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Benenden
 

Benenden, St George


Photo: Dickon Love, Mar 2014

Details of the Bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)

(As supplied)
Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Treble 4-3-2425" B♭ 2003 John Taylor & Co., Loughborough Flat Never
® 2 4-3-1626" A♭ 2003 John Taylor & Co., Loughborough Flat Never
® 3 5-0-1826.5" G 2003 John Taylor & Co., Loughborough Flat Never
® 4 4-3-1027½" F 2003 John Taylor & Co., Loughborough Flat Never
® 5 5-1-2329" E♭ 1971 John Taylor & Co., Loughborough Flat Never
® 6 5-3-030¾" D 1802 Thomas Mears I, Whitechapel Removed 1971 John Taylor & Co
® 7 6-2-633" C 1802 Thomas Mears I, Whitechapel Removed 1971 John Taylor & Co
® 8 7-3-238-1-2434½" B♭ 1882 John Taylor & Co., Loughborough Removed 1971 John Taylor & Co
® 9 8-0-1136½" A♭ 1819 Thomas Mears II Removed 1971 John Taylor & Co
® 10 10-1-2311-0-040" G 1923 Alfred Bowell, Ipswich Flat 1971 John Taylor & Co
® 11 13-2-1943½" F 1719 Richard Phelps, Whitechapel Removed 1971 John Taylor & Co
® Tenor 18-0-2448¾" E♭ 1753 Lester & Pack, Whitechapel Removed 1971 John Taylor & Co
® Flat 6th 6-0-230½" D♭ 2004 John Taylor & Co., Loughborough Never

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes

Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
1 All bells 1971 John Taylor & Co., Loughborough Cast iron
8.3.A.h

Inscriptions

The ring of Six provided in 1719

Bell DateFounderRetunedFate
Treble (of 6)1719Richard PhelpsNeverRecast 1802
2 (of 6)1719Richard PhelpsNeverRecast 1764
3 (of 6)1719Richard PhelpsNeverRecast 1819
4 (of 6)1719Richard PhelpsNeverRecast 1923
5 (of 6)1719Richard PhelpsNeverStill there
Tenor (of 6)1719Richard PhelpsNeverRecast 1753

Subsequent recasts

Bell Weight
(most recent)
DiameterDateFounderRetunedFate
2nd (of 6)1764Lester & PackNeverRecast 1882
Treble (of 8)5-3-1529½"1802Thomas Mears INeverRecast 1971

History

1418 John, Bishop of Sora, was instructed to consecrate 4 bells, hung in a detached timber tower, similar to that at Brookland, though stated to be 132 ft high!
c 1550 Around this time there were 5 bells, tenor 27 cwt.
1678 The tower and bells were completely destroyed, and the church gutted, by a fire caused by a lightning strike. The bell metal was sold to finance the repair.
1718 Present tower built.
1719 New ring of 6 cast by Richard Phelps.
1753 Tenor (of 6) recast by Lester & Pack.
1764 2nd (of 6) recast.
1802 Treble (of 6) recast and 2 trebles added to make 8 by Thomas Mears in a new frame.
1819 5th recast by Thomas Mears.
1882 4th recast by John Taylor.
1923 6th recast and bells rehung by Alfred Bowell on girder headstocks and tie-rodded the frame. [1]
1924 7th rehung by Alfred Bowell. [2]
1939 Bowell invoiced for further work and the supply of handbells. [3]
1971 Treble recast, bells retuned and rehung in a new frame by John Taylor. Bells rededicated on 1 May.
1994 Sound control installed
2003 The addition of 4 Taylor trebles by Hayward Mills Associates augments the ring to 12. The try out took place on 20th Nov. and the dedication on 21st Dec. The new 12 were first rung on 10th November and dedicated on 21st December.
2004 A flat 6th was donated in memory of Mrs Irene Hopwood Smith. It was cast by John Taylor & Co.
2005 Local ringers lowered the existing 6th and its framework enough to allow new framework for the flat 6th to be installed. The new bell was hung by Haywood Mills Associates.
[1] 1923 14th Nov. To recasting the 6th bell and rehanging the peal of eight bells £20. Paid cq. on a/c £160 23rd Nov. 1923. £40 cq. 5th Jan. 1924. (Bowell records, 1923)
[2] 1924 19th May: To lowering the 7th bell into position and refixing the clapper in same. Three mens' time & expenses £2. Paid cq. 6th June 1932. (Bowell records)
[3] 1939 31st May: To repairs to 12 handbells £2-17-6. Paid cq. 7th June 1939. (Bowell records)

