The Church Bells of

by Arthur Wright

File 02 – The Church Bells of Monmouthshire Alphabetical listing – Pages 1 to 96

This document is provided for you by The Whiting Society of Ringers visit www.whitingsociety.org.uk for the full range of publications and articles about bells and change ringing THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE. BY ARTHUR WRIGHT, B.Sc. THE county, whilst presenting little of outstanding interest in the way of campanology, possesses several early examples of the art (, , etc.) without inscription, but undoubtedly by their shape of the thirteenth century, and also several early inscribed bells, of which, perhaps, the most interesting is that at St. Brides Netherwent. The proportion of pre-Reformation bells is, however, rather low. For the purposes of our survey the county may be roughly divided into two parts-the eastern and southern portion, mainly agricul­ tural, and occupying about three-fourths of the whole area-and the remaining western portion, much industrialised. In the first district the bells are comparable with those in the bordering English counties and have not suffered much from change in recent years, whilst in the latter region most of the town churches are modern, though on the hilltops are still to be found, as in industrial , the old churches, left high and dry when the tide of population flowed into the valleys. The writer, during the last 33 years, has been investigating the bells in this county and Glamorgan, and has personally visited practically every parish in Monmouthshire and in most cases has reached the bells. Where this has been impossible, as in some turrets very difficult of access, they have been carefully studied through glasses. Since many changes have taken place during the last thirty years due care has been taken to bring the earlier records up to date, and in every case the date of visit is appended. In the following article it is proposed to deal with the churches in their alphabetical order as far as possible, treating of chapels-of­ ease, and mission churches, under their respective mother-churches. A few secular bells have also been included, wherever these are of interest, and to make the county record complete. It is hoped to conclude the articles with a general survey and summary of the bells and foundries represented in the county. As might be expected a large number of the bells come from the famous Gloucester foundry of Rudhall, whilst the one local foundry, Evan and William Evans, of , is worthily represented. The bells THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 3 of the latter appear in all the counties of South , and across the Bristol Channel, and have even reached as far as Lancashire (Cartmel). There are also several unsolved problems such as the illegible inscription at Tredunnoc, and the names of the founders of bells of 1598 (R.P. and G.P.) at Llanfihangel Pontymoile, and Llan­ geview. It is at first sight tempting to connect these bells with the well-known Purdues of , who, however, were not at Bristol but in Wiltshire until 1600, and the Monmouthshire examples are small and rough cast and quite unlike the latter's bells. In many of the English counties records of the bells exist in the official returns of Church Goods (Edward VI, Mary, and Elizabeth), and the earlier records of the Court of Augmentations at the Dissolu­ tion of the Monasteries. There appears to be little trace of these for the county of Monmouthshire, apart from a few isolated examples which have survived. It is known that most of the bells from the Welsh monasteries were sold to a London grocer, John Core, whose agents' accounts are extant in some cases ; also that the town of succeeded in retaining the four bells of the Priory as municipal property and not ecclesiastical. About the year 1670 a short return was made by a certain Sir Edward Thomas1 of the bells then existing in certain churches in the Llandaff diocese. [Referred to in the survey as E.T.] Between 1740 and 1752, Browne-Willis made a record of the bells at many churches, including our county, either through agents or by personal visitation.2 These will be referred to as B.W. It remains to acknowledge gratefully the willing help given by the incumbents and church officials everywhere throughout the county, without which this record would necessarily have been much more imperfect. The writer owes also a great debt to Mr. H. B. Walters, M.A., F.S.A., until recently Keeper of the Greek and Roman Department of the British Museum, the great authority on the church bells of , who not only accompanied him on a tour of the bells around in 1920, but has also kindly under­ taken to overlook the proof sheets of this work. He must not, however, be held responsible for errors, from which it is impossible to hope that these notes will be entirely free, and which will be the writer's own. • The Public Library journal III, 200 (June, 1902). 'Add MSS. (Cole), 5828, 37, fol. 48b, for Llandaff Diocese. 4 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE their inscriptions and history St. Peter (1903) (One bell) Diam. (1) Blank. (16 in.) Thanks to Rev. E. B. Fry, M.A. ABERBEEG See Llanhilleth. St. Luke (1926) (One bell) (1) Blank. (19f in.) Church built of reinforced concrete, faced with local stone. ABERGA VENNY Christchurch (One bell) Modern mission church to St. Mary's. ABERGA VENNY Holy Trinity (One bell) (1) Bell, modern and blank. (c.22 in.) ABERGAVENNY St. John (now the Masonic Temple) (One bell). At the Dissolution St. John's was the Parish Church, and was then superseded by the Priory Church of St. Mary, St. John's becoming the Grammar School of Henry VIII (founded July 24, 1543). The church was used as the schoolroom, and services held in it on Sundays until 1683, when they were discontinued. In 1827-29 however services were held in it during alterations to St. Mary's. When the new Grammar School buildings were completed the church was sold to the Freemasons who use it as their lodge-room.1 In the lodge-room is still one of the bells, with the inscription2 W. JEFFERIES FECIT BRISTOL 1835 (26 in.) Some of the other bells appear to have been removed to St. Mary's, for Mr. H. P. Cadle of Abergavenny writes:- "I remember seeing the bell after it had been lowered from St. John's Tower before its removal to St. Mary's where I saw it later, about SO years ago. The Curfew bell, which you saw in the Free­ masons' Lodge, I believe, used to be rung on Sunday mornings at about 8 o'clock." The Town Clerk writes as follows:- "One bell was taken from St. John's and recast, and is now at St. Mary's, forming the tenor of the ring of eight bells." This

' Bradney I, p. 174. 2 Compare St. Mary, No. (4). THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 5 identifies No. 8 at St. Mary's as the one from St. John's, recast in 1893. It i~ generally believed that the pre-Reformation bell (No. 6) now at St. Mary's was also from St. John's, especially as it is dedicated to St. John, but it may quite possibly be a survival from the Priory ring of four claimed by the parishioners at the Dissolution. ABERGAVENNY S. Mary. (8 + 1 bells) (1) CANON CAPEL VICAR LLEWELLINS & JAMES (29 in.) ILTYD GARDNER}CHURCH WARDENS BRISTOL LEWIS MORGAN 20TH JUNE 1887

(2) VICTORIA• JUBILEE (29! in.) 1887 LLEWELLINS & JAMES . BlUSTOL. (31 in.) (3) 1845 (4) W. JEFFERIES FECIT BRISTOL 1835 (33! in.) (5) WILLIAM HVMPHREYS GT. & MR . IOHN MEASE CHVRCH­ (36! in.) WARDENS 1706 ABI~ A. RVDHALL OF GLOVCES. BELL FOVNDER CAST MEE (ornament) (6) + + In Multis Annis RefonetC ampana lohannis (40! in.) (7) HI CHARD SCOTT + DAVI + PRICE + CHVRCHWARDENS (43f in .) + 1666 t\' R it P tf (ornament) (8) A BELL I AM FULL SURE & SOUND . ·. I CALL TO BURY (47 in.) THE DEAD IN GROUND 1603. RECAST 1893 JOHN PRICHARD }CHURCH- LLEWELLINS & JAMES EDWARD MAIUIN WARDENS BRISTOL (Ting tang.) Blank (1St in.) Nos. (1), (2), (4), and (8) and the ting tang have their canons intact, b.ut (3), (5), (6), (7) are without them and have the crown drilled for bolting to the stocks. On the stocks GROVES B'HAM. Browne-Willis mentions 6 bells in 1740. No. (1). The Rev. Bury Capel, M.A., Prebendary of Llandaff, was Vicar from 1863 till his resignation in 1895. No. (3) is probably by Jefferies & Price, of Bristol, the successors to W. Jefferies. No. (5). The ornament is Rudhall's scroll pattern.1

1 H. T. Tilley & H . B. Walters, Bells of Warwickshire, Fig. 15. 6 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

No. (6) is by William Burford, a London founder, the only one who used both of the initial crosses (Fig. 1) [which are Kent No. (5) and Surrey No. (191), (Stahlschmidt)] and is of date 1400 to 1430. This bell is locally held to be from St. John's, which seems borne out by its dedication. It may have been one of the four Priory bells claimed at the Dissolution by the parishioners, but the date is some­ what too early to agree with the evidence given by witnesses in 1545 before the Commissioners. (See later.) No. (7) is by Roger Purdue II of Bristol (1649-1688), whilst No. (8) was probably by Roger Purdue I. (1601-1639.) Above the inscription on No. (7) is a line of scroll-work with a similar portion at the end of the inscription. The Vicar, Rev. M. E. Davies, B.A., has kindly supplied me with the following notes :- "1887. When Mr. Lewis J. Morgan and Mr. Iltyd Gardner were Churchwardens, the six bells in the tower could not be rung without danger. It was resolved that they should be put in order, and two added to them, to ring a loyal peal for the Jubilee of Queen Victoria. In this they received encouragement from Col. Wm. 'Vheeley. They found No.4 to be a pre-Reformation bell bearing the inscription 'Sancta Katherina ora pro nobis,' and to be so light that it could not be heard half a mile away. It was sent to a west country church1 where it suited the ring. There was at the time an unused bell at St. John's which was brought to St. Mary's. It bears the inscription 'Wm Jefferies fecit Bristol 1835.'2 The tenor bell (19 cwt. ; 46! in. diam.) was accidentally cracked in 1893. The inscription before recasting was :- A BEL I AM BOTH SVRE & SOUND I CAL TO BVRY THE DEAD IN GROVND 1603. This was retained, with modern spelling, on the recast bell. The Call-bell is the old Sanctus bell, without inscription, and probably the most ancient of all." There are several difficulties in the various statements given above, for in that of the Town Clerk, the tenor is stated to be a recast bell from St. John's, whilst in the above statement the St.

'Name not given-it would be very desirable that this should be traced. • The present No. (4). $ $ []u rnlttltt!l [23]lltllll ...., ::r: ~ (') ::r: C1 ~ (') ::r: [B]rfonrtOnmvnun [!Jo{J.UUU£1 td ~ t-' t-' (f) Fig. 1.-ABERGA VENNY No. 6. 0 >:rj

::s: z0 ::s: 0 C1 ...., ::r: (f) ::r: H ~ ~ 2ilnrtr Petre ~

Fig. 2.-BETTWS ST. DAVID.

"-] 8 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

John's bell is now No. (4). It is, of course, possible that both (4) and (8) are from St. John's, and No. (6) may be also. Note.-The case of the Priory at the Dissolution is a most interesting one, and is related fully by Rev. Lawrence Thomas in his work "The Reformation in the old diocese of Llandaff." There were four bells weighing 45 cwt. 2 qrs. in 1555,1 as the parishioners had refused to surrender them. Towards the end of the reign of Henry VIII, Edward Gostwick and Edward Watturs, Commissioners of the Court of Augmentations, inquired into the matter by order of the Lord Chancellor. Thomas ap Lethin, aged 66, deposed that his father, who was a smith, had hung the bells in the late priory at his own cost, in addition to having contributed to their purchase. John ap Po'ell ap John, aged 80, deposed that his father-in-law paid 20s., and the latter's brother-in-law 13s. 4d. towards the cost of the bells; that the parishioners of Abergavenny used the bells "without licence or restraint of the Priory" ; that he himself was one of a party that went about the country "with games and playse" to gather money for the said bells. Thomas Richard Bourchier, aged 90, deposed that the town of Abergavenny bought the bells, and that he, himself, paid 2s. 4d. towards them ; that the priory never paid a penny towards their purchase; that the town of Abergavenny was not able to pay the whole sum, and that the country helped and made up the rest. 2 On 24th Nov., 1555, an Order was directed to Walter Herbert to make a further enquiry. He convened the Bailiffs and on 18th January, 1556, a reply was sent in which attention was drawn to the findings of the previous commission held in the reign of Henry VIII, and also pronounced that "the bells in tyme out of memorie were taken for, and used always as, bells apperteyninge to the parishe of Abergeynie and not the said late Priorie."3 The evidence of the above witnesses, c.1545, would bring the purchase of the bells to about 1480, a date which would hardly allow No. 6 (c.1430) to be a Priory survivor. Thanks are due to the Vicar, Rev. M. E. Davies, B.A., and to Messrs. H. P. Cadle,]. Alec Morgan (Secretary to the Masonic Lodge), and W. H. Hopwood (Town Clerk). [A.\V., Aug., 1919, May, 1937.]

1 Church Goods, E.l17, 13/71 / 1. • Church Goods, E.I17, 13/70/9. • Ct. of Augment. Misc. Bks. Vol. 117, f.l8. Arch. Camb., Vol. 17 (1900), pp. 295-6, L. Thomas-Reformation in old diocese of Llandaff, pp. 56-57. :SOLI · DEO · DE TV~ · C:LORIA :

--1 PEAlE · G 0 D · HOMMOR · THE · ::r:: ...._ trl () ::r:: c ()::0 )J I H C E · MA I· 3 · I(; 3 ~ · :I! P ·: ::r:: tt;j trl Fig. 3.-BR YNGWY N. No. 2 t""' t""' (f)

...,0

~ z0 ~ BBJu~ ~ 0 + t ll]Rllt a c --1 ::r:: (f) ::r:: ...... ::0 trl i)Rrttt ~ OO{rno

Fig. 4.-B RYN GWYN No. 3.

