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Biddenden
 

Biddenden, All Saints


  • 8 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 22½ cwt approx. in D.
  • Grid Ref: TQ848384
  • Rung from: Upstairs Ringing Room
  • 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
® Treble 5-1-729½" D 1915 Alfred Bowell, Ipswich Flat Never
® 2 5-1-1429¾" C♯ 1915 Alfred Bowell, Ipswich Flat Never
® 3 7 cwt approx.33" B 1712 Richard Phelps, Whitechapel Removed Never
® 4 9 cwt approx.36½" A 1599 Robert Mot, Whitechapel Removed Never
® 5 11 cwt approx.39¾" G 1763 Lester & Pack, Whitechapel Removed Never
® 6 12-0-041" F♯ 1922 Alfred Bowell, Ipswich Flat Never
® 7 16-1-745¾" E 1915 Alfred Bowell, Ipswich Flat Never
® Tenor 22½ cwt approx52" D 1712 Richard Phelps, Whitechapel Removed Never
Priest's Bell 1 cwt approx.15¼" 1717 Richard Phelps, Whitechapel Never

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes

Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
1 All bells 1712 Richard Phelps, Whitechapel Metal, Timber

Inscriptions

Prior to 1922

Bell DiameterDateFounderRetunedFate
6th (of 8)42½"1812Thomas Mears INeverRecast 1922

Prior to 1915

Bell Weight
(most recent)
DiameterDateFounderRetunedFate
Treble (of 8)5-3-030"1784Robert PatrickNeverRecast 1915
2nd (of 8)6-0-731"1784Robert PatrickNeverRecast 1915
7th (of 8)1759Lester & PackNeverRecast 1915

History

1599 Present 4th cast.
1712 Treble and tenor (of 6) cast by Richard Phelps and hung in a new frame.
1717 Priest's bell cast.
1759 7th recast by Lester & Pack.
1763 3rd (of 6) recast.
1784 2 treble bells added by Robert Patrick to make 8 bells.
1812 6th recast by Thomas Mears.
1915 2 trebles and 7th recast by Alfred Bowell who adapted the old frame for 8 and rehung all the bells. [1]
1922 6th recast by Alfred Bowell. [2]
[1] To recasting and rehanging the bells £160. To inscriptions on recast bells 54 letters @ 4d. each 18/-. To refixing clock spindle and striking hammer £1. To eight new ceiling bosses for ropes 10/-. Total £162-8-0. Paid £100 by cq. before 22nd July; cq. £37-12-0 16th Aug, cq £16-1-9 20th Aug, £8-14-3 3rd Jan 1916. (Bowell records, 22nd July 1915)
[2] To recasting the sixth bell £47. Paid cq. 25th Oct 1922. (Bowell records, 21st Sept 1922)

Peal Boards

Timber Performance Board dated approx. 2015
04 Aug 2015: 5088 Oxford Treble Bob Major (To mark the centenary of the rehanging of the bells by Bowell in July 1915 and in memory of Frank Lewis.)

Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 1 May 2017

Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1993
05 Dec 1992: 5040 Plain Bob Major (To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Joe T Pack's first peal.)

Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 1 May 2017

Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1927
18 Dec 1926: 5040 Stedman Triples (1st peal of Stedman on the bells.)

Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 1 May 2017

Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1925
24 Nov 1924: 5040 Grandsire Triples (Half-muffled in memory of Leslie Reginald Munday, killed at Suvla Bay 6 Sept 1917 and George Honess, killed in action in France, 4 Nov 1917. 1st peal on the bells following restoration.)

Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 1 May 2017

Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1788
30 Nov 1786: 5040 Plain Bob Major
09 Apr 1787: 6720 Plain Bob Major
27 Dec 1786: 5040 Plain Bob Major
27 Dec 1787: 5376 Kentish Treble Bob Major

Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 1 May 2017

Timber Performance Board dated approx. 2018
24 Nov 2017: 5040 Grandsire Triples (Centenary remembrance of Leslie Munday and George Honess, killed in the Great War.)

Photo: Christopher J Cooper, 13 July 2018



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