THE OLDEST 100 RINGING BELLS IN KENT |
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| This is a list of the oldest 100 bells in Kent that are still ringable. In most cases, the date is inscribed on the bell, however in others, the date has to be inferred, either from the founder's name, the markings on the bell, or on other records. In such cases, the date is likely to be approximate. |
| RANK | DATE | TOWER | Bell | Present Weight |
Cast | Retuned |
| 1 | 1325 |
CANTERBURY, St Dunstan |
5 |
10-1-22 |
William de Belyetere |
1936 M & S |
| 2 | 1335 |
BETHERSDEN, St Margaret |
4 |
10 cwt approx. |
Peter de Weston |
Never |
1347 - 1349 |
CHALK, St Mary |
5 |
4-3-9 |
Thomas de Weston |
1998 Whitechapel | |
1371-1392 |
BURMARSH, All Saints |
4 |
6-2-20 |
William Burford |
Never | |
1360-80 |
WESTGATE ON SEA, St Saviour |
5 |
8-2-2 |
Stephen Norton |
1975 Whitechapel | |
1385-1418 |
DOWNE, St Mary the Virgin |
4 |
8-2-20 |
William Dawe |
1903 Taylor | |
1385-1418 |
OTHAM, St Nicholas |
2 |
6 cwt approx. |
William Dawe |
Never | |
1392-1418 |
COWDEN, St Mary Magdalene |
4 |
5-0-6 |
Robert Burford |
2000 Whitechapel | |
1392-1418 |
HARTLIP, St Michael A.A. |
5 |
10 cwt approx. |
Robert Burford |
Never | |
1371-1392 |
RODMERSHAM, St Nicholas |
4 |
6½ cwt approx |
William Burford |
Never | |
1371-1392 |
BURMARSH, All Saints |
3 |
5-1-0 |
William Burford |
Never | |
1385-1418 |
DOWNE, St Mary the Virgin |
3 |
6-1-26 |
William Dawe |
1903 Taylor | |
| c.1400 | NEWINGTON, St Mary the Virgin | 3 | 6-1-12 | Unknown | 1970 Taylor | |
Early 15th Cent. |
STOWTING, St Mary the Virgin |
4 |
3 cwt approx. |
William Powdrell |
Never | |
1418-1440 |
IGHTHAM, St Peter |
4 |
5-1-0 |
John Walgrave |
1926 Taylor | |
1418-1440 |
IGHTHAM, St Peter |
3 |
4-0-6 |
John Walgrave |
1926 Taylor | |
1418-1440 |
STANSTED, St Mary |
4 |
3-3-3 |
John Walgrave |
1992 Whitechapel | |
c. 1440 |
EYTHORNE, Ss Peter & Paul |
4 |
6¾ cwt approx |
William Chamberlain |
Never | |
c. 1440 |
EYTHORNE, Ss Peter & Paul |
5 |
8 cwt approx. |
William Chamberlain |
Never | |
c. 1440 |
BROOKLAND, St Augustine |
5 |
7-3-25 |
William Chamberlain |
1973 Whitechapel | |
c. 1440 |
BEARSTED, Holy Cross |
2 |
5½ cwt approx |
William Chamberlain |
Never | |
c. 1440 |
BARMING, St Margaret |
3 |
4-2-10 |
William Chamberlain |
Never | |
1460 - 1485 |
PENSHURST, St John the Baptist |
5 |
8½ cwt approx. |
John Kebyll |
Never | |
Mid 15th Cent. |
STONE IN OXNEY, St Mary V |
3 |
5¾ cwt approx |
John Danyell |
Never | |
15th Cent |
BROOMFIELD, St Margaret |
1 |
3½ cwt approx. |
Unknown |
Never | |
Late 15th Cent. |
CUDHAM, Ss Peter & Paul |
8 |
4-2-15 |
Thomas Bullisdon |
1890 Taylor | |
15th Cent |
CANTERBURY, Centre |
5 |
5¼ cwt approx |
Unknown |
Never | |
| 28 | 1511 |
DOWNE, St Mary the Virgin |
6 |
10-0-1 |
John Tonne |
1903 Taylor |
1538 - 1561 |
MINSTER IN THANET, St Mary |
4 |
12 cwt approx. |
William Oldfield |
Never | |
Mid 16th Cent. |
UPCHURCH, St Mary the Virgin |