<0 10 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

ABERGA VENNY The Castle (One bell). +MEMENTO MORI + BA YLEFF BAKER + D + 1640 (16!in.) + On waist. + JOANNES BAKER GABB. CONSANG : REST : 1868 + DISCE VIVERE. On rim. . : · MEARS · ET · STAINBANK · LONDINI · FECERUNT . :. This bell hung in the market until recently, and is now used to give notice of closing the Castle grounds-it is hung in a bracket near the entrance. The inscription MEMENTO MORI seems to point to an ecclesiastical origin, and DISCE VIVERE to the same, or a scholastic use, and it is quite possible that here is another of the St. John's bells recast for a market bell in 1640, and again in 1868. The D in the top line may be for A.D., or an abbreviation of DONAVIT. William Baker, Magistrate and Judge, died Oct. 30, 1648, aged 64) He was Sheriff in 1630, and his brother Henry (probably the donor) was Bailiff of Aberga,venny. · Thanks to the Castle gardener for much help. [A.W., June, 1937.] ABERSYCHAN (Talywaun) . St. Thomas.1 (One bell). (1) JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON. (c.25 in.) The date is not visible from below. [A.W. , Oct., 1923.] ABERTILLERY St. Michael (One bell) Central turret with fteche, bell invisible and inaccessible. [A.\V., May, 1937.] ABERTILLERY St. Paul, Cwmtillery (1892) One bell. (1) Blank. (c.20 in.) The Vicar writes-''The bell was first used in the local colliery [sunk over 100 years since] to call the men to work before the advent of a hooter. It was in the colliery storeroom when the church was built (1892) by Messrs. Edward Turner & Co., then of Abergavenny, and was placed in the turret at the time. It appears to bear the number 769(1 ?) and is of diam. 18 in. and height 14-! in." Thanks to Rev. W. Carey Morton, B.A., Vicar. ' It has no patron saint, but is called St. Thomas, out of regard to the Vicar, Rev. Wm. Rees Thomas. It was known as Talywaun until 1844. [Bradney.] THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 11

cr:; z0 ~ § ~ ~ u< ~~ I lt) ~~ ~ -~ ~ 6). ~­ =t e: 12 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

ABERTILLERY St. John Baptist, Six Bells (One bell) Modern church. St. Paul (One bell) Modern and blank. ABERYSTRUTH (Blaina) St. Peter (One + 8 tubular bells) (1) · :. · IOHN RUDHALL GLOCESTER FECIT 1799 (24! in.: The bell was removed from the former church to the present one erected in 1857. The tubular bells have on their frame HARRINGTON'S PATENT TUBULAR BELLS COVENTRY . [A.W., Feb., 1923.] ABERYSTRUTH All Saints (One bell) Church and bell modern. St. Basil (Six bells) 1) No. 4651 PATENT CAST STEEL NAYLOR VICKERS & Co. (26 in.) ( SHEFFIELD 1866 (2) Ornamental band. PATENT (on waist) CAST STEEL No. 3606 NAYLOR VICKERS & Co. SHEFFIELD. (29 in.) PATENT (3) No. 4133 (on rim) CAST STEEL NAYLOR VICKERS & Co. SHEFFIELD (33 in.) (4) PATENT No. 4179 NAYLOR VICKERS & Co. SHEFFIELD 1866 CAST STEEL (33! in.) (5) PATENT CAST STEEL No. 2833 NAYLOR VICKERS & Co. SHEFFIELD (37 in.) (6) No. 4447 CAST STEEL NAYLOR VICKERS & Co. PATENT SHEFFIELD (41 in.) All in a much corroded and rusty condition. Each fastened to stock by five bolts, no canons. Each bell also bears the Royal Arms in various positions, with a line of ornament. [A .W., Sept. 4, 1915.] BEAUFORT St. David (One bell) Church erected 1890 and bell modern. (c.20 in.) BEAUFORT St. Andrew (One bell) Blank and modern. (c.IO in.) THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 1~

BEAUFORT St. John the Divine (One bell) Church built by Crawshay Bailey, 1843, and passed to the Ecclesias­ tical Commissioners in 1873. Was superseded as parish church in 1890 by St. David's. At time of visit (1922) church and tower were in a most dilapidated condition. The bell being dated 1827 is obviously from an earlier church. (1) CAST 1827. (17 in.) [A.W., June 6, 1922.] BEAUFORT Newtown Parish Hall (One bell) (1) J. WARNER LONDON 1911. (on rim ) (c.14 in.) BED"'AS St. Barog (Six bells) (1) PEACE AND PLENTY TO THIS NEIGHBOURHOOD JAMES PRICE GENT. CHURCHWARDEN CAST BY TH0 8 . BAYLEY 1769. (26 in.) CAST BY THOMAS BAYLEY 1769 JAMES PRICE GENT. (2) CHURCHW A:RDEN (27 in.) (3) COME LET US RING FOR CHURCH & KING W t} E 1744 (28 in.) (4) Will THOMAS GENT. & I. THOMAS CH : WARDENS W ft E (30 in.) 1744 (5) THE l{EVND MR. ED: HYETT RECTR. W tJ E 1744. (32! in.) 6) CAST BY TH0 8 . BAYLEY : B. WATER 1769 JAMES PRICE (364- in) ( GENT. CHURCHWARDEN "" . ME RESONARE JUBENT PIETAS MORS ATQU E VOLUPTAS. Rev. Ed. Hyett "read himself in," 26Nov., 1725 (entry in Register). He married Florence Thomas, 4 July, 1715, at . She died 23 Sept., 1730, "about three of ye clock in the afternoon." He married Anne Richards 11 July, 1739. Nos. (3), (4), (5) are by William Evans of Chepstow [1718-1767]. Nos. (1), (2), (6) by Thomas Bayley of Bridgwater [1743-1773]. The mission church at is modern. [A.W., June, 1915.] St. Sannan (Eight bells) (Ornament) TO THE GLORY OF GOD (ornament) 'f (bell in form (1) GIVEN BY C. POND ofT.) (25 in.) IN LOVING MEMORY OF HIS BELOVED WIFE A. J. POND 1920 R. W. ROBERTS RECTOR ~·EDWARDS l cHURCHWARDENS 1. L. LLOYD [ 14 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

(2) (Ornament) ON EAHTH PEACE (ornament, etc., as on No. (1).) THE GIFT OF C. POND 1920 (26 in.) R. W. !WEERTS RECTOR E. EDWARDS } CHUHCHW ARDFNS P. L . LLOYD - (3) GIVEN BY SARAH J. GERTRUDE STRELLEY OF OAKERTHORPE DERBYSHIRE (28 in.) 1895 (4) THE MEMOHY OF THE JUST IS BLESSED (30 in.) (5) IN MEMORY OF REES & EMILY LEWIS (33 in.) (6) EMILY WIFE OF REES LEWIS OF DHYSSIOG, EBBW VALE (34! in.) DIED 1sT FEBRUARY 1895 AGED 58 YEARS (7) l{EES LEWIS ESQ. OF DRYSSIOG, EBBW VALE (38 in.) DEPARTED THIS LIFE MARCH 22No 1889 AGED 63 YEARS (8) THIS PEAL OF SIX BELLS WAS GIVEN TO THIS CHURCH OF (421 in) BEDWELLTY 2 · BY SARAH J. GERTRUDE WIFE OF RICHARD CHARLES STRELLEY ESQ. OF OAKERTHORPE DERBYSHIRE IN LOVING MEMORY OF HER FATHER AND MOTHE R l'mES & E MILY LEWIS 1895 All the above inscriptions [(3)-(8)] are on the waist. Each bell also bears- JOHN TAYLOR AND CO. LOUGHBOROUGH FOUNDERS 1895. Before the ring of six erected in 1895, and increased to eight in 1920, there was here a bell of 1815, known as the "Waterloo" bell, after 1895 forming one of a collection of six bells in the possession of Mr. Edmund J. Jones, of Fforest Legionis, Pontneddfechan, Glam. After his death, Mrs. E. J. Jones disposed of the bells, the ·waterloo bell going to St. Edward's Church, Roath, .! It has the inscription- CAST BY JASPEH WESTCOTT & SONS BRISTOL 1815. The churches at Markham (S. John) and are modern. [A.W., 1912-1921.]

• Letter to the writer from Mrs. Jones, dated 1923. See also J. T. Evans, Church Plate of Breconshire, p. 106, note, and South Wales Daily News, 19/xi/1921. THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 15

BETTWS St. David (One bell) (1) + ~anctt ~tttt (the Sis reversed) (Fig. 2) (18 in.) The cross is No. 72 (Gloucs.) and the bell belongs to Gp. V, section 2. (Black letter) in Mr. H. B. Walter's Bristol classification. The founder was probably John Gosselin, and the date c.1470. Thanks to Mr. B. L. Thomas, Churchwarden. [A.W., July, 1917, Aug., 1937.] BETTWS CHAPEL (See ). . (Two bells) (1) Blank-probably pre-Reformation from its shape. (c.21 in.) (2) Blank-probably 17th Century. (c. 23 in.) [A.W., Aug. 3, 1920.] St. Cadwallader (One bell) (1) 0 lAMES · lONES : ::>LER KE : WILLIAM · THOMAS : ::> : \V · DEN : (29 in.) I · P : 1663. By John Palmer II of Gloucester (1647-1676). The circular stop at the beginning is the so-called Jewish shekel, used by this founder, possibly a punning allusion to his name. [Palmer=pilgrim to the Holy Land.] The C's are inverted. John Jones was instituted Rector of with Bishton Nov. 8, 1661, and his successor, Thomas James, July 27, 1663. [A.\V., May, 1918.] BLACKWOOD St. Margaret (One bell) (1) MEARS & STAINBANK LONDON (c.21 in.) JUNE 2ND 1916 TO THE GLORY OF GOD IN MEMORY OF SERGT. J. H. SPENCER, WHO WAS GASSED AT HILL 60, FRANCE, JUNE 2ND 1915 WHEN NOELY ATTEMPTING TO SAVE A COMRADE. Weight about 2 cwt. It replaced the blank bell which dated from the erection of the church. Details from photographs of bells published at time of erection. BLAENAVON S. James. S. John. S. Paul. All are modern churches. Capel Newydd was erected as chapel-of-ease to , and remained as such until 1861 ; was pulled down in 1863 and its place taken in 1893 by St. Paul's. 16 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

BLAENAVON S. Peter (Six bells) (1) IoHN RUDHALL GLOCESTER FEeT 1807. (ornament) (26 in.) (2) do. (28 in.) (3) do. (29! in.) (4) do. (31! in.) (5) ··· JOHN RUDHALL GLOCESTER FECT 1807 ( do. ) (32 in.) (6) IOHN RUDHALL GLOCETER FECT 1807 (larger ornament) (36 in.) The church was built by Messrs. Hill and Hopkins, of the Blaenavon Iron Works, in 1804, and established by Act of Parliament in 1805. The bells were rehung in 1923 with new stocks and wheels, and are fitted with short thick iron stays and sliders. The canons are of cabled pattern. [A.W., Oct., 1923.] BLAINA (See Aberystruth.) St. Peter (Three bells) (1) WM HARRY CHURCHWARDEN W tiE 1766 (29! in.) (2) ; SOLI · DEO · DETVR · GLORIA : FEARE · GOD · HOMMOR · (32 in.) THE · )!IMGE · MAI · 3 · 1632 ; 1 ; P (3) + Ave 0 Maria 0 Gracia 0 Plena. (36 in.) (1) By Wm. Evans, of Chepstow, one of his latest bells. (2) By John Palmer I, of Gloucester [1621-1638], who made a practice of dating his bells with the day of the month. The K and N's are all reversed. (Fig. 3.) (3) By a Bristol founder belonging to Group VII.d. of date 1480- 1500 (p. 78 of a paper by Mr. H. B. Walters in Bristol and Gloucs. Arch. XLI). The cross is No. 29 and the stop 81. (Ellacombe's Gloucester.) [Fig. 4 and Pl. I.] [A.W., July, 1920.] BUCKHOLT (See .) St. Cadoc (Eight bells) 1) ] . WARNER & SONS LONDON 1886 (23 in.) ( REVD F BEDWELL B.D. VICAR. (2) ] WARNER & SONS LONDON 1886 (24 in.) THOMAS PARRY }cHURCHWARDENS JOHN DAVIES PLATE I.

.tl • ( fl \ .'

,,

2

3

(1-3) BRYNGWYN. No. 3. PLATE II.

4 5

6 7

CALDICOT N 0 . 8. THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 17

(3-8) CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1881. (3) WE WORSHIP THEE (25 in.) (4) WE BLESS THEE (26! in.) (5) WE PRAISE THEE (27! in.) (6) GOOD WILL TO MEN (29 in.) (7) PEACE ON EARTH (31 in.) (8) GLORY TO GOD (34! in.) In oak frames, in good condition. The lettering is a small neat ornamental Roman character. [A.W., Aug., 1921, Nov., 1923.] SS. Tathan and Stephen (One bell) (1) CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 18fH (Royal Arms) (31 tin.) PATENT. [A.W., April, 1921.] CALDICOT St. Mary (Eight bells) (1) LAUDATE DOMINUM LLEWELLINS & JAMES E. TUimERVILLE WILLIAMS. VIC. BRISTOL. (27 in.) EDWIN RICHARDS I._ECCL. CUST 1883 GEORGE W. WILLIAMS f (2) EXALTABO TE DEUS Rest as on No. (I) (28 in.) (3) LAUDATE DEUM CYMBALLIS LLEWELLINS & JAMES (31 in.) E. RICHARDS } . BRISTOL G. W . WILLIAMS ECCL. CUST. E. T. WILLIAMS VIC. 1882 (4) G. MEARS FOUNDER LONDON (34 in.) WILLIAM FOOH.D , }cHUH.CHWAH.DENS 1858. SAMUEL MUSGH.OVI<. (5) IN HONOH.EM DEI Rest as on No. (3) (34 in.) (6) MADAM MAH.Y KEMEYS PRO CHUH.CHWARDEN RV. D.H. W.A. EE. 1699. T.H. (37 in.) H.ECAST BY G. MEARS OF LONDON 1858 (7) LAUDATE DEUM IN SIMBALLIS SONOIUS 1627 RECAST BY G. MEAH.S OF LONDON 1858. (41 in.) (8) + IN HO ® NOR3 ® SAN:JTA ® MARIN3 (43 in.) No. (6) was by Evan Evans, of Chepstow (1686-1726) the first recorded founder of bells there,1 and father to William Evans (1718- 1770).

1 It is certain that a foundry existed in Chepstow earlier than the time of Evan Evans, for in the will of Richard Cleyton, husband of Margaret Cleyton, whose large tomb, dated July 23, 1605, is in the chancel, he leaves money "to build a school house at the end of the bell-house in Chepstow." 18 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

No. (7) may have been by John Palmer I, of Gloucester (1621- 1638). George Mears and Charles Mears were in partnership from 1844 to 1861, and Geo. Mears alone from 1861 to 1865 according to the list given in "Church Bells" by Mears and Stainbank. No. (8) is a most interesting bell from the Bristol foundry, of date c.1450, and is probably by a founder named William Warwick. A similar bell is the 7th at Yatton (Som.), cast in 1451 , as the parish accounts prove. The lettering is large and very gracefully formed and the cross and medallion are very elaborate. The E's in HONORE and MARINE and the C in SANCTA are reversed. MARIN!£ is the founder's error for MARIAE. The cross resembles Gloucester 25 [Ellacombe] whilst the medallion is somewhat like that illustrated by Mr. H. B. Walters in his paper on the Gloucester­ shire foundries, 1 but not exactly the same. The lettering and stops are 2 in . high. [Fig. 5 and Plate II 1-4.] Weights of Bells. (1) 4c. 3q. 12lbs. (5) 6c. Oq. 17lbs. (2) 4c. 3q. 14lbs. (6) 9c. Oq. 7lbs. (3) 5c. 3q. lOlbs. (7) lOc. 1q. 18lbs. (4) 6c. 2q. 11lbs. (8) 13c. Oq. 6lbs. All the bells are moun ted in iron stocks, in an iron frame by Gillett and Johnston, of Croydon. No. (8) has four bolt-holes through the crown, by which it appears to have been formerly bolted to the stock. It has been quarter-turned as have some of the others. The clock is by Smith and Sons, Clerkenwell, and the hours are struck on the tenor by a 15lb. hammer. Thanks to the Vicar, Rev. T. M. R. Younghughes, B.A. [A.W., June, 1919, Aug., 1937.] CALDICOT St. Bartholomew (Highmoor Hill) (Two bells) A small modern church with W. turret containing one blank bell about 18 in. diam. Under the gable is a bell of about 8 in. diam., probably from the earlier mission church. The church at Caldicot Pill has a 9 in. blank bell. [A.W., April, 1921.]