Articles

  • "Renewal of Kent Eight", Author unknown (The Ringing World) 24 December 1971
  • "Benenden and Beer", Lebon, J R N (The Ringing World) 13 June 2003
  • "12,000 Bottles Later ... Benenden are now 12", Love, Dickon R (The Ringing World) 12 March 2004
  • "And 12,000 Bottles Later …", Love, Dickon R (The Ringing World and Lovesguide) 1 December 2003
  • The Belfry


    The 4th.
    Photo: Dickon Love, 2003

    Tenor in the foreground.
    Photo: Dickon Love, 2003

    The four new trebles (treble at the back counting down to the 4th at the front).
    Photo: Dickon Love, 2003

    Rod Lebon (Tower Captain and inspiration behind the augmentation) standing beside the 4th.
    Photo: Dickon Love, 2003

    Bells 5, 6 and 7 along the east wall
    Photo: Dickon Love, 2003

    South west corner of the belfry.
    Photo: Dickon Love, 2003

    Wider view of the belfry.
    Photo: Dickon Love, 2014

    Wider view of the belfry.
    Photo: Dickon Love, 2014

    The Ringing Room


    The ringing room is next to the west window…
    Photo: Dickon Love, 2014

    ... and has a gallery overlooking the church.
    Photo: Dickon Love, 2014

    Peal Boards

    Knitted Performance Board dated approx. 1908
    12 Dec 1908: 5040 Grandsire Triples (Birthday: William Lambert)

    Photo: Dickon R Love, 17 August 2018

    Timber Performance Board dated 2004
    21 Dec 2003: 5007 Stedman Cinques (1st peal on the 12 bells)

    Photo: Dickon R Love, 17 August 2018

    Timber Performance Board dated 2004
    02 Aug 2003: 5024 Spliced S Major (8) (Wedding: Jennifer Pearson and Christopher Spencer)

    Photo: Dickon R Love, 17 August 2018

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1820
    22 Nov 1820: 5040 Grandsire Triples

    Photo: Dickon R Love, 17 August 2018

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1888
    06 Jul 1888: 5040 Grandsire Triples

    Photo: Dickon R Love, 17 August 2018

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1821
    07 Mar 1821: 5040 Oxford Bob Triples

    Photo: Dickon R Love, 17 August 2018

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1931
    17 May 1931: 5040 Stedman Triples (Birthday: John Avery)

    Photo: Dickon R Love, 17 August 2018

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1820
    08 Aug 1820: 5040 Grandsire Triples

    Photo: Dickon R Love, 17 August 2018

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1994
    24 Apr 1994: 5120 Spliced S Major (6m) (80th birthday: Cecily Lebon and 100th peal on the bells.)

    Photo: Dickon R Love, 17 August 2018

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1821
    01 Jan 1821: 5040 Union Triples

    Photo: Dickon R Love, 17 August 2018

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1924
    15 Dec 1923: 5040 Plain Bob Triples (68th birthday: William Lambert)

    Photo: Dickon R Love, 17 August 2018

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1931
    21 Mar 1931: 5040 Grandsire Triples

    Photo: Dickon R Love, 17 August 2018

    Framed card Bell/Restoration Detail Board dated approx. 1819

    Photo: Dickon R Love, 17 August 2018

    Framed card Bell/Restoration Detail Board dated 1914

    Photo: Dickon R Love, 17 August 2018

    Elsewhere in the Parish

    Benenden, School Chapel
    Single bell hung dead with a trigger clapper


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