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SPELDHURST, St Mary the Virgin

Photo DrL 13th Jul 2005
8 bells and Sanctus
Tenor 13-1-26 in F sharp
Grid Ref. TQ553414
Tonbridge District
Retuning: Gillett & Johnston 1933
Upstairs Ringing Room
PEALS
¯ SOUND CLIP
(I have lost the name of the person who donated this recording - for which I apologise. Given in 2004. 22.35s 482kB)

DETAILS OF THE BELLS
Bell Weight
(current)		 Weight
(prior to retuning)		 Diameter Pitch Cast Founder

1

4-2-19

4-2-24

 265/8"

F sharp

1887

Mears & Stainbank

2

4-2-20

4-3-11

 273/8"

E

1887

Mears & Stainbank

3

5-0-11

5-0-25

 291/2"

D sharp

1849

Charles & George Mears

4

6-1-16

6-0-3

 311/2"

C sharp

1849

Charles & George Mears

5

6-2-19

6-0-16

 331/2"

B

1849

Charles & George Mears

6

6-3-10

not retuned

 34"

A sharp

1849

Charles & George Mears

7

10-1-18

n/a

 38"

G sharp

1933

Gillett & Johnston (4778)

8

13-1-26

not retuned

 42"

F sharp

1849

Charles & George Mears

Sanctus

4-1-20

not retuned

253/4"

G sharp

1920

 Mears & Stainbank

INSCRIPTIONS
1. MEARS & STAINBANK, FOUNDERS LONDON
D 1887 D IN MEMORY OF SUSANNA & ELEANOR POWELL, DIED 1885
2. MEARS & STAINBANK, FOUNDERS LONDON
I CELEBRATE THE JUBILEE OF QUEEN VICTORIA 1837 TO 1887
3. C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON 1849
4. C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON 1849
5. C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON 1849
6. C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON 1849
7. GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON
CAST IN 1812 FROM THE METAL OF SIX BELLS MELTED IN THE FIRE OF 1791.

RECAST 1933.
8. C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON 1849
THE TIME IS SHORT WATCH AND PRAY ALWAYS
S.
MEARS & STAINBANK, FOUNDERS, LONDON. 1920 wc1951.jpg (2432 bytes)
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
E. W. WINTON.
Above the foundry mark on the Sanctus bell the words AD1570 AD1920 are wrapped around the top.

HISTORY

1791

Church set on fire by lightning, melting the 4 bells.

1812

A bell was cast from the metal of the melted bells byThomas Mears.

1849

5 bells were cast by Charles and George Mears forming bells 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 around the 1812 bell.

1871

New church completed by J. Oldrid Scott.

1887

2 trebles added by Mears & Stainbank to make 8.

1913

Bells rehung by Mears & Stainbank.

1920

Sanctus bell cast by Mears & Stainbank and hung for swing chiming in the intermediate chamber. It has often been said that this was intended to be the second of a future 10. Whilst the Editor hasn't pitched this bell, it is something that the local ringers deny.

1931

Bells rehung by Mears & Stainbank.

1933

7th recast by Gillett & Johnston.

1933

7th April

Bells dedicated.

c.1984

Bells 3 and 7 rehung by Whitechapel.

1986

Bells 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 rehung by Whitechapel.