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Harrietsham
 

Harrietsham, St John the Baptist


  • 8 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 12-2-12 in G.
  • Grid Ref: TQ874530
  • Rung from: Upstairs Ringing Room
  • Frame: Strengthened in 1926 by Mears & Stainbank
  • Denomination: Church of England
    Diocese (Anglican): Canterbury
    Archdeaconry (Anglican): Maidstone
  • 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)

(Prior to retuning)
Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Treble 4-0-84-0-2726¾" G 1742 Thomas Lester, Whiechapel Removed 1926 Mears & Stainbank
® 2 4-1-84-1-2226⅞" F♯ 1926 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Flat Never
® 3 4-2-225-1-628" E 1952 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Flat Never
® 4 5-2-166-0-1631" D 1742 Thomas Lester, Whiechapel Conventional 1926 Mears & Stainbank
® 5 6-1-16-1-2132⅛" C 1742 Thomas Lester, Whiechapel Conventional 1926 Mears & Stainbank
® 6 6-2-66-3-2133⅝" B 1926 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Flat Never
® 7 8-2-89-0-836½" A 1742 Thomas Lester, Whiechapel Conventional 1926 Mears & Stainbank
® Tenor 12-2-1212-3-1341" G 1885 Thomas Lester, Whiechapel Doncaster 1926 Mears & Stainbank

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes

Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
1 All bells 1742 Thomas Lester, Whiechapel Timber

Inscriptions

Of the original ring of 8

Bell Weight
(most recent)
DiameterDateFounderRetunedFate
2nd (of 8)1742Thomas LesterNeverRecast in 1744
2nd (of 8)4-1-2227½"1744Thomas LesterNeverRecast in 1926
3rd (of 8)4-3-2729"1742Thomas LesterNeverRecast in 1952
6th (of 8)6-3-2133½"1742Thomas LesterNeverRecast in 1926
Tenor (of 8)12½ cwt approx.41½"1742Thomas LesterNeverRecast in 1885

Recast in 1744

Bell DateFounderFate

History

1742 Ring of 8 cast by Thomas Lester and hung by Robert Bottle.
1743 In March, the new ring of 8 was opened by an aged band of ringers from the Lenham and Leeds, led by James Barham. [1]
1744 2nd recast by Thomas Lester.
1885 Tenor recast by John Warner.
1926 2nd and 6th recast, the remainder were retuned and rehung by Mears & Stainbank.
1952 3rd recast by Mears & Stainbank.
[1] Longevity. ln March 1743, the new peal of eight bells at Harrietsham, was opened for ringing from the ringers were instituted the companies of Lenham and Leeds ringers; of these there are now living: Samuel Grayland, aged 83 ; John Freeland, 87, Abraham Barham, 82, Thomas Barham, 76, and James Barham, 73; their united ages amounting to 406 years. James Barham has rung, in Kent and Sussex, many more than 100 peals, of not less than 5040 changes in each, and called the bobs to most of them. (Kentish Gazette, Fri 11 Jan 1799)

Articles

  • "A visit to ... St John the Baptist, Harrietsham", Rosemary Hart (Maidstone District Newsletter) 28 March 2024


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