SON OF LONDON FECIT. ROB- WESTFIELD & JOHN HORTON CHURCHWARDENS 1809 |
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8. |
LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1763 |
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EARLIER BELLS |
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A ring of bells came from St Mary’s Sandwich after the collapse of the tower in 1663: |
Bell |
Weight |
Cast |
Founder |
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Treble |
8-1-22 | 1659 |
John Wilnar |
| 2 | 8-2-13 | 1659 | John Wilnar |
| 3 | 12-0-9 | 1659 | John Wilnar |
| 4 | 15-0-6 | 1659 | John Wilnar |
| Tenor | 20-0-14 | 1659 | John Wilnar |
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These were recast as follows: |
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Cast |
Founder |
Fate |
1 |
4-2-2 | 28" | 1763 | Lester & Pack | Recast 1970 |
| 2 | 4-2-18 | 29" | 1763 | Lester & Pack | Recast 1970 |
| 3 | 5-3-8 | 30" | 1763 | Lester & Pack | Recast 1970 |
| 4 | 6-2-11 | 32½" | 1763 | Lester & Pack | Recast 1970 |
| 5 | 7-0-11 | 34" | 1763 | Lester & Pack | Recast 1970 |
| 6 | 7-3-24 | 36" | 1763 | Lester & Pack | Recast 1970 |
| 7 | 10½ cwt approx. | 1763 | Lester & Pack | Recast 1809 | |
| 8 | 15-2-11 | 45" | 1763 | Lester & Pack | Recast 1970 |
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1. |
LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1763 |
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2. |
LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1763 |
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3. |
LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1763 |
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4. |
LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1763 |
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5. |
LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1763 |
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6. |
LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1763 |
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7. |
LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1763 |
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8. |
LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1763 |
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Cast |
Founder |
Fate |
| 7 | 11-3-27 | 41" | 1809 | Thomas Mears II | Recast 1970 |
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7. |
THOMAS MEARS & SON OF LONDON FECIT. ROB WESTFIELD & JOHN HORTON CHURCHWARDENS 1809 |
HISTORY |
1552
Record of 5 bells.
1639
5 bells cast by John Wilnar for St Mary's, Sandwich.
1667
Tower of St Mary's, Sandwich fell down. Some time afterwards, the bells were given to Elham.
1763
Bells recast into 8 by Lester & Pack.
1758 Rev'd Bryan Faussett wrote:
This Church consists of a Tiled Chancell, and 3 Isles cover’d with Lead. On the South Side of the Chancell, are the Ruins of Another. In The Steeple, which is a Tower, Pointed with a Lofty Spire, hang 5 heavy Bells, all made by John Wlnar in ye Year 1659 (sic). [Real date was 1639] 1799 Edward Hasted wrote:
The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary, is large and handsome, consisting of three isles, the middle one having an upper range of windows, and one chancel, having a tower steeple, with a spire shast on it, at the west end, in which are eight bells, a clock, and chimes. 1809
7th recast by Thomas Mears.
1887 J C L Stahlschmidt wrote:
At present the frame is in bad order and the bells can only be chimed. I am sorry to see that the reprehensible practice of "clocking" has been introduced. The sooner it is discontinued the better for the bells.
There is a local tradition as to No. 7 that it was sent here by mistake for Wye, and that the Wye people have got the Elham bell.1887
Bells rehung in a new frame by Warner.
1970
Bells recast and hung by Whitechapel in the old frame.
1983
Timber frame strengthened.
GALLERY |
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| The belfry prior to the restoration of 1970. | David Cawley, lowering the tenor bell. | Loading the tenor bell. July 1970. |
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Harry Parkes and David Cawley with the old eight bells after removal. |