' Trans. Brist. and Gloucs. Arch. Soc. XLI, p. 60. 19

II

CEFN FFOREST S. Thomas (One bell) (1) Blank. (16 in .) Supplied by Messrs. Jones & Willis, 1918, and given by Mr. C. Pond, of Blackwood. Thanks to Rev. E. B. Fry, M.A. CHAPEL HILL. S. Mary-see . CHEPSTOW. S. Mary (Eight bells)

( 1) COME LET US RING FOR CHUECH & KING W t}l E 1749 (29 in.) (2) PEACE AND GOOD NEIGHBOUHHOOD W t,I E 1749 (30 in.) (3) GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST W fiE 1735 (32t in.) (4) (scroll pattern) AND ON EAHTH PEACE W ft E 1735 (34t in.) (5) (scroll pattern) GOOD WILL TOWAEDS MEN W t,I E 1735 (37! in .) (6) WM. EVANS CAST Us ALL 1735 (scroll pattern) (40 in.) (7) PROSPERITY To ALL OuR BENEFACTORS W fi E 1735 (scroll) ( 43 in.) (8) WE WERE ALL GIVEN BY A GENEROUS SUBSCRIPTION W t,i E 1735 ( 47 in.) All by William Evans of Chepstow, the larger six, cast in 1735, being augmented in 1749 by the addition of two smaller bells. They have been rehung by Warner of London, and quarter-turned. The scroll ornament seems to have been used for a short time only, c. 1735, by Evans. It appears in 1734 on the (Mon.) bell. William Evans signs the parish registers as Churchwarden in 1731 and 1732, as did his father, Evan Evans, also a bellfounder, in 1717. The history of the Chepstow Foundry will be dealt with in full in the final summary for the county. There are many entries in the Churchwarden's accounts in con­ nection with the bells, a few of which are to be found, in an abbreviated form, in a pamphlet "The Registers of Chepstow Parish Church," by W. H. James, 1913. Notes from The Registers ofChepstow Parish Church-W. H. james, 1913. 1794 Paid the ringers for a victory gained by the Duke of York, by desire of several gentlemen lOs. 6d. On account of Lord Howe's victory 8s. Od. 20 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

1798 Sir John Jarvis's victory 8s. Od. Admiral Duncan's victory 8s. Od. Lord Nelson's victory £I Is. Od. 1802 On peace being made £2 12s. 6d. I8I3 Lord Wellington's victory of Vittoria £I 4s. Od. 18I4 News of the Allies entering into Paris £I Is. Od. 1815 On illumination and abdication of B.P.1 £2 2s. Od. The above items appear to be extracted from a lost book of Churchwarden's ajcs, as the Vicar states that the earliest afc book in his possession dates from 1860. Thanks to the Vicar, Rev. David Hughes, M.A., and to Rev. Handel Llewellyn, B.A. (curate in 1921). [A.W., April, 1921] CHRISTCHURCH Holy Trinity (Two bells) (1) ; ARTHER THOMAS : EDMOND· HARI : C : W : DENES : HONNOR · THE · KING ; SEPTEM ; 19 ; 1661 (32! in.) 2) : ARTHER · THOMAS : EDMOND · HARRI : FEARE GOD · (35! in.) ( HONNOR ·THE · KING; SEPTEMBER; 19 · : 1661 Hung dead in high oak A-frames, the wheels lying loose in the tower. In Browne Willis' time (1740-50) there were six bells. Access to the belfry is by stairways in the thickness of the wall on three sides of the tower. The bells are by John Palmer II of Gloucester in his later lettering which is well-shaped and clearly formed. [A.W., Aug. 21, 1915.] All Saints (One bell) (1) Blank. (c.30 in.) The present church (and probably the bell) dates from 1853, but is on the site of a much earlier church. Thanks to the Rev. M. E. Davies, B.A. COEDYPAEN Christchurch (One bell) (1) J. WARNER & SONS LONDON 1859 (18 in .) Thanks to Rev. A. L. Osman, M.A., for measurement. [A.W., May, 1917.] All Saints } CROSS KEYS S. Catherine both modern. CRUMLIN S. Mary Small bell hung from wall and now disused. (8 in.)

'In the pamphlet this item is dated 1825, but if B.P. refers to Napoleon the date must be as above. THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 21

CWM S. Paul (Ebbw Vale) (One bell) (on waist) CARR'S OF SMETHWICK (1) MADE ME (c.20in .) 1909. [A.W., May, 1922.] CWMBRAN See Llanfrechfa. S. John, built 1934 (One bell). (1) GILLETT & JOHNSTON, FOUNDERS, LONDON, 1934. (c .24 in.) Weight about 3 cwt. Thanks to Mr. Theo Matthews, builder of the church. (Six bells.) (1) PROSPERITY TO THIS PLACE [ornament). At} R 1720 (26! in.) (2) IOHN NICHOLAS Gr [ornament.] A tf R 1720 [ornament.) (28! in.) (3) PEACE & GOOD NEIGHBOVRHOOD [ornament.) A tf R 1720 [ornament.) (30 in.) RECAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LTD LONDON 1895 (4) H. M. T. BIDWELL RECTOR (32 in.) H. R. BALLINGER }wARDENS ]. HALL (5) REIOYCE IN THE LORD & AGAINE I SAY REIOYCE (33£ in.) [ornament] A tf R 1720 [ornament.) 6) ..:f'. (ornament) THE REVND W : ROBINSON RECTOR THO : ( PROBYN GT CHVRCH WARDEN 1720. Browne Willis, 6 bells (1740). Cabled canons to 2nd and 3rd. By Abraham Rudhall, of Gloucester. The ornamental bands on 1-5 are Rudhall's 4th type [Fig. 9] [Tilley & Walters, Warwickshire bells, Fig. 18]. The ornament at the beginning of the inscription on No.6 resembles the conventional pine-tree found in the "Noah's Ark" of youth. It is occasionally used by the Rudhalls as a stop [Fig. 12]. [H.B.W., A.W., Aug. 4, 1920.] CWMTILLERY S. Paul [See p. 10]. S. Martin (Six bells). ( 1) II RICHARD II GVNDEY II CHVRCH II WARDEN II EE tJ 1700 (26 in.) (2) : DEVM · TIME : RE~EM : HONORA · OMNIBVS : BENE- (27! in.) FACITO : 1672 : I : ~ 0 (3) RICHARD GVNDY CH : WARDEN EE tf WE tf 1722 (31 in.) 4) II lAM II THE II GIFT II OF II IOHN II ARNLD II SQ II WILIAM ( II PROSER II EE tf 111697. (33 in.) ) II GOG II HLES II THIS II qARISH II RICHARD II GVNDY II CII (5 WARDEN II EE tf 1700 (35! in.) (6) 0 0 LET MY SOUND MOVE THEE TO GODS GLORY E t,i E 1722. 22 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

Frames and wheels rather dilapidated at time of visit, and the former out of "kilter," probably owing to the subsidence of the foundations of the tower. The 1st, 4th, and 5th are by Evan Evans I, of Chepstow, the divisions between the words being portions of a cabled pattern. also seen at Lisvane (Glam.), 2 and 3, 1711, and at Llandegveth, , Llanddewi, Rhydderch, Llanfihangel , Llan­ gattock vibon Avel, , Llanwern, Monmouth (Overmonnow), , , Roggiett, , Rumney, and in this county.

~ iGOG~ g LES~ THIS~ q A R ISH ~EE! J 700 Fig. 14. CWMYOY No. 5.

(2), from its lettering, belongs to John Palmer II, of Gloucester (1647-82). J.G., whose initials also occur in Breconshire (Llangasty Talyllyn and Llanfihangel Talyllyn), was probably a foreman at the foundry. The stop at the end of the inscription is an impression of the reverse of a Charles II half-crown (1st issue), with a shield of arms and inscription CHRISTO AUSPICE REGNO, whilst the two stops on No.6 are obverse and reverse of the same coin. The G is reversed both in the inscription and founders' initials. On No. 5 the D (in GOD) and the B and P are backwards, but not the D's in Richard Gundy [Fig. 14]. (3) and (6) are by Evan and William Evans, sons of Evan Evans I, No. 3 bearing both initials, and No. 6 having those of Evan only. Since Evan Evans I died in 1724, leaving his working tools "unto my two sons Evan Evans and \Villiam Evans, to be equally divided between them,"1 the Evan Evans on No. 6 may be the son or the father.

'Llandaff Registry, 2-155. Probatum, December 17, 1724. PLATE III.

DIXTON No. 4. PLATE IV.

I . GWERNESNEY BELLS.

·-- r·· . .'

Jll • ' .

2. KEMEYS COMMANDER BELLS. PLATE V.

2

1. HENLLYS No. 1. 2. LLANDDEWI FACH Xo. 1. Ft'i . \o . f\<1 \I ftl£1 ~~ RUDHALLS OR~AMEN\S. 24 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

The lettering on Nos. 1, 4, 5 is in Evan Evans' earlier alphabet, whilst that on Nos. 3 and 6 is in a better formed and bolder alphabet, retained by William Evans until his death in 1770. · A daughter of Richard Gundy (1, 2, 5) named Joan Prosser, possibly related to the WILIAM PROSER mentioned on No. 4, is buried in the Church porch. [Bradney.] John Arnold, the donor of No. 4, was a descendant of Nicholas Arnold, the grantee of the Priory of , and was the last of the family to hold the property. He also gave the chalice and paten in , which bear his arms with the inscription :- 16 ST. MICHALIS CRUCORNEY 74 EX DONO JOHANI ARNOLD. He also signs, at Llanvihangel Crucorney, affidavits of burial in woollen from 1690 to 1702. [A.W., Sept. 3, 1919.] See Newchurch. S. Dingat (Five bells). (1) Border of vine pattern. (28! in.) To the glory of GOD and to the sacred memory ol Mary Bosanquet, * 1914 .. [J. T. & S. Bell-medalllon]. (2) 0 W ALTER: PROBERT : THOMAS : GRIFFITH : CHVRCH­ (29! in.) WARDENS : 1656 : (3) II WALTAR II WILLIAM II GENT II JOHN II WATKINS II C II W II (32 in.) EE tJ II 1701. (4) s ,SanoTe annnea ona pno no:si,S (36 in.) 0 Medallion as on ( 1). 0 WALTER ; PROBERT; THOMAS GRIFFITH; CHVRCH · (39 in.) (5) WARDENS ; IVLY · 29 1656 Rehung by Taylor in 1914, four on one level, and the treble above. (2) and (5) by John Palmer II, of Gloucester, the stop at beginning of (2) being the reverse, and that on (5) the obverse, of the "Jewish Shekel.'' (3) by Evan Evans, and (4) a recast by Taylor of a Bristol bell of about 1420- 50, the crown probably being Ellacombe's Gloucester 32, and the bell one of Group V (1). 2 1 Of Dingestow Court. • Trans. Bristol and Glouc. Arch. Soc., XLI, 75 [H. B. Walters]. THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 25

Browne Willis, or possibly his annotator William Cole (1714-82), mentions three bells about 1750, but Nos. (2) to (5) must have been here at the time. [H.B.W., A.W., July 30, 1920.] S. Peter (Four bells). (1) MEARS & STAINBANK FOUNDERS LONDON (25! in.) IN MEMORIAM MARY GRIFFIN 1876

• OAVEa.:.GftiFE~· • • • c ·W.: • • 0 GEN coa.:·I·P:·I

Fig. 15. DIXTON No.3. ; IOHN : MANSON ; HOVMPHRY · WILLIAMS ; C ; W ; (26 in.) (2) GENS : 1674. · on waist .: I : . P:. 0 GAVEG · : · GRIFET · : · C · W · : · GEN : FEARE : (28! in.) (3) GOG · ; · I · P ; 1682 [Fig.' 15] . . . (4) w ,sanoTa ~ ;Man<9aneTa [ill ona (33 in.) pno ~I no:si,B [Fig. 16 and PLATE III.] Bells arranged in two pairs, one above the other. The 2nd and 3rd are both by John Palmer II of Gloucester, the stop on the third being the obverse of the "Shekel," with the pot of manna. The lettering is unusual, theE's in particular consisting mainly of three horizontal strokes only, and the D's reversed, a link with No. 2. The date is 26 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

very late for Palmer, very few bells by him existing of later date than 1676. No. 4 is the only example in this county of a class known as the King's Head bells, which is found very widely distributed over England. The stops consist of heads of King Edward III and Queen Philippa. These stamps are first met with on bells by John and

a . a ~ m a T ffi~ II ID ¥1 ~ ~ f1 R ~ T ftl I 0 " f.l ~ ~ 0 I ~ 0 s I e Fig. 16. DIXTON No. 4.

William Rufford, of Toddington, Beds., c. 1350 to 1400. They appear next at Worcester, where an unknown founder appears to have cast a large number still existing in the neighbouring counties. They also later appear in the Midland counties, but the reason for the Royal Heads appears obscure. It seems, however, that in medieval (and later) times many of the letters, and stamps, of a founder were adopted and used, as well as his tools, by other founders, through inheritance or purchase. The Dixton bell, undoubtedly, was cast at Worcester, c. 1420, as it possesses several of the characteristics of the Worcester group, notably the reversed S and Roman T. [A.W., July, 1921 ; June, 1922.] THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 27

EBBW VALE Christchurch (Eight bells). Made by John Taylor & Co., of Loughborough, 1937, with the exception of No. (4), which was made by John and Denison Taylor in 1919. All bear inscriptions too long to be given in extenso here. (1) Donors. Widow and children of Thomas K ateley. (30 in.) (2) InHonourof ourBishop. (31 in.} (3) Donors. Widow and family of Henry Llewellin Prole. (33 in.} (4) Donor. Sir Frederick Mills, Bart. (35! in.} (5) Donors. P arish Church Branch of the Mothers' Union. (38! in.) (6) Donors. The staff and employees of the Ebbw Vale Sheet Mills. (41 in.) (7) Donors. Sir William and Lady Firth. (46 in.) 8) Donors. Inhabitants of Ebbw Vale Urban Area and friends of (52 in.} ( the Parish Church. (Service Bell). W ESTCOTT BRISTOL 1824 (c.18 in.) Until 1919 there was but the small service bell, now hung high above the others ; in 1919 the clock and bell, now No.4, were installed. The occasion of the reopening of the steel works after a long period of stagnation and local distress was commemorated by the erection of the ring, to which all classes of the contributed. The bells were in process of erection through July, 1937, and later on in the year a peal was broadcast by the B.B.C. The weight of the tenor is 25 cwt. 2 qrs. 11 lbs., and its note D, and the weight of the whole ring more than 93 cwt. I am indebted to Messrs. Taylor for the particulars of the bells. [A.W., May, 1922; July, 1937.] EBBW VALE S. John (Libanus Road). (1) Blank and modem. (c.20 in.) EBBW VALE S. Matthew (Modem). FLEUR DE LIS S. David (1897). (1) 7824 (c.18 in.) (2) 7838 (c. 20 in.) Steel bells by Naylor & Vickers (probably about 1861). FLEUR DE LIS S. Luke. (1) Blank (c.lO in.) 28 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

GARNDIFFAITH S. John. Modern Church. CHAPEL (1) J. & P. (c.16 in.) B By Jeffries & Price, of Bristol, c. 1850. In the churchyard is a tombstone in memory of John Morgan, of Hill Farm, Glascoed, and late of Mamhilad, "Founder of this Church," died 1861, aged 68. [A.W., May, 1924.] GOLDCLIFF S. Mary Magdalene (One bell and a ting tang). (1) (ornament) GEORGE ROBERTS CH: WARDEN W ft E 1732 (38 in.) Ting tang. Blank, but possibly seventeenth century (7i in.) Frames and wheels much decayed at time of visit. [A.W., Feb., 1921.] Christ Church (or Ultra) (One bell). (1) J. & P. (20! in.) B [A.W., July, 1923.] S. Peter (Two bells). (1) (North opening) J. & P. on stock, 1908 (c.14 in.) B (2) (South opening) ]. & P. (c.18 in.) H The church was rebuilt in 1845--6, Thomas Evans being the Rector, and the bells, both by Jeffries & Price of Bristol, are of this date. [A.W., May, 1922.] GRIFFITHSTOWN S. Hilda (1890) (One bell). Inaccessible, and not visible from below. [A.W., Aug., 1921.] GROSMONT S. Nicholas (Six bells). (1) PROSPERITY TO ALL OVR BENEFACTORS A : R ft1707 (28 in.) (2) GOD PROSPER THIS CHVRCH & PLACE A : R ft 1707 (29 in.) (3) WILLIAM PHILLIPS CHVRCHWARDEN 1707 (~tin.) ABRAHAM RVDHALL OF GLOVCESTER BELL FOVNDER GOMER DAVIES RECTOR LLEWELLINS & JAMES LTD on waist. H. PARTRIDGE} CHURCHWARDENS BRISTOL W. WATKINS 1914 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 29

(4) JOHN RUDHALL GLOCESTER FECT 1808 under as on (3). (31 in.) (5) IOHN RUDHALL GLOCESTER FECT 1807 (ornament) (34! in.) (6) GOD SAVE THE CHVRCH & KINGDOM & SEND VS PEACE (36 in.) A:Rti1707. William Phillips (No. 3) was Mayor of Grosmont in 1725. Bradney also mentions a "Cover Bell" with the inscription GOD SAVE THE CHURCH & KINGDOM A R 1707. This must have been No . 6 used as a Curfew Bell. [A.W. Sept., 1919.]

c rl t

No.2.

