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LANGLEY, St Mary

Photo RCO 2005
2 bells (front 2 of former 3) plus 8 tubular bells
Tenor: 6½ cwt approx. in  C
Grid Ref. TQ805514
Maidstone District
Timber frame: 1874
Never subsequently retuned.
Ground floor (for ringing bells); 1st floor (for tubes)

DETAILS OF THE BELLS

Bell

Weight

Diameter

Pitch

Cast

Founder

1

4½ cwt approx.

30½"

C sharp

1599

Thomas Hatch

2

6½ cwt approx.

32½"

B

1874

John Warner & Sons

1.
THOMAS  Diamond.gif (1312 bytes) HATCH  Diamond.gif (1312 bytes) MADE Diamond.gif (1312 bytes) ME (stop with head) 1599 wpe1C.jpg (1952 bytes)
 
2. CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS Ÿ LONDON 1874 Ÿ
 

EARLIER BELLS

Bell

Weight

Diameter

Pitch

Cast

Founder

Fate

2 (of 3)

6¾ cwt approx.

c.33"

?B

1621

Joseph Hatch

Recast 1874

3 (of 3)

8¼ cwt approx. c.36" ?A c.1400 Robert Burford Sold c.1865
2. [Inscription never recorded]
 
3. + Sit Nomen Domini Benedictum +
 
 

HISTORY

c.1400

Former tenor cast by Robert Burford.

1599

Present smaller bell cast by Thomas Hatch. This is his only surviving bell.

1621

Previous 2nd cast by Joseph Hatch.

c.1865

The tenor was sold.

1874

The frame was reconstructed and the former middle bell was recast by John Warner.

1887

Stahlschmidt notes that there were 2 bells in the tower, but that there were formerly 3.

1911

6 tubular bells were given in memory of William S Forster.

1925

2 treble tubular bells were added in memory of John Reginald Collinson.

1973

The 2 bells were recorded by Nick Davies and Alan Berry as being in a shocking state and the 3rd tube was cracked.