Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent

Chislehurst, St Nicholas

Photo: Dickon R Love, 18 Apr 2022

8 bells hung for full circle ringing
Tenor: 15-2-19 in E.
Grid Ref: TQ444699
Warner's earliest surviving complete ring of more than 3 bells.
Rung from: Ground Floor
Frame: 1937 Mears & Stainbank, metal
Denomination: Church of England
Diocese (Anglican): Rochester
Kent County Association of Change Ringers District: Lewisham
Building Listed Grade: II* Click for Heritage details.
Peals rung at the tower

Details of the Bells

	Bell	Weight (most recent)*	*(Supplied weight (FE Robinson))*	*(After canon removal (WBF records))*	Diameter	Note	Date	Founder	Canons	Retuned
®	Treble	5-0-9	5-2-20	5-1-16	28¾"	E	1858	John Warner & Sons	Removed	1937 Mears & Stainbank
®	2	5-2-18	6-0-26	5-3-20	30¾"	D♯	1858	John Warner & Sons	Removed	1937 Mears & Stainbank
®	3	6-1-11	6-3-21	6-2-14	32"	C♯	1858	John Warner & Sons	Removed	1937 Mears & Stainbank
®	4	6-3-8	7-1-18	6-3-23	34"	B	1858	John Warner & Sons	Removed	1937 Mears & Stainbank
®	5	8-1-24	9-1-10	8-3-11	36½"	A	1858	John Warner & Sons	Removed	1937 Mears & Stainbank
®	6	9-0-13	10-0-7	9-2-7	37¾"	G♯	1858	John Warner & Sons	Removed	1937 Mears & Stainbank
®	7	10-3-15	11-2-16	10-3-24	40¾"	F♯	1858	John Warner & Sons	Removed	1937 Mears & Stainbank
®	Tenor	15-2-19	17-2-2	16-1-21	45¾"	E	1858	John Warner & Sons	Removed	1937 Mears & Stainbank

* Source of weight figures: WBF records
® - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes

Frame

Bells

Year

Maker

Material

Truss(es)

Local
Layout

All bells

1937

Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel

Cast iron

8.3.A.h

Inscriptions

How the bells are tuned

Ring of Six destroyed in 1857

Bell	Weight (most recent)	Diameter	Date	Founder	Retuned	Fate
Treble	5-2-12	29½"	1830	Thomas Mears II	Never	Destroyed by fire in 1857
2nd	6-2-23	31½"	1830	Thomas Mears II	Never	Destroyed by fire in 1857
3rd	7-1-0	33½"	1830	Thomas Mears II	Never	Destroyed by fire in 1857
4th	8-0-9	34½"	1830	Thomas Mears II	Never	Destroyed by fire in 1857
5th	10-0-18	38"	1830	Thomas Mears II	Never	Destroyed by fire in 1857
Tenor	13-2-0	42"	1830	Thomas Mears II	Never	Destroyed by fire in 1857

Lent in 1957

Bell		Weight (most recent)	Diameter	Date	Founder	Retuned	Fate
Single lent bell		0-3-17¾	16"		George Mears & Co.	Never	Returned to the foundry 1858

History

	1552		Record of 4 bells in the tower. [1]
	1830		A ring of 6 cast was by Thomas Mears II (tenor 13½ cwt).
	1857		On 16 March, a large fire destroyed the spire, bells, clock and everything in the tower, damaging windows and walls. The fire was supposedly caused by one of the ringers and was so hot that 5 out of 6 of the bells melted before they fell. A small temporary bell was supplied by Whitechapel for use by the parish until the restoration was complete. The bell was returned in June 1858. [2]
	1858		The tower and spire were rebuilt and a new ring of 8 was cast by John Warner cast mainly using old metal. They were judged to be a success except that maybe the front three were a little light for the others. [3]
	1894		Complaints were made in the Bromley and District Times about the constant ringing on the front 6 bells as the tenor was going too badly, encouraging the parish to effect a restoration, as Lewisham had done recently. [4]
	1924		Bells quarter turned and rehung by Thomas Groombridge Jnr.
	1937		Bells retuned and rehung in a new frame by Mears & Stainbank. [6]
	1984		New rope guides fitted.
	1988		Major overhaul of bearings and fittings by Whitechapel.

