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LENHAM, St Mary |
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DETAILS OF THE BELLS |
Bell Weight Diameter Cast Founder 1
5-0-16
28"
1959
John Taylor & Co.
2
5-2-2
30"
1751
Robert Catlin
3
6-0-23
31½"
1709
Richard Phelps
4
6-3-13
34"
1709
Richard Phelps
5
7-2-18
36"
1592
Robert Mot
6
10-1-17
39"
1619
Joseph Hatch
7
14-1-22
43"
1959
John Taylor & Co.
8
21-0-14
50"
1686
James Bartlett
1. ROBERT CATLIN FECIT J75J ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ RECAST BY
JOHN TAYLOR & Co.
LOUGHBOROUGH
19592. ROBERT CATLIN FECIT J75J ○ ○ ○ ○ 3. RICHARD PHELPS MADE ME 1709 (raised area of obliterated inscription) 4. RICHARD PHELPS MADE ME 1709 5.
Robertus + mot + me + fecit + 1592 6.
IOSEPHVS HATCH ME FECIT 1619 7. RICHARD BARNARD ○ EDWARD HOPE CHURCH WARDENS ○ ROBERT CATLIN FECIT J75J : : : ○ : ○○ : ○ : ○ : RECAST BY
JOHN TAYLOR & Co.
LOUGHBOROUGH
19598. THOMAS ROBBINS RICHARD CARTER CHVRCHVVARDENS IAMES BARTLET MADE ME 1686
The stamp on the tenor actually has Thomas Bartlet's name on it.
EARLIER BELLS |
Bell |
Weight |
Weight |
Diameter |
Cast |
Founder |
Comments |
Treble (of 8) |
6-0-24 |
29" | 1751 |
Robert Catlin |
Recast 1898 |
|
Treble (of 8) |
5-1-0 |
5-1-11 |
28⅜" | 1898 |
Gillett & Johnston (1656) |
Recast 1959 |
7th (of 8) |
|
13-2-26 |
42½" | 1751 |
Robert Catlin |
Recast 1959 |
| The 7th was reputed to weigh
18-2-4, although the source of this information is unknown and unlikely to be correct.
This was the subject of correspondence with Paul Taylor way back in 1953, the good folk at
Lenham writing: "I note with interest your estimate of the weight of the seventh bell i.e. 13 cwt, according to the records this bell is supposed to weigh 18 cwts 2 qrs 4 lbs. I give below the weights of the other bells as they may be useful" (8-0-24; 8-2-8; 10-2-10; 12-3-1; 14-2-8; 16-3-6; tenor 23-0-0). Paul Taylor replied: "Your recorded weights of the eight bells are a long way out I am sure. I should put their approximate weights as 5¼; 6; 6½; 7½; 8½; 10½; 13; 21½ cwts. With regard to the weight of the 7th bell, I can assure you that it is absolutely impossible for this bell to weigh anything like 18-cwts, and I am prepared to stand by my estimated weight of 13-cwts.-certainly it does not weigh more than 13½-cwts." When it was scrapped, it weighed 13-2-26 net! |
| 1. | ROBERT CATLIN FECIT J75J ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ |
| 1. | ROBERT CATLIN FECIT J75J ○ ○ ○ ○ |
| RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1898. | |
| 7. | RICHARD BARNARD Ã EDWARD HOPE CHURCH WARDENS Ã ROBERT CATLIN FECIT J75J : : : Ã : ÃÃ : Ã : Ã |
| The treble was a rare example of an old inscription reproduced by Gillett & Johnston (rather than repeated). This part was again reproduced facsimile by John Taylor & Co. in 1959. The waist inscription was not reproduced or repeated at the wish of the ringers and the express instructions of the late Mr Paul Taylor. |
HISTORY |
1592
Present 5th cast.
1685
Bells rehung.
1686
Tenor cast by James Bartlett.
1691
Bells rehung.
1709
The 2 trebles (of 6) were recast by Richard Phelps.
1751
5th (of 6) was recast and 2 trebles were added by Robert Catlin to make 8.
1898
Treble recast and bells rehung by Gillett & Johnston.
1959
Treble (again) and 7th recast by John Taylor. Bells rehung with new fittings and framework, including the 2 newly recast bells.
1960
Oct.
Bells rededicated by the Bishop of Dover. Soon afterwards the tenor headstock cracked and had to be replaced.
1996
Former ringing gallery reinstated.
