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Wrotham
 

Wrotham, St George


Photo: Dickon R Love, 29 Feb 2020

  • 8 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 20-0-10 in E.
  • Grid Ref: TQ611591
  • Complete ring cast at the same time
  • Rung from: Open Gallery
  • Frame: 1911 Gillett & Johnson
  • Denomination: Church of England
    Diocese (Anglican): Rochester
  • Kent County Association of Change Ringers District: Maidstone
  • Building Listed Grade: I Click for Heritage details.
  • Peals rung at the tower

  • Sound clip from a peal on the bells.(Phillip R J Barnes, 26 Dec 2000)

Details of the Bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)
Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Treble 4-3-927⅝" E 1911 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (2495) Flat Never
® 2 4-2-2628" D♯ 1911 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (2498) Flat Never
® 3 5-1-630¹⁄₁₆" C♯ 1911 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (2499) Flat Never
® 4 7-0-833" B 1911 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (2494) Flat Never
® 5 8-2-536" A 1911 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (2493) Flat Never
® 6 9-3-1238" G♯ 1911 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (2496) Flat Never
® 7 13-3-1242⁷⁄₁₆" F♯ 1911 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (2497) Flat Never
® Tenor 20-0-1048⅛" E 1911 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon (2492) Flat Never

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes

Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
1 All bells 1911 Gillett & Johnston, Croydon Metal

Inscriptions

How the bells are tuned

Original Lester and Pack octave

Bell Weight
(most recent)
DiameterNoteDateFounderRetunedFate
Treble (of 8)6-3-1530½"D1754Lester & PackNeverRecast 1911
2nd (of 8)6-1-2431½"C♯1754Lester & PackNeverRecast 1896
3rd (of 8)7-3-033½"B1754Lester & PackNeverRecast 1896
4th (of 8)7-0-036½"A1754Lester & PackNeverRecast 1911
5th (of 8)8-1-839"G1754Lester & PackNeverRecast 1911
6th (of 8)11-3-2141¼"F♯1754Lester & PackNeverRecast 1904
7th (of 8)13-2-045½"E1754Lester & PackNeverRecast 1911
Tenor (of 8)19-3-2551"D1754Lester & PackNeverRecast 1911

Subsequent recasts

Bell Weight
(most recent)
NoteDateFounderRetunedFate
2nd (of 8)5-2-0C♯1896John Warner & SonsNeverRecast 1911
3rd (of 8)6-0-21B1896John Warner & SonsNeverRecast 1911
6th (of 8)10-2-16F♯1904John Warner & SonsNeverRecast 1911

History

c 964 Earliest church was built.
1404 4 marks bequeathed by Richard Melchebourne (Vicar of Wrotham 1397 - 98) for the purchase of bells.
1754 The 6 bells in the tower were recast into a ring of 8 by Lester & Pack.
1896 2 & 3 recast by John Warner & Sons.
1904 6th recast by John Warner & Sons and all were tuned.
1911 Ring recast and rehung in a new frame by Gillett & Johnston. [1]
1976 Bells overhauled by Gillett & Johnston.
[1] Old bells weighed 5-3-0, 5-2-0, 6-0-21, 7-0-0, 8-1-8, 10-2-16, 13-2-0, 19-3-25 (Gillett order book, 16 Feb 1911)

Articles

  • "St George, Wrotham, Kent", Author unknown (The Ringing World) 11 March 1977
  • Peal Boards

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1884
    26 Dec 1883: 5040 Grandsire Triples

    Photo: Dickon R Love, 29 February 2020

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1984
    07 Apr 1984: 5040 Plain Bob Major (Wedding: Daniel Canfield and Nicola Mallard)

    Photo: Dickon R Love, 29 February 2020

    Framed card Performance Board dated approx. 1949
    19 Mar 1949: 5056 Plain Bob Major (13th birthday compliment to the conductor, John L Morris.)

    Photo: Dickon R Love, 29 February 2020

    Framed card Performance Board dated 2000

    Photo: Dickon R Love, 29 February 2020

    Framed card Bell/Restoration Detail Board dated 1911

    Photo: Dickon R Love, 29 February 2020

    Timber Memorial Board dated approx. 1801

    Photo: Dickon R Love, 29 February 2020

    Painted on wall Memorial Board dated approx. 1799

    Photo: Dickon R Love, 29 February 2020



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