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Westgate on Sea
 

Westgate on Sea, St Saviour

Photo: Dickon Love

  • 6 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 9-3-16 in A♭.
  • Grid Ref: TR322701
  • Rung from: Upstairs Ringing Room
  • Frame: 1975 Whitechapel Bell Foundry iroko frame for 8 bells
  • 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)		Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Treble 4-0-926⅝" F 1975 Whitechapel Bell Foundry Flat Never
® 2 4-3-128½" E♭ 1739 Thomas Lester, Whiechapel Removed 1975 Whitechapel
® 3 4-2-629" D♭ 1608 Joseph Hatch, Ulcombe, Kent Conventional 1975 Whitechapel
® 4 5-1-2731¾" C 1615 Joseph Hatch, Ulcombe, Kent Conventional 1975 Whitechapel
® 5 8-2-235¼" B♭ Stephen Norton, London Conventional 1975 Whitechapel
® Tenor 9-3-1638¼" A♭ 1608 Joseph Hatch, Ulcombe, Kent Conventional 1975 Whitechapel

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes
Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
1 All bells 1975 Whitechapel Bell Foundry Iroko
6.A
 8.3

Inscriptions

Original church bell
Bell Weight
(most recent)
(Supplied weight)		DiameterDateFounderRetunedFate
Single bell3-1-143-1-2325"1884Gillett & JohnstonNeverReplaced in 1913

Subsequent church bell before the new ring was installed
Bell Weight
(most recent)
(Cast weight)
(As supplied 1913)		DiameterNoteDateFounderRetunedFate
Single bell17-1-2018-0-2717-2-647"F1913John Taylor & Co.NeverHung for ringing. Scrapped 1975. Cast weight 18-0-27. Exactly half way between E and F.

History
1360 -1380 Bell cast by Stephen Norton (future 4th of 5) for Holy Cross, Canterbury.
1608 Treble and tenor (of 4) recast by Joseph Hatch at Holy Cross, Canterbury.
1615 2nd (of 4) recast by Joseph Hatch at Holy Cross, Canterbury.
1739 Treble added by Thomas Lester to make 5 at Holy Cross, Canterbury.
1883 Tower built by C. N. Beazley between 1883 and 1884.
1884 Single bell cast and hung by Gillett & Co. in the new tower. Church consecrated and parish formed from Acol, Birchington, Minster and Margate (St James).
1913 The Gillett bell was removed and a new bell by John Taylor & Co. was hung for ringing in a composite wood and cast iron frame.
1972 May The 5 bells from Holy Cross Canterbury were removed by Association members and stored at Whitechapel under license from the Diocese.
1975 The 5 bells from Holy Cross, Canterbury were tuned and transferred here and hung with a new treble to make 6 in a new frame by Whitechapel (using metal from a bell from Wellington School). Dedicated in July by the Archdeacon of Canterbury.

Articles

  • "Association rescues Canterbury ring", Cawley, David L (The Ringing World) 21 July 1972
  • "The bells of Saint Saviour's Church, Westgate-on-Sea, Thanet, Kent", Cawley, David L (The Ringing World) 30 July 1976
    		•

    Belfry photographs

    The treble.
    Photo: Joe Aust, June 2022

    Photo: Joe Aust, June 2022

    Photo: Joe Aust, June 2022

    Note the 2 empty pits.
    Photo: Joe Aust, June 2022

    Photo: Joe Aust, June 2022
    Recent Peals
    The most recent performances, according to BellBoard.
    2020-01-165040 Doubles (5m)
    2011-08-115040 Minor (7m)
    1983-03-035040 Minor (7m)
    Recent Quarter Peals
    The most recent performances, according to BellBoard.
    2022-04-111320 St Lucy Doubles
    2022-02-071260 Grandsire Doubles
    2019-12-181260 Plain Bob Doubles
    2019-07-211260 Westgate-on-Sea Doubles
    2019-04-271260 Liberator Doubles
    2018-09-121272 Carlisle Surprise Minor
    2018-02-061260 St Simon's Bob Doubles
    2017-12-271260 Doubles (2m)
    2017-12-271260 St Martin's Bob Doubles
    2017-11-121260 Plain Bob Minor
    2017-10-151260 Stedman Doubles
    2017-09-171260 Julie McDonnell Doubles
    2017-08-041320 Plain Bob Doubles
    2017-02-151260 Plain Bob Doubles
    2016-11-281260 St Simon's Bob Doubles
    2016-11-251260 Julie McDonnell Doubles
    2016-11-191260 Julie McDonnell Bob Doubles
    2016-11-041320 Cambridge Surprise Minor
    2016-10-291260 Julie McDonnell Bob Doubles
    2016-10-191260 Plain Bob Doubles
    2016-08-051320 Plain Bob Minor
    2016-06-251260 Dawn Crouch Doubles
    2016-05-161260 Doubles (6m)
    2015-05-301260 Doubles (12 M V)
    2015-04-251260 Downland Doubles
    Full list of peals on Bellboard here
    		 Full list of quarters on Bellboard here

    Elsewhere in the Parish
    Westgate on Sea, Wellington House School
    School demolished. Formerly 2 bells, 3-2-5

    Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent Page updated: 1 July 2022