Fig. 17. GWERNESNEY. Fig. 18. GWERNESNEY.

GWERNESNEY S. Michael (Two bells). (1) Long waisted and uninscribed } PI t IV ( ) (17! in.) (2) Do. do. a e 1 (17 in.) Two of the earliest and most interesting bells in the county, both of the thirteenth century. They are round shouldered, and long­ waisted. The note given by No. 1, although its diameter is half-an­ inch greater at the rim, is half-a-tone higher than No. 2. The latter has lost its tongue which, at time of visit, was kept at the neighbouring farmhouse. Both bells have canons intact, but rather thin. Scale diagrams and measurements are given below. 30 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

Diameters. No. 1. No. 2. At rim A. 17·5 in . 17 in . , B. 13 in. 12·6 in. , C. 10 · 5 in. 10 in . , D. 9·2 in. 9 in. Dist. E. 4 in. 4 in . , F. 11 in. 11 in. , G. 3 in. 3 in. The ornamental bands are about 1 in . wide. The tongue of No. 2 is 14 in. long, and its iron baldrick, for fastening to the crown­ staple is still attached, though split. The photograph of these bells, taken by the writer from the roof-ridge of the nave, was reproduced in the Antiquaries Journal (Vol. VI, pl. LXVII, p. 427), and I am indebted to the Society of Antiquaries for permission to reprint it, as well as that of the two bells at Kemeys Commander (q.v.). Browne Willis mentions one bell only, obviously a mistake. [H.B.W., A.W., Aug. 1920; A.W., Apl. 1922.] HENLLYS S. Peter (Three bells). (1) + .sqa anna o:raa p:rao no:si,S (26 in.) (Fig. 19 and P lat e V, No 1). (2) I WILLIAM I IOHN I ROGE R I IOHN I w I RE Y NALD I c I (281 in.) W ARDE N I E E t} 1711 3) 0 IOHN : HOWELL· IENKIN : IOH N · E AVAN IOHN CHVRCH- ( W ARDE NS 1656 . (30 in.) No. (2} was cracked, and No. (3) had its wheel broken, at time of visit. The divisions on No. (2) are straight lines, not cables as at Cwmyoy, 1700, and Dinges tow, 170 1. No. 1 is a Bristol bell, its cross and lettering being of a fourteenth century type, and belonging to Walters Gp I.1 The cross occurs at Llanmaes, in Glamorganshire, with the same lettering, also at Penlline, with the same inscription. No. 2 is by Evan Evans. In the Register of Bettws is the following :-Gualterus Reynold de Bettws senex et saturdierum

1 Wrongly assigned in Trans. Bristol and Glouc . Arch. Soc ., XLI, 75, to Group V. There is, however, no ship on the bell as stated in footnote to p. 74 [H.B.W.]. THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 31 sepultus suit quarto die mensis Aprilis Anno 1711 apud Bassaleg His will was proved at Llandaff, 29 May in the same year. No. 3 has J. Palmer II's reverse of the Jewish Shekel, showing the rod of Aaron which budded. The three church wardens were for Henllys two, and for Bettws one, as the livings were conjoined. [A.W., July 11, 1917.] s a n n 0 p 0 n 0 B I s Fig. 19. HENLLYS No. I.

IFTON See Llanvihangel . S. Deiniol (One bell). (1) GOD I BLES I QVEEN ANNE @' WILLIAM I FORDES. C (36 in.) • wARDEN I EE ti 1702. Evan Evans here uses a small compact crown in alternation with his cable pattern. Access to the bell is partly by turret stair, but the upper steps having been removed, a ladder is necessary. [A.W., Apl. 14, 1921.] KEMEYS COMMANDER All Saints (Two bells). (1) Blank, round-shouldered, and long-waisted thirteenth century (15 in.) (2) Blank, modern, with inscription band, but no inscription (17! in.) The rims of both bells are badly worn, by rubbing against the turret wall, owing to looseness on the stocks. [Pl. IV (2).] B.W.-Three bells. 32 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

No. 1 is of about the same date as those at Gwernesney, but slightly smaller. Its dimensions are given in the diagram (Fig. 20). In the photograph [Pl. IV 2] it is instructive to notice the comparison of thirteenth century and modern shapes. [I am indebted again to the Society of Antiquaries for permission to reprint this plate-see Gwernesney.] [H.B.W., A.W., Aug., 1920; A.W., Sept., 1922.]

. I

... _ . .. --...... _ ....C;,- ·-9~in

y

. -- . - .. - - - ~ - - . I Height from X to Y =IS in. Fig . 20. KEMEYS COMMANDER No. L

KEMEYS INFERIOR All Saints (One bell). (1) HOWELL. lAMES CH :WARDEN E E ti 1688. (c. 25in.) Read from below, through glasses-date needs verifying, especially as it is rather early for Evan Evans, though quite possible, as Ystrad- owen, Glam., has a bell by E. E., 1686. [A.W., 1922.] THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 33

KILGORRWG dedication ? (One bell) (1) 1o 1WILLIAM lvriCKOLAS 1:)VIT 1 1698 1EE tr 1 (16!- in.) The 0 is an illegible coin, probably of Charles II, and the divisions are the cable moulding. Under the inscription is a cable moulding running round the bell. B.W.-"Kilgurruck 2." [The turret is a double one.] At the neighbouring farm, which was occupied formerly by the Nicholas family, is a built-in dresser, dated 1690, probably erected by this William Nicholas. He died in 1729, aged 63, and lies buried under an tomb in the church yard, at the south-east chancel angle. On the south side of the tomb is a set of verses in two columns. The first reads as follows:- Here lyeth ye man whose Youth time was spent In warlike Acts, in riper years was lent His helping hand to ye distressed Poor & found his wealth thereby increase ye more In his declining age he alwais stood Firm to his friends & to his Countrie's good But now he resteth in this Sacred ground Secured here till ye last Trump shall sound. The second column consists of the usual aspirations, ending in the Doxology,! a rather early and unusual use of the latter on a monument. . [A.W., Apl., 1921.] LANGSTONE ? (One bell). (1) BARWELL FOUNDER BIRMINGHAM. (c.24 in.) No date visible from below. On the wooden lintel of the west doorway is cut the following:­ APRIL o THE 0 7 o ANNO o DOMINI o 1622 THEOPHILVS ' IOHN o RINALDES EDWARD WILLIAMS CHVRCH WARDENS. [A.W., Aug. 24, 1937.] LLANARTH S. Teilo (Six bells). (1) **** * I. R. FECT 1820 * * * (31 in.) (2) do. (32 in.) (3) do. (33 in.)

1 By Bishop Ken, 1637-1711. 'Theophi1us Field, Bishop of Llandaff, 1619-1627. 34 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

RING OUT THE FALSE (34 in.) (4) RING IN THE TRUE DECANUS J. W. OSMAN B D. VICAR P. MARFEL } R. JONES ELECT CHURCHWARDENS. RECAST 1893. LLEWELLINS & JAMES BRISTOL. (5) ""THESE BELLS WERE CAST AT GLOUCESTER BY lOHN (38 in.) RuDHALL 1820 • (6) ""*I CALL IN PRAYER THE LIVING TO COMBINE**" 1820 (42 in.) * • * * THE DEAD MUST HEAR A LOUDER SOUND THAN MINE. I RUDHALL FECT. B.W.-Six bells. The bells were given by John Jones, Esq., about 1800. [Bradney i, 310.] [A.W., May, 1923.]

LLANBADOC S. Madoc1 (Two bells). (1) X SOLI X DEO X DETVR X GLORIA X WI : RM : 1635 (23! in.) (2) (R) (0) WALTER: MORGAN: AMBERS : WILLIAMS : C · W· (25 in.) DENS : 1677 No. 1 is by John Palmer I (1621-38), No. 2 by his son, John Palmer II (1647-82). W.I. and R.M. are the Churchwardens. The stops on (2) are the reverse and obverse of the shekel. Ambers=Ambrose. Both bells are cracked and need rehanging, and the larger bell has one canon broken. [H.B.W., A.W., July 29, 1920.] LLANDDEWI FACH S. David (Two bells). (1) + ~B)l(i)tf'fleTa [Pl. v 2 and Fig. 21] (15! in.) (2) Blank and without inscription band (17 in.) No. 1 is c. 1350, the inscription being in well-formed Longobardic capitals of height ! in., and the cross a small plain Maltese one. At first sight it would appear to group with Pauntley (Glouc.) and Butcombe (Som.) (c. 1320), but close inspection shows differences, and it must be assigned to some local founder of the middle of the fourteenth century. The other bell is apparently quite modern. This church was thor- oughly restored in 1920. [H.B.W., A.\V., July 31, 1920.]

' S. Cadoc in Official Handbook to , 1933. THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 35

m [HJ [B ~

[RJ ten ~

Fig. 21. LLANDDEWI F ACH No. I. S. David (One bell).

(1) WILLIAM 1 IONEs 1 ROBERT 1 HVGHES 1 c 1 w 1 EE 1} 1110 (24! in.) Cable divisions as usual with Evan Evans. Robert Hughes, of Pencoed Morgan (probably a son of the above), died May 20, 1782, aged 81. William Jones died July 13, 1801, aged 81 (probably a son of the first-mentioned C.W.). [Bradney.]. Browne Willis mentions six bells here. The tower is of very massive construction, with a wooden superstructure with louvres, much resembling that at . [A.W., Apl. 28, 1922.] S. David (Four bells). (1, 2, 3) J. B. 1879. (31 in., 32 in., 32! in.) (4) JAMES BARWELL FOUNDER BIRMINGHAM · 1879. (37 in.) B.W>-Five bells. The four bells are hung dead, as the tower is too narrow for them to swing. The church was entirely rebuilt in 1875 by Mr. Crawshay Bailey. This must have included the tower, or else the five earlier bells were much smaller. [A.W., Sept. 3, 1919.] LLANDEGVETH S. Tegfydd(Two bells). (I) 0 I TREVOR I MEYRICK I @ I EE fi I 1705. (Cable stops.) (16 in.) (2) JOHN J AMES (16 in.) 1876. B.W.-Three bells. No. 1 is a half-tone higher than No. 2. The coin on No. 1 appears to be the obverse of a William III half-crown. No. 2 appears to be by Llewellins and J ames.1

' The John James here was probably a churchwarden, for the J ames of Llewellins and James died in 1869, 36 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

The porringer-shaped cup here is inscribed NATHANIEL MEYRICK CHVRCHWARDEN LLANDYFETH 1720 [Halliday Church Plate of Llandaff Diocese, p. 33, with illustration]. The bells are hung side by side in a sort of west window niche, No. 1 to the north and No. 2 to the south. [H.B.W., A.W., July 31, 1920.] LLANDENNY S. John (Six bells). (1) 1839 J & p (25i in.) R.G. &W.C. B. (on waist) c.w. 2) JEFFERIES & PRICE BRISTOL 1839 ( RICHARD GEORGE WILLIAM CADOGAN CHURCHWARDENS (27! in.) (3) 0 I GOD I PRESERVE I THE I CHVRCH I AND I KING IE IE I til (29 in.) 1715 (Coin is obverse of Wm. III crown.) (4) I THOMAS I IENKINS I ESQR I WILLIAM I lONES I GENT I (29! in.) E I E I ti I 1715 (5) I THOMAS I lONES I lAMES I DAVIS I GENT I CHVRCH I (33 in.) WARDENS I EE ti 1715 (6) I LET I MY I SOUND I MOVE I THEE I TO I GODS I GLORY I (37 in.) ROG I lONES I ESQR I EE ti 1715 I 0 [Coin appears to be obverse of Qn. Anne shilling.] Browne Willis 6 bells. In oak frames and wheels, short iron stays; treble is said to be cracked. In the church yard is a tomb to William Cadogan, died September 20, 1849, aged 72 years. There is also a stone to Thomas Jenkins, died June 12, 1732, aged 70 years. [Letter from Rector's son, to whom thanks ; also for much help in the belfry.]. [A .W., July 27, 1922.] 37

THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE. Bv ARTHUR WRIGHT, B.Sc. III . S. Peter (One bell). (1) Blank and modern (c. 19 in.) Church rebuilt in 1843, and bell probably of same date. [A.W., April, 1921.] . S. Odoceus (Two bells.) In turret with spire (modern) and, apart from the rim of one bell c. 20 in. diameter, invisible from below, and difficult of access. (1) Blank. (2) EE tJ WE 1726 (border). Information received from Mr. C. Bridger (formerly of Bloxham), through Mr. H . B. Walters. Chapel-small modern building with one bell. [A.W., 1921 , 1937.] LLANELEN. S. Helen (Two bells). (1) LEWIS LEWELLEN \CHURCH- R ECAST 1922 (30! in.) jOHN PHILIP EDWARD j WARDENS LLEWELLINS & jAMES ANNO 1662 BRISTOL (2) (R) (0) IENKIN ; RICHARD· WILLIAM· WATKINS ; SMITH; (33 in.) CHVRCHWARDE NS ; 1658 ; Both were probably by John Palmer II of Gloucester; the second bears the reverse and obverse of the Jewish shekel. The 8 in the date is an altered S [Fig. 22]. The bells have been rehung1 on wooden stocks in iron frames in the pinnacled and crocketed spirelet, the recast bell being above the other. Both are bolted to the stocks and the canons removed from No. 2. [A.W., Sept. 4, 1926.] LLANFAENOR. [Dedication?] (One bell) (1) Blank and modern. No inscription band. (c. 21 in.) [A.W., Apl., 1932.]

