Leeds, St Nicholas
Photo: Dickon Love |
♫ Sound clip of the ring of bells.(c. 1979) |
Details of the Bells |
Bell | Weight (most recent) | Diameter | Note | Date | Founder | Canons | Retuned | ||
® | Treble | 4 cwt approx. | 26⅞" | G♯ | 1751 | Robert Catlin, Holborn | Conventional | Never | |
® | 2 | 4¾ cwt approx | 27⅜" | F♯ | 1751 | Robert Catlin, Holborn | Conventional | Never | |
® | 3 | 5¼ cwt approx | 28⅞" | E | 1751 | Robert Catlin, Holborn | Removed | Never | |
® | 4 | 5¾ cwt approx | 30⅛" | D♯ | 1751 | Robert Catlin, Holborn | Removed | Never | |
® | 5 | 6 cwt approx. | 31⅝" | C♯ | 1751 | Robert Catlin, Holborn | Removed | Never | |
® | 6 | 7¼ cwt approx | 34¹⁄₁₆" | B | 1751 | Robert Catlin, Holborn | Removed | Never | |
® | 7 | 6-3-26 | 35.5" | A | 1911 | Alfred Bowell, Ipswich | Never | ||
® | 8 | 10 cwt approx. | 38.5" | G♯ | 1638 | John Wilnar, Borden, Kent | Removed | Never | |
® | 9 | 12-1-0 | 42⅝" | F♯ | 1911 | Alfred Bowell, Ipswich | Never | ||
® | Tenor | 17½ cwt approx | 47¼" | E | 1617 | Joseph Hatch, Ulcombe, Kent | Removed | Never |
Bellframes |
Frame | Bells | Year | Maker | Material | Truss(es) | Local Layout | |||
1 | All bells | 1751 | Robert Catlin, Holborn | Timber |
Inscriptions |
Earlier bells |
Bell | Weight (most recent) | Diameter | Date | Founder | Retuned | Fate | |
7th | 6-3-26 | 36" | 1638 | John Wilnar | Never | Recast 1911 | |
9th | 12-1-0 | 39" | 1638 | John Wilnar | Never | Recast 1911 |
History |
c | 1000 | A small church was built by the Anglo-Saxons. | |
c | 1200 | The Normans added a tower and enlarged the church. | |
1540 | By this time the original church building had been enlarged further and the Anglo-Saxon parts rebuilt. The Leeds Abbey on the south side of the church had been dissolved and no-longer controlled the activities of the church. There may have been bels at this time, although no record is known to exist. | ||
1617 | A Great Bell weighing about one ton was cast by Joseph Hatch and hung in the tower. | ||
1638 | John Wilnar cast 3 lighter bells, making them four. | ||
1751 | A major restoration of the church took place. Henry Meredith of Leeds Abbey paid for a bell (the present 5th). The present 6th was paid for by Churchwardens Robert Hatch (maybe a relation of Joseph and William Hatch) and William Woollett. The lighter four bells were paid for by The Hon. Robert Fairfax of Leeds castle. The order was placed with Robert Catlin of Holborn who hung the bells in a new frame. At the same time a wooden spire was erected which stood until 1932 when it became unsafe. The celebrated "Leeds Youths" began ringing at the tower. | ||
1781 | The Leeds Youths rang a peal on 1st January following which a song called "Eulogium Campanalogicum" was published in the Kentish Gazette describing the band (sung to the tune of the Abbot of Canterbury). [3] | ||
1898 | Some bells were quarter turned and (unsatisfactorily) rehung. | ||
1911 | Alfred Bowell rehung the bells on new plain bearings. He also recast the 7th and 9th bells and cut the canons off the rest (except 1 and 2), fitting them on RSJ-type headstocks. The tenor was fitted with an independent clapper staple. Ellacombe apparatus was also fitted. | ||
1923 | Alfred Bowell supplied new gudgeons & rehung the tenor. [1] | ||
1933 | Alfred Bowell supplied some second hand handbells which appear to have been returned without payment. [2] | ||
1956 | Ringing resumed after prompt action against deathwatch beetle. | ||
1963 | The spire was replaced and the ringing room redecorated. Carelessness with the redecoration resulted in the loss of much of the interesting writing on wooden panelling around the walls by ringers of the 19th Century. | ||
c | 1985 | During the 1980s, the space below the ringing room was converted into a kitchen and meeting room. The Ellacombe Hammers were removed and an ugly heating system was installed in the ringing room. | |
2000 | The Ellacombe Hammers were cleaned with the intention of replacing them. |
[1] | To supplying new gudgeons & rehanging the tenor bell in Leeds church including expenses £14. Less station 3/10 Total £13-16-2. Paid cq. 11 June 1923. (Bowell record, 22 May 1923) |
[2] | 1933 March: To set of S.H. [second hand] handbells £3-5-0. [makred "returned"]. No payment received. 1938 7 Jan: To 10 new bell ropes as per cont. £11. net. Paid cq 11 Jan 1938. (Bowell records) |
[3] | EULOGIUM CAMPANALOGICUM. To the Tune of the Abbot of Canterbury, IN seventeen hundred and eighty and one, To begin the new year as the old one was gone, Eight sprightly young striplings were met in Leeds steeple, All ringers of fame, and I’ll tell you the people. Derry Down. These active Leeds youths, who accomplish’d this peal, Went to it like lions with hearts true as steel. In measure and time made the clappers to beat, Five thousand and forty bob majors compleat. Derry Down. The first, Harry Tilby the treble did ring. He sometimes says Amen, and sometimes does sing, He rang his bell well from the time he begun, And I'll tell you his age, it was eighty and one. Derry Down. The second, Dick Masters, his bell at command, And struck her so smart at ropes end and at hand, In his fifty-fifth year he most artists excels, In making of shoes and in ringing of bells. Derry Down. The third was young Barham, a very good striker, Than steady young Thomas none keeps his bell righter, For he rings her in time, both behind and before, His age fifty-eight and what would you have more. Derry Down. The fourth is called Abrah’m, a miller so jolly, With ringing delighted to drown melancholy, Sixty five is his age, and a Barham is he, And understands rightly Campanalogy. Derry Down. The fifth, Johnny Crispe, ever steady boys steady, To make one at any thing always is ready. His age fifty five, sweet in temper though slow, Agreeable always, he never says no. Derry Down. The sixth was John Freeland, no hater of wine, Basket making his trade, though his age sixty nine, He rings always well, though as deaf as a beetle. And is second to none of the youths in Leeds steeple. Derry Down. The seventh, a Barham of very great fame, A noted bob caller, and James is his name, His age fifty-five and he bobs them about, And keeps his bell right till the peal is rung out. Derry Down. The eighth was Tom Lacy, a sturdy young blade, And perfect in time the deep tenor he play’d, There’s none can excel him a tenor to ring, His age fifty-three; and so God save the King. Derry Down. Such a noble performance has never been done, Their ages four hundred and ninety and one. You’ll ne’er find their equals, I'd venture to tell, If you search the world round they will still bear the belle. Derry Down. (Kentish Gazette - Wednesday 31 January 1781) |
Articles
Gallery |
Peal Boards |
Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 19 March 2024 |
Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 19 March 2024 |
Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 19 March 2024 |
Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 19 March 2024 |
Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 19 March 2024 |
Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 19 March 2024 |
Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 19 March 2024 |
Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 19 March 2024 |
Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 19 March 2024 |
Elsewhere in the Parish |
Leeds, Castle, The Maiden's Tower Single bell hung for swing chiming but unringable |
Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent | Page updated: 1 April 2016 |