Header
  
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)



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