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Aldington
 

Aldington, St Martin

Photo: Dickon Love

Details of the Bells
Bell Weight
(most recent)
(Recorded 1774 (cast wt))		Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Treble 5-3-36-0-830" D 1774 Pack & Chapman, Whitechapel Conventional 1928 Mears & Stainbank
® 2 5-3-236-1-331½" C 1774 Pack & Chapman, Whitechapel Conventional 1928 Mears & Stainbank
® 3 7-0-2733¾" B♭ 1928 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Flat Never
® 4 8-1-89-0-1136½" A 1774 Pack & Chapman, Whitechapel Removed 1928 Mears & Stainbank
® 5 10-1-2510-3-1839½" G 1774 Pack & Chapman, Whitechapel Conventional 1928 Mears & Stainbank
® Tenor 13-3-1142¾" F 1928 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Flat Never

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes
Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
1 All bells 1928 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Teak

Inscriptions

How the bells are tuned

Prior to 1928
Bell Weight
(most recent)		DiameterDateFounderRetunedFate
37-1-233½"1774Pack & ChapmanNeverRecast 1928
613-2-2144"1774Pack & ChapmanNeverRecast 1928

Old Ring of 5 from 1774
Bell DateFounderRetunedFate
Treble1705John PeeleNeverRecast 1774
21705John PeeleNeverRecast 1774
31705John PeeleNeverRecast 1774
41705John PeeleNeverRecast 1774
Tenor1705John PeeleNeverRecast 1774

History
1552 Record of 3 bells in the tower. [1]
1705 New ring of 5 bells cast by John Peele.
1759 Record of 5 bells. [2]
1774 Bells recast into a ring of 6 by Pack & Chapman. This was a complete Maiden peal (although the tenor was said to have been a poor bell).
1799 Record of 6 bells in the tower. [3]
1911 Battlements added to the tower.
1928 3rd and tenor recast; all the bells rehung in a new frame. Although hung in a 6-bell frame, it is clear that the foundation has been designed with a view to future augmentation (and there is plenty of space). However, the position of the two additional pits would be for nos 3 and 4 in eight and the new bells would have to occupy the pits occupied by the existing 1 and 2 which would be displaced by the move.
1991 Tower found to be extremely unsafe and the church was shut for over a year while emergency repairs were carried out and a ring beam fitted.
[1] Item iij bells in the steple. (Edwardian Inventory)
[2] "This Church consists of The Great and South Chancells, The Body and an Isle to the South. At the West End stands the Tower, which is very high, & commands a very extensive Prospect of The Sea, Coast of France etc (sic). In it hang 5 heavy Bells, all cast by John Peele. A.D. 1705. The Great Bell bears ye Name of the aforemention’d William Cade, who was then Rector." (Rev’d Bryan Faussett, 1759)
[3] The church, which is dedicated to St. Martin, is large and handsome, and consists of tow isles and two chancels, having at the west end a handsome tower steeple, well and strongly built, the top of it being covered with lead, flat and without battlements, seemingly as if unfinished. This steeple was begun about the year 1507, and went on so slowly, most probably for want of money, that it was not finished in 1557, as appears by the legacies left towers the work of it, in several wills in the Prerogative-office, Canterbury. There are six bells in it, cast about twenty-four years ago. ('The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent. Vol 8.', Edward Hasted)

Articles

  • "Trouble at Aldington", Author unknown (The Ringing World) 24 January 1992
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    Church pictures

    The church in an old postcard, without its parapet.
    Photo: David Cawley collection

    Belfry pictures

    Belfry pictures
    Photo: Dickon Love

    Photo: Dickon Love

    Photo: Dickon Love


    Photo: Dickon Love
    Recent Peals
    The most recent performances, according to BellBoard.
    2019-06-135040 Surprise Minor
    2014-02-225040 Spliced Surprise Minor (41m)
    2010-05-225040 Minor (6m)
    2007-01-275040 Plain Bob Minor
    1985-08-105040 Minor (7m)
    1983-07-135040 Minor (7m)
    1976-10-235040 Plain Bob Minor
    1969-09-295040 Minor (2m)
    1969-01-115040 Plain Bob Minor
    Recent Quarter Peals
    The most recent performances, according to BellBoard.
    2019-06-221320 Oxford Treble Bob Minor
    2019-03-071260 Plain Bob Minor
    2016-06-031260 Doubles (1p/5m)
    2013-10-311320 Norwich Surprise Minor
    2013-03-231260 St Clement's College Bob Minor
    2012-06-151260 Reverse Canterbury Pleasure Place Doubles
    2012-06-051260 Plain Bob Minor
    2010-12-301320 Norwich Surprise Minor
    2010-04-052160 (3 methods)
    2007-07-191320 London Surprise Minor
    2006-03-111296 Cambridge Surprise Minor
    2004-02-241260 St Clement's College Bob Minor
    2003-09-271260 Doubles (11m)
    2003-03-171296 Cambridge Surprise Minor
    2002-03-231320 Kelso Surprise Minor
    2000-03-031296 Cambridge Surprise Minor
    1999-03-271320 Cambridge Surprise Minor
    1998-02-271296 Beverley Surprise Minor
    1988-08-061260 St Clement's College Bob Minor
    1978-02-061296 Cambridge Surprise Minor
    1977-12-221260 Plain Bob Minor
    1977-09-051260 Double Bob Minor
    1977-06-131296 Beverley Surprise Minor
    1976-10-181272 Oxford Treble Bob Minor
    1975-12-241260 Double Oxford Bob 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