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Lympne
 

Lympne, St Stephen


Photo: Richard Offen, 2004

  • 8 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 11-2-4 in G.
  • Grid Ref: TR119346
  • Rung from: Upstairs Ringing Room
  • Frame: 1969 Whitechapel Bell Foundry, made of timber
  • 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

Details of the Bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)
Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Treble 4-1-1225⅜" G 2004 Whitechapel Bell Foundry Flat Never
® 2 4-2-826.25" F♯ 2004 Whitechapel Bell Foundry Flat Never
® 3 4-0-2126½" E 1951 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Flat 1969 Whitechapel
® 4 4-3-1629" D 1742 Robert Catlin, Holborn Removed 1969 Whitechapel
® 5 5-3-430½" C 1742 Robert Catlin, Holborn Removed 1969 Whitechapel
® 6 6-3-1133" B 1742 Robert Catlin, Holborn Removed 1969 Whitechapel
® 7 8-2-436" A 1744 Robert Catlin, Holborn Removed 1969 Whitechapel
® Tenor 11-2-439½" G 1742 Robert Catlin, Holborn Removed 1969 Whitechapel

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes

Position
Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
Single level 1 1,4,5,6,7,8 1969 Whitechapel Bell Foundry Iroko
6.A
6.1
Single level 1.1 2,3 2015 John Taylor & Co., Loughborough Steel
8.1.B.a
8.3

Inscriptions

History

1552 Record of 4 bells. [1]
1580 2 bells were acquired from Westhythe. Together with the existing bells, they were recast into a new ring of 5.
1742 -4 Bells recast by Robert Catlin.
1757 Record of 5 bells in the tower. [2]
1799 Record of 5 bells in the tower. [3]
1879 Dec. Major tower restoration completed.
1921 Bells reported as being unringable.
1928 The anticlockwise bell frame was lowered in the tower and strengthened. Bells rehung. Ringing room moved from upstairs to the ground floor.
1951 Bells rehung and treble added by Mears & Stainbank to make 6.
1969 Bells tuned and rehung clockwise in a new frame by Whitechapel. Ringing room moved back upstairs.
1970 4th Jan. Bells rededicated.
1976 Clappers overhauled.
2015 The ring of 6 was augmented with two trebles, originally cast for Seattle by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry but subsequently becoming surplus when that tower wanted a different (lighter) specification for its new ring. The bells were acquired through the Keltek Trust via John Taylor & Co. The inscriptions on the waists were turned off very neatly, so much so that you cannot see where they were. The fittings and additional steel frame were provided by Taylors and the hanging work was led by Brian Butcher, Tower Captain and Red Leader of the Kent County Association Bell Restoration Squad.
[1] First iiij bells in the stepell. (Edwardian Inventory, 1552)
[2] "This Church seems to have been larger; but, it consists at present only of The Chancell, Body, and Side Isle, to ye North. It has a Tower Steeple, which stands about The Middle of The Building, with 5 Bells; all made by Robert Catling, in ye Year 1742." (Rev’d Bryan Faussett, 1757)
[3] It is a fine antient building, of two isles and a high chancel, having a square tower, which stands in the middle of the south isle, and sparates it from the chancel. There are five bells in it. ('The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent. Vol 8', Edward Hasted)



Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent Page updated: 15 April 2020