Wittersham

WITTERSHAM, St John the Baptist
Isle of Oxney

Photo RCO 2006

	8 bells
	Tenor 16-2-8 in E
	Grid Ref. TQ897270
	Ashford District
	Frame: 1967 John Taylor
	Retuning: 1937 Mears & Stainbank then 1967 John Taylor
	Upstairs Ringing Room
	PEALS
	Ż SOUND CLIP (Recording by Damien Smith)

DETAILS OF THE BELLS

Bell Weight
(1937, before retuning) Weight
(1937, after retuning) Weight
(1967, after retuning) Diameter Cast Founder

1
n/a n/a
5-0-26

1997

John Taylor & Co.

2
n/a n/a
5-2-12

29"

1861

George Mears & Co.

3

6-2-4

6-1-10

6-1-5

32"

1937

Mears & Stainbank

4

7-3-7

7-1-26

7-1-19

34"

1609

Joseph Carter II

5

9-2-18

9-1-3

9-1-2

37"

1609

Joseph Carter II

6

11-2-2

11-2-2

11-1-27

39¹/4"

1609

Joseph Carter II

7

n/a

n/a

13-2-6

41⁷/8"

1951

Gillett & Johnston

8

17-1-2

16-2-20

16-2-8

46¹/2"

1629

John Wilnar

The 7th was supplied at 13-2-15.

INSCRIPTIONS

1. (vines)

19 97

2. G. MEARS & C^O FOUNDERS LONDON 1861

3. MEARS & STAINBANK 1937

IN JOYOUS SOUND -
KENNETH MAXIMILLIAN WILKINSON
COMMANDER R.N. 9 NOV 1936
AGED 43

4. IOSEPHUS CARTER ME FECIT 1609

5. IOSEPHUS CARTER ME FECIT 1609

6. IOSEPHUS CARTER ME FECIT 1609

(The following is incised on to the bell:)
THOMAS ODIARNE IEREMY ODIARNE ISAAKE ODIARNE GAVE THIS BELL 1609

7. THOMAS MEARS & SON OF LONDON FECIT 1808

O BE JOYFUL IN THE LORD ALL YE LANDS
SERVE THE LORD WITH GLADNESS
AND COME BEFORE HIS PRESENCE WITH A SONG
RECAST 1951 BY
GILLETT & JOHNSTON
CROYDON

8. IOHN ŕ WILNAR ŕ MADE ŕ ME ŕ IB ŕ GF ŕ CW 1629

FORMER BELLS

Bell Weight
(1937, before retuning) Weight
(1937, after retuning) Diameter Cast Founder Fate

5 (of 6)
13-2-26 13-2-8
1808

Thomas Mears II

Recast 1951

HISTORY

1552

Record of 5 bells "item v gret bells and ij hand bells".

1609

Treble, 2nd and 3rd (of 5) recast by Joseph Carter II.

1629

Tenor recast by John Wilnar. At over 18 cwt, this was the largest recorded bell from this foundry.

1808

4th (of 5) recast by Thomas Mears II.

1937

A treble bell was added to fill the empty pit in the wooden frame to augment the peal to 6. The remaining bells were retuned (apart from the 4th) and rehung by Mears & Stainbank.

1938

The 5th (of 6) cracked, within 6 months of the Whitechapel restoration. The led to a delay in the dedication.

1951
6th May
The cracked 5th was recast, this time by Gillett & Johnston. The bells were finally rededicated on 6th May.

1967

Bells retuned and rehung in a new iron frame for 8 by John Taylor.

1967

April

Bells rededicated.

1996

All Saints, Hawkhurst became redundant. The 3 bells were saved, the treble being earmarked as a 2nd of a future octave for Wittersham.

1997

30th October

A new treble cast at Loughborough to make 8.

1998

1st March

Bells rededicated.

Bell	Weight (1937, before retuning)	Weight (1937, after retuning)	Weight (1967, after retuning)	Diameter	Cast	Founder
1	n/a	n/a	5-0-26		1997	John Taylor & Co.
2	n/a	n/a	5-2-12	29"	1861	George Mears & Co.
3	6-2-4	6-1-10	6-1-5	32"	1937	Mears & Stainbank
4	7-3-7	7-1-26	7-1-19	34"	1609	Joseph Carter II
5	9-2-18	9-1-3	9-1-2	37"	1609	Joseph Carter II
6	11-2-2	11-2-2	11-1-27	39¹/4"	1609	Joseph Carter II
7	n/a	n/a	13-2-6	41⁷/8"	1951	Gillett & Johnston
8	17-1-2	16-2-20	16-2-8	46¹/2"	1629	John Wilnar
The 7th was supplied at 13-2-15.

1552		Record of 5 bells "item v gret bells and ij hand bells".
1609		Treble, 2nd and 3rd (of 5) recast by Joseph Carter II.
1629		Tenor recast by John Wilnar. At over 18 cwt, this was the largest recorded bell from this foundry.
1808		4th (of 5) recast by Thomas Mears II.
1937		A treble bell was added to fill the empty pit in the wooden frame to augment the peal to 6. The remaining bells were retuned (apart from the 4th) and rehung by Mears & Stainbank.
1938		The 5th (of 6) cracked, within 6 months of the Whitechapel restoration. The led to a delay in the dedication.
1951	*6th May*	The cracked 5th was recast, this time by Gillett & Johnston. The bells were finally rededicated on 6th May.
1967		Bells retuned and rehung in a new iron frame for 8 by John Taylor.
1967	*April*	Bells rededicated.
1996		All Saints, Hawkhurst became redundant. The 3 bells were saved, the treble being earmarked as a 2nd of a future octave for Wittersham.
1997	*30th October*	A new treble cast at Loughborough to make 8.
1998	*1st March*	Bells rededicated.