4 |
7-2-0 |
John Harding |
1925 Bowell | |
Mid 16th Cent. |
KENNINGTON, St Mary |
5 |
9-1-16 |
William Oldfield |
1971 Whitechapel | |
Mid 16th Cent. |
LOOSE, All Saints |
1 |
5½ cwt approx |
John Harding |
Never | |
| 33 | 1578 |
HARTLIP, St Michael & All Angels |
2 |
5½ cwt approx |
Unknown |
Never |
| 34 | 1579 |
BREDGAR, St John the Baptist |
5 |
7-1-22 |
Robert Mot |
1967 M & S |
| 35 | 1582 |
RAINHAM, St Margaret |
8 |
18-0-20 |
Robert Mot |
1912 Taylor |
| 36 | 1584 |
COWDEN, St Mary Magdalene |
5 |
6-1-17 |
Sussex Itinerant |
2000 Whitechapel |
| 37 | 1588 |
HOO ST WERBURGH, St Werb. |
5 |
7-1-2 |
Giles Reve |
1995 Whitechapel |
| 38 | 1589 |
SNODLAND, All Saints |
4 |
5-3-4 |
Giles Reve |
1990 Whitechapel |
| 39 | 1590 |
BEARSTED, Holy Cross |
4 |
7½ cwt approx |
Robert Mot |
Never |
| 40 | 1591 |
ORLESTONE, St Mary the Virgin |
3 |
4¼ cwt approx. |
John Cole |
Never |
| 41 | 1592 |
BOUGHTON MONCHELSEA, St P. |
3 |
5-3-15 |
Giles Reve |
1992 Whitechapel |
1592 |
LENHAM, St Mary |
5 |
7-2-18 |
Robert Mot |
1959 Taylor | |
| 43 | 1597 |
LITTLEBOURNE, St Vincent |
5 |
8 cwt approx. |
Robert Mot |
Never |
| 44 | 1599 |
BIDDENDEN, All Saints |
4 |
9 cwt approx. |
Robert Mot |
Never |
| 45 | 1600 |
LYNSTED, Ss Peter & Paul |
5 |
10-2-25 |
Robert Mot |
1952 M & S |
| 46 | 1601 |
RAINHAM, St Margaret |
4 |
6-1-18 |
Robert Mot |
1912 Taylor |
1601 |
RAINHAM, St Margaret |
5 |
8-0-14 |
Robert Mot |
1912 Taylor | |
| 48 | 1602 |
KENNINGTON, St Mary |
6 |
10-2-25 |
Robert Mot |
1971 Whitechapel |
1602 |
EGERTON, St James |
3 |
5½ cwt approx |
Joseph Hatch |
Never | |
1602 |
EGERTON, St James |
6 |
10 cwt approx. |
Joseph Hatch |
Never | |
1602 |
KENNINGTON, St Mary |
3 |
6-0-15 |
Robert Mot |
1971 Whitechapel | |
1602 |
WALTHAM, St Bartholomew |
5 |
6-3-6 |
Joseph Hatch |
Never | |
| 53 | 1603 |
LOOSE, All Saints |
2 |
7 cwt approx. |
Joseph Hatch |
Never |
| 54 | 1605 |
BRABOURNE, St Mary B. Virgin |
6 |
11-2-15 |
Joseph Hatch |
1966 M & S |
1605 |
CANTERBURY, St Dunstan |
4 |
7-0-16 |
Joseph Hatch |
1936 M & S | |
1605 |
CHARTHAM, St Mary |
2 |
5-0-24 |
Joseph Hatch |
1923 M & S | |
1605 |
CHARTHAM, St Mary |
3 |
6-0-19 |
Joseph Hatch |
1923 M & S | |
1605 |
CHARTHAM, St Mary |
4 |
8-2-8 |
Joseph Hatch |
1923 M & S | |
1605 |
CHARTHAM, St Mary |
5 |
10-1-23 |
Joseph Hatch |
1923 M & S | |
1605 |
CHARTHAM, St Mary |
6 |
13-1-25 |
Joseph Hatch |
1923 M & S | |
1605 |
EASTCHURCH, All Saints |
5 |
8 cwt approx. |
Joseph Hatch |
Never | |
1605 |
STAPLEHURST, All Saints |
9 |
13-3-19 |
Joseph Hatch |
1996 Whitechapel | |
1605 |
WILLESBOROUGH, St Mary V. |
3 |
8 cwt approx. |
Joseph Hatch |
Never | |
1605 |
WILLESBOROUGH, St Mary V. |
4 |
7 cwt approx. |
Joseph Hatch |
Never | |
| 65 | 1606 |
BEARSTED, Holy Cross |
5 |
9 cwt approx. |
Joseph Hatch |
Never |
| 66 | 1607 |
SANDHURST, St Nicholas |
2 |
5-3-13 |
Joseph Hatch |
1962 Taylor |
1607 |
SANDHURST, St Nicholas |
3 |
6-3-4 |
Joseph Hatch |
