Fairfield, St Thomas-a-Becket
Photo: David Cawley |
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Details of the Bells |
Bell | Weight (most recent) | Diameter | Note | Date | Founder | Canons | Retuned | ||
® | Treble | 1-2-26 | 19⅞" | 1913 | Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel | Never | |||
® | 2 | 2-1-10 | 21⅞" | 1913 | Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel | Never | |||
® | Tenor | 3-0-11 | 24" | 1913 | Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel | Never |
Bellframes |
Frame | Bells | Year | Maker | Material | Truss(es) | Local Layout | |||
1 | All bells | Timber | 4 |
Inscriptions |
Earlier ring of three |
Bell | Weight (most recent) | Diameter | Date | Founder | Retuned | Fate | |
Treble | 2-1-16 | 22½" | 1418-1440 | John Walgrave | Never | Recast 1913 | |
2 | 2-0-25 | 23½" | 1418-1440 | John Walgrave | Never | Recast 1913 | |
Tenor | 2-1-18 | 25" | 1474 | John Danyell | Never | Recast 1913 |
History |
1418 | -1440 | Two (or 3) bells cast by John Walgrave (treble and 2nd of 3). | |
c | 1475 | Bell cast (or recast) by John Danyell (tenor of 3). | |
1552 | Record of the 3 bells in the tower. [1] | ||
1799 | Record of 1 bell. [2] | ||
1913 | The church was completely reconstructed by W. D. Caroe using as much of the old material as possible; this included a good proportion of the old bell frame. The foundry provided only for recasting the three bells (£16.16s.0d.) and three sets of fittings "for chiming" (£21.0s.0d.); presumably the stays and sliders were added later. Carriage to and from Fairfield cost a further £1.10s.0d. which must have been interesting, as the church was surrounded by water at the time, and the bells had to be ferried from the roadside to the church. |
[1] | Item in the steple iij small bells. Mem: Sold . . . One handbell and a sacryng bell. (Edwardian Inventory, 1552) |
[2] | The church, which is dedicated to St. Thomas, (Becket) the martyr, is very small, and built of brick. It consists of one isle and one chancel, having a low pointed wooden turret at the west end, in which hangs one bell. ('The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent. Vol 8', Edward Hasted) |
Gallery |
The church in floods. Picture before 1913. Photo: David Cawley collection |
Another picture of the church prior to 1913. Photo: David Cawley collection |
Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent | Page updated: 1 April 2016 |