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Gillingham, St Mary Magdalene
 Photo: Dickon Love, Jun 2005
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Details of the Bells |
| Bell | Weight (most recent) | (Recorded by Bowell 1912) | Diameter | Note | Date | Founder | Canons | Retuned | ||
| ® | Treble | 4-0-0 | 25¾" | F♯ | 1912 | Alfred Bowell, Ipswich | Flat | Never | ||
| ® | 2 | 4-2-4 | 26¾" | E♯ | 1912 | Alfred Bowell, Ipswich | Flat | Never | ||
| ® | 3 | 5-2-12 | 29½" | D♯ | 1737 | Richard Phelps, Whitechapel | Removed | 1912 Alfred Bowell | ||
| ® | 4 | 5-0-0 | 30¾" | C♯ | 1700 | Philip Wightman, Clerkenwell | Removed | 1912 Alfred Bowell | ||
| ® | 5 | 6-0-7 | 32¾" | B | 1700 | Philip Wightman, Clerkenwell | Removed | 1912 Alfred Bowell | ||
| ® | 6 | 7-2-0 | 34" | A♯ | 1700 | Philip Wightman, Clerkenwell | Removed | 1912 Alfred Bowell | ||
| ® | 7 | 8-3-9 | 36⅝" | G♯ | 1912 | Alfred Bowell, Ipswich | Flat | Never | ||
| ® | Tenor | 11-1-18 | 11-2-0 | 41¾" | F♯ | 1892 | Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel | Removed | 1912 Alfred Bowell |
Bellframes |
| Frame | Bells | Year | Maker | Material | Truss(es) | Local Layout | |||
| 1 | All bells | 1912 | Alfred Bowell, Ipswich | Metal |
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8.1 |
Inscriptions |
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How the bells are tuned |
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Earlier bells |
| Bell | Weight (most recent) | Date | Founder | Retuned | Fate | |
| Treble (of 8) | 4-1-23 | 1811 | Thomas Mears I | Never | Recast in 1912. | |
| 2nd (of 8) | 4-2-19 | 1811 | Thomas Mears I | Never | Recast in 1912. | |
| 7th (of 8) | 1749 | Thomas Lester | Never | Recast in 1912. | ||
| 5th (of 8) | 1700 | Philip Wightman | Never | Assumed. Recast in 1749. | ||
| Tenor (of 8) | 1700 | Philip Wightman | Never | Recast in 1892 |
Prior to 1892 |
| Bell | Date | Founder | Fate |
History |
| 1700 | A ring of 5 was cast by Philip Wightman. | ||
| 1737 | A new bell was added to the ring of 5 to form a ring of 6 by Richard Phelps. | ||
| 1749 | 5th (of 6) recast by Thomas Lester. | ||
| 1766 | The bell frame was repaired. | ||
| 1811 | 2 trebles added to make 8 by Thomas Mears. The augmented ring was opened on Mon 27 May by 8 ringers from Gravesend. They attempted a peal in the morning, which was lost, then after lunch attempted another peal, which was scored. The ringers complained through the local newspaper that they had to buy their own lunch rather than receive a "generous treat" as was "usual on such occasions" from the parish! [1] | ||
| 1912 | Bells 1,2 and 7 were recast and the bells were rehung by Alfred Bowell. [2] |
| [1] | RINGING - On Monday last (May 27, 1811.) was opened at the village of Gillingham, near Chatham, in this county, by a select band of eight change-ringing artists, from Gravesend, two new treble bells added to the old peal of six, to make them a complete ring of eight, by Mr. Thomas Mears, bell founder, White Chapel, London. The band performed in the morning part of the day, 5000 changes of Treble-Bob-Major; but by an unforeseen accident not the peal intended; they descended the tower, and at their own expence partook of an excellent dinner, (not by the parish invitation, which politeness is usual on such occasions to give a generous treat, with dinner, malt liquor, wines, punch, etc. etc.) then with a sober undaunted courage, ascended the venerable and gothic flinty tower again and rang a peal of 5,218 harmonious changes in the intricate and scientific method of Oxford-Treble-Bob-Major, which was brought round in three hours and 14 minutes, highly delighting a numerous assemblage of attentive hearers. Weight of the tenor. 14 cwt. Net bell metal. - N.B. This was the only company that attended on the occasion. (Kentish Gazette (Friday 31 May 1811)) |
| [2] | To recasting the 1st, 2nd & 7th bells and rehanging the peal of eight £162-12-6. Extras. To inscriptions on the recast bells £3. To timber supplied and left fixed in tower for lifting the bells 10/- To new clock hammer and connections and refixing clock weights, eyebolts, etc. £3. Total £169-2-6. Paid cq. 11 Jan 1913. (Bowell records, 30 Dec, 1912) |
Gallery |
One of the bells being taken away. The photo is dated by Chris Pickford as 1912. Photo: Bowell collection 1913 |
The 8 bells in their new frame in Bowell's bellfoundry in Ipswich, 1912. Photo: Bowell collection 1912 |
| Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent | Page updated: 1 April 2016 |
