St Philip's, Maidstone

MAIDSTONE, St Philip

Photo DrL 25th Jan 2007

	1 bell
	Tenor: 8-2-17 in B (1007Hz)
	Grid Ref.: TQ764550
	Maidstone District
	Frame: 1878 for 3 bells with present bell in frame on tier above.
	Never subsequently retuned
	Hung dead with rope attached to clapper.
	Ż Sound clip (Recorded by Dickon Love, 25th Jan 2007)

DETAILS OF THE BELL

Bell Weight Diameter Pitch Cast Founder

1

8-2-17

35ž"

B

1878

Gillett & Bland

INSCRIPTION

1.	GILLETT & BLAND OF CROYDON LONDON 1878

FORMER BELLS

Bell	Weight	Diameter	Cast	Founder	Fate
1	1-2-11	19"	1858	Charles & George Mears	Scrapped 1879
2	2-3-12	23"	1858	Charles & George Mears	Scrapped 1879

HISTORY

1858		2 bells cast at Whitechapel and supplied to the church, which itself was built at this time, albeit without the present tower.
1878		Tower and spire added to the church. A frame for 3 bells was installed. A bell was cast by Gillett & Bland (22nd July) and dispatched 12th Dec. This bell was hung in a frame sitting on the 3 bell frame.
1879	29th Sept	The Gillett records suggest that 2 more bells were cast and then returned to the foundry and subsequently sent to Rosario. The foundry received the two 1858 bells.
1887		Stahlschmidt noted one bell in the tower.
2007		Belfry inspected by Dickon Love and Graham Heath who found the bell hung dead in its own frame sitting on a frame for 3 bells, never occupied. The bell was used to strike the hours.

PHOTOGRAPHS


The Gillett bell hanging dead in its own frame.

Photo DrL 25th Jan 2007

The frame sits on a frame for 3 bells side by side of pit widths 32", 28˝", 34˝".
The last two of these can be seen above.

Photo DrL 25th Jan 2007

The 32" pit.