| |
|
|
Walmer, Blessed St Mary
|
|
Details of the Bells |
| Bell | Weight (most recent) | Diameter | Note | Date | Founder | Retuned | ||
| Single bell | 3½ cwt approx. | 25½" | 1635 | Joseph Hatch, Ulcombe, Kent | Never |
Inscriptions |
|
Prior to 1892 |
| Bell | Weight (most recent) | Diameter | Date | Founder | Fate | |
| 2 of 2 | 4 cwt approx. | 27" | Unknown | Recast in 1892 for St Mary's New Church |
History |
| 1120 | The first St Mary's church was built as the chapel to the adjoining Walmer Manor (now in ruins). The original Norman entrance door and chancel arch survive, along with two windows on the south side. | ||
| 1635 | Bell cast by Joseph Hatch. This is the surviving bell. | ||
| 1759 | Record of 2 bells in the tower. [1] | ||
| 1795 | Record of 2 bells in the tower. [2] | ||
| 1887 | A new parish church was built in Walmer and this church was restored . The Hatch bell was rehung in the new stone gable. Stahlschmidt reports 2 bells here, the Hatch bell and a slightly larger blank bell. | ||
| 1892 | The uninscribed bell was recast to be the 6th of the new ring at the new church. | ||
| 1970 | The Hatch bell was rehung with new fittings for swing chiming by Whitechapel (work done on site by Harry Parkes). |
| [1] | This Church is small, and consists only of the Chancell and the Body. In a little wooden Steeple, at ye West End, hang 2 Bells – 1 of them has no Inscription the other was founded by Joseph Hatch, 1635. (Rev’d Bryan Faussett, 1759) |
| [2] | The Church stands at the West side of it, consisting of one Aile and a chancel; and a small spire steeple at the West end, containing two Bells. Bells. 1st. (Blank). (Zachariah Cozens, 1795) |
| Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent | Page updated: 10 May 2020 |