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Langley
 

Langley, St Mary

Photo: Richard Offen, 2005

  • 2 bells hung for full circle ringing but unringable and 8 tubular bells
  • Tenor: 6½ cwt approx. in B.
  • Formerly ring of 3, tenor 8¼ cwt approx. Tenor removed leaving 2 remaining.
  • Grid Ref: TQ805514
  • Rung from: Ground Floor
  • Denomination: Church of England
    Diocese (Anglican): Canterbury
    Archdeaconry (Anglican): Maidstone
  • Building Listed Grade: II* Click for Heritage details.

Details of the Bells
Bell Weight
(most recent)		Diameter Note Date FounderRetuned
1 4½ cwt approx.30½" C♯ 1599 Thomas Hatch, Ulcombe, KentNever
2 6½ cwt approx.32½" B 1874 John Warner & SonsNever

Details of the Tubular Bells
Bell Length
DiameterDate Founder
1 61½"3½"1925 Harrington, Holland & Co., Coventry
2 1925 Harrington, Holland & Co., Coventry
3 1911 Harrington, Holland & Co., Coventry
4 1911 Harrington, Holland & Co., Coventry
5 1911 Harrington, Holland & Co., Coventry
6 1911 Harrington, Holland & Co., Coventry
7 1911 Harrington, Holland & Co., Coventry
8 94"4"1911 Harrington, Holland & Co., Coventry

Prior to 1865
Bell Weight
(most recent)		DiameterNoteDateFounderRetunedFate
Tenor (of 3)8¼ cwt approx.36"A?c 1400Robert BurfordNeverSold c.1865.

Prior to 1874
Bell Weight
(most recent)		DiameterNoteDateFounderRetunedFate
Tenor (of 2)6¾ cwt approx.33"B?1621Joseph HatchNeverRecast in 1874.

History
c 1400 Former tenor cast by Robert Burford.
1599 Present smaller bell cast by Thomas Hatch. This is his only surviving bell.
1621 Middle bell cast by Joseph Hatch.
c 1865 The tenor was sold.
1874 The frame was reconstructed and the former middle bell was recast by John Warner.
1887 Stahlschmidt notes that there were 2 bells in the tower, but that there were formerly 3.
1911 6 tubular bells were given in memory of William S Forster. [1]
1925 2 treble tubular bells were added in memory of John Reginald Collinson
1973 The 2 bells were recorded by Nicholas Davis and Alan Berry as being in a shocking state and the 3rd tube was cracked.
[1] We regret to record the death of Mr. W. S. Forster, of Rumwood, Langley, near Maidstone, which took place in London on Thursday night or Friday morning, the deceased passing away in his sleep. He was in his 78th year. Mr. Forster came to reside in Kent in 1880, when he succeeded Mrs. Brockman in the occupancy of Gore Court, Otham. In 1897 he took up his residence at Rumwood, Langley. He was a leading agriculturist in Mid Kent, a breeder of Sussex cattle, owner of a hackney stud, which brought him many honours, including a championship of London in 1897, and a successful hop grower. (Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald - Sat 8 Jul 1911)


Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent Page updated: 25 April 2020