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Ashford
 

Ashford, St Mary the Virgin


Photo: Richard Offen, Apr 2005

  • 10 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 21-2-22 in E♭.
  • Grid Ref: TR010427
  • Rung from: Upstairs Ringing Room
  • Frame: 1965 Mears & Stainbank, made of cast iron and steel
  • Denomination: Church of England
    Diocese (Anglican): Canterbury
    Archdeaconry (Anglican): Ashford
  • Kent County Association of Change Ringers District: Ashford
  • Building Listed Grade: I Click for Heritage details.
  • Peals rung at the tower

  • c. 1979()

Details of the Bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)

(Measured 1898)
Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Treble 4-2-1226" G 1970 Whitechapel Bell Foundry Flat 1965 Mears & Stainbank
® 2 4-3-2628" F 1965 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Flat Never
® 3 5-0-1729¼" E♭ 1762 Lester & Pack, Whitechapel Removed 1965 Mears & Stainbank
® 4 6-1-031⅛" D 1762 Lester & Pack, Whitechapel Removed 1965 Mears & Stainbank
® 5 6-0-031¾" C 1620 Joseph Hatch, Ulcombe, Kent Removed 1965 Mears & Stainbank
® 6 7-2-234½" B♭ 1651 William Hatch Removed 1965 Mears & Stainbank
® 7 9-1-737½" A♭ 1633 Joseph Hatch, Ulcombe, Kent Removed 1965 Mears & Stainbank
® 8 12-1-1412-2-340¹⁵`" G 1898 John Taylor & Co., Loughborough Flat 1965 Mears & Stainbank
® 9 14-3-944½" F 1620 Joseph Hatch, Ulcombe, Kent Removed 1965 Mears & Stainbank
® Tenor 21-2-2251¹⁄₁₆" E♭ 1796 Thomas Mears I, Whitechapel Removed 1965 Mears & Stainbank
Semitone 6-2-1232" D♭ 1885 Gillett & Co, Croydon (811) 1965 Mears & Stainbank

®  - Hung for full circle ringing
 - Hung dead

Inscriptions

Earlier bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)
DiameterNoteDateFounderRetunedFate
Sharp 2nd4-0-1527½"F♯1885Gillett & JohnstonNeverCracked and recast 1965
6th (of 8)11-3-23G1620Joseph HatchNeverRecast 1898
TenorE♭1620Joseph HatchNeverRecast 1796

History

1470 Tower completed by Sir John Fogge.
1552 Record of 5 large bells and a smaller one in the tower.
1620 Treble bell added and 4th, 5th and tenor of ring of six recast by Joseph Hatch.
1633 Old 3rd of 6 recast by Joseph Hatch.
1651 Old 2nd of 6 recast by William Hatch.
1762 2 treble added and bells rehung in a new frame. The ringing room was raised from the ground floor to an upstairs ringing chamber.
1763 14th March Bells rededicated.
c 1765 Record of 8 bells in the tower. [1]
1796 Tenor recast by Thomas Mears.
1878 6th reported to be cracked.
1885 Two additional carillon bells and machine added by Gillett & Co.
1898 6th recast and bells rehung by John Taylor.
1924 Front 7 bells rehung by Gillett & Johnston with new ball bearings, gudgeons and clappers. Canons thought to have been removed from other bells at this time (though could have been 1885.)
1925 Tenor rehung by Gillett & Johnston.
1965 Smaller carillon bell recast, rehung dead with the other 8 in a new frame for 10 by Mears & Stainbank. All new fittings were used apart from the Taylor headstock on the 6th (of 8) reused.
1970 Treble added and dead bell rehung for ringing with new fittings to make 10.
[1] There are now 8 Bells - 2 Smaller having been added to the former Six, A.D. 1762. They were founded by Lester & Packe of London. In The Tower hang 6 Heavy Bells, thus Inscribed. 1. Josephus Hatch Me Fecit. 1620. 2. William Hatch made Me. 1651. 3. Josephus Hatch Me Fecit. 1633. 4. Joseph Hatch Me Fecit. 1620. 5. Petrus Parris, Josephus Hatch Me fecit. 1620. 6. John Asherst, C.W., Josephus Hatch Me Fecit. 1620. (V J Torr 1860s (from Rev’d Bryan Faussett, 1758))

Articles

  • "A Treble for Ashford", David L Cawley (Specially written for Lovesguide) 1 January 2001
  • Gallery


    Some of the bells collected to be recast into the new treble.
    Photo: David Cawley collection

    The new treble pictured here in 1970 together with the fittings for this and the other treble.
    Photo: David Cawley collection

    The 6th (now the 8th) being drilled at Taylor's in 1898.
    Photo: David Cawley collection

    1965 restoration
    Photo: Steve Rapson

    1965 restoration
    Photo: Steve Rapson

    1965 restoration
    Photo: Steve Rapson

    1965 restoration
    Photo: Steve Rapson

    1965 restoration
    Photo: Steve Rapson

    1965 restoration
    Photo: Steve Rapson

    Peal Boards

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1815
    12 Jan 1781: 5040 Plain Bob Major
    18 Jan 1815: 5040 Grandsire Triples

    Photo: Mark Chittenden-Pile, 29 May 2017

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1790
    31 Dec 1789: 5040 Plain Bob Major

    Photo: Mark Chittenden-Pile, 29 May 2017

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1792
    09 Dec 1765: 5040 Plain Bob Major
    02 May 1768: 5184 Morning Pleasure Treble Bob Major
    21 Feb 1767: 5184 Oxford Treble Bob Major
    23 Jan 1792: 6000 Plain Bob Major

    Photo: Mark Chittenden-Pile, 29 May 2017

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1798
    16 Nov 1797: 5040 Plain Bob Major

    Photo: Mark Chittenden-Pile, 29 May 2017

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1812
    01 Jan 1812: 6720 Plain Bob Major

    Photo: Mark Chittenden-Pile, 29 May 2017

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1818
    05 Mar 1818: 5040 Plain Bob Major

    Photo: Mark Chittenden-Pile, 29 May 2017



    Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent Page updated: 1 April 2016