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Sevenoaks
 

Sevenoaks, St Nicholas

Photo: Dickon Love, 13th Aug 2005

  • 8 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 16-2-10 in F.
  • Grid Ref: TQ531543
  • Complete ring cast at the same time
  • Rung from: Upstairs Ringing Room
  • Frame: 1966 Whitechapel Bell Foundry
  • Denomination: Church of England
    Diocese (Anglican): Rochester
  • Kent County Association of Change Ringers District: Tonbridge
  • Building Listed Grade: II* Click for Heritage details.
  • Peals rung at the tower


    • ♫ Sound clip of the ring of bells.(c. 1979)

Details of the Bells
Bell Weight
(most recent)*		Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Treble 4-2-2327" F 1966 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Flat Never
® 2 4-2-2027⅝" E 1966 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Flat Never
® 3 5-1-1029⅝" D 1966 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Flat Never
® 4 6-0-1431¾" C 1966 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Flat Never
® 5 7-0-1334" B♭ 1966 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Flat Never
® 6 8-2-1736" A 1966 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Flat Never
® 7 11-3-839⅞" G 1966 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Flat Never
® Tenor 16-2-1044¾" F 1966 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Flat Never

* Source of weight figures: WBF records
®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes
Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
1 All bells 1966 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel

Inscriptions

How the bells are tuned

Original Ring of 8 cast in 1769
Bell Weight
(most recent)
(Supplied weight)		DiameterDateFounderRetunedFate
Treble6-2-226-1-1430¾"1769Pack & ChapmanNeverRecast 1966
2nd6-1-1831¾"1898John Warner & SonsNeverRecast 1966
3rd7-0-196-3-1733½"1769Pack & ChapmanNeverRecast 1966
4th8-1-1736"1898John Warner & SonsNeverRecast 1966
5th10-1-1439¼"1898John Warner & SonsNeverRecast 1966
6th11-3-1611-2-2541"1769Pack & ChapmanNeverRecast 1966
7th15-2-2044¾1898John Warner & SonsNeverRecast 1966
Tenor21-2-220-1-1650½"1769Pack & ChapmanNeverRecast 1966

Bells recast in 1898
Bell Weight
(most recent)		DateFounderRetunedFate
2nd (of 8)6-0-271769Pack & ChapmanNeverSupplied weight. Recast 1898
4th (of 8)8-1-141769Pack & ChapmanNeverSupplied weight. Recast 1898
5th (of 8)10-1-171769Pack & ChapmanNeverSupplied weight. Recast 1898
7th (of 8)16-1-81769Pack & ChapmanNeverSupplied weight. Recast 1771
7th (of 8)1771Pack & ChapmanNeverRecast 1898

Bell recast in 1771
Bell DateFounderFate

Bells prior to 1769
Bell DateFounderFate

History
1769 The old 6 bells were recast into 8 by Pack & Chapman.
1771 7th recast by Pack & Chapman.
1812 Battlements added to the tower by S.P. Cockerell. Former church clock was provided by John Briant of Hertford when the tower was altered.
1897 Bells rehung with the 2nd, 4th, 5th and 7th recast by John Warner.
1922 Bells rehung by Messrs Groombrodge and Palmer.
1966 Entire ring recast and rehung by Mears & Stainbank.

Peal Boards
Framed card Performance Board dated approx. 1979
20 Oct 1979: 5040 Grandsire Triples (In memoriam Percy Turley.)

Photo: Richard A Smith, 22 August 2018

Framed card Performance Board dated approx. 1977
26 Feb 1977: 5056 Yorkshire S Major

Photo: Richard A Smith, 22 August 2018

Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1930
08 Oct 1930: 5040 Grandsire Triples (1st peal by local band.)

Photo: Richard A Smith, 22 August 2018

Framed card Performance Board dated approx. 1979
03 Feb 1979: 5040 Grandsire Triples (Silver wedding: the Rector and Mrs K F W Prior.)

Photo: Richard A Smith, 22 August 2018

Framed card Bell/Restoration Detail Board dated approx.

Photo: Richard A Smith, 22 August 2018

Recent Peals
The most recent performances, according to BellBoard.
2022-06-115120 Spliced Surprise Major (2m)
2018-12-155120 Spliced Surprise Major (8m)
2017-12-295280 Pudsey Surprise Major
2017-01-065056 Cambridge Surprise Major
2014-02-225040 Stedman Triples
2013-12-145024 Spliced Surprise Major
2012-10-205054 Superlative Surprise Major
2012-08-025120 Glasgow Surprise Major
2011-11-265088 Corby Surprise Major
2011-08-105088 Kenninghall Surprise Major
2010-08-215088 Spliced Surprise Major
2009-02-185184 Superlative Surprise Major
2006-08-195088 Spliced Surprise Major (6m)
2005-12-285024 Vastern Manor Surprise Major
2005-04-025152 Cambridge Surprise Major
2004-07-315056 Yorkshire Surprise Major
2003-12-315088 Spliced Surprise Major (2m)
2002-01-055120 London Surprise Major
1996-12-075056 London Surprise Major
1988-05-145022 Cambridge Surprise Major
1987-07-185152 Yorkshire Surprise Major
1983-10-085184 Yorkshire Surprise Major
1983-05-075056 Rutland Surprise Major
1983-02-055088 Lincolnshire Surprise Major
1982-10-095056 Yorkshire Surprise Major
Recent Quarter Peals
The most recent performances, according to BellBoard.
2023-07-091250 Yorkshire Surprise Major
2023-06-041260 Plain Bob Doubles
2023-04-091280 Cornwall Surprise Major
2023-02-121280 Double Norwich Court Bob Major
2022-09-231260 Plain Bob Triples
2022-09-181260 Plain Bob Triples
2022-07-021260 Grandsire Triples
2022-06-051260 Plain Bob Doubles
2022-02-191250 Yorkshire Surprise Major
2021-12-121260 Plain Bob Doubles
2021-12-111250 Yorkshire Surprise Major
2021-11-211260 Grandsire Triples
2021-09-121260 Grandsire Doubles
2020-02-081273 Grandsire Triples
2020-01-261260 Plain Bob Doubles
2019-12-311260 Plain Bob Triples
2019-12-151260 Plain Bob Doubles
2019-10-271260 Plain Bob Doubles
2019-10-261260 Grandsire Triples
2019-08-091250 Yorkshire Surprise Major
2019-06-161260 Grandsire Triples
2019-06-081344 Plain Bob Major
2019-03-091256 Little Bob Major
2018-12-281280 Yorkshire Surprise Major
2018-08-181312 Pudsey Surprise Major
Full list of peals on Bellboard here
 Full list of quarters on Bellboard here

Elsewhere in the Parish
Sevenoaks, Knole Park
2 clock bells hung dead

Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent Page updated: 27 December 2022