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THE BELLS OF HADLOW. - After ringing as a complete peal for some 210 years, and some of them for a longer time, the church bells of Hadlow are now in unsafe condition, and cannot be rung. The smallest estimate for the absolutely necessary repairs is £130, and the Committee has decided that as soon as this amount can be raised, the work shall be placed in the hands of the same firm who originally cast and hung the bells. The parishioners have made a great effort, almost every household in the parish has subscribed, the amounts raising from the few pence of the labourers to the guineas of those in better financial position. In spite of this the fund is nearly £40 short of completion, and the Committee feels compelled to appeal outside the parish. The fund is in the hands of J. T. Simpson, Esq., the London and County Bank, Tonbridge, who will be pleased to receive and acknowledge subscriptions, and we trust that all interested in the fine old peals o bells in Kent will contribute. We may add that the bell ringers, who are members of the Kent County Association of Change-ringers, are an efficient and well-establised band; and immediately on realizing that the bells were unsafe, they started a fund amongst themselves, to which each member gives a weekly subscription. The following is the report and estimate of Messrs. Mears and Stainbank, of the Church Bell Foundry, London: - "Having inspected the eight bells which were cast at this Foundry more than two centuries ago, we beg to report that they are all deeply indented by the continued striking of the clappers in the same place; it is essential for their safety that they should be quarter-turned, and fitted with reversed crown staples to bring a new surface under the blow of the clapper. The fittings are in a dilapidated condition, and nothing less than an entire renewal of them would be of service. To do the above, and strengthen the present frame by making good the joints with steel angle cleats, refit and rehang the eight bells ready for ringing, £130. This estimate does not allow for any repairs to or renewal of the floor, which it may be found necessary to do." (Kent & Sussex Courier, Fri 9 Jun 1905) |