The
Church Bells of Sheppey.
FROM
The majority of the old bells of the Island were cast in this County.The Hatches had their foundry at Ulcombe near Staplehurst, the Wilners or Wilnars at Borden near Sittingbourne , Phelps was a founder in Whitechapel London as was the Bartletts.
ELMLEY.
Has one bell 18 and 1/4 inches in diam. inscribed C & J Mears founders London.1854.
WARDEN.
Had a very sweet toned bell, at present (1885) lying in the belfry at Minster.It is 23 and
½ inches in diam. And is believed to have been cast by Joseph Hatch about 1602
SHEERNESS, St.PAULS .
Has one small modern bell from Messrs Warners
HARTY.
Has one bell 26 and ½ inches in diam marked Lester and
LEYSDOWN.
Before the re-building of the church had an old bell which is now in the New Murston
Church near Sittingbourne .The bell is marked John Crus Churchwarden 1673and was
cast by Jas Bartlett .It is not in good condition being cracked at the waist .It was replaced
in 1874 by two smaller bells from the foundry of Messrs. Warner of Cripplegate and
inscribed Venite exultemus Domino .There is room in the bell turret for a third bell.
SHEERNESS DOCKYARD CHAPEL.
The Dockyard Chapel before the
fire had three bells marked Meers,
founder ,
Of these the two smaller ones were only used for chiming the quarters of the clock .The
hours were struck upon the larger one which was also used for the Church Services. The
two smaller ones 15 and 18 inches in diam. were dated 1814 , these perished , but the
other escaped and is dated 1793,its diameter was 28 inches . Three new bells have
recently been
supplied by Messrs. E. Dent and Co.
as the older ones . Their diameters are 19, 21, and 27 inches and weighs 1 cwt 2 qrs,
1cwt 3qrs 9lbs, 3cwt 3qrs 21 lbs .The large bell is tolled by a clapper and pulley, not
swung.
SHEERNESS
Has one bell with a diameter of 25 and ½ inches carrying the inscription John Turner
and John Lowmer
Churchwardens ,Thomas Mears of
church was not built until 1836 ,it is plain that this bell was not cast for the church but
must have already been one in stock. Some few years ago it was replaced by a bell of
about the same size from the foundry of Messrs. Warner.
The
Church Bells of Sheppey.
FROM
MINSTER ABBEY.
Has a ring of five bells in good order for peal ringing and heavier than any other peal on the Island .All of them were dated alike 1663 .The 1st 2nd and 3rd bells William Hatch made me 1663 and the 4th and tenor WILLIAM HATCH MADE ME . The third bell has the letters IP The fourth bell T.D., T.M.,C.W. and the tenor S.S. with the same letters as the fourth bell. These two bells also have a little seal with three bells one placed over the other .impressed on them .The treble was cracked for a few years but was recast in 1883 and now carries the mark Gillett, Bland & Co Croydon recast A.D. 1883 and has 625 impressed under its canon .A kind friend to this church Francis Grayling Esq of Sittingbourne took upon himself the whole cost of the recasting. Mr.Samuel Snelling carried out the whole work of re-hanging.
The weight of the tenor is 12 and Ύ cwt.and the diameters are 29,31.33,36, 39 and ½ inches resp
EASTCHURCH.
Has the next heaviest ring, also five in number , but not a present fitted for
change-ringing.This peal is interesting as being made up of bells cast at different dates and in one instance by a different maker. We have now no means of finding out whether they were originally cast for this church, but as the church wardens account tell us early in 1665 The Bel-hanger for new hanging our bells was paid £5-2s and 15s and 6d was given for five new bell ropes it is most likely that they were .
The treble 27 and ½ inches in diam. is inscribed John Wilmar 1634
The second 30 and ½ inches in diam. is inscribed John Wilmer 1623
The third 33 and ½ inches in diam. is inscribed W.B . John Wilmer 1623
The fourth
The tenor 39 and ½ inches in diam. is inscribed John Wilmer 1623
This last bell , which weighs 11 and Ύ cwt , has been damaged .A piece of the metal has been broken out of the second-bow ,which could not have been done by fair means .
QUEENBOROUGH.
Comes next
with the last peal of five , lighter than those of Minster and Eastchurch ..At present (1885) they are not available for
peal ringing being in fault and the tenor broken and useless
, by mischief . The measures of the first four bells are 24½ , 26 , 27 ,
The tenor
The majority of the old bells of the Island were cast in this County.The Hatches had their foundry at Ulcombe near Staplehurst, the Wilners or Wilnars at Borden near Sittingbourne , Phelps was a founder in Whitechapel London as was the Bartletts.
ELMLEY.
Has one bell 18 and 1/4 inches in diam. inscribed C & J Mears founders London.1854.
WARDEN.
Had a very sweet toned bell, at present (1885) lying in the belfry at Minster.It is 23 and
½ inches in diam. And is believed to have been cast by Joseph Hatch about 1602
SHEERNESS, St.PAULS .
Has one small modern bell from Messrs Warners
HARTY.
Has one bell 26 and ½ inches in diam marked Lester and
LEYSDOWN.
Before the re-building of the church had an old bell which is now in the New Murston
Church near Sittingbourne .The bell is marked John Crus Churchwarden 1673and was
cast by Jas Bartlett .It is not in good condition being cracked at the waist .It was replaced
in 1874 by two smaller bells from the foundry of Messrs. Warner of Cripplegate and
inscribed Venite exultemus Domino .There is room in the bell-turret for a third bell.
.
SHEERNESS DOCKYARD CHAPEL.
The Dockyard Chapel before the
fire had three bells marked Meers,
founder ,
Of these the two smaller ones were only used for chiming the quarters of the clock .The
hours were struck upon the larger one which was also used for the Church Services. The
two smaller ones 15 and 18 inches in diam. were dated 1814 , these perished , but the
other
escaped and is dated 1793,its diameter
was
recently been
supplied by Messrs. E. Dent and Co.
as
the older ones . Their diameters are 19, 21, and
1cwt 3qrs 9lbs, 3cwt 3qrs
swung.
SHEERNESS
Has one bell with a diameter of 25 and ½ inches carrying the inscription John Turner
and John Lowmer
Churchwardens ,Thomas Mears of
church was not built until 1836 ,it is plain that this bell was not cast for the church but
must have already been one in stock. Some few years ago it was replaced by a bell of
about the same size from the foundry of Messrs. Warner.
This completes the list of peals
in the