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Thanington
 

Thanington, St Nicholas


Photo: Richard Offen

  • 6 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 4-2-5 in B.
  • Grid Ref: TR131567
  • Rung from: Upstairs Ringing Room
  • Frame: 1929 Gillett & Johnson, made of time, with additional iron & steel framework by Gillett & Johnston (1948) and John Taylor (1966) for the treble
  • Denomination: Church of England
    Diocese (Anglican): Canterbury
    Archdeaconry (Anglican): Canterbury
  • Kent County Association of Change Ringers District: Canterbury
  • Building Listed Grade: II* Click for Heritage details.
  • Peals rung at the tower

Details of the Bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)

(Prior to 1981)
Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Treble 2-3-202-3-2122½" G♯ 1966 John Taylor & Co., Loughborough Flat 1981 John Taylor & Co
® 2 3-0-83-1-024" F♯ 1948 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (6634) Flat 1981 John Taylor & Co
® 3 3-1-123-2-825" E 1948 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (6636) Flat 1981 John Taylor & Co
® 4 3-2-1326⅝" D♯ 1624 Joseph Hatch, Ulcombe, Kent Conventional 1981 John Taylor & Co
® 5 4-3-2229½" C♯ 1638 John Palmar I Conventional 1981 John Taylor & Co
® Tenor 4-2-54-3-231¼" B 1623 Joseph Hatch, Ulcombe, Kent Removed 1981 John Taylor & Co

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes

Position
Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
Single level 1 4,5,6 1929 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon Teak
6.A
3.1
Single level 1.1 2,3 1948 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon Steel

Single level 1.2 1 1968 John Taylor & Co., Loughborough Steel

Inscriptions

History

1623 Bell cast/recast by Joseph Hatch (forming tenor of 3).
1624 Bell cast/recast by Joseph Hatch (forming treble of 3).
1638 Bells cast/recast by John Palmer (forming the middle bell).
1757 Record of 3 bells in the tower. [1]
1929 Bells rehung in a new teak frame for 5 bells by Gillett & Johnston. The bells were not however tuned and remained as a Minor 3 as the Incumbant would not allow them to leave the church (in case they were stolen or inadvertently recast).
1948 Two treble bells were added as a War Memorial to make 5 by Gillett & Johnston. Again, the other bells were not tuned for the same reason, so became a Minor 5 in C Minor (tenor 6¼ cwt).
1968 A treble bell was added to make 6 by John Taylor, hung in an additional iron and steel frame. The same Incumbent was there, so still no tuning took place - the bells became a Minor 6 in C. The bell was hung by Taylor's.
1981 A canon broke on the tenor so the back bells were rehung on new headstocks and tuned at the same time (by John Taylor) to form a Major 6. This involved some fairly heavy cutting to the 3rd, but being a Gillett bell, it was thick enough to take it. The bells were dedicated on 17th March.
2002 The 4th bell was reported to be oddstruck and inspection showed it to be hanging crooked on its headstock (presumably since 1981). Attempts were made to correct this. The local band removed and refitted the clappers after rebushing.
[1] The Church is built of Flints, and the Chancel of Square [sic] Stone. The Tower, wch. is a very low One, is Cover’d with Tiles, and is built of Flints: in it are 3 Small Bells – 2 of them founded in 1624 by Joseph Hatch. The Other in 1633. In the Belfry is a very Ancient Grave Stone. (Rev’d Bryan Faussett, 1757)
[2] There are three bells, containing the following inscriptions: 1."Joseph Hatch made me, 1624." 2. "GEORGE HOOPER, ARTER ROCK, WARDENES. "JOHN PALMAR MADE THIS BELL, 1632." 2. "Joseph Hatch made me, 1623." (A Tour the the Isle of Thanet and Some other Parts of East Kent, Cozens, Zechariah, 1793)

Gallery


A view of the belfry: the trebles are at the back.
Photo: Tony Martin, 2002

A treble to make five in 1948.
Photo: David Cawley

A treble to make six in 1968.
Photo: David Cawley

The 3 bell frame erected at Gillett & Johnston's works in Croydon.
Photo: David Cawley collection


Photo: Tony Martin, 2002


Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent Page updated: 6 November 2020