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Boxley
 

Boxley, St Mary the Virgin & All Saints

Photo: Richard Offen, 2006

  • 6 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 10-3-10 in F♯.
  • Grid Ref: TQ774589
  • Complete ring cast at the same time
  • Rung from: Upstairs Ringing Room
  • Frame: 1803 Thomas Sweetlove (probably), made of timber
  • Denomination: Church of England
    Diocese (Anglican): Canterbury
    Archdeaconry (Anglican): Maidstone
  • Kent County Association of Change Ringers District: Maidstone
  • Building Listed Grade: I Click for Heritage details.
  • Peals rung at the tower

Details of the Bells
Bell Weight
(most recent)
(As received 1971)
(Cast weight 1803/4)		Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Treble 5-0-135-1-65-2-229¾" D♯ 1803 Thomas Mears I, Whitechapel Removed 1971 Whitechapel
® 2 5-1-125-1-275-2-2230⅞" C♯ 1804 Thomas Mears I, Whitechapel Removed 1971 Whitechapel
® 3 6-0-206-1-126-2-833¼" B 1804 Thomas Mears I, Whitechapel Removed 1971 Whitechapel
® 4 7-0-137-1-87-2-1835" A♯ 1804 Thomas Mears I, Whitechapel Removed 1971 Whitechapel
® 5 8-3-219-1-29-2-1738⅜" G♯ 1803 Thomas Mears I, Whitechapel Removed 1971 Whitechapel
® Tenor 10-3-1011-1-011-3-341¾" F♯ 1803 Thomas Mears I, Whitechapel Removed 1971 Whitechapel

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes
Position
 Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
Single level 1 All bells 1804 Timber
6.1

Inscriptions

How the bells are tuned

Earlier ring of four
Bell DateFounderRetunedFate
Treble (of 4)1652Michael DarbieNeverRecast 1803/4 (or maybe before)
2nd (of 4)1652Michael DarbieNeverRecast 1803/4 (or maybe before)
3rd (of 4)1652Michael DarbieNeverRecast 1803/4 (or maybe before)
Tenor (of 4)1652Michael DarbieNeverRecast 1803/4 (or maybe before)

History
1652 4 bells cast by Michael Darbie.
1798 Record of 4 bells in the tower. [1]
1802 -1804 New ring of 6 cast by Thomas Mears I. The Whitechapel tuning book suggests that the bells were tuned (or otherwise) as follows: 1 - Maiden bell, 2 - Maiden bell, 3 - Opened, 4 - Maiden bell, 5 - Maiden bell, 6 - Skirted.
1872 -7 Bells rehung at some point in this period.
1912 Bells rehung and canons removed by Alfred Bowell. [2]
1971 Bells rehung and retuned (by Richard Offen) by Whitechapel.
[1] The church, which is dedicated to All Saints, stands on the east side of the village; it is not large, but neat, and contains three isles and a chancel, with a handsome square tower at the west end, in which hang four small bells, which were cast in 1652, by M. Darby. (The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 4, Edward Hasted, 1798)
[2] 1912 11th Nov: To rehanging the bells £75. To refixing clock hammer and new spring to same 10/-. Total £75-10s. Paid cq. 20th Nov. 1912. (Bowell records)

Recent Peals
The most recent performances, according to BellBoard.
2005-12-295040 Surprise Minor
1991-08-175040 Minor (5m)
1981-01-245040 Minor (7m)
1978-12-045040 Doubles (168m/v)
Recent Quarter Peals
The most recent performances, according to BellBoard.
2023-05-061260 Doubles (4m)
2023-03-271320 Elston Delight Minor
2023-01-291320 Plain Bob Minor
2022-12-181260 Doubles (4m)
2022-06-271300 Doubles (1p/4m)
2022-06-021440 Cambridge Surprise Minor
2021-10-191296 Cambridge Surprise Minor
2020-02-241320 Caithness Surprise Minor
2018-11-031260 Grandsire Doubles
2018-03-151296 Canterbury Surprise Minor
2017-12-091260 Plain Bob Doubles
2017-03-181260 Plain Bob Minor
2014-05-241260 Plain Bob Doubles
2008-08-271296 Surprise Minor (2m)
1993-01-271296 Beverley Surprise Minor
1983-05-281260 Grandsire Doubles
1979-02-261296 Beverley Surprise Minor
1978-08-211320 Plain Bob Minor
1972-03-201440 Norwich Surprise Minor
Full list of peals on Bellboard here
 Full list of quarters on Bellboard here

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