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Aylesford
 

Aylesford, St Peter


Photo: Dickon Love, Apr 2007

  • 8 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 13-2-7 in F.
  • Grid Ref: TQ729590
  • Rung from: Upstairs Ringing Room
  • Frame: 1885 Gillett & Co.
  • Denomination: Church of England
    Diocese (Anglican): Rochester
  • Kent County Association of Change Ringers District: Maidstone
  • Building Listed Grade: I Click for Heritage details.
  • Peals rung at the tower

Details of the Bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)
Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Treble 4-0-2426" F 1885 Gillett & Co, Croydon (866) Never
® 2 4-1-427" E 1885 Gillett & Co, Croydon (867) Never
® 3 4-3-028" D 1885 Gillett & Co, Croydon (863) Never
® 4 5-3-1431" C 1652 Michael Darbie Never
® 5 6-3-2133" B♭ 1652 Michael Darbie Never
® 6 8-1-236" A 1885 Gillett & Bland, Croydon (862) Never
® 7 10-1-2039" G 1661 Anthony Bartlett, Whitechapel Never
® Tenor 13-2-743" F 1885 Gillett & Co, Croydon (861) Never

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes

Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
1 All bells 1885 Gillett & Co, Croydon Timber
6.A
8.3

Inscriptions

How the bells are tuned

Prior to 1885

Bell DateFounderRetunedFate
31708Richard PhelpsNeverRecast in 1885.
41661Anthony BartlettNeverRecast in 1885.
Tenor1666Anthony BartlettNeverRecast in 1885.

Prior to 1666

Bell DateFounderRetunedFate
Tenor1641William HatchNeverRecast in 1666.

History

1518 Thomas Cossington bequeathed 20s for buying a new treble to augment the existing 3.
1621 -1622 One of the 4 bells was recast.
1629 -1630 3rd (of 4) recast.
1632 -1633 3rd (of 4) recast.
1641 -1641 Tenor recast by William Hatch; bells rehung in a new frame made by George Daye.
1652 Treble recast and new treble added to make 5.
1661 4th (of 5) recast by Anthony Bartlett.
1666 Tenor recast by Anthony Bartlett.
1682 -1683 3 of the 5 bells rehung.
1688 -1689 2 of the 5 bells rehung.
1708 3rd (of 5) recast by Richard Phelps; all bells rehung.
1885 Tenor recast; 3 trebles added; all rehung in a new frame. The new octave was dedicated on 19 Dec.
1887 Stahlschmidt records the eight bells together with a blank 13 inch Priest's bell, which appears to be no longer at the church, but might be one of the bells currently in the courtyard of Aylesford Priory.
1921 Bells rehung by Alfred Bowell. (1921 25th Nov: To rehanging the eight bells, tightening up the framework and supplying new steel headstock to the tenor £105. Paid cq. 3rd Dec. 1921.) [1]
1978 The back three were rehung by Whitechapel on ball bearings.
2005 10th Dec. New wheels were provided for 1 and 2 by Whites of Appleton who also refurbished the existing wheels for 3 & 4 and reduced the diameter of the existing wheel for No. 5 to make it fit into the sequence better. New bearings were provided.
2006 Bells returned and rehung by the KCACR. A new wheel was fitted to the 5th, completed 25 Feb. The newly refurbished bells were rededicated during morning service on 12 Mar.
[1] 1921 25th Nov: To rehanging the eight bells, tightening up the framework and supplying new steel headstock to the tenor £105. Paid cq. 3rd Dec. 1921. (Alfred Bowell records)

Articles

  • "The Priest's Bell", Author unknown (The Ringing World) 18 February 1977
  • "Ss Peter & Paul, Aylesford, Kent", Author unknown (The Ringing World) 31 August 1978
  • Peal Boards

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1891
    19 Feb 1891: 5040 Grandsire Triples (1st peal by the local band.)

    Photo: Richard A Smith, 18 August 2018

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1889
    05 Aug 1889: 5040 Grandsire Triples

    Photo: Richard A Smith, 18 August 2018

    Timber Performance Board dated approx. 1989
    05 Aug 1989: 5040 Grandsire Triples

    Photo: Richard A Smith, 18 August 2018

    Elsewhere in the Parish

    Aylesford, Carmelite Shrine Church of our Lady of Mt Carmel & St Simon Stock (RC) (Aylesford Friary)
    A church bell, a courtyard bell, a hall bell and an old refectory bell
    Aylesford, Preston Hall
    Formerly 1 clock bell, since stolen


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