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St Laurence in Thanet
 

St Laurence in Thanet, St Laurence

Photo: Dickon Love

  • 10 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 14-1-19 in E.
  • Grid Ref: TR370653
  • Rung from: Upstairs Ringing Room
  • Frame: 1924 Mears & Stainbank
  • Denomination: Church of England
    Diocese (Anglican): Canterbury
    Archdeaconry (Anglican): Canterbury
  • Kent County Association of Change Ringers District: Canterbury
  • Building Listed Grade: I Click for Heritage details.
  • Peals rung at the tower

Details of the Bells
Bell Weight
(most recent)
(Prior to retuning)		Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Treble 4-2-105-0-2327" G♯ 1924 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Flat 1997 Whitechapel
® 2 5-0-215-3-2728⅜" F♯ 1924 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Flat 1997 Whitechapel
® 3 5-0-156-0-1329⅛" E 1891 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Removed 1997 Whitechapel
® 4 5-1-16-0-2130½" D♯ 1911 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Removed 1997 Whitechapel
® 5 5-3-136-3-032½" C♯ 1808 Thomas Mears & Son Removed 1997 Whitechapel
® 6 6-2-97-2-1934½" B 1808 Thomas Mears & Son Removed 1997 Whitechapel
® 7 8-1-109-3-138" A 1891 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Removed 1997 Whitechapel
® 8 10-1-711-2-1540⅜" G♯ 1891 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Removed 1997 Whitechapel
® 9 11-2-712-3-642½" F♯ 1911 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Removed 1997 Whitechapel
® Tenor 14-1-1916-0-646½" E 1911 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Removed 1997 Whitechapel

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes
Position
 Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
Lower tier 1 1,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 1924 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Metal
8.3
Upper tier 2 2,3 1924 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Cast iron
8.3.A.h
 2

Inscriptions

How the bells are tuned

The ring of five bells recorded by Hasted
Bell DateFounderRetunedFate
Treble (of 5)1729Samuel KnightNeverRecast 1808
2nd (of 5)1724Samuel KnightNeverRecast 1808
3rd (of 5)1729Samuel KnightNeverRecast 1808
4th (of 5)1704Richard PhelpsNeverRecast 1808
Tenor (of 5)1704Richard PhelpsNeverRecast 1808

Augmented to six then eight
Bell Weight
(most recent)		DiameterDateFounderRetunedFate
Treble (of 8)6-1-430⅝"1891Mears & StainbankNeverRecast 1911
2nd (of 8)1891Mears & StainbankNeverStill in the tower
3rd (of 8)1808Thomas Mears & SonNeverStill in the tower
4th (of 8)1808Thomas Mears & SonNeverStill in the tower
5th (of 8)1808Thomas Mears & SonNeverRecast 1891
6th (of 8)1808Thomas Mears & SonNeverRecast 1891
7th (of 8)13-1-843½"1808Thomas Mears & SonNeverRecast 1911
Tenor (of 8)17-0-2147"1808Thomas Mears & SonNeverRecast 1911

History
1615 Record of 5 bells (some maybe dating back to the 12th Cent.).
1704 The 5 bells were recast by Richard Phelps.
1724 2nd (of 5) recast by Samuel Knight.
1729 Treble and 3rd (of 5) recast by Samuel Knight.
1808 Bells recast into a ring of 6 by Thomas Mears.
1891 3rd and 4th (of 6) recast and 2 trebles added to make 8 by Mears & Stainbank. All 8 bells were hung by S. Snelling. The bells were dedicated by the Dean of Canterbury Cathedral on 1st May.
1911 2nd and 7th (of 8) recast and bells rehung.
1924 2 bells added (named "Peace" and "Remembrance") by Mears & Stainbank to make 10, and all the bells were rehung in a new frame.
1997 Bells retuned and rehung in the existing frame.

Articles

  • "A decade's dreams fulfilled", Author unknown (The Ringing World) 10 April 1998
    		•

    Gallery

    The former tenor, 7th and 2nd (of 8) awaiting recasting by Mears and Stainbank in 1911.
    Photo: David Cawley collection
    The 8 bells on their return from Whitechapel in 1911.
    Photo: David Cawley collection
    Recent Peals
    The most recent performances, according to BellBoard.
    2018-08-045040 Swindon Surprise Royal
    2016-08-065040 Plain Bob Triples
    2016-05-015040 Swindon Surprise Royal
    2015-12-305055 Stedman Caters
    2013-08-105040 Grandsire Triples
    2007-03-105000 London No. 3 Surprise Royal
    2005-10-155000 Bristol Surprise Royal
    2004-11-205040 Yorkshire Surprise Royal
    2003-02-015080 Aldenham Surprise Royal
    2002-03-095040 Yorkshire Surprise Royal
    1999-07-245040 Yesnaby Surprise Royal
    1987-01-315040 Ibstock Surprise Royal
    1983-07-305040 Yorkshire Surprise Royal
    Recent Quarter Peals
    The most recent performances, according to BellBoard.
    2023-06-261320 Aconbury Doubles
    2023-05-281260 Plain Bob Doubles
    2023-04-071260 Plain Bob Doubles
    2022-09-281260 Plain Bob Doubles
    2022-06-181282 Cambridge Surprise Royal
    2022-04-151260 Plain Bob Triples
    2022-03-281320 Middleton Stoney Doubles
    2019-08-101260 Plain Bob Triples
    2019-07-261260 Plain Bob Doubles
    2019-04-191260 Plain Bob Triples
    2018-08-181259 Grandsire Caters
    2018-08-111260 Doubles
    2018-06-241260 Mixed Doubles
    2018-04-031260 Plain Bob Minor
    2018-03-301260 Plain Bob Triples
    2018-02-251260 Plain Bob Doubles
    2018-01-211260 Doubles (10m/V)
    2017-11-261288 Grandsire Triples
    2017-11-051260 Doubles (7 M/V)
    2017-10-241440 Plain Bob Minor
    2017-09-171260 Julie McDonnell Doubles
    2017-08-081260 Grandsire Caters
    2017-08-061380 Doubles (2m)
    2017-06-151260 Reverse Canterbury Pleasure Place Doubles
    2017-04-141260 Plain Bob Triples
    Full list of peals on Bellboard here
    		 Full list of quarters on Bellboard here

    Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent Page updated: 19 August 2018