Kingston, St Giles
Photo: Richard Offen, 2005 |
|
Details of the Bells |
Bell | Weight (most recent) | Diameter | Note | Date | Founder | Canons | Retuned | ||
1 | 4-1-22 | 29½" | C# | 15th Cent | Unknown | Never | |||
2 | 5-1-23 | 31¼" | B | 1610 | Joseph Hatch, Ulcombe, Kent | Never |
Inscriptions |
Prior to 1971 |
Bell | Weight (most recent) | Diameter | Date | Founder | Retuned | Fate | |
Tenor (of 3) | 8 cwt approx. | 36⅝" | c. 1325 | William le Belyetere | Never | Transferred to the Poor Priests' Hospital, Canterbury. |
History |
c | 1325 | A bell was cast (later the tenor of 3) by William de Belyetere. This is currently preserved on the first floor of the tower. | |
c | 1450 | The present treble was cast during the 15th Century. | |
1610 | Bell cast by Joseph Hatch, formerly the middle bell of the 3. The 3 bells were rehung in a new timber frame consisting of 3 pits side by side carried on floor beams and consisted of heads, sills, centre-posts, main braces and upper jack braces. | ||
1756 | Record of 3 bells in the tower. [1] | ||
1971 | Frame removed as it was badly affected by decay and insect attack, even though it was considered well treated and capable of holding bells hung stationary. The canons of the treble were (perhaps unnecessarily) removed. The 2 trebles were tuned, turned and rehung dead on a girder. The tenor was left on the 1st floor. All this work was done without a faculty. | ||
1988 | The old tenor was removed for exhibition at the Poor Priest's Hospital, Canterbury. |
[1] | There has formerly been good Painted Glass in ye Windows, as appears from some little of it still remaining. It has a neat Tower, embattled on ye Top, in wch. hang 3 Small Bells. The First Bell has no Inscription. The Second - Joseph Hatch made Me. 1610. The Third - Ave Maria, Gracia Plena, Dns. Tecum. (Rev’d Bryan Faussett, 1756) |
Gallery |
The treble bell (an uninscribed casting) probably cast in London in c.1450, fitted for chiming. Photo: David Cawley, 1971 |
The preserved former tenor by William le Belyetere. Photo: David Cawley, 1971 |
Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent | Page updated: 28 March 2020 |