1 The writer regrets an opportunity missed here. He was in. the neighbourhood several times during 1922, when the bells were in the churchyard awaiting removal. The complete inscription on NQ. I is thus now lQst. 38 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

LLANFAIR CHAPEL. S. Mary (One bell). (1) Blank and without inscription band. (c. 15 in.) The church is small and modern ; about 100 yards to the south in a hollow are the remains of the old chapel, consisting of nave and chancel continuous ; a holy water stoup is still to be seen just inside the west doorway. [AW., R.G.J., Aug. 9, 1923.] LLANFAIR DISCOED. S. Mary (One bell). (1) W tr E 1756 (ornament). (c. 22 in.) The church was rebuilt in the eighteenth century as shown by an inscription over the porch. THIS CHURCH WAS BILT IN YE YR 1746. The bell is by William Evans, of Chepstow. There is a singular inscription now1 in the porch:- Who Ever hear on Sonday Will Practis Playing at Ball it May Be before Monday The Devil Will Have you All. [A.W., April, 1921.] LLANFAIR KILGEDIN. S. Mary (Two bells) . (1) No inscription or band for one (modern). (c. 20 in.) (2) Inscription in Lombardic capitals, with stops which appear to be Robert Hendley's (1450- 1500) ; needs further investigation ; two recent attempts failed on account of weather conditions. (c. 24 in). Browne Willis (1750) mentions three bells here, whilst a terrier of 1809 notes " Two bells without wheels, the largest about 200 lbs. weight and the lesser of about 150 lbs. weight." [A.W., 1926, 1938.] LLANFIHANGEL CRUCORNEY. S. Michael (One bell and a ting-tang.) (1) II I II WAS II CAST II IN II THE 111311 YEAR II OF II HIS II MAIESTY II (42 in.) RAING II KING II WILIAM II EE tf 1700 (Ting-tang) II GOD BLES II KING II WILIAM II E II E II ft II 1700 (18 in.) Both by Evan Evans I, of Chepstow, with his cabled divisions between the words. The ting-tang has also a band of cable pattern above the inscription [Fig. 23].

1 In 1851, Mr. E. A. Freeman notes this as "graven on the stile by which the churchyard is entered" [Arch. Camb. , 1851, p. 102]. PLATE VI.

LLANFIHANGEL-JUXTA-ROGGIETT (No. 1).

LLANFIHANGEL YSTERN LLEWERN No. 3 (No. 2). PLATE VII.

LLANGATTOCK-JUXTA-USK (No.1).

LLANGEVIEW No. 2 (No. 2). THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 39

The second I in WILIAM appears on both bells, from the spacing of the letters, to be an L with its lower limb removed. The patriotic wording may perhaps be accounted for by the fact that the living was for many years in the gift of the Crown. The vicar at the time was Henry Vaughan, who held the living from January 7th, 1672-3, to June 12th, 1722. It is interesting to note that during the 240 years from 1672 to 1912, there were only eight incumbents. Browne Willis (or Cole) in 1740-50 notes six bells here. [A.W., Aug. 16, 1919.] LLANFIHANGEL GOBION or JUXTA USK. S. Michael (One bell). (1) ; GOD ; SAVE : THE ; KH1G ; 1626 ; I P ; (24! in.) By John Palmer I. of Gloucester (1621-38). Many of his bells bear similar loyal mottoes such as FEARE GOD, HONNOR THE KINGE (Bryngwn 2, Tredunnoc 2, Llangwm Uchaf 1). The bell is " tucked up " into the stock, and two of the canons have gone. There are triangular or A-frames for two bells, and in 1740-50 there were two [B.W. or Cole]. The lettering is quaint and angular but clearly cut, and appears, like much of I.P.'s early work, to have been first cut out of pieces of fiat metal and then impressed upon the inside of the cope. This also accounts for the frequent reversal of letters, such as N, D, G. [H.B.W., A.W., Aug. 3, 1920.] LLANFIHANGEL LLANTARNAM. S. Michael (Six bells). (1 to 6) THOMAS MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1802 [26, 27!, 29!, 30!, 32!, 35! in. respectively.] The line of ornament is the usual Whitechapel pattern of inter­ lacing arcs, introduced by Lester and Pack about 1770. The bells are in old oak frames with short (7 in.) iron stays and short iron sliders. "At Llantarnam Abbey at the dissolution there were four bells, weighing in all38 cwt. 3 qrs. 4lbs., and these were still at the Abbey in 1555. They were eventually removed by William Jones, of Caerleon." [Arch. Camb., 1897, p. 291 ; L. Thomas­ Reformation in Llandajj Diocese, p. 56. J [A.W., July 11, 1917, Aug. 23, 1921.] ~ 0

r1 I I I. 4 ~ # I 'I. I I I I I I II I I I I I I 11 1 1 11 411' ... 111 1 I I I i I •-' # I I , I I # I I I I I I_. I 1 I t1 1 I I I# I I I I, I ' I r >-1 lJ1 ~ () lJ1 GOD 13LES~KlNG~WlLl.~AM~ E c:: :::0 FIG z.;, () lJ1 txj ~ t""' t""' X 1\N 0 oO Ml VII . I 7 (fl 98 0 "'1

~ 0z ~ \0' t s 0 FiG 2.4- c:: >-1 FIG l:l. . lJ1 (fl lJ1 Fig. 22 -LLANELEN No. 2. .... Fig. 23.-LLANFIHANGEL CRUCORNEY-Ting tan g [part inscription]. :::0 Fig. 24.-LLANFIHANGEL PONTYMOILE No. 1. ~ THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 41

LLANFIHANGEL PONTYMOILE S. Michael (Two bells.) (1) A NN 0 DOMI kH 1598 RP A GP [FIG. 24J (19! in.) (2) (R) (0) ; IOHN : WATERS : CHVRCH ; WARDEN 1678 I G ; (20! in.) An interesting pair. No. 1 is by a couple of local founders RP and GP, probably brothers, whose names have not yet come to light. Another of their bells of the same date, but in smaller lettering, is at Llangeview, and gives the names of the donor and his wife, William and Elyza Gibon. In both cases the lettering is very irregular, and the 5 in the date shows an early form, whilst the ligulate N's in the Pontymoile example are unusual. (See also p. 3, Arch. Camb., 1937, p. 295.) No. 2 is from Palmer's foundry at Gloucester, and a rather late example; the J.G. probably stands for the foreman, whose initials occur at Cwmyoy, No.2 (1672), and also at Llangasty Talyllyn (1674), and Llanfi.hangel Talyllyn (1678), both in Breconshire. It is much to be hoped that research will discover the names and foundry-town of R.P. and G.P. [A.W., G.J.P., Apl. 21, 1922.] LLANFIHANGEL JUXTA ROGGIETT. S. Michael (One bell.) (1) [±] ,8B110Te: iB ~IQIQBe:L iB 01\B (35 in.) PRO 110:81,8 By Robert Hendley, of Gloucester (c. 1450-1500), whose bells occur in Somerset and Gloucester and in many parts of Wales, even as far as Montgomeryshire [Llanfair Caer Einion], including in this county Penrhos 3 (recast 1904, but with facsimile inscription) and Tredunnoc 6, where the inscription is unreadable, though the lettering and stops (crowns) resemble Hendley's. His cross is a peculiar variety, having three of its arms ending in trefoils, and the fourth terminating in a kind of knob [Fig. 25, and Pl. VI. 1]. The lettering is clear and fairly well formed, but rather clumsy, the spacing being, however, very regular. Each letter and stop is on a separate patera. The bell frame is incised with dates 1791 and 1836. [A.W., June 12, 1919.] LLANFIHANGEL JUXTA USK. See Llanfi.hangel Gobion. LLANFIHANGEL TORYMYNYDD. S. Michael. (One and a ting-tang.) (1) T. HALE & SONS (on waist). (17! in.) (2) EDWARD CARTER (on waist). (12 in.) .,.. 1-.:l

>-l ~~~~~~~~~~ ::X: ~~~~~~~~-::x:EE[SJll [J]~~~mm ~

rnmMU~l[i]~~rm~~ ~ - ~ ~• z) ~ 0 mJ e~ >-l ll[]lS ::X: (fl ::X: II ..... Fig. 25.-LLANFIHANGEL-JUXTA-ROGGIETT (Robert Hendley, 1450--1500). :::0 ~ THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 43

In 1829, the firm was Wasbrough, Hale & Co., who cast a 33! in. bell for Llantrissent, Mon. No. 2 is of nineteenth century date, and Edward Carter probably a local man, not necessarily a founder. Browne Willis mentions two bells here, c. 1750. Thanks to the Rector (Rev. W. Jones, B.A.), and to Miss Tegwen Jones, B.A., and Mr. H. V. Thornley, for help. [A.W., Sept. 1, 1938.] LLANFIHANGEL YSTERN LLEWERN. S. Michael (Three bells). (1) RECAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1874 (27fin.) FEAR X GOD X HONOR X THE X KING X WI X IW X C * w * 1647 (2) : IOHN : POWEL : CHVRCH : WARDEN : E : EVANS : FECIT : 1714 (30 in.) (3) ~~ £Wtctc thonlit *I~ om prcr nobis [Fig.26.] (33f in.) Browne Willis mentions three bells in c. 1740. No. 1 was cast by John Palmer II, of Gloucester, and No.2 by Evan Evans, of Chepstow. No. 3 is by Thomas Gefferies, or Jefferies, of Bristol (1 508-46), or by his son, Henry Jefferies (1546-60), probably by the former, as the doctrine expounded on the bell might have been dangerous in the post-Reformation period, and Henry usually employs some non­ committal phrase such as" Praise ye the Lord." We may, therefore, place No. 3 as c. 1520-30, since no capital letters are employed. The cross is a small modification of No. 25 (Glouc.), consisting of four heart-shaped ornaments in the angles of a floreated cross, the whole being in a rough circle or octagon of diameter 1!in. [Pl. VI. 2. J The bells are in a square turret on the roof of the nave and are reached by a long ladder from the floor of the church to the beams of the roof, thence along the latter into the west window-sill, whence a short ladder leads to the trap-door into the turret. I have here to acknowledge the help of Mr. Llewelyn Matthews, of. ~engam, without whose aid the above inscriptions would be m1ssmg. [A.W., Apl. 28, 1922.] . S. Faith (Two bells). (1) Blank, but probably an early bell. (15 in.) (2) Blank, and possibly the same. (16 in.) Both bells are swung by levers instead of wheels. 44 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

6.-e·\ 1·•-·l [._,.I j,...,

le:~l [Ql <'i E"~l z0 z P:: "'-1 ~ "'-1 ~ § ....1 ....1 z ~ P:: "'-1 f-< (f) [g [a >< ....1 "'-1 (jz < !'*::] ~ I ..... I:: '"'z < ....1 ~ ....1 I <.0 [g =I C'l I_: ~ ~ ~ [§ eJ ~D ~ r-1 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 45

The church was entirely rebuilt about 1905. Browne Willis mentions here " Llanfoyste 3." [Ll.M., A.W., July 24, 1923.] LLANFRECHFA (LOWER). All Saints (Eight bells). (1) • JOHN TAYLOR & CO. • FOUNDERS * LOUGHBOROUGH (22 in.) (On waist) KING GEORGE VI. CORONATION 1937 (2) • JOHN TAYLOR & CO. * FOUNDERS * LOUGHBOROUGH (23 in.) (On waist.) TO MARK THE COMING OF AGE OF HOPTON ADDAMS WILLIAMS. INSTALLED BY HIS FATHER AND MOTHER. (3 to

LLANFRECHFA. S. Mary (Lower Pontnewydd) (One bell). (1) Blank and modern. (c. 18 in.) Said to have been brought from S. John Baptist, , Newport, when the latter church was rebuilt. [A.W., Aug. 23, 1921.] LLANFRECHFA (UPPER). Holy Trinity (One bell). (1) About 20 in. diameter. There is a turret stairs to the first floor of the tower, but the bell hangs about 20 feet above this, and no means of access is provided. [A.W., Aug. 23, 1921.] LLANGATTOCK JUXTA USK. S. Cadoc (One bell). (1) + ,8f3tfl0T€ Tt\Oj\lli l\0'6tl P'60 110:81,8 (25 in.) A Bristol bell about 1380, resembling a group in Gloucester and Somerset_! The cross (Fig. 27 and Pl. VII. 1) is very ornamental and is illustrated by Ellacombe (Glouc. 59, Somerset 74). The use of HORA for ORA is uncommon, but it is found on contemporary bells from Bristol and elsewhere. Browne Willis (or Cole) states that c. 1750 there were here four bells, and pits still remain for three. The Rector states that a tradition existed in the parish that the others had been sent to Gloucester for recasting and had never been returned. 2 This might possibly have occurred about 1840 when the Gloucester foundry closed down. Many thanks to the Rector, Rev. H. G. Corner, M.A., D.D., and to Mr. Llew. Matthews for help in the belfry. [A.W., Aug. 3, 1920: July 24, 1923.] . S. Cadoc (Three bells). 1) N. R. WESTCOTT OF BRISTOL FECIT ( ...... ,..... THOB. DAVIS GENT. CHURCHWARDEN APRIL (34! in.) 1829 ---- (2) Same as (1) (37 in.) (3) ++++++++++ N. R. WESTCOTT OF BRISTOL FECIT (39 in.) ...... + THos. DAVIS GENT. CHURCHWARDEN 10 April 1829 '++++++++++ 3 In 1815, the firm consisted of Jasper Westcott & Sons, ; later the sons appear to have cast bells independently and in partnership, 1 Bristol and Gloucs. Arch. Soc. Trans., XLI, 72, Gp. II, 1350-80 (H.B.W.). 2 Statement made to the Rector by an old parishioner, who had died a few months before my visit (1923) . 3 See Bedwellty, p. 15. (Arch. Camb., XCII, 306.) THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 47 thus :-]. and N. Westcott, in 1823 (Bretforton, Worcs.), B. Westcott, in 1828, at Burrington (Som.), L. Westcott, 1842 (Timsbury, Som.), john Westcott, 1847 (Stanton Drew, Som.). After this date it is not in evidence, and the firm ceased to exist, or was absorbed. The line of ornament is the same as the Whitechapel pattern of Lester and Pack. In churchyard is a tomb to Mary, wife of Thomas Davies, of Old Court, Llangattock Lingoed, who died 1819, aged 23. This Thomas Davies, gent., bought Old Court in 1816, and was previously of Talycoed, , Mon. [A.W., July, 1923.] LLANGATTOCK VIBON A VEL. S. Cadoc (Six bells). (1) IOHN RUDHALL GLOUCESTER FECT. 1812 (ornament Fig. 6) (27! in.) (2) PROSPERITY TO ALL THAT LOVES GOOD BELLS 1707 (28f in.) (on waist) CAST BY JOHN WARNER (Royal Arms) & SONS PATENT (on rim) JOHN ALLAN ROLLS HAD THIS BELL RECAST JET. 21. FEB. 19. 1858 (3) @ IOHN II PRICHARD II C II WARDEN II MATTHEW A VSTINS II (30 in.) E E ti II (4) II THOMAS II EVANS II ESQR II W II POWELL II C II W II E E t! II (31!in.) ANNO II DOMINI II 1707 (5) II THOMAS II EVANS II ESQR II WILLIAM II POWELL II C II (35 in.) WARDEN II P II TOWN SIN II E E tlf 1707 (6) li¥ THOMAS II EVANS II ESQR II WILLIAM II POWELL II CHVRCH (38! in.) II WARDEN II E E it @ 1707 All in good ringing order at time of visit. Cabled stops. John Allan Rolls was Sheriff of Monmouthshire, 1875, and was created first Baron Llangattock in 1892. One of his sons, the Hon. C. S. Rolls, was one of the pioneers of flying, and also the joint founder of the Rolls-Royce firm of motor manufacturers. Thomas Evans, of Llangattock, died April 2nd, 1731, aged 63. [Bradney. s.v. Llangattock v. Avel.] Browne Willis (Cole) states that c. 1750 there were three bells ; there must, however, have been the five of 1707, if not six, for No. 1 may be a re-cast. [A.W., April 28, 1922.] LLANGEVIEW. S. David (Two bells). (1) WATER~ IO'liS :: C ~~ W ~~ EE if~ 1688 (18! in.) (2) EX DONO GVL GIBON ET ELYZA VXOR EIVS ANNO DOMINI (21! in.) 1598 R-P & G-P (Fig. 28 and Plate \'II. 2.) 48 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE ~ B ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

