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Sittingbourne
 

Sittingbourne, St Michael


  • 8 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 19-0-6 in E.
  • Grid Ref: TQ909636
  • Rung from: Upstairs Ringing Room
  • Frame: 1897 Mears & Stainbank, made of timber
  • Denomination: Church of England
    Diocese (Anglican): Canterbury
    Archdeaconry (Anglican): Maidstone
  • Kent County Association of Change Ringers District: Rochester
  • Building Listed Grade: II* Click for Heritage details.
  • Peals rung at the tower

Details of the Bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)

(As restored 1897)

(Prior to retuning in 1979)
Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Treble 5-2-186-0-186-0-729¾" E 1897 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Removed 1979 John Taylor & Co
® 2 5-2-206-1-166-1-530½" D♯ 1897 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Removed 1979 John Taylor & Co
® 3 6-2-26-3-196-3-832½" C♯ 1687 James Bartlett, Whitechapel Removed 1979 John Taylor & Co
® 4 7-2-67-3-97-3-1034" B 1687 James Bartlett, Whitechapel Removed 1979 John Taylor & Co
® 5 9-2-410-0-09-2-2437½" A 1687 James Bartlett, Whitechapel Removed 1979 John Taylor & Co
® 6 10-2-1011-0-010-3-2740⅛" G♯ 1897 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Removed 1979 John Taylor & Co
® 7 14-0-614-3-1814-1-2043¾" F♯ 1687 James Bartlett, Whitechapel Removed 1979 John Taylor & Co
® Tenor 19-0-620-1-619-2-048¾" E 1687 James Bartlett, Whitechapel Removed 1979 John Taylor & Co

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes

Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
1 All bells 1897 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Oak
6.D
8.3

Inscriptions

Earlier bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)
DiameterDateFounderRetunedFate
Treble (of 8)6-2-631"1884John Warner & SonsNever
2nd (of 8)6-1-1631½"1884John Warner & SonsNever
6th (of 8)11-3-2440½"1687John Warner & SonsNever

History

1687 6 bells were cast by James Bartlett from the old ring of 5.
1884 2 trebles were added to make 8 byJohn Warner. The ringing room was moved from the ground floor to upstairs.
1897 The 2 trebles and the 6th were recast by Mears & Stainbank following the restoration of the tower. All the bells were rehung in a new frame.
1898 The restored bells were reopened.
1934 Bells rehung by Alfred Bowell with new gudgeons and plain bearings. [1]
1979 Bells retuned and rehung by John Taylor.
[1] To supplying new gudgeons & bearings, bolting framework, and overhauling the fittings of the eight bells in Sittingbourne Church £100. Extra. To drilling out old crown staple of treble bell and fitting a new one £2. Total £102. Paid cq. 6 Dec 1934. (Bowell records, c. 1934)

Old photos of the bells hanging on the wall


The trebles, photographed in 1884.
Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 2017

The trebles, photographed in 1884.
Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 2017

The Bartlett back six photographed in the courtyard of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 1897.
Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 2017

Peal Boards

Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1883
02 Jul 1883: 720 Grandsire Minor

Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 1 May 2017

Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1895
29 Jan 1895: 5040 Grandsire Triples

Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 1 May 2017

Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1938
30 Jan 1938: 5040 Stedman Triples

Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 1 May 2017

Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1896
31 Dec 1895: 5040 Grandsire Triples (1st half-muffled peal on the bells.)

Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 1 May 2017

Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1894
01 May 1894: 5040 Grandsire Triples

Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 1 May 2017

Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1886
22 Dec 1885: 5040 Grandsire Triples (In honour of a member of the St Michael's Society to whose efforts the restoration of these bells is greatly due. 1st peal by the Society.)

Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 1 May 2017

Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1884
06 Apr 1884: 720 Kent Treble Bob Minor

Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 1 May 2017

Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1883
19 Dec 1882: 720 Plain Bob Minor (The first recorded peal [sic] on the bells.)

Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 1 May 2017

Timber Performance Board dated approx.
: (Details unclear.)

Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 1 May 2017

Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1936
08 Mar 1936: 5040 Stedman Triples

Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 1 May 2017

Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1885
08 Dec 1884: 5040 Grandsire Triples (1st peal on the bells.)

Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 1 May 2017

Framed card Bell/Restoration Detail Board dated approx. 1897
:

Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 1 May 2017



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