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Milton Regis, Holy Trinity
 Photo: Dickon R Love, 23 Mar 2022
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Details of the Bells |
| Bell | Weight (most recent)* | (1681 Churchwarden accounts) | (Mears dispatched 1890) | (Bowell dispatched 1934) | Diameter | Note | Date | Founder | Canons | Retuned | ||
| ® | Treble | 3-2-19 | 24½" | G | 2019 | Westley Group, Cradley Heath | Flat | Never | ||||
| ® | 2 | 3-2-15 | 25⅜" | F# | 2019 | Westley Group, Cradley Heath | Flat | Never | ||||
| ® | 3 | 4-2-17 | 4-3-3 | 28" | E | 1934 | Alfred Bowell, Ipswich | Flat | 2019 Whites | |||
| ® | 4 | 4-2-7 | 4-3-25 | 4-2-16 | 29" | D | 1681 | James Bartlett, Whitechapel | Conventional | 1934 Bowell, 2019 Whites | ||
| ® | 5 | 5-0-22 | 5-2-19 | 5-1-25 | 30½" | C | 1681 | James Bartlett, Whitechapel | Conventional | 1934 Bowell, 2019 Whites | ||
| ® | 6 | 6-0-4 | 6-2-23 | 6-1-11 | 32½" | B | 1681 | James Bartlett, Whitechapel | Conventional | 1934 Bowell, 2019 Whites | ||
| ® | 7 | 7-3-17 | 8-1-25 | 8-0-19 | 36" | A | 1681 | James Bartlett, Whitechapel | Conventional | 1934 Bowell, 2019 Whites | ||
| ® | Tenor | 9-2-24 | 11-1-24 | 10-3-13 | 40" | G | 1890 | Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel | Doncaster | 1934 Bowell, 2019 Whites |
Bellframes |
| Position |
Frame | Bells | Year | Maker | Material | Truss(es) | Local Layout | |||
| Single level | 1 | 3,4,5,7,8 | Timber |
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5.2 |
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| Single level | 1.1 | 6 | Alfred Bowell, Ipswich | Timber |
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1 |
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| Single level | 1.2 | 1,2 | 2019 | Whites of Appleton | Steel | 2.X2 |
Inscriptions |
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Original ring of 4 |
| Bell | Date | Founder | Retuned | Fate | |
| 1 | Never | Recast 1681 | |||
| 2 | Never | Recast 1681 | |||
| 3 | Never | Recast 1681 | |||
| 4 | Never | Recast 1681 |
1681 tenor |
| Bell | Weight (most recent)* | Date | Founder | Retuned | Fate | |
| Tenor (of 5) | 12-0-15 | 1681 | James Bartlett | Never | Cracked, so recast in 1890. |
History |
| 1681 | A ring of 5 was cast by James Bartlett from an earlier ring of 4 bells which together weighed 37-1-5. As the frame is mediaeval (i.e. earlier than this date) and is for 5 bells, there may have been, at some stage, 5 bells. The new 5 bells were reported to have been cast on 5 Nov and were hung in the old frame by William Broomfield. [1] | ||
| 1882 | The East Kent Gazette visited the church and reported on the sorry state of the belfry, noting the cracked tenor and all the rubbish in the tower. [2] | ||
| 1887 | Tenor reported by Stahlschmidt to be cracked. | ||
| 1889 | The tower was surveyed by Dr F Grayling, who having already raised funds to replace the cracked bell, put forward to two plans to rehang the bells either in the existing frame or in a new frame for six bells lower down. A committee was formed to investigate the options. [3] | ||
| 1890 | Tenor recast by Mears & Stainbank. | ||
| 1934 | Peal rehung, tenor recast and a treble was added to make 6, being the gift of J. Dixon, Esq. [4] | ||
| 2019 | The bells were augmented to 8 with the addition of 2 trebles cast by the Westley Group. They were hung in additional framework by Whites of Appleton and dedicated on Sunday 25 August. |
| [1] | The fifth day of November 1681. The five new bells now belonging to Milton Church was at then new cast: and their weights are as followeth. The littell bell 04=03=25, 2 bell 05=0½=19, 3 bell 06=0½=23, 4 bell 08=0¼=25, 5 bell 12=00=15 [Total] 37=3=23. The waite of the 4 old bells was 37=¼=05. Addition of 00=½=18 new mettoll. For weighing and wharfage for the old Bells 1-6-00. Expended when the old Bells were gone to London 00-1-6. Expended when the new Bells were brought home 00-1-6. Expended at several times near the Bellfounders 00-15-00. The Bellfounders for new raising [?casting] the Bells 41-00-00. Wm Broomfield as by his bill 24-00-00. (Churchwarden's Accounts) |