!0\ ~...: ~ ~ (~]; u ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ I

~:ii; ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 49

Both bells are much corroded from exposure to the weather. No. 1 is an early example by Evan Evans, of Chepstow, with stops consisting of pairs and double pairs of groups of five dots in cross form :·: This also occurs at Porthkerry, Glam. (1695), and at Llansoy. The earliest specimen of Evan Evans' make is at Y strad­ owen, 1686. The tenor at Llanblethian, though bearing the date 1685 (of its gift), was not cast before 1694, as two of its stops are the obverse and reverse of a William III crown (1694-1702). No. 2 is by the founders of Llanfihangel Pontymoile No. 1. The lettering is, however, much smaller, and, like that on the Pontymoile bell, very irregular (Fig. 28). In Bradney's Hist. of Mon., III, 141, 142, occurs the following:- " The Gibon family were landowners and residents in this parish for many generations, though where exactly is uncertain. Thomas ap Robert John Gibon is mentioned in a deed of 14 Oct. 10 Hen. VIII (1518) In Davydd Benwyn's pedigrees (1550-1600) is the following (translation) :- ' Old Thomas Gibon his son was John Gibon and the son of John was Thomas Gibon and the son of Thomas is William Gibon, gentleman, and John Gibon. Their mother was Christian daughter of Reinallt Williams ap Hopkin ap Adam ap Bran.' William Gibon of Langiview made his will 1 Oct. 37 Eliz. (1595) [at Llandaff (but no probate)], in which he mentions his wife, Elizabeth, and Mary, base daughter of Walter Gibon. The last in the parish is John Gibon, whose will was made 1 April, 1662 (Llandaff, but no probate). The family continued as yeomen in Llangwm till the close of the eighteenth century.'' The will of William Gibon, referred to above, dated October 1st, 1595, was administered March 4th, 1596--7, when he is described as deceased, and his wife Elizabeth as relict. He leaves XVs. to the parish church of Llangeview, and XIId. to the cathedral church of Llandaff. He makes a bequest of money for the reparation of the " wayes " in the parish and for making a new " style " at the entrance of the churchyard, the amount to be at the discretion of his widow and the executors.1 The bell must, therefore, have been bought by the executors in the name of husband and wife in 1598.

1 The executors were Roger Edwards and John Morgan. The will, at the Llandaff Registry, is much decayed in parts, and thus difficult to decipher. ~ E~DONO GVL GIBONET E~Y3A:. V~ -

...., AN s~l0 DO M I N I f7:!P5 R-PfQ :::z:: ~ t'i (")

Fig. 28.-LLANGEVIEW No. 2. :::z:: c ~ (")

:::z:: to t'i t""' t""' :FEARE :COD·HONN OVSR (/l 0 "'1

rs: 0z rs: c0

~ :THE ·}{INc; DOO E:WELL· (/l :::z:: ...... ~ t'i ______C_N__ I6~7 AND· D ooV'P NO~HI:

Fig. 29.-LLANGW:\1 UCHAF No. 1. THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 51

It is most desirable that the names and abode of R.P. and G.P., who cast this bell and one at Llanfihangel Pontymoile, should be found, as they were probably local men. [H.B.W., A.W., July 29, 1920.] LLANGIBBY. S. Cybi (Eight bells). (1) HOPTON A. WILLIAMS 1907 band of scroll ornament under inscription (25£ in.) (2) A. R. ti 1712. [band of ornament (Fig. 6)] (26! in.) (3) A. R. t} 1712 [ do. (Fig. 9)] (27 in.) (4) ABRA RVDHALL OF GLOVCESTER BELLFOUNDER 1712 (28! in.) [Fig. 6] (5) PEACE & GOOD NEIGHBOVRHOOD [Fig. 10] A. R . 1712. (33 in.) (On waist) RECAST 1907. 6) PHILLIP HOWELLS & THOMAS PHILLIPS CHVRCH ( WARDENS 1712 (34! in.) 7) S~ HOPTON WILLIAMS BARONETT WILLIAM LEWES ( RECTOR BENEFACTORS 1712 (36! in.) (8) HOPTON A. WILLIAMS 1907 (42 in.) On the waist of Nos. 1, 5, and 8 is Taylor's Bell Medallion. Browne Willis mentions six bells (1740-50). All the bells bolted to stocks (five bolts each), Nos. 7 and 8 being below the others. On a brass plate in the tower :-

THE PEAL OF BELLS IN THIS TOWER WAS RAISED FROM SIX TO THE FULL OCTAVE IN LOVING MEMORY OF HOPTON ADDAMS WILLIAMS M.F.H. A.D . 1907. The Addams Williams family has been, for several centuries, at Llangibby Castle. [A.W., A.J.G., May 29, 1917.] . S. Govan (Two bells). (1) J & P (14! in.) B (2) Do. (15! in.) By Jefferies & Price, of Bristol, c. 1850. There were two bells in 1740 (Browne Willis), which must have been recast or replaced. [H.B.W., A.W., Aug. 4, 1920.] . S. James (Two bells). These are in a wooden turret at the west end of the nave, accessible only through the rafters. No ladders of sufficient length being attainable at time of visit, their details must be left until some repairs to the roof are necessary. 52 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

LLANGUNNOG. S. Cynog. In ruins, the only portion still standing being a part of the west wall, in a farmyard near Llanfihangel Tory Mynydd Church. [A.W., Nov. 1, 1927.] LLANGWM ISHA. S. John (One bell). (1) ]. TAYLOR & C0 LOUGHBOROUGH (c. 15 in.) date not visible from below, but c. 1870. LLANGWM UCHAF. S. Hierom (Three bells). (}) : FE ARE : GOD · HONtJ>VER : THE · KING : DOOE : WELL · (28! in.) AND · DOOVT : NOTHI : [Fig. 29) . : 1677 : (2) : (1) : (2 ) : IOHN · GWIN : E SQV; AND · THOMAS · GEORGE : (30£ in.) C: W ·DENS: 1677 : I ·P (3) (R) HEARE : I: AM·CAST: SAFE·AND: SOVND: TO· CALL : (32! in.) THE ; DEAD : INTO : THE : GROVND : 1677. under : · : I G : · : All by John Palmer II, of Gloucester. The stop (1) on No. 2 is the obverse of a Charles I half-crown, with the king on horseback; stop No. (2) is the reverse of the II shekel." On No. 3 the stop at the beginning is again the reverse of the

II shekel," and I.G. is for the foreman, John Green, as at Cwmyoy No. 2. Compare the inscription on No. 3 with that on No. 8 at Abergavenny, S. Mary (1603). [H.B.W., A.W., Aug. 2, 1920.] . S. John the Baptist (One and a ting-tang). (1) TREVOR A. WILLIAMS CHURCHWARDEN 1845 (32 in.) (Ting-tang.) Modern and blank (14! in.) In the will of Gyles Morgan, of Pencreek, Mon., 1638, is the following :-

11 ITEM, I give towards the casting of the great Bell to be sett up in the said church of Lanenhock fyve pounds. 1 The bell here is thus doubtless a recast, possibly by Jeffries & Price of Bristol. It is rung by a wheel, and the ting-tang by a lever.

A Terrier of 1771 mentions three bells, II one in use, the others cracked and shattered." [A.W., Aug. 17, 1921.] 1 Quoted in a letter from the late G. A. Taylor, of Neath, May, 1932, but authority not given. THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 53

LLANHILLETH. Christchurch (One bell). (1) 0'1\tl eT VI(91Ltf-band of grape vme ornament. (19 in.) On waist, a bell in the form of a tongued T (Taylor's trademark). [A.W., Apl. 22, 1916.] LLANHILLETH. S. Mark. Two steel bells, much rusted, in west turret (c. 18 in. and 20 in.). LLANHILLETH. S. Illtyd (Two bells). (1) COME AWAY MAKE NO DELAY 1767 (line of ornament, Fig. 6) (21 in.) (2) + GLORIA 0 IN 0 EXCELSIS 0 DEO (20! in.) 1615 No. 1 is by T. Rudhall, as the ornament shows. No. 2 has very irregular lettering (Fig. 30), each letter being cut out of thin sheet metal and impressed on the cope before casting ; thus the two O's are of different sizes and shapes. It is a very thick bell, and its note is below No. 1, though its diameter is less. It may be by one of the Purdues, or, like those at Pontymoile and Llangeview, of local origin ; it bears, however, neither initials nor founder's mark. [A.W., J.A.P., Apl., 1916.] LLANISHEN. S. Denis (One bell). The bell is inaccessible, being in a closed turret with spirelet. Browne Willis mentions one bell. The church was entirely erected1 in 1854, as an inscription over the door records [Bradney II, 244.] [A.W., June 3, 1922.] . S. Llywell (Two bells). Both are blank and modern, without even an inscription band. The smaller bell only is in use. (C. 20 and 21 in.) [A.W., Oct. 8, 1937.] . S. Martin (One bell). (1) JEFFRIES & PRICE BRISTOL 1854 (31 in.) [A.J.G., A.W., May, 1918.]

1 ? Rebuilt, but the inscription says "ERECTED." 54 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

LLANOVER. S. Bartholomew (Five bells). (1 to 5) MEARS & STAINBANK LONDON 1907 on waist (1) S. ELEN A S GWEN (24 in.) (2) S. GARMON (26 in.) (3) S. DEWI (26! in.) (4) S. JOAN (28! in.) (5) S. MAIR A S MIHANGEL (31! in.) G.D. These were the gift of the Hon. Augusta C. E. Herbert, of Llanover House.

E )(Cf:L& IS+D&O 1615 fiG 30

LLANHILLETH No. 2.

The five old bells were cast in 1784 by John Rudhall, of Gloucester, and weighed as follows :-3 cwts. 1 qr. 0 lb. ; 3 cwts. 3 qrs. 16 lb. ; 3 cwts. 3 qrs. 21 lb. ; 4 cwts. 1 qr. 4 lb. ; and 5 cwts. 2 qrs. 4 lb. No record was kept of the old inscriptions. G.D. may stand for GRACIAS DEO. The Vicar at the time (1907) was the Rev. Evan Davies, who was inducted in 1891. [A.W., July 27, 1923.] THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 55

LLANSANTFFRAED. S. Bridget (Two bells). Both blank and apparently modern. (c. 19 and 21 in.) [A.W., July 24, 1923.] LLANSOY. S. Sisoy (Two bells). (1) I HEN I WILLIAMS I THO I DAVIS I CHI WARDEN I EE ti I 1716 ti (31 in.) (2) II= II CHRISTIFVR WILLAMS 11=11 =11CHVRCH II WARDEll! II W II (37 in.) 1i! II E fiE ft 11=111 116118118 No. 1 has Evan Evans' usual cable stops, but No. 2, which is one of his earliest bells, has stops consisting of strips of cross-hatching, some upright, others horizontal H-fashion. This occurs also at Porthkerry, Glam., and Llangeview No. 1. The second 8 is inverted (Fig. 31.) Bradney (ii 225) mentions that the great bell was cast at the cost of Christopher Williams, in 1688-9, and refers to the registers for further particulars. Note in Registers (1659). " Now finding that the belfree is readie to fall downe and the tymber altogether rotten ... the p'ish'on's of Lansoy ... agree to build up a new belfree." Among the Churchwardens mentioned is also " Christopher Williams in 1688 and for 'J yeare 1689 who first built the bellfree with stones, And cast the Greate bell which cost besides the raising and carrying of the stone £60." In the earliest register (starting in 1593) " 7bris 28 1703 Christopherus Williams de Lansoy sepultus fuit." Thanks to the Rev. W . Jones, B.A., Rector. [A.W., 1920. Sept. 1, 1938.] LLANTARNAM. See LLANFIHANGEL LLANTARNAM. LLANTHONY. S. David (One bell). (1) INo. RUDHALL FEeT. 1792. (c. 23 in.) [A.W., June 28, 1924.] LLANTILIO CROSSENNY. S. Teilo (Six bells and a ting-tang). (1) LET VS REIOYCE WITH CHEERFVLL VOICE : A : R ft 1709 (27 in.) (2) GOD SAVE THE CHVRCH & QVEEN 1709 AR ti (Figs. 6 (29 in.) and 12) (3) GoD SAvE THE CHURCH ·: . 1821 ·: · PEACE & GooD NEIGHBOURHOOD (31 in.) (under) FECT [name omitted, probably J. Rudhall) 56 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

(4) GOD SAVE THE QVEEN & CHVRCH ~~ (Fig. 6) A : (33 in.) R tJ 1708 (Fig. 6) (5) PROSPERITY TO ALL OVR BENEFACTORS :Fig. 6) A tJ R (36 in.) tJ fi 1709 (Fig. 6) (6) WILLIAM POWELL ESQR (Fig. 6) GOD PRESERVE THIS (40 in.) PLACE 1709 (Figs. 6 and 12) (Ting-tang) COME AWAY MAKE NO DELAY (10! in.) 1725 Browne Willis mentions six bells in c. 1740.

r- ···--· : ~ ~~, ~ [J ~i L!· i' M': i~ sl ~ L!_____!1 ~-

!1, .•. ,.;.•.. ~·~ .... g J ...... ~··, 6 :·4 8 1702 ·.:· -··· FIG .3Z I 31

LLANSOY No. 2. LLANTILIO COURT, Clock bell.

A ring of six by Abraham Rudhall I, of Gloucester (1684-1735) , No. 3 being recast by John Rudhall (1783-1830). The small bell (omitted by Bradney, who gives the inscriptions on the rest), is by Abraham Rudhall I or II, the lettering being their smaller set. William Powell was the son of Matthew Powell and Mary his wife, daughter of William Jones, of Coity; he married Penelope Evans, of Llwyn y Gaer, and was buried at Llantilio, J anuary lOth, 1723. (Bradney.) [A.W., Apl. 28, 1922.] THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 57

LLANTILIO COURT. Stable clock bell. (1) 1702. (Fig. 32.) (17! in.) Appears to be by Abraham Rudhall. [A.W., Aug. 9, 1923.]

LLANTILIO PERTHOLEY. S. Teilo (Four bells). (1) IOHN ·THOMAS· CHARLES· POWELL· CHVRCHWARDENS · (31f in.) IVNE · 9 (0) 1665 (R) (2) IN<.> lAMES CHURCHWARDEN . 1792 I RuDHALL FECT (33 in.) (3) lNo lAMES CHURCHWARDEN 1792 I RUDHALL FECT :::: (37 in.) (4) &lit £mnctt jtorgi nra pro nnbis tg (42i in.) No. 1 (cracked) is by John Palmer I, of .Gloucester. The stops are the obverse and reverse of the shekel. No. 4 is by Thomas Gefferies, of Bristol (1508-1546), with his more elaborate cross and initials t.g. The lettering is large and clear and more distinctly cast than usual with this founder. The use of J for G in JEORGI is peculiar, but J and G are used alternatively by him and his son, Henry Jefferies or Gefferies (1546-60) 1 [Fig. 33]. The ladder leading to the bells is built of very heavy beams. [A.W., Aug. 23, 1919.] LLANTILIO PERTHOLEY. Bettws Chapel (One bell). (1) 1822. (15 in.) Probably by John Rudhall. [A.W., Ll.M.,.May• 19, 1923.]

