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Brenchley
 

Brenchley, All Saints


  • 8 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 17-3-24 in E.
  • Grid Ref: TQ679417
  • Rung from: Upstairs Ringing Room
  • Frame: 1924 John Taylor & Co., made of steel
  • Denomination: Church of England
    Diocese (Anglican): Rochester
  • Kent County Association of Change Ringers District: Tonbridge
  • Building Listed Grade: I Click for Heritage details.
  • Peals rung at the tower

Details of the Bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)

(Supplied in 1863)

(As received 1924)
Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Treble 4-0-526⅜" E 1924 John Taylor & Co., Loughborough Flat Never
® 2 4-3-028" D♯ 1924 John Taylor & Co., Loughborough Flat Never
® 3 5-1-115-2-245-2-1030¼" C♯ 1863 George Mears & Co., Whitechapel Removed 1924 John Taylor & Co
® 4 6-1-216-3-532½" B 1729 Richard Phelps, Whitechapel Removed 1924 John Taylor & Co
® 5 8-1-68-2-1036" A 1610 Joseph Hatch, Ulcombe, Kent Conventional 1924 John Taylor & Co
® 6 9-2-109-3-1539" G♯ 1813 Thomas Mears II Removed 1924 John Taylor & Co
® 7 13-3-914-1-043¼" F♯ 1610 Joseph Hatch, Ulcombe, Kent Conventional 1924 John Taylor & Co
® Tenor 17-3-2418-1-046½" E 1610 Joseph Hatch, Ulcombe, Kent Conventional 1924 John Taylor & Co

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes

Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
1 All bells 1924 John Taylor & Co., Loughborough Cast iron

Inscriptions

Of the Old 1610 six

Bell Weight
(most recent)
DateFounderRetunedFate
Treble (of 6)6-0-11610Joseph HatchNeverScrapping weight 1863.
2nd (of 6)1610Joseph HatchNeverFounder assumed see notes. Recast 1729.
4th (of 6)1610Joseph HatchNeverFounder assumed see notes. Recast 1813.

History

1610 4 bells cast by Joseph Hatch.
1729 2nd (of 6) cast by Richard Phelps.
1813 4th recast by Thomas Mears.
1863 Treble cast by George Mears.
1883 The tower was equipped with a clock and chimes, at a cost of 200 guineas.
1924 It was reported that the old frame was a strange wooden affair. Bells 5,1,2,3 hung across the centre of the tower in a straight line swinging N/S. On the N side hung the 4th and on the S side the tenor. giving a clockwise fall of ropes but not a circle. On 9th February, the Rochester DAC approved plans for rehanging the bells in a new frame. They very earnestly wish that great care will be taken of the old bells of 1610. "They earnestly hope that the canons of the bells shall not be cut off & they would express the hope that if posssible you would have a timber frame - oak or teak - instead of the proposed metal one, which generally they disapprove of". On 18th March a faculty was granted for rehanging the bells in a new cast iron frame for eight bells, the three 1610 bells to have canon-retaining headstocks. The bells were removed from the tower. John Taylor & Co tuned them and refitted them. On 7th September 2 trebles were ordered from Taylor's to make the ring up to 8 bells.
1925 On 7th January, the Tower Captain wrote to Taylor's to hope that the bells would soon be back, and that Horsmonden "wanted doing" and that one of the bells at Lamberhurst had fallen out of its framework. On 3rd February the parish wrote to Taylors, "How pleased everyone is with the bells. A Rochester ringer had said that they ring as well if not better than the recently hung Cathedral bells."
1932 11th Nov 7th headstock cracked. It was "repaired" by Taylors who reduced their price, after a row, to £20.
1958 13th Oct 7th headstock (steel) broke across middle. Colin Tester ordered a new cast iron canon retaining stock which was installed the following February by Taylors (£80).
1975 15th Mar Tenor headstock broke. Tom Sone advised a new one, like the 7th, and Taylors installed it later in November for £422.
2012 Canon retaining headstocks were fitted to bells 5, 7 and tenor by Whitechapel and reh

Gallery


The 1924 treble bell.
Photo: Dickon Love

A view of the belfry, with the tenor in the foreground.
Photo: Dickon Love

The tenor bell. Note the ornamental canons and canon-retaining headstock. The bells is a good casting dated 1610.
Photo: Dickon Love

A plaque recording the presentation of the clock and chimes. It is hung over the door to the belfry.
Photo: Dickon Love


Photo:


Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent Page updated: 29 May 2023