| [2] | A VISIT TO MILTON CHURCH ... Not the least interesting is the interior of the tower, divided by an incongruous singing [sic] loft, and a screen of a character which must be seen to be appreciated, being in fact a piece of theatrical scenery. Having entered we find that this place is appropriated to the most base purposes - rubbish, building material: in fact so bad is everything here that we are led to believe this is no portion of the consecrated enclosure. Making now an ascent to the upper chambers, which are alike in size and height, and full of rubbish, and from which we gain, by small openings, views of the grand interior, the bell chamber is at length reached. But a few years ago here was a most musical ring of five bells: by some circumstances, which were at the time reported in this journal the tenor became cracked, and has been allowed to remain, instead of at once being sent to a foundry where interest would have been allowed for the metal, which by this time would have covered more than the price of a new bell, or been available for other purposes. The summit is in good condition, far better than many about, the lead being bolted together with iron nuts. (East Kent Gazette - Sat 14 Oct 1882) |
| [3] | MILTON CHURCH BELLS.- A meeting was held at the George Inn on Thursday, the 17th instant, to consider the best means of raising the necessary funds for strengthening the frame and re-hanging the bells in the parish church of Milton. The Vicar, Rev. R. Payne Smith presided, and among those present were Rev. F. A. Dale, Dr. F. Grayling, Messrs. W. Hyder, C. Pillow, J. S. Budds, W. Parham, G. Jordan, J. H. Tonge, J. Videan, W. Iggulden, W. H. Willson, T. Goord, J. Knowles, H. Felton, and T. Pike. The Chairman, having explained that Dr. Grayling had raised sufficient funds to take down and re-cast the cracked tenor bell, and that the work had already been commenced under the sanction of the Building Committee, pointed out that it seemed advisable to have a distinct committee appointed to carry out the work of re-hanging the peal. Mr. Hyder then read the resolution of the Building Committee concening the present meeting. Dr. F. Grayling, who illustrated his remarks by a sketch plan of the tower and photographs, gave a long and interesting account of the condition of the bells and fittings. He stated that the bells had never been re-hung since the time they were first placed in the the tower, that the fittings and working parts were greatly worn, and the bells much dished by the clappers continually striking in the same position, and that it was urgently necessary to quarter turn them. He then explained what work he considered to be desirable, and pointed out that two schemes were possible; first, to rehang the bells in the existing frame, the cost of which was roughly estimated at £28/10/0; and secondly, to erect a new frame for six bells and rehang the present five in the lower portion of the bell chamber, at an estimated cost of £85. He drew the attention of the meeting to the actual state of the tower, pointing out that the timbers of the existing bell frame supported the lead covered roof, and giving his opinion that the life and movement caused by ringing the bells were the chief factor in the crack in the tower wall. He explained that the frame was now above the buttresses of the tower, and strongly urged that, to prevent any further risk of damage, the bells should be re-hung on the lower level, which would receive the support of the buttresses and additional thickness of the lower walls. He also stated that if the second scheme were carried out it would greatly increase the sound given by the bells. After some discussion the following committee was appointed to inspect the tower and bells, to receive a more detailed estimate, and to raise the necessary funds for carrying out the work, viz., the Vicar, Rev. F. A. Dale, and Messrs. C. Pillow, W. Hyder, J. H. Tonge, W. Parham, J. S. Budds, G. Jordan, Dr. F. Grayling, T. Pike, W. H. Willson, T. Goord, and W. Iggulden. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Dr. Grayling for his very clearly detailed statement, and the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman. (East Kent Gazette - Sat 26 Oct 1889) |
| [4] | To rehanging the five bells £95. Carriage & tuning same £10. To new treble bell £55. Cleaning & treating bell frame £5. To five new bell ropes £5. Total £170. Paid cq. On a/c £100 27 Aug 1934. cq £70 19 Nov 1934. (Bowell records, 1 Sept 1934) |
Gallery |
The belfry. Photo: Bryn Clinch, 2013 |
Photo: Bryn Clinch, 2013 |
Photo: Bryn Clinch, 2013 |
Peal Boards |
Photo: Christopher Trafford, 15 August 2017 |
Photo: Christopher Trafford, 15 August 2017 |
Elsewhere in the Parish |
| Milton Regis, Market House Formerly single bell |
| Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent | Page updated: 23 March 2022 |
