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Burham, New Church of St Mary
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Prior to 1982 |
Bell | Weight (most recent) | Diameter | Note | Date | Founder | Retuned | Fate | |
Treble (of 3) | 3¾ cwt approx. | 25⅛" | F | 1700 | Richard Phelps | Never | Transferred to Preston-next-Wingham. | |
2nd (of 3) | 4¾ cwt approx. | 28⅞" | E | 1734 | Richard Phelps | Never | Transferred to St Michael's, Maidstone. | |
Tenor (of 3) | 3½ cwt approx. | 25¼" | E♭ | c.1300 | Richard de Wimbis | Never | Stolen in 1983 from Old Church. |
History |
c | 1300 | A bell was cast by Richard de Wymbis for the old church. | |
1700 | A bell was cast by Richard Phelps for the old church. | ||
1734 | A bell was cast by Richard Phelps for the old church. | ||
1881 | A new church was built and the 3 bells, ancient frame and fittings were transferred from the old church. | ||
1974 | The installation had fallen into a terrible state, the bells were taken down, 2 placed on the belfry floor and the c.1300 bell rehung in new fittings for swing chiming by Whitechapel. | ||
1978 | Following structural failure, the church was closed. | ||
1981 | The church was demolished after being declared unsafe. The frame was destroyed and the bells taken back to the old church for storage. The Richard de Wymbis bell, which was the oldest in the Diocese of Rochester, was taken back to the Old Church by the Kent CACR. The architect would not let them hoist it to the first floor for safety pending the installation of the new frame, and it was left on the ground floor with the result that it was stolen. | ||
1982 | The 1734 bell was transferred to St Michael & All Angels, Maidstone as a clock bell. | ||
1983 | The 1700 bell was transferred to St Mildred, Preston-next-Wingham as a treble to augment the 5 to 6. |
Gallery |
The Bell Frame |
The bell frame consisted of mediaeval sills, centre-posts and straight braces and was designed for three bells hanging side by side. It bore the following on its east head: 1632 : F T . R D . T V The tenor pit had the following letters: I D and other obliterated. |
Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent | Page updated: 10 October 2020 |