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Lydd
 

Lydd, All Saints


  • 8 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 15-2-7 in G♭.
  • Grid Ref: TR042209
  • Complete ring cast at the same time
  • Rung from: Upstairs Ringing Room
  • Frame: 1925 Gillett & Johnson, made from teak
  • Denomination: Church of England
    Diocese (Anglican): Canterbury
    Archdeaconry (Anglican): Ashford
  • Kent County Association of Change Ringers District: Ashford
  • Building Listed Grade: I Click for Heritage details.
  • Peals rung at the tower

  • A recording of Stedman Triples on the bells.(Nicholas J Davies, May 1981)

Details of the Bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)
Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Treble 4-0-525½" G♭ 1925 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (1409) Flat Never
® 2 4-2-1826½" F 1925 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (1410) Flat Never
® 3 4-2-2127⅞" E♭ 1925 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (1411) Flat Never
® 4 5-1-1430" D♭ 1925 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (1412) Flat Never
® 5 7-1-033" C♭ 1925 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (1413) Flat Never
® 6 7-3-834⅜" B♭ 1925 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (1414) Flat Never
® 7 10-1-2538" A♭ 1925 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (1415) Flat Never
® Tenor 15-2-743" G♭ 1925 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (1416) Flat Never

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes

Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
1 All bells 1926 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon Teak
8

How the bells are tuned

Earlier ring of five

Bell Weight
(most recent)
DiameterNoteDateFounderRetunedFate
Treble5 cwt approx.30"C♯1608Joseph HatchNeverRecast 1925
2nd6 cwt approx.32"B1608Joseph HatchNeverRecast 1925
3rd7½ cwt approx.34½"A♯1608Joseph HatchNeverRecast 1925
4th9 cwt approx.38"G♯1607Joseph HatchNeverRecast 1925
Tenor14 cwt approx.43"F♯1693John HodsonNeverRecast 1925

History

1441 Accounts also show that a bell was cast in Lydd in 1441 (but there are no expenses for metal etc.) and that the number of bells at this time was 5 + a sanctus bell.
1442 -4 Tower partially rebuilt and heightened under the direction of Thomas Stanley, a mason who is believed to have worked under Thomas Mapylton. A bell hole of 72in was built into the vault. Is this evidence for a 60 cwt bell at some time?
1443 Arthur Finn’s 'Records of Lydd' (1911) records from the Chamberlain’s Account Book of 1443 - "Itm paid for boards for syntours (centres) for the vowte of the belfy, and for carpenters making it 13s 4d"
1521 Records show that a clock was in existance by this time.
1547 A set of chimes was installed.
1552 The Great Bell was taken down and sold to Partredge of Rye (a general merchant who provided lead for the church rood and gutters) for £25 10s - this price may give a clue to the size of the bell.
1607 4th (of 5) cast by Joseph Hatch.
1608 Treble, 2nd and 3rd (of 5) cast by Joseph Hatch.
1693 Tenor cast by John Hodson.
1799 Record of 5 bells in the tower. [1]
1925 The old bells were taken down and taken to Gillett & Johnston's in Croydon. Gillett & Johnston conducted a pitch test on the bells on 12th Oct. Bells recast into a ring of 8 by Gillett & Johnston and rehung in a new frame the following year.
[1] The church, which is exempted from the jurisdiction of the archdeacon, is dedicated to All Saints. It is a large handsome building, consisting of three isles and three chancels, having at the west end a well-built tower, with four pinnacles on it, of unequal size, with gilt vanes on them. There are five bells in it. ('The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent. Vol 8', Edward Hasted)

Articles

  • "Lydd Church Tower Restoration Appeal", CJC (The Ringing World) 3 October 1975
  • "New Year's Eve: A tale of Romney Marsh", Davies, Nicholas J (The Ringing World) 24 December 1993
  • Elsewhere in the Parish

    Lydd, Lydd Camp
    Single bell (plus possibly a clock bell)
    Lydd, School
    Formerly single bell, ½ cwt approx


    Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent Page updated: 1 April 2016