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Tonbridge
 

Tonbridge, St Stephen


Photo: Dickon Love, 28th Mar 2005

Details of the Bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)
Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
Quarter 1 1-3-018⅝" E♭ 1879 John Taylor & Co., Loughborough Never
Quarter 2 2-0-2121⅜" B♭ 1879 John Taylor & Co., Loughborough Never
® Hour Bell 4-1-827" F 1852 Charles & George Mears, Whitechapel Never

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Inscriptions

History

1852 Present tenor cast and hung for ringing by Whitechapel. [1]
1853 Parish created from Ss Peter & Paul, Tonbridge.
1879 2 smaller bells were cast and hung in their own frame for swing chiming with small metal wheels.
c 1932 The ringing bell was fitted with ball bearings.
2005 The belfry was inspected by Love, Cawley and Royalton-Kisch. The hour bell was quite ringable with a stay but the slider was broken. The course ships rope was replaced with a proper bell rope. The other 2 bells had ropes but no sallies & could be chimed.
[1] "E. Christian Esq 10 Whitehall Place for St. Stephens Church Tonbridge To a Bell 4-1-8 Clapper, Stock, Wheel, Ironwork Brasses, Frame & fixing as per estimate £50" (Whitechapel records)

Gallery


The hour bell, hung for ringing.
Photo: Dickon Love, 28 Mar 2005

The smaller quarter bell.
Photo: Dickon Love, 28 Mar 2005

The larger quarter bell.
Photo: Dickon Love, 28 Mar 2005

The two quarter bells.
Photo: Dickon Love, 28 Mar 2005

The hour bell.
Photo: Dickon Love, 28 Mar 2005

Here the bell is rung full circle (by Michael Royalton-Kisch). The old rope on the bell was subsequently changed for a proper bell rope. The ringing room is nice furnished with seats and sofas!
Photo: Dickon Love, 28 Mar 2005


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