6 bells + a Service Bell Tenor 12-1-6 in F sharp Grid Ref. TR333580 Canterbury District Frame: 1920s iron by Mears & Stainbank Retuning: Never subsequently retuned Upstairs Ringing Room PEALS

Bell	Weight	Diameter	Cast	Founder
1	5-0-21	29"	1819	Thomas Mears II
2	6-0-2	31.3"	1819	Thomas Mears II
3	6-1-8	32.8"	1819	Thomas Mears II
4	7-1-13	35"	1805	Thomas Mears I
5	8-2-10	37.3"	1805	Thomas Mears I
6	12-1-6	41.8"	1819	Thomas Mears II
Service Bell	6 cwt approx.	32"	1672	John Hodson

1.	T. MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1819
2.	T. MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1819
3.	T. MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1819
4.	THOMAS MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1805 (Whitechapel border; 40 diamonds)
5.	JOHN OLDROYD THOS THORNTON : THIS PEAL WERE CAST 1805
	WM COUGIEL, RICHD CASTLE OF LEPTON JOHN WILD, THOS ARMITAGE OF WHITLEY CH WARDENS OF KIRKHEATON:
	THOMAS MEARS & SON OF LONDON FECIT.
6.	JOHN STEAD JOHN STANCLIFFE C: H WARDENS OF KIRKHEATON
	(4 arabesques) RICHARD BEAUMONT, JOSEPH STOCKS DO. WHITLEY UPPER * * * * JAMES HOLDSWORTH JOHN LEE DO.
	T. MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1819.
S.	☼ IOHN ☼ HODSON ☼ MADE ☼ ME ☼ 1672 IOHN ☼ WHEELER   ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡
	ISAAC ☼ PEARCE ☼ CHVRCH ☼ WARDENS CHRISTOPHER ☼ HODSON

EARLY BELLS

Bell	Weight	Cast	Founder	Fate
2nd (of 5)		1672	John Hodson	Removed 1865.
3rd (of 5)		1672	John Hodson	Removed 1865.
4th (of 5)		1672	John Hodson	Removed 1865.
5th (of 5)	18cwt approx.	1672	John Hodson	Removed 1865.

1508		Benett Webbyx bequeathed to the reparation of the bells of St Clements vjs. viijd. ("Testamenta Vetusta")
1664		Lead clad timber spire removed from the tower and replaced with a timber balustrade and "onion" cupola.
1672		The bells in the tower were replaced with a new ring of 5 by John Hodson (tenor 18 cwt).
1760		Rev'd Bryan Faussett wrote: This Church consists of the Great, North and South Chancells. The Body, and 2 Side Isles. The Tower, which is adorned with Pillasters and round Arches, stands in the Middle of The Church, between the Chancell and the Body. In it hang 5 Bells, all made by John Hodson 1675. [sic]
1800		Edward Hasted wrote: There are five bells, not very tuneable, and consequently of little use, but to hasten the downfall of this venerable steeple in which they hang. They were cast in 1672.
1805		Two bells were cast by Thomas Mears I for St John the Baptist, Kirkheaton, West Yorkshire.
1819		Four more bells cast by Thomas Mears II for Kirkheaton church.
1865		Tower declared unsafe and parapet and cupola were removed. The 4 largest bells were removed from the tower.
1866		The four bells were sold and the remaining treble rehung as a single bell, hung for ringing. (When it was rehung in 1981, the bearings set in the main beams, a slider runner-board and a well-worn pulley were discovered in place beneath.)
1888		A set of 8 tubular bells were made by Harrington, Latham& Co. of Coventry.
c.1900		The 1672 bell was rehung dead with a massive Ellacombe hammer.
1981		The tubular bells and the 1672 bell were again rehung, the latter with new and safer stationary fittings from Whitechapel.
1988		8 bells originally cast for St Margaret, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex (cast 1966 albeit with 2 bells replaced; the tower was never built) were purchased from Taylor's & hung at Kirkheaton. The CCCBR Bell Rescue Fund purchased the old 6, fittings & frame.
1989	July	The Kirkheaton bells were purchased from the CCCBR by the Parish of Sandwich and delivered to the church. The fittings were subsequently overhauled at Whitechapel.
1990		The ex-Kirkheaton frame was erected on a new foundation and the bells hung by the KCACR. The old Sandwich treble was hung stationary higher in the tower and the tubular bells disposed of.
1990	20th May	The bells were dedicated by the Bishop of Dover in the presence of H.M. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (Warden of the Cinques Ports).