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Westwell
 

Westwell, St Mary


Photo: Richard Offen, 2007

  • 4 bells hung for full circle ringing but unringable
  • Tenor: 12 cwt approx. in F.
  • Grid Ref: TQ990474
  • Denomination: Church of England
    Diocese (Anglican): Canterbury
    Archdeaconry (Anglican): Ashford
  • Kent County Association of Change Ringers District: Ashford
  • 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
® 1 6 cwt approx.32⅛" 1630 John Wilnar, Borden, Kent Never
® 2 8 cwt approx.34½" 1609 Joseph Hatch, Ulcombe, Kent Never
® 3 10 cwt approx.38⅜" 1616 Joseph Hatch, Ulcombe, Kent Never
® 4 12 cwt approx.42¹⁄₁₆" William Oldfield Conventional Never

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Inscriptions

History

1552 Record of 4 bells. [1]
1609 2nd recast by Joseph Hatch.
1616 3rd recast by Joseph Hatch.
1630 Treble recast by John Wilnar.
1758 Record of 4 bells in the tower. [2]
1913 Fundraising for £250 was published in the local newspapers citing a scheme to mend the cracked 3rd and augment the bells to six. [3]
1968 Plans were laid to restore the bells (mending the cracked 3rd) and augment them to 6, although this never happened.
2009 A new scheme was approved to install a light six under the existing frame, maintaining the old tenor for swing chiming as a bourdon. This scheme has since gone quiet.
[1] Item iiij ryngyng bells in the bell howse. Item one bell over the Chauncell. Item ij smalle hand bells. (Edwardian Inventory, 1552)
[2] This Church, which is pretty Large, consists of The Great, North, and South Chancells, The Body and 2 Side Isles - The Pillars between which are very beautyfull. In a low Shingled Spire, at the West End, hang 4 Bells. 1. John Willnar made Me. 1630. 2. Joseph Hatch made Me. 1602. 3. Joseph Hatch made Me. 1616. 4. Has no Inscription. (Rev’d Bryan Faussett, 1758)
[3] BELL RESTORATIONS IN KENT. At Westwell, a small village three miles from Ashford, a scheme has for some time been on foot for raising £250 for repairing and augmenting the church bells. There are four bells in the pretty little steeple, one of them being cracked. (The Ringing World, 16 May 1913)

Gallery


The second bell. This (and the other bells) are photographed "up". It should be emphasised that this doesn't make them all ringable and full circle ringing is not permitted here.
Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 2000

The second bell. Note the peg and stirrup clapper.
Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 2000

The second with its heavily skirted lip. Above, old chalk marks in the tenor record repairs to the bells and clappers by G Appleyard.
Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 2000


Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 2000

3rd.
Photo: David Cawley


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