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Ashford
 

Ashford, Ashford Railway Works


Photo: Mark Chittenden-Pile, June 2020

  • 1 bell hung for full circle ringing but currently unringable
  • Tenor: 3½ cwt approx. in G.
  • Grid Ref: TR015416
  • Rung from: Upstairs Ringing Room
  • Frame: Wooden lowside frame with corner posts.

Details of the Bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)
Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Single Bell 3½ cwt approx.24¾" G c. 1846 Charles & George Mears, Whitechapel Never

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Inscriptions

History

1846 Clock tower built for the original railway works. It contains a timber frame and a bell from C&G Mears. Whilst it has a stay, there is no sign of a slider ever being fitted.
1907 The present clock was supplied by Thwaites & Reade in the chamber below, set to strike the hours.
1974 The bell was inspected by David Cawley and Alan Berry. They noted that it was equipped with an elm headstock, strap gudgeons, plain bearings, traditional wheel, a stay fitted on the same side as the wheel, no slider or runnerboard and no evidence of there having ever been one. A carthorse rope was fitted to the garter hole in the wheel at 12 o'clock. The fittings were in 'elderly' condition. The bell had 6 canons, retains its cast-in staple, not tuned, never turned, and no cracks were visible. The frame was a low side timber frame with corner posts in a fair condition. The clock chime was not working. Nicholas Davies used to say that Charles Everett, of St Mary's Ashford, used to teach people to handle a bell there.



Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent Page updated: 27 June 2020