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West Wickham
 

West Wickham, St John the Baptist


Photo: Dickon Love

Details of the Bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)
Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Treble 4-1-027" D♯ 1938 John Taylor & Co., Loughborough Flat Never
® 2 5 cwt approx.29¼" C♯ 1640 Brian Eldridge, Chertsey Removed Never
® 3 5-1-2131" B 1857 Charles & George Mears, Whitechapel Removed Never
® 4 6½ cwt approx33½" A♯ 1669 John Hodson, Whitechapel Removed Never
® 5 8-2-2636½" G♯ 1958 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Flat Never
® Tenor 13 cwt approx.42" F♯ 1640 Brian Eldridge, Chertsey Removed Never

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Inscriptions

Earlier bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)
DiameterDateFounderRetunedFate
5th (of 6)8-1-2137"1624Brian EldridgeNeverRecast 1958
3rd (of 6)5-3-433½"UnknownRecast 1857

History

1552 Record of 4 bells. [1]
1624 4th (of 5) recast by Brian Eldridge.
1640 Treble and tenor (of 5) cast or recast by Brian Eldridge.
1669 3rd (of 5) recast by John Hodson.
1847 Tower rebuilt by Whichcord and Whichcord.
1857 2nd (of 5) recast by Charles and George Mears.
1927 Bells "repaired" by Gillett & Johnston.
1938 Treble added to make 6 by John Taylor and hung in a frame above the other 5. Taylors also rehung the remaining bells.
1939 28th June New treble dedicated.
1958 5th recast by Mears & Stainbank.
[1] Item iiij grete bells suted in the steple and a Saints bell of brasse. (Edwardian Inventory, 1552)

Gallery


Rubbings of the inscriptions on the bells, as displayed in the church.
Photo: Dickon Love


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