St Stephen's, Tonbridge

TONBRIDGE, St Stephen

tonbridge_st_stephen.jpg (43833 bytes)

	1 bell hung for ringing (hour bell) + 2 swing chiming bells (quarters)
	Tenor: 5 cwt approx. in F (-7)
	Grid Ref. TQ587457
	Tonbridge District
	Frame: 1852 Mears; 1879 Taylor
	Retuning: Never subsequently retuned
	Upstairs Ringing Room
	Ż Sound clips: Hour bell, 1st Quarter; 2nd Quarter (Recorded by Dickon Love, 28th Mar 2005)

DETAILS OF THE BELLS

Bell Weight Diameter Pitch Cast Founder

Qtr 1

1-3-0

18⁵/8"

B flat

1879

John Taylor & Co

Qtr 2

2-0-21

21³/8"

E flat

1879

John Taylor & Co

Hour Bell

5 cwt approx.

F

1852

Charles & George Mears

INSCRIPTIONS

Q1. J : TAYLOR & C^O FOUNDERS 1879.

Q2. J : TAYLOR & C^O FOUNDERS 1879.

H. C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON 1852

The underlining indicates two stops horizontally under the letter.

HISTORY

1852

Present tenor cast and hung for ringing.

1853

Parish created from Ss Peter & Paul, Tonbridge.

1879

2 smaller bells were cast and hung in their own frame for swing chiming with small metal wheels.

c.1932

The ringing bell was fitted with ball bearings.

2005

The belfry was inspected by Love, Cawley and Royalton-Kisch. The hour bell was quite ringable with a stay but the slider was broken. The course ships rope was replaced with a proper bell rope. The other 2 bells had ropes but no sallies & could be chimed.

PHOTOGRAPHS

The hour bell, hung for ringing.

The smaller quarter bell.

The larger quarter bell.

The two quarter bells.

The hour bell.

Here the bell is rung full circle (by Michael Royalton-Kisch). The old rope on the bell was subsequently changed for a proper bell rope. The ringing room is nice furnished with seats and sofas!

Bell	Weight	Diameter	Pitch	Cast	Founder
Qtr 1	1-3-0	18⁵/8"	B flat	1879	John Taylor & Co
Qtr 2	2-0-21	21³/8"	E flat	1879	John Taylor & Co
Hour Bell	5 cwt approx.		F	1852	Charles & George Mears

Q1.	J : TAYLOR & C^O FOUNDERS 1879.

Q2.	J : TAYLOR & C^O FOUNDERS 1879.

H.	C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON 1852

1852	Present tenor cast and hung for ringing.
1853	Parish created from Ss Peter & Paul, Tonbridge.
1879	2 smaller bells were cast and hung in their own frame for swing chiming with small metal wheels.
c.1932	The ringing bell was fitted with ball bearings.
2005	The belfry was inspected by Love, Cawley and Royalton-Kisch. The hour bell was quite ringable with a stay but the slider was broken. The course ships rope was replaced with a proper bell rope. The other 2 bells had ropes but no sallies & could be chimed.