| ® |
Treble |
|
4-3-22 | | | | 27³⁄₁₆" |
F♯ |
1999 |
Whitechapel Bell Foundry |
Flat |
Never |
| ® |
2 |
|
5-1-9 | | | | 28⁷⁄₁₆" |
E |
1999 |
Whitechapel Bell Foundry |
Flat |
Never |
| ® |
3 |
|
5-2-9 | 6-3-15 | | 5-3-8 | 30⅝" |
D |
1774 |
Pack & Chapman, Whitechapel |
Removed |
1914 John Warner & Sons, 1975 Whitechapel |
| ® |
4 |
|
5-2-17 | | 5-3-14 | | 31½" |
C♯ |
1896 |
John Warner & Sons |
Removed |
1914 John Warner & Sons, 1975 Whitechapel |
| ® |
5 |
|
6-0-2 | | 6-1-20 | | 32⅞" |
B |
1896 |
John Warner & Sons |
Removed |
1914 John Warner & Sons, 1975 Whitechapel |
| ® |
6 |
|
7-3-18 | 9-0-25 | | 8-1-18 | 35¾" |
A |
1774 |
Pack & Chapman, Whitechapel |
Removed |
1914 John Warner & Sons, 1975 Whitechapel |
| ® |
7 |
|
8-3-14 | 10-1-4 | | 9-0-23 | 38¾" |
G |
1774 |
Pack & Chapman, Whitechapel |
Removed |
1914 John Warner & Sons, 1975 Whitechapel |
| ® |
8 |
|
11-0-15 | | 11-3-2 | | 40⅜" |
F♯ |
1914 |
John Warner & Sons |
Removed |
1975 Whitechapel |
| ® |
9 |
|
14-0-4 | | | | 46" |
E |
1978 |
Whitechapel Bell Foundry |
Flat |
Never |
| ® |
Tenor |
|
19-1-8 | 23-0-15 | | 20-2-1 | 51" |
D |
1774 |
Pack & Chapman, Whitechapel |
Removed |
1914 John Warner & Sons, 1975 Whitechapel |
| c |
1070 |
|
Church put under the authority of St Martin's, Battle Abbey (hence one of the patron saints is St Martin). |
|
1447 |
|
Wye College was founded by John Kempe as a residence for secular priests. The church was transferred to the college. It was larger than it is now, cruciform with a large central tower. |
|
1552 |
|
Record of 5 bells. [1] |
|
1572 |
|
On 15th July, lightning struck the wooden church steeple destroying it, part of the tower and the bells. In 1572-3, 4 bells were cast by Robert Doddes bearing the Kempe Arms. They were transported from "The Bull in Bishopsgate" by river to Faversham and then on wagons to Wye. The frame was made by a carpenter from Pluckley who worked for 38 weeks at a shilling a day. |
|
1593 |
|
Back 4 bells recast by Robert Mot. |
|
1594 |
|
Treble (of 5) recast by Robert Mot who casts a treble to augment the ring to 6. |
|
1686 |
|
Tower suddenly collapsed during Matins demolishing almost the entire east end of the church including chancel and transepts. The 5th (of 6) was broken. |
|
1701 |
-1706 |
A new south tower was built. |
|
1709 |
|
Broken 5th recast by Richard Phelps who rehung the bells in a new timber frame. |
|
1734 |
|
2 trebles added by Richard Phelps. |
|
1758 |
|
Record of 8 bells in the tower. [2] |
|
1774 |
|
The bells were recast by Pack & Chapman and hung by Robert Turner of London. One of the 1593 Mot bells was transferred to Crundale to join two other bells there. The new ring was opened on 14 December. [3] |
|
1798 |
|
Record of 8 bells in the tower. [4] |
|
1896 |
|
Bells rehung by John Warner, although the work wasn't very satisfactory and the bells were still not considered "pealable". |
|
1913 |
|
Bells rehung by John Warner in a new cast iron frame for 10 bells. |
|
1975 |
|
Bells retuned and rehung by Whitechapel. |
|
1978 |
|
7th recast by Whitechapel. |
|
1999 |
|
2 bells added by Whitechapel to make 10. |
| [1] |
Item fyve greate bells and a morowe masse bell.
Payments noted :
Item for ropes and reparac'ons of the Bellys ... xxvijs. Iiijd. (Edwardian Inventory, 1552) |
| [2] |
"This Church was formerly a very Large Building, consisting of 3 Isles, and 3 Chancells, with a Tower Steeple in the Center, supported by 4 Pillars; which (on ye 21st of March 1685/6 giving Way, The Steeple fell down, and, by its Fall, destroy’d all The Chancells. The Parish has since built a small, but very neat, Chancell; and a very strong, ‘tho low, Tower, on ye South side of the Chancell, with 8 very Musical Bells in it."
The Bells are thus inscribed.
1. The Gift of John Sawbridge of Ollantigh. R. Phelps Londini fecit Me. 1734.
2. The Gift of The Town of Wye. R. Phelps, Londini, fecit Me. 1734.
3. Robertus Mot Me fecit. 1594.
4. Robertus Mot Me fecit. 1594.
5. Robertus Mot Me fecit. 1593.
6. Robertus Mot Me fecit. 1593.
7. R. Phelps Made Me 1709 (N.B. This Bell was new Cast, having been broke by ye Fall).
8. Robertus Mot Me fecit. 1593.
The First Bell has the Arms & Crest of Sawbridge upon it. The 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th & 8th have all of them the Arms of Kempe with many Quarterings (Rev’d Bryan Faussett, 1758) |
| [3] |
ON WEDNESDAY the 14th of this Instant will be opened A New Peal of EIGHT BELLS at Wye in Kent. Cast by PACK and CHAPMAN, And Hung by ROBERT TURNER, of LONDON. Likewise there will be a good Dinner provided at the FLYING HORSE, to be on the Table at One o'Clock. (Kentish Gazette, Sat 10 Dec 1774) |
| [4] |
In the steeple are eight bells and a clock, which were completed in 1774. ('The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent. Vol 7', Edward Hasted) |
Photo: Dickon Love, 20th Apr 2002
