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Cheriton
 

Cheriton, St Martin


Photo: Richard Offen, 2005

Details of the Bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)

(As supplied)

(As received 2011)
Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Treble 2-2-202-3-152-3-1423" A♭ 1923 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Doncaster 2011 John Taylor & Co
® 2 3-0-123-0-193-0-1623½" G 1923 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Doncaster 2011 John Taylor & Co
® 3 3-0-213-1-203-1-2024⅝" F 1881 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Removed 2011 John Taylor & Co
® 4 3-2-54-0-84-0-726⅜" E♭ 1881 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Removed 2011 John Taylor & Co
® 5 4-0-254-2-104-2-928⅜" D♭ 1881 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Removed 2011 John Taylor & Co
® 6 4-2-74-3-254-3-2429½" C 1881 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Removed 2011 John Taylor & Co
® 7 5-0-135-3-235-3-1631⅜" B♭ 1881 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Removed 2011 John Taylor & Co
® Tenor 6-2-87-1-57-1-034⅜" A♭ 1881 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Removed 2011 John Taylor & Co
Sanctus ½ cwt approx.13" approx. B 1869 John Warner & Sons Never

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes

Position
Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
Lower tier 1 2,3,5,6,7,8 1881 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Cast iron, Oak
8.3.A.e
6.1
Upper tier 2 1,4,Clock 1923 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Steel

Inscriptions

Earlier ring of 4

Bell Weight
(most recent)
DiameterDateFounderRetunedFate
Treble3-3-027"1634Joseph HatchNeverRecast 1881
2nd4-2-1429½"1634Joseph HatchNeverRecast 1881
3rd6-0-2631½"1607Joseph HatchNeverRecast 1881
Tenor8-1-434¾"1418-1440Richard HillNeverRecast 1881

History

1400 -1450 Bell cast by Richard Hille.
1552 Record of 3 bells in the tower. [1]
1607 Joseph Hatch cast a bell a tone above the Hille bell.
1634 2 trebles cast by Joseph Hatch - now comprises a ring of 4.
1759 Record of 4 bells. [2]
1799 Record of 4 bells in the tower. [3]
1869 John Warner cast a bell for St Martin's School.
1881 Bells recast into a ring of 6 by Mears & Stainbank.
1903 Bells rehung with new fittings in a new frame.
1923 Ring augmented with 2 Mears & Stainbank trebles.
1933 Back 6 rehung by Mears & Stainbank.
1976 Tenor clapper renewed.
1990 The bell from the St Martin's Church of England Primary School was hung as clock bell in the tower.
2011 Bells retuned by John Taylor Bellfounders and who rearranged the bells to improve the ringing circle. The tower work was done by the Kent CACR.
[1] Item a iij bells in the steple. "Sold", ij hand-bells. (Edwardian Inventory, 1552)
[2] "In the Tower, which is at the West End, hang 4 Bells thus Inscribed. 1. Joseph Hatch made Me. 1632. 2. Joseph Hatch made Me. 1632. 3. Joseph Hatch made Me. 1607. 4. Sit Nomen Domini benedictum." (Rev’d Bryan Faussett, 1759)
[3] The church, which is dedicated to St. Martin, is built of sand-stone, and consists of two isles and two chances, having a tower steeple at the west end, in which are four bells. ('The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent. Vol 8', Edward Hasted)

Gallery


The bells at the John Taylor Bellfoundry, Feb 2011
Photo: Dickon Love, Feb 2011


Photo: Dickon Love, Feb 2011


Photo: Dickon Love, Feb 2011


Photo: Dickon Love, Feb 2011


Photo: Dickon Love, Feb 2011

The bells following completion of the fittings, July 2011
Photo: David Cawley, 2011


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