[1]	Item iiij great bells suted of brasse in the Steple and one Saints bell of brasse. Item ij hand bells and iij sacryng bells of brasse. (Edwardian Inventory, 1552)
[2]	Bell supplied to G.B. Wollaston, Church Warden. A 16" bell 0-3-17¾ with clapper, stock, lever and brasses, lent for temporary use and returned in June 1858 (Whitechapel records, 30 Mar 1858)
[3]	CHISLEHURST. - THE CHURCH. - The complete restoration of the tower, spire, and bells of the parish church is happily now effected, and once again is seen the tall and graceful spire towering above the lofty and venerable old trees which surround the beautiful and neat little churchyard. It may be unknown to many of our readers that the fire on the 16th March, 1857, which originated in the belfry (from the supposed carelessness of one of the ringers), entirely destroyed the spire, bells, clock, and everything within the tower, and greatly damaged its windows and walls, which accordingly, at the restoration, had, to a great extent, to be rebuilt. By the timely arrival on that occasion of two engines, and the untiring exertions of the inhabitants, the flames were entirely confined to the tower, and the other part of the church was saved, although the lead on part of the roof had begun to melt from the burning rafters falling upon it. So intense was the heat from the immense burning beams, floors, &c., that five out of the six bells were melted before they fell. The new peal of eight has been now cast by Warner, of London, and is considered by competent judges to be very good. The tenor weighs over 17 cwt., and sounds E natural (third space in the bass stave), the rest completing the octave. If there be any fault at all, it may be that the first, second, and third are rather too light for the others. Mr. Denison, the designer of the "Victoria," of Westminster, has been down to hear and examine them, and has expressed a very favourable opinion of them. The great requirement now is, perseverance on the part of the ringers until they attain perfection. A party of excellent ringers from London opened them, and the celebrated Campanologian Society from Woolwich have rung them once or twice, giving quite a treat to the inhabitants. Formerly the bells were rung from the first floor, but they are now rung from the floor of the church, which is an improvement in many respects. The whole work of restoration has been under the direction of G. B. Wollaston, Esq., architect, a gentleman residing in the village. The builder was Mr. Grammar, of London. The clock is an excellent piece of workmanship, made by Dent, of London. It chimes the quarters on the first and fourth bells, forming a pleasing contrast with the notation of the hour on the tenor. (Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser - Sat 8 Jan 1859)
[4]	CAMPANOLOGY. To the Editor of the TIMES. SIR,- It has often been said to me "what a dull place Chislehurst seems to be, no life about it," and to add greatly to the dulness the musical notes of the parish church bells are seldom to be heard now, and when they are it is only the front six of the octave (enough to drive a lover of music away from hearing them); much better if it were the back six. I believe this is due to the big bell (the tenor) going very badly, and requiring a thorough practical man to inspect it. I should think if our neighbours at Lewisham (a poor parish) with a little perseverance of the ringers can raise a sum of something like £200 to have one bell recast, and everything in connection with the others new, surely Chislehurst can raise a less sum to have theirs put in ringing order, so that they can do as their neighbours, viz, ring with ease and comfort, and for their ringing to be a credit to them when they have done. The work at Lewisham was carried out be Messrs. Taylor & Co., of Loughborough, and reflects great credit on that firm. I might also say that the Kent County Association of Change Ringers have men appointed to inspect and report on belfries, whose services can be obtained through the Rev. F.J.O.Helmore, hon. sec., Precincts, Canterbury, or Rev. T. E. Teignmouth-Shore, district sec., 23, Thornford Road, Lewisham S.E. Trusting the bells will again be sending forth their tuneful notes ere the festive season arrives.- I am, Sir, yours faithfully. CAMPANOLOGIST. (Bromley & District Times, Fri 2 Nov 1894)
[6]	Mears & Stainbank didn't record weights of the bells on their arrival, but we know that the tenor was 17-2-2 was published by F E Robinson in his book "Among the Bells". The bells were first weighed after the canons had been removed, with the tenor coming to 16-1-21.The bells were then tuned and weighed again at 15-2-19. Mears had more of an interest in weights before and after tuning than they did with canons. (Whitechapel records)

The intermediate chamber

1st floor chamber with the clock and Ellacombe rack.
Photo: Dickon R Love, 18 Apr 2022

Photo: Dickon R Love, 18 Apr 2022

The belfry

View of the belfry Photo: Dickon R Love, 18 Apr 2022	The 4th, by the door. Photo: Dickon R Love, 18 Apr 2022	The 3rd. Photo: Dickon R Love, 18 Apr 2022
The 6th. Photo: Dickon R Love, 18 Apr 2022	The tenor. Photo: Dickon R Love, 18 Apr 2022	The 2nd. Photo: Dickon R Love, 18 Apr 2022
The 3rd. Photo: Dickon R Love, 18 Apr 2022	The treble. Photo: Dickon R Love, 18 Apr 2022	The 5th. Photo: Dickon R Love, 18 Apr 2022
The 7th. Photo: Dickon R Love, 18 Apr 2022	Photo: Dickon R Love, 18 Apr 2022	Photo: Dickon R Love, 18 Apr 2022
Looking up. Photo: Dickon R Love, 18 Apr 2022

Peal Boards

Timber Performance Board dated 2019
11 Jun 2012: 5120 Ealing S Major (In memory of Mark A S Jones (peal rung at the Annunciation).)
11 Jun 2012: 5120 Cambridge S Major (In memory of Mark A S Jones.)

Photo: Dickon R Love, 14 April 2022

Brass Performance Board dated approx. 1864
22 Nov 1894: 5040 Grandsire Triples (1st peal by a Chislehurst band.)