1962 Taylor | |
| 68 | 1608 |
WESTGATE ON SEA, St Saviour |
3 |
4-2-6 |
Joseph Hatch |
1975 Whitechapel |
1608 |
WESTGATE ON SEA, St Saviour |
6 |
9-3-16 |
Joseph Hatch |
1975 Whitechapel | |
1608 |
WOODCHURCH, All Saints |
2 |
6¾ cwt approx. |
Joseph Hatch |
Never | |
1608 |
WOODCHURCH, All Saints |
3 |
8 cwt approx. |
Joseph Hatch |
Never | |
1608 |
WOODCHURCH, All Saints |
4 |
10 cwt approx. |
Joseph Hatch |
Never | |
| 73 | 1609 | EASTRY, St Mary the B. Virgin | 2 | 8½ cwt approx. | John Clarke | Never |
| 1609 | HIGH HALDEN, St Mary V. | 4 | 8-1-7 | Joseph Hatch | 1913 Bowell | |
| 1609 | HIGH HALDEN, St Mary V. | 5 | 9-2-7 | Joseph Hatch | 1913 Bowell | |
| 1609 | WITTERSHAM, St John Bapt | 4 | 7-1-19 | Joseph Carter II | 1967 Taylor | |
| 1609 | WITTERSHAM, St John Bapt | 5 | 9-1-2 | Joseph Carter II | 1967 Taylor | |
| 1609 | WITTERSHAM, St John Bapt | 6 | 11-1-27 | Joseph Carter II | 1967 Taylor | |
| 79 | 1610 | BRENCHLEY, All Saints | 5 | 8-1-6 | Joseph Hatch | 1924 Taylor |
| 1610 | BRENCHLEY, All Saints | 7 | 13-3-9 | Joseph Hatch | 1924 Taylor | |
| 1610 | BRENCHLEY, All Saints | 8 | 17-3-24 | Joseph Hatch | 1924 Taylor | |
| 1610 | EAST FARLEIGH, Parish Church | 7 | 6 cwt approx. | Joseph Hatch | Never | |
| 1610 | HIGH HALDEN, St Mary V. | 3 | 6-1-4 | Joseph Hatch | 1913 Bowell | |
| 1610 | LITTLEBOURNE, St Vincent | 4 | 6¼ cwt approx. |
Joseph Hatch | Never | |
| 85 | 1612 | MERSHAM, St John the Baptist | 4 | 4-2-10 | Joseph Hatch | 1967 M & S |
| 1612 | MERSHAM, St John the Baptist | 5 | 5-3-20 | Joseph Hatch | 1967 M & S | |
| 1612 | MERSHAM, St John the Baptist | 6 | 7-2-1 | Joseph Hatch | 1967 M & S | |
| 1612 | MERSHAM, St John the Baptist | 7 | 9-2-22 | Joseph Hatch | 1967 M & S | |
| 1612 | MERSHAM, St John the Baptist | 8 | 12-3-18 | Joseph Hatch | 1967 M & S | |
| 90 | 1614 | BOUGHTON MONCHELSEA, St P. | 5 | Joseph Hatch | 1992 Whitechapel | |
| 91 | 1615 | MONKTON, St Mary Magdalene | 3 | 5-0-3 | Joseph Hatch | 1911 Taylor |
| 1615 | ST NICHOLAS AT WADE, St N. | 3 | 10 cwt approx. | Joseph Hatch | Never | |
| 1615 | ST NICHOLAS AT WADE, St N. | 5 | 15 cwt approx. | Joseph Hatch | Never | |
| 1615 | WESTGATE ON SEA, St Saviour | 4 | 5-1-27 | Joseph Hatch | 1975 Whitechapel | |
| 95 | 1616 | CANTERBURY, Centre | 6 | 7½ cwt approx | Joseph Hatch | Never |
| 96 | 1617 | HAWKHURST, St Laurence | 6 | 11-1-10 | Joseph Hatch | 1904 M & S |
| 1617 | LEEDS, St Nicholas | 10 | 17½ cwt approx | Joseph Hatch | Never | |
| 98 | 1618 | RAINHAM, St Margaret | 6 | 11-3-0 | Joseph Hatch | 1912 Taylor |
| 99 | 1619 | LENHAM, St Mary | 6 | 10-1-17 | Joseph Hatch | 1959 Taylor |
| 1619 | PENSHURST, St John the Baptist | 8 | 17-2-11 | Joseph Hatch | Never | |
| 1619 | SUNDRIDGE, St Mary | 5 | 9-3-8 | Thomas Bartlett | 2005 Whitechapel |
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This tower has the oldest complete surviving ring (at the time) of 5 bells, all dated 1605, by Joseph Hatch. |
