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HINXHILL, St Mary
Photo RCO
 
2 bell (formerly 3 bells)
Tenor: 8 cwt approx. in A
Grid Ref. TR049425
Canterbury District
Tuned: Never subsequently retuned
Frame: 1895 Samuel B Goslin
Ground floor

DETAILS OF THE BELLS

Bell

Weight

Diameter

Pitch

Cast

Founder

1

 5¾ cwt approx. 31⅝" 15th Cent Unknown

2

 8 cwt approx. 34⅞" A 1634 Joseph Hatch
1. [Blank]
 
2.
IOSEPHVS HATCH ME FECIT 1634
             W  H    
 

HISTORY

c.1430

A pair of 15th century bell were cast.  Neither bell bore an inscription.

1552

Record of 3 bells in the tower ("Item iij gret bells and ij smalle hand bells).

1634

A bell was recast by Joseph Hatch.
1758 Rev'd Bryan Faussett wrote:
This Church consists of the Great, and North Chancells, The Body, and a North Isle; In The Steeple hang 3 Bells, 2 of which have no Inscription; the third: Joseph Hatch Me fecit. 1634.
1798 Edward Hasted wrote:
The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary, is a small building, consisting of two isles and two chancels, having a low spire steeple at the west end, in which are three bells.

1887

 Stahlschmidt reported only 2 bells in the tower, acknowledging that one of the blank bells had since gone.

1895

Bells rehung with new fittings in a new frame by Samuel B. Goslin.

1974

A recommendation was made for the 2 bells to be hung dead as they were unsafe to ring full circle. This never happened.