1 See also under Llanfihangel Ystern Llewern, where, however, the lettering is smaller and the cross of a simpler type without fleurs-de-lis in the spandrels. 58 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE (, •J lci..:J \C:\\ ~ B I', •I

I• .. I .,.; [• •I zci ;.. w 14& a\ ~ ~ 0 ::X:: '""'w~ ~ D. ~ .....0 r; :tl ~..... z '""'< ~ ,,• a ~ ~ ~ ~ I ~ I ~ · ~ \t a;!

~ /C>tl le1 \2.._ 59

THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE. Bv ARTHUR WRIGHT, B.Sc. IV. LLANTRISSENT. SS. Peter, Paul & John. (Two bells.) 1) ; EDWARD: KEMMECH ; THOMAS: GWILLIAM ; C ; W ·DENS (311- in) ( ; FEERE · GOD ; 166S [The 2 is back to front: see Fig. 34.] 2 · (2) W ASBROUGH HALE & CQ BRISTOL 1829 [Band of arabesques (33t in.) of Rudhall's type [Fig. 8].) The lettering also resembles John Rudhall's. There are pits for four bells, with triangular (A) framing. Browne Willis mentions three, c. 1740. No. (1) has one canon missing and the stock is inverted. It is by John Palmer II, of Gloucester. No. (2) is by a Bristol firm of long standing; it appears as Rice and Wasbrough in 1752 at Llandyfriog, Cards.,1 as R. T. Hale, 1786, at Manmoel (q.v.), and as Thos. Hale & Sons, 1873 (S. Andrew, Clifton, Bristol), and S. Hale & Sons, 1865 (Emmanuel, Clifton), whilst at Llanfihangel Torymynydd it is styled T. Hale & Sons, without date. Their bells are few and small. That of Llantrissent is rather larger than usual. [H .B. W., A.W., July, 1920.] . S. Dubricius. (One bell). ANNO DOMINI 1632 (33 in.) (1) RECAST EASTER 1868 GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO Local tradition has it that the five bells at were originally at Llanvaches, and were sold to repair the church. Another tradition (told me at ) is that the bells have gone "over the water," i.e. into Somerset, but this is improbable. The lettering on the present bell appears to be Warner's. [A.W., April 18, 1921.] . S. Mabley (Two bells). 1) ; GIVE ; THANKS TO GOD ; 1626 ; TL; DP; C; W; DENS (29 in) ( : : I: P . : SOLI DEO : DE : TVR : GLORIA: 1626 : TL: DP: C: W : (321 . ) (2) DEMS : I : P. · · · · · · · · 2 m.

1 Reported (1932) by Mr. F . Sharpe through Mr. H. B. Walters. This bell is not mentioned in J. T. Evans Ch. Plate of Cardigan, though two more recent are given at this church. 60 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

Both by John Palmer I, of Gloucester (1621-38). The lettering is peculiar : the O's having a lozenge shape. [Fig. 35.] The N on No. (2) is reversed. T.L. = Thomas Lewis, D.P. = David Powell.l Browne Willis ... three bells. [A.W., April, 1922.] LLANVETHERINE. S. James the Elder (Two bells). (1) SANCTE +I ACOB I (rose) ORA P R O NOS + I ft B + (rose) I (dog) (38 in.) R (two dogs) 1582. (2) THOMAS· HVGH E S · WILLIAM· KVNVIN · CHVRCHWARDENS · (41 in.) SOLI · DEO · DE TVR · GLORIA · AN · 1663 0 (Shekel). Browne Willis mentions four bells here, c. 1740, and there are still pits for three ; the stock of the old first, with its wheel, is still in the belfry. No. (1) is by a founder named John Baker, who cast two bells for Michaelchurch Eskley, in that county, in 1583. (Ancient Customs of the City of Hereford, p. 131.) 2 Others by him exist at Neen Sollars (Salop) 1590; Corse (Gloucs.) 1580, now recast ; Kempsey (Worcs.) 1587; and Gloucester, S. Nicholas, 1608, ·etc. [See Fig. 36 and Plate VIII, No. 1.] No. (2) is by John Palmer II, of Gloucester. Thomas Hughes, of Llanvetherine, compounded with the Commonwealth in 1655 for 100 guineas. 3 [A.W., Sept., 1919.] LLANWENARTH CITRA. S. Peter (Two bells). (1) ~ _sqa anna oaa pao no:si,S (29! in.) (2) 0: MATHEW · PRICE · MATHEW · JENKINS · CHVRCH (34! in.) WARDENS · IVNE · 16 · ANNO · DO : 1661. No. (1). The crown is Ellacombe's, Somerset, No. 42 (Gloucs. 31). The letters are on separate paterae, and of the Alveston type, c. 1450. [Fig. 37 and Plate VIII, No. 2.] No. (2) by J. Palmer II, the initial stop being the obverse of a Chas. I shilling. [A.W., April, 1922.] . [See Christchurch, Govilon, p. 28.]

1 Bradney, s.v. Llanvapley. 2 See H. B. Walters, Ch. Bells of Worcestershire, p. 333. a Arch. Camb., 1887, p. 126. PLATE VII f. No. 1.

Llanvetberine No. I.

PLATE Vlll. No. 2.

Llanwenartb Citra. No. I .

PlATE VIJI. No, 3.

Monmouth. S. Mary. THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 61

LLANWERN. S. Mary. (Five bells). (1) PROSPERITY TO ALL THOSE THAT LOVES GOOD BELLS 1710. (26 in.) (2) I AM THE GIFT OF DAMARIS VAN. W tj- E 1710 (27 in.) (3) GOD PRESERVE THE CHVRCH & KING W tj- E 1710 (28 in.) (4) I CHARLES I VAN I ESQR I THOMAS I NANNY I CHVRCH (31 in.) WARDEN I EE Lj- I 1710 [Cable stops between words.] (5) I LET I MY I SOVND I MOVE I THEE I TO I GODS I GLORY I (34 in.) CHAR VANN I ESQR I EE t)i; 1710. [Cable stops between words.] Here Evan Evans, the elder son (or the father Evan Evans him­ self) appears to have cast the largest two, whilst the smallest three were the work of William Evans. As Evan Evans left his working tools to his two sons, Evan and William, in 1724, the brothers probably had been working together during his lifetime. The tenor and treble are both cracked, the latter having a large piece out of its crown, which is preserved at the local smithy. The lettering on all five bells is bold and clear. [A.W., May, 1918.] (LOWER). S. Michael (Eight bells). (1) PRAISE TO THE HOLIEST IN THE HEIGHT. Rector and churchwardens' names under. (25l in.) This and the tenor added in 1911 ; by Llewellins & James. (2) MY TREBLE VOICE MAKES HEARTS REJOICE. (27 in.) (3) GOOD RINGING MIGHT YEILD GREAT DELIGHT. (28 in.) (4) HEALTH PEACE AND PLENTY TO THIS NEIGHBOURHOOD. (30 in.) + DAVID EDMUND CHURCHWARDEN CAST BY THOMAS BAYLEY 1768 (5) C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON (31 in.) RECAST 1856 (On waist REVD A MORGAN RECTOR on one PHILLIP WOODRUFF} CHURCHWARDENS side). WILLIAM JONES FAITH HOPE AND GRACE (On waist ATTE ND THIS PLACE on other DAVID EDMUND CHURCHWARDEN side). CAST BY THOMAS BAYLEY 1786. PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION GAVE US BIRTH AND NOW WE SIX (33£ in ) (6) HERE JOYN IN MIRTH ' DAVID EDMUND CHURCHWARDEN CAST BY THOMAS BAYLEY 1768. ME RESONARE PIETAS MORS ATQUE VOLUPTAS 1768. (37-3 in.) (7) DAVID EDMUNS CHURCHWARDEN THOMAS BAYLEY 4 BRIDGWATER FOUNDER. (8) AND IN THE DEPTH BE PRAISE. (See treble.) (41 i in.) There appear to have been three bells only, c. 1740, in Browne Willis's time ; in 1768 Bayley of Bridgwater cast a ring of s1x, C) ~ GIVE ·: THANJ

: lcJ:l.cr:·TL:op:c~W:DENS:~ . ~ i:I: c:: ::0 ~ :I: p: i:I: tJ;j • • • ~ t-< o:::Jii'-V"ft..•-<.OJ t-< Fig. 35. LLANVAPLEY No. 1. Ul 0 "'j

~ 0z ~ 0 c:: ...., i:I: Ul i:I: ~~NCUlE[tj GJI(@lB3U • ...... ::0 ~

il§~!.l @~~IP\R©lf\ll©S~ H~~ • - · Fig. 36. LLANVETH E !UNE No. I (part). THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 63

No. (4) of which (now No. (5) ) was recast in 1856, whilst the ring was augmented to eight in 1911, by adding a treble and tenor. 1786 on No. (5) is a mistake for 1768, whilst on No. (6) JUBENT is omitted and Edmund reads Edmuns. The bells are arranged as follows : six on the belfry floor level and two above. [A.W., Sept., 1915.] MACHEN (UPPER). S. John (1855) (One bell). In small turret with spire ; clock strikes upon the bell which is probably of the same date as the church. No access to the bell from below. . All Saints (1930) (One bell). (1) By Gillett & J ohnston, 1930, given by the Trelyn Dramatic Society, and (20 in.) weighs 1i cwt. Old Church. (1) Blank. (c. 14 in.) MAGOR. S. Mary the Virgin (Six bells). (1) OMNIA FIANT AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM. (26 in.) REV» PITT EYKYN VICAR. LLEWELLINS & JAMES H F M WELLS }cHURCHWARDENS BRISTOL CHAB DUCKHAM 1886. (2) COME AWAY MAKE NO GELAY 1785 [Ornament Fig. 6]. (29 in.) (3) C & l RuDHALL CAST THIS PEAL 1785 [Fig. 6] . (30t in.) (4) Blank. (31! in.) (5) IOHN HODGES CHURCHWARDEN 1785 [Fig. 6]. (34 in.) (6) I TO THE CHURCH THE LIVING CALL & TO THE GRAVE (35t DO SUMMON ALL 1785 [Fig. 6]. in.) Browne Willis-four bells. The lettering on (2), (3) , (5), (6) is Rudhall's smaller alphabet, as on the tenor. On No. (2) the D is reversed. Rev. Pitt Eykyn was one of Ellacombe's helpers with the bells of Somerset, 1870-72. [Ellacombe's Somerset, pp. 26-7, 33.] [A.W., A.J.G., 1920.] . (See Newport.) MALPAS. S. Mary (One bell). Said to have names of vicar and churchwardens, with date 1662. An old inhabitant stated to me in 1918 that before the 1860 rebuilding there were three bells, but an engraving of the old church shows a turret that could not have contained more than one. :t: ~ ~ raJ ~ IJaa ~ lfil cr!l

...., .DR) ~ [E mJ [Q) [D ::r: c t!J (') ::r: q ~ (') c fD 00 [5] :1cso~: ::r: 1:0 t!J Fig. 37. LLANWENARTH CITRA No. 1. Fig. 34. LLANTRISSENT No. 2. t-< t-< (/l 0 "'j mCACHMAIE·.Tll.rER:WILL i ------~ 0 ______IAM:~'JCRER:cHVRCH·W~ t!J~

JO 'i cr:• Fig. 38. No. 2. THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 65

MAMHILAD. S. Illtyd (Two bells). Both blank without inscription band. (18 and 21 in.) Rung by levers. [A.W., 1919.] MANMOEL. The bell formerly here, on the destruction of the church about 1890, passed into the possession of the late E. J. Jones, of Pontnedd­ fechan, Glam., and on his death was given to a relative. It was inscribed R. & T. HALE BRISTOL 1786, and weighed about 2 cwt. [Letter from Mrs. Jones, 1923 ; see also J. T. Evans Church Plate of Breconshire, p. 106, and under Bedwellty.] MARSHFIELD. S. Mary (Eight bells). (1) & {2) by Warner 1910. (24! & 25! in.) (3) GLORY TO GOD ON HIG~ I SOVN : WITH PEACE AND PLENTY (26! in.) ALL AROVND T.B.F ....~ 1767. (4) GOOD RINGING MIGHT YEILD GREAT DELIGHT TH08 BAYLEY (28 in.)

(5) F---~JAMES EVANS VICAR EDWARD THOMAS GENT WILL• (30 in.) CHADWELL C.W. 1767 FAITH HOPE AND GRACE ATTEND THIS PLACE ; THOB BAYLEY FOUNDER --~~ (6) THOMAS AND F R IENDS DID VOTE TIS TRUE OF FOUR OLD (31 in.) BELLS TO CAST SIX NEW JAMES EVANS VICAR EDWARD THOMAS GENT WILLlll CHADWELL ; C : W : Recast by Warner 1909; with names of Vicar and Ch. Wdns. (34! in.) (7) WITH LOVING VOICE I CALL TO CHURCH & PRAYER. (8) TO CHURCH I CALL AND TO THE GRAVE COME IN MAKE (38 iP.) HASTE YOUR SOULS TO SAVE [ornamental band) JAMES EVANS VICAR EDWARD THOMAS WILLIAM CHADWELL CHURCHWARDENS 1767. THO BAYLEY FOUNDER BRIDGWATER. [A.W., 1917, 1927.] . S. Tewdric (Six bells). (1) COME LET US RING FOR CHURCH & KING W tJ E 1765. (28 in.) (2) PROSPERITY TO THIS PARISH WE 1765. (29 in.) (3) PEACE AND GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD W t} E 1765. (30 in.) (4) WM EVANS OF CHEPSTOW CAST US ALL 1765. (32 in.) (5) RICHD LEWIS CHURCHWARDEN W t} E 1765. (35! in.) (6) EDWARD DAVI E S A : M : PREBENDARY OF LANDAFF VIC: (38 in.) LAUS DEO W tJ E 1765. 66 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE i--t • • ~ $i:.l ·~ ~ z ~ ;...... 0 in, ;' 1--t • --• • JZl ~• ~ o6 \9 $ : • • • u ~ ~ U) • • z0 >< V) r- p::; c < z ~ ::s $:.a Cfi -- ~ f-< ~ lJ r- ;::::, e ::s0 r.. ~ z ,..... 0 -- ~ ...... ::s - ai c C') u ~ b.O I ~ :c .. .,_.- .,.... at cC ...... u ~ .....,.__ en _J t t e ~ t:Z > ~ - (!) ...0 .... THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 67

A good ring in good order. The smaller three are complete with canons, but Nos. (4), (5), (6) have had them removed, and are bolted to the stocks. The wheels and frames are new (1921). Browne Willis-five bells. [A.W., April, 1921.] MICHAELSTONE-Y -FEDW. St. Michael (Six bells). (1) PEACE & GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD (orn.) T ti R (orn.) 1782 (orn.) (26! in.) (2) TH08 . RUDHALL GLOCESTER FOUNDER (orn.) 1782 (orn.). (27 in.) (3) FEAR GOD HONOUR THE KING (orn.) 1781 (orn.). (28! in.) (4) PROSPERITY TO THIS PARISH (orn.) 1781 (orn.) ti (orn.). (30 in.) (5) THOB. MORGAN & EDWD. THOMAS WARDENS (orn.) 1781 (orn.). (34 in.) (6) ~U~~~J~L~~URCH THE LIVING CALL & TO THE GRAVE DO (36! in.) 1781. The ornament in each case is Fig. 6. The weights of the bells are 3!, 4, 4£, 5:!, 6:!, 8 cwt., and the tenor is in the key A. Wheels complete with short iron stays, but bells chimed only. Browne Willis-four bells. [A.W., July, 1917; Sept., 1937.] MITCHEL TROY. S. Michael (Three bells). 1) G ·TYLER; F ·TYLER; H ·WILLIAMS; C ; WARDEN ; EE (26 in) ( ti 1710. . (Recast by Llewellins & James in 1911.) ® CACHMAIE : TILER : WILLIAM ; TVCKER ; CHVRCH · W ; (271. in ) (2) 1656 : 4 . (3) WM. : ROBINSON RECTR PHIL : STEAD CH : WARDEN EE if (3?J.. in) WE if 1723. ~.. . These are arranged two on one level and the third above in the very narrow tower, and were rehung by Llewellins & James in 1911. Browne Willis states that there were six bells in his time, but the figure is probably a mistake. The stop at the beginning of No. (2) is the obverse of the 'shekel' [Fig. 38]. This bell is by John Palmer II; the other two are by Evan Evans F of Chepstow. The will of John Ketchmay, Gent., of S. Andrews (proved 1645) is in the Llandaff Registry, and includes landed property. Cachmay Tyler died about 1690. He had resided at the Church Farm, Mitchel Troy, where his descendants continued to dwell for a century longer (Bradney, s.v.). [H.B.W., A.W., July 30, 1920.]

