| c. |
1175 |
|
A small bell was cast for the church in the latter part of the 12th century. Together with the pair of bells at Iwade and the bell at Coldred, these four bells are the oldest in Kent. |
|
1887 |
|
J C L Stahlschmidt noted the bell as blank. |
|
1894 |
|
The present turret was built, and the bell was hung with a small unorthodox wheel. |
|
1968 |
|
The bell was visited by David Cawley and Ranald Clouston. "The Bell is hanging precariously from a square timber headstock with driven in gudgeons, plain bearings and an unorthodox wheel. One of the remaining canons is cracked and the single U-strap supporting the bell is very corroded. Access precarious - requires a ladder 25 ft long to reach hatch cover in ceiling at W. end of nave. Timber enclosed belfry. Shin up timberwork through another hatchway c6 ft above to minute belfry 4 ft square." Not for the faint hearted, and only one can do it at a time! As far as the bell was concerned, they described it thus:"No inscription. Moulding wires: 0 : 2-0 : 2-0. 3 canons (1 pair of doubles, l single missing). Lip to shoulder (TPH) 15¼"; Internal height (PH) 17"; Shoulder Circumference 32"; Thickness at soundbow 1¹³⁄₁₆". Lip: absolutely flat, 1⅞" thick. Unusually, no cast-in crown staple: a false one has always been fitted through two holes in the crown. Surviving canons of round section, 5⅝" high; the argent is 7 inches high." |
|
1971 |
|
The bell was rehung by the Whitechapel Foundry, with specially designed steel fittings for swing chiming by lever. It was not weighed. |
Photo: Nick Smith (Creative Commons License)