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Upchurch
 

Upchurch, St Mary the Virgin


  • 6 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 12-1-14 in F♯.
  • Grid Ref: TQ843675
  • Rung from: Ground Floor
  • Frame: 1923 Alfred Bowell, made of steel
  • Denomination: Church of England
    Diocese (Anglican): Canterbury
    Archdeaconry (Anglican): Maidstone
  • Kent County Association of Change Ringers District: Rochester
  • 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 4-2-728¾" D♯ 1866 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Removed 1923 Alfred Bowell
® 2 5-0-829⅞" C♯ 1637 John Wilnar, Borden, Kent Removed 1923 Alfred Bowell
® 3 5-3-2331⅜" B 1632 John Wilnar, Borden, Kent Removed 1923 Alfred Bowell
® 4 7-2-034⅛" A♯ John Harding, London Removed 1923 Alfred Bowell
® 5 9-2-1837½" G♯ 1862 George Mears & Co., Whitechapel Removed 1923 Alfred Bowell
® Tenor 12-1-1440⁷⁄₁₆" F♯ 1862 George Mears & Co., Whitechapel Removed 1923 Alfred Bowell

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes

Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
1 All bells 1923 Alfred Bowell, Ipswich Steel

Inscriptions

Earlier bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)
DateFounderFate
5th (of 6?)9-3-14UnknownRecast 1862.
Tenor (of 6?)UnknownRecast 1862.

History

c 1550 Bell cast by John Harding (now the present 4th).
1632 Present 3rd cast.
1637 Present 2nd cast.
1862 Present 5th and 6th cast.
1866 Present treble cast.
1891 Bells rehung.
1925 Bells retuned (without much success) and rehung in a new frame by Alfred Bowell. [1]
1960 Ringing stopped as the tower was deemed to be unsafe.
1966 Bells made ringable again.
[1] 1925 Oct: To rehanging the six bells £230. Chiming apparatus £12. Total £242. Paid cq. on a/c £125 17 Oct 1925. cq. £113 12 Nov 1925. [Balance £4 noted as "discount". Account marked "settled".] 1931 30 Sept: To one best bell ropes & postage £1-2-0. Paid by cq. 27 Oct 1931. (Bowell records)



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