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Swanscombe
 

Swanscombe, Ss Peter & Paul


Photo: Dickon Love

  • 8 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 18-0-5 in F.
  • Grid Ref: TQ604739
  • Complete ring cast at the same time
  • Rung from: Ground Floor
  • Frame: 1904 Mears & Stainbank
  • Denomination: Church of England
    Diocese (Anglican): Rochester
  • Kent County Association of Change Ringers District: Rochester
  • Building Listed Grade: I Click for Heritage details.
  • Peals rung at the tower

Details of the Bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)
Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Treble 5-2-2529¼" F 1904 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Doncaster Never
® 2 6-0-830¼" E 1904 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Doncaster Never
® 3 6-1-2331⅞" D 1904 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Doncaster Never
® 4 7-3-1534¾" C 1904 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Doncaster Never
® 5 9-2-237½" B♭ 1904 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Doncaster Never
® 6 10-2-939⅛" A 1904 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Doncaster Never
® 7 13-2-2242¾" G 1904 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Doncaster Never
® Tenor 18-0-547½" F 1904 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Doncaster Never

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes

Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
1 All bells 1904 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel

How the bells are tuned

The ring of six destroyed in the fire of 1902

Bell Weight
(most recent)
DiameterDateFounderRetunedFate
Treble (of 6)30½"1751Robert CatlinNeverDestroyed 1902
2nd (of 6)32½"1804Thomas Mears INeverDestroyed 1902
3rd (of 6)35"1751Robert CatlinNeverDestroyed 1902
4th (of 6)37"1769Lester & PackNeverDestroyed 1902
5th (of 6)40½"1751Robert CatlinNeverDestroyed 1902
Tenor (of 6)13 cwt approx.43½"1802Thomas Mears INeverDestroyed 1902

Earlier bells

Bell DateFounderRetunedFate
2nd (of 6)1751Robert CatlinNeverRecast 1804
4th (of 6)1751Robert CatlinNeverRecast 1769
Tenor (of 6)1751Robert CatlinNeverRecast 1802

History

1552 Record of 3 bells. [1]
1751 A ring of 6 was cast by Robert Catlin with a tenor of 13 cwt. approx.
1769 4th (of 6) recast by Lester & Pack.
1802 Tenor (of 6) recast by Thomas Mears.
1804 2nd (of 6) recast by Thomas Mears.
1902 14th Aug. Church was hit by lightning which caused a fire destroying the bells and frame.
1903 23rd June Church reopened following its restoration.
1904 A new ring of 8 was cast and hung in a new frame by Mears & Stainbank. The bells were rededicated on 3rd May.
1921 The 4th, 5th and 6th were rehung and clappers were refitted, by Alfred Bowell. [2]
1994 Frame secured and bells rehung by D. Paul Smith with partially new fittings from Whitechapel.
[1] Item iij bells of brasse suted in the steple. Item j corse bell of brasse. (Edwardian Inventory, 1552)
[2] To rehanging the 4th, 5th and 6th bells and refitting the eight clappers, new leather & bolts £30. To three new pulleys to 5th, 6th & 7th and all new steadiment to the ropes on intermediate floor including material & fixing £5. Total £35. Paid cq. 28 Apr 1921. (Bowell records, 26 Mar 1921)

Articles

  • "Frame movement quite frightening", Smith, D Paul (The Ringing World) 17 February 1995


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