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GRAVENEY, All Saints

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3 bells (formerly 4 bells) and a bell on display
Tenor 6-3-19 in B
Grid Ref. TR053627
Canterbury District
Frame: 1925 Mears & Stainbank foundation for 6 bells. Iron.
Retuning: Never subsequently retuned
Upstairs ringing room

DETAILS OF THE BELLS

Bell Weight Diameter Cast Founder

1

4-2-18

28"

1925

Mears & Stainbank

2

5-2-11

301/4"

1925

Mears & Stainbank

3

6-3-19

331/4"

1925

Mears & Stainbank

Display Bell

c. 111/8"

14th Cent.

Unknown

INSCRIPTIONS

1.
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I WAS RESTORED BY GEORGE HENRY AND ALICE SMITH 1925
M & S. LONDON

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2. v IOHNvPALMARvMABackwardsD.jpg (747 bytes)EvTHISvBELLv1637vT BvI WvT PvIvPRAISEvGOD
I WAS RESTORED BY GEORGE HENRY AND ALICE SMITH 1925
M & S. LONDON

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3. IOHBackwardsN.jpg (750 bytes) WILBackwardsN.jpg (750 bytes)AR MADE ME 1618
I WAS RESTORED BY GEORGE HENRY AND ALICE SMITH 1925
M & S. LONDON

wc1923.jpg (2327 bytes)

The disused bell is blank.

PREVIOUS BELLS

Bell

Weight

Diameter

Cast

Founder

Comments

1

4¾ cwt approx.

c 28"

?

Removed to Goodnestone in 1871

2

5½ cwt approx.

31"

c. 1510

William Culverden

Broken

3

6 cwt approx.

32"

1637

John & Thomas Palmar

Cracked

4

7 cwt approx.

33½"

1618

John Wilnar

Sound: poor tone.

1.
crown.jpg (1314 bytes) crown.jpg (1314 bytes)

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ancte   +   ¢   I U wpeD7.jpg (2511 bytes)

P ¢

wpeD9.jpg (2586 bytes)
2. v IOHNvPALMARvMABackwardsD.jpg (747 bytes)EvTHISvBELLv1637vT BvI WvT PvIvPRAISEvGOD
3. IOHBackwardsN.jpg (750 bytes) WILBackwardsN.jpg (750 bytes)AR MADE ME 1618

HISTORY

1513

- 1523

Bell cast by William Culverden.

1618

Tenor bell cast by John Wilnar.

1637

Middle bell cast by John Palmar.

1871

Treble moved to neighbouring St Bartholomew, Goodnestone.

1887

Stahlschmidt reported that "The Belfry is in a most disgraceful state, by far the worst I was ever in. There are pits for four bells and of the three that hang only the largest is in use or useable and as that is 'clocked' it will probably soon share the fate of the rest ... the whole of both bells and frame is filthy and dilapidated beyond description."

1912

The bell that had been taken to Goodnestone was recast into a smaller bell by Mears & Stainbank. The turret at Goodnestone was also rebuilt at this time.

1925

Bells recast and rehung with frame foundation for 6 at a cost of £316.17s.6d. The new bells rang for the first time at Christmas.

1970

Bells overhauled by Whitechapel.

1983

The small 14th century bell from Goodnestone by Faversham was taken to Graveney for display.

2005

Ringing resumed at Graveney after a gap of 6 years following work to the roof of the tower. The ringing room was moved upstairs from the ground floor.