1 The third may be by Evan Evans II, since Evan Evans I died in 1724. 68 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

MONKSWOOD. Dedication unknown (Halliday) (Two bells). (1) Blank and modern-inscription band but no inscription. (S) (c. 18 in.) (2) w tt E 1756. (N) (c. 21 in.) Half-wheel to the larger; whole wheel to the smaller, both decayed. The church was entirely rebuilt in 1885. Bradney (Vol. III) gives illustrations, before and after, from which it appears that the turret was formerly single and the bell was then no doubt No. (2). (H.B.W., A.W., July 30, 1920.] MONMOUTH. S. Mary (Eight and fire bell) (1) PEAC & GOOD NEIGHBOVRHOOD : 1706 [Fig. 6] AR tJi (28 in.) (2) PROSPERITY TO ALL OVR BEN EFACTORS ANNO DO 1706 (291 in) [Fig. 10] under inscription a band ·Of ornament [Fig. 7]. 2 · A~RA RVDHALL OF GLOVCESTER CAST VS ALL ANNO 1706 (33 in.) (3) [F1g. 10]. RICH HIPKISS & IQHN BVLBRICK GENTLMN [Fig. 12] CHVRCR (35 in) (4) w ARDNB 1706. . PROSPERITY TO THE CORPORATION OF MONMOVTH A : R (37t in.) (5) 1706 [F1g. 6) (6) P~OSPERITY TO THIS TOWNE & ALL OVR BENEFACTORS (39 in.) [F1g. 12 and P l. VIII, No. 3] A : R tJi 1706. (7) [Fig. 12] RICH. : HIPKrss : & : ION : BVLBRICK GNT : C . WR (45 in.) [Fig. 12]. ~ahto nomtn

CAELIS CAMPANA GABRIELIS.1 A similar tradition is current in the village of Powick ('Wares.) where the bells of Calais are supposed to have been brought away by the last English governor of that town, one of the Beauchamp family and Baron of Powyke. The bells form an unbroken ring from the Rudhall foundry, and the seventh is a notable bell. Until recently at Manchester Cathedral were two bells (Nos. (7) and (9) ) with black letter inscriptions by Rudhall, 1706, and described (Cheetham's Bells of Lancashire) as "the only known examples." These are now recast and thus No. (7) is the sole remaining example of Rudhall's black letter. The type employed is unusual and the first s in missi is inverted [Fig. 39]. It is much to be hoped that the ring will long remain unbroken. No. (3) has the reputation of having caused the death of a ringer about 90 years ago. He is stated to have gone up into the bell­ chamber to adjust his bell (No. (3) ) and whilst thus occupied, his brother, also a ringer, started to raise the bells, being unaware of his presence. The bell is said still to bear traces of the accident. Of those mentioned on the bells :- Thomas Bellamy was mayor in 1706, 1710, 1716, 1721, and 1729; Thomas Woodward in 1720, and Henry Barnes in 1705, 1714, 1722, and 1736 ; Herbert Pye, M.A., of S. Edmund Hall and Hart Hall, Oxford, the son of Moore Pye, of Woolton, co. Gloucester, was minister from February I, 1677, until 1715, when he resigned, and was succeeded by his son, also Herbert, who died in 1726. [A.W., 1921, 1938.]

(To be continued.)

1 No. (7) has a similar inscription, and may have been copied from its predecessor. 71

THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE. BY ARTHUR WRIGHT, B.Sc. v. MONMOUTH (OVERMONNOW). St. Thomas. (One bell.)

(1) 11 IA 1 MEARSER 1 ros 1 IfEvrs 1 c 1w 1 E 1 Et,i 1 1701 (18 in.) The dividing lines are Evan Evans cable moulding. The bell was half-turned in 1921. James Mercer was Mayor in 1709 ; he was probably a descendant of William Mercer, who held one tenement in Monmouth in 1606. [A.W., June 3, 1922.] MONMOUTH. · St. Mary's Roman Catholic Ch. (One bell.) (1) By Mears and Stainbank 18~0; Dedicated to the B.V.M (17 in.) MONMOUTH. St. John Baptist (Buckholt) (One bell.) Modern and blank. MONMOUTH SCHOOL CHAPEL. (One bell.) ( 1) :ANDREAS : CVTHBERT : ARCHIDIDASCALVS : [EE t,i ?] 1716 (C. 22 in.) Andrew Cuthbert became Head Master in 1713, succeeding the Rev. Thomas Bassett, who had been in office 1672-86, had then been superseded by Thomas Wright, and was restored in 1691. The Rev. Andrew Cuthbert continued as Head till 1723, when he was appointed Lecturer to th~ Charity, and remained so till his death in 1749. His nephew, Dougall Cuthbert, was a candidate for the position of Clerk in 1716, but did not receive it. [Warlow-Charities of Mon­ mouth and Newland, pp. 147, 149.] Thanks are due to the late Head Master, Mr. F. Scott, M.A., and to the School Sergeant for much help. [A.W., April, 1932.] MONMOUTH. Shirehall. (One bell.) In a turret on the roof is a fire and clock bell, now disused. (1) r. P. 1619. (14i in.) This, Mr. H. B. Walters assures me, is by a local founder, not John Palmer, whose lettering is quite different. [Fig. 40.] [A.W., April, 1932.] I P 161.9

Fig. 40.-Monmouth, Shirehall.

•"I~WIJI.. H AM·PoWE u.;oF· T RoYE·IN·

THE·COVNTIEOF·1~©JNMoTHE

• k'NIGHT·CAVSE.D ·THTIJ)'·BEIL·

T013t·MADE. ·THE ·X'){III1·oF· fi~3~R C HE. ANNoDoMINI·I607 ~ Fig. 41.-Monmouth- Troy House Clock-bell. THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 73

MONMOUTH. Troy House. (Stable Clock Bell.) (1) • SIR · WILLIAM · POWELL · OF · TROYE · IN · THE · (23£ in.) COVNTIE · OF · MONMOTHE + KNIGHT · CA VSED · THIS · BELL · TO · BE · MADE · THE · XXIIII · OF · MARCHE . ANNO · DOMINI · 1607 +. [Fig. 41] Very roughly cast, and the lettering in some places obscured by excrescences due either to the mould or to corrosion. Mr. Walters thinks it to be by a local founder. The inscription is in three lines, the top line being in the inscription band. The stops consist of a heart, dividing the top line, a concave sided square dividing the second, with a square ornament of interlaced arcs after the date. These stops somewhat resemble those of the Purdues. The clock, which struck on the bell, is also of early date. Troy House is now a Convent, and my best thanks are due to the Mother Superior for leave to examine, and to Mr. Fred Hunt, of Over Monnow, for much help with the ladders, etc. Sir William Powell, of Lanpill (in Llanfihangel Torymynydd) who was knighted January 7th, 1607-8 and died in 1611, was the son of David ap Phillip, of Lanpill, who married Maud, base daughter of Sir Thomas Herbert, of Wonastow. Sir William's daughter, by Florence, daughter of Sir Thomas Morgan, of Pencoed, Knt., was Elizabeth, who married Sir Chas. Somerset, K.B.. , sixth son to Edward, fourth Earl of Worcester. Sir Chas. Herbert, of Troye, by his will dated April 23rd, 1552 (proved January 20th, 1557-8) left his capital house of Troye "to Johane Herbert, my eldest dau., in default to Watkin Herbert, my base son, in default to Thomas Herbert my brother." Through the latter Troye House must have come to Sir William Powell. His will is dated October 4th, 1611, and is in Llandaff Registry. He directs his body to be buried in the church of Llanfihangel Torymynydd.1 [A.W., Aug. 27, 1932.] . St. Owen. (One bell.) (1) I. RuDHALL FECT 1831 (c. 18 in.) [Thanks to Messrs. B. Crockett and G. E. Wood, 1921.] . St. Tudur. (Three bells.) ( 1) JEFFERIES & PRICE BRISTOL 1844 (cracked) (26! in.) (2) WM: THOMAS & WH: THOMAS CH : WARDENS W t\ E 1752 (30! in.) (3) JEFFERIES & PRICE BRISTOL 1844 (311 in ) JOHN DAVIES HANANIAH MORGAN & JOHN JONES 2 . CHURCHWARDENS

l Bradney ii, 232. 74 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

At time of first visit (1915) the interior of the tower was in a most dilapidated condition, the turret stair decayed, and the floor of the bell chamber and its joists atilt.1 In September, 1917, on a Sunday afternoon, the floor gave way, and the three bells crashed to the bottom of the tower. New stairs were erected, and the floors renewed, in 1920, No. (3) bell being hung, and chimed by a lever, whilst Nos. (1) and (2) stand disused at the bottom of the tower. Thanks to the Rev. M. Lambert, B.A., Curate of . [A.W., July, 1915; Aug., 1937.] NANTYGLO. Holy Trinity. (One bell.) Blank and modern. NANTYGLO. St. Andrew (Gam Fach). (One bell.) (1) 1840. Probably by T. Mears, London, from the lettering. NASH. St. Mary. (Five bells.) (1) By Taylor, 1934. (24! in.) (2) MY TREBLE VOICE MAKES HEARTS REJOICE (27 in.) J. K. 1819. (3) J.K., 1819. (28 in.) (4) J.K. (29 in.) (5) Same as (3). (31 in.) (6) HERE I HANG TO GIVE A SOUND TO CALL THE DEAD INTO (34! in.) THE GROUND T THOSE FIVE BELLS WERE CAST BY JOHN KINGSTON OF BRIDGWATER Ml!- W. LEWIS CHURCHWARDEN 1819. (Taylor's trademark and name in circle.) RECAST 1932. Rehung by Taylor in steel frames in 1932, the tenor being recast with inscription in facsimile, and new treble added in 1934. At time of visit in 1921, tenor was cracked. Each word on the 1819 bells was in a separate patera. John Kingston worked at Bridgwater from 1790 to 1829. [A.W., 1921 ; A.W. & H.G.H., 1938.] NEWBRIDGE. St. Paul. (One bell.) By Gillett & Johnston, 1929. (17 in.) NEWCHURCH DEVAUDEN. Blank and modern. (c. 16 in.)

1 See article by the au thor in Llandaff Dioc. Mag., 1917, p. 26. THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 75

NEWCHURCH WEST. St. Peter. (One bell.) (1) ED: HOSKINS· GN~ WK MORGAN· RD: LEWIS CH: WARDEN (41 in.) E t{ E 1716: [A.W., April 14, 1921.] . St. Woollos. (Twelve bells.) (1) By Gillett & Johnston, 1939. (24! in.) (2) By Gillett & Johnston, 1939. (25! in.) (3) AR Y SYMBALLAU MOLWCH EF (26 in.) (On waist : List of Vicar, C.W., etc. Given by J . Euston Davies 1913. Recast 1939 by G. & J .) (4) TO THE GLORY OF GOD AD MCMXIII (27 in.) Under, as on 3. Given in memory of Louisa Budd, d. 1906. Recast 1939 by G. & J. (5) MEARS & STAINBANK WHITECHAPEL FOUNDRY, LONDON PRAISE TO THE HOLIEST IN THE HEIGHT (28! in.) (Cast 1894, recast by Taylor, 1913, and again by G. & J. in 1939.) (6) MY TREBLE VOICE MAKES HEARTS REJOICE (29! in.) MICHAIL JAMES THOMAS NICHOLAS CHURCHWARDENS 1768 CAST BY RECAST 1913 THOMAS BAYLEY etc. BRIDGWATER (7) GOOD RINGING MIGHT YEILD GREAT DELIGHT (Under as on No. 6.) (31t in.) (8) HEALTH PEACE & PLENTY TO THIS NEIGHBOURHOOD (34! in.) (Under as on No. 6, but MICHAIEL instead of MICHAIL.) (9) FAITH HOPE AND GRACE ATTEND THIS PLACE (38! in.) (Under as on No. 8.) (10) KIMYS AND FRIENDS DID VOTE TISS TRUE THARE FlUE (40! in.) OLD BELLS SHOULD CAST SIX NEW (Under as on No.8.) (11) ME RESONARE JUBENT PIETAS MORS ATQUE VOLUPTAS (45 in.) 1769 MR TUDER AND MR RICHARDS CHURCHWARDENS THOMAS BAYLEY RECAST 1913 FouNDER etc. RECAST BY MEARS & STAINBANK 1870 (12) AND IN THE DEPTH BE PRAISE (SOt in.) Given by Henry John Davis in 1894, cast by Mears & Stainbank: recast by Taylor, 1913. The only ring of twelve in Wales. They are fitted with iron stocks in a steel frame, and the lower seven bear Taylor's foundry marks. Nos. 9-12 bearing their circular medallion. Of the history of the bells previous to 1768 little is known, but Browne Willis notes that there were six bells about 1740-50. From the inscriptions we learn that there were five in 1768 (see No. 10 which appears to point to a 76 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE controversy as to the size of the ring), increased to six in 1769 (Nos. 5-11), to eight in 1894, ten in 1913 and finally to twelve in 1939, by the addition of two trebles, and the recasting of Nos. 3-5. The weight of the tenor is 21 cwt. 2 qrs. 20 lb. and of the whole ring about 5 tons. At the base of the tower is a table of the bell inscriptions. [A.W., Rev. T.H.P., Aug., 1915.] NEWPORT. All Saints (Crindau). (Eight bells.) (1) & (2) By Warner 1898 and 1901 respectively. (29! in., 30! in.) (3) (4) (5) (7) As No. (2) (31!, 33!, 35, 40! in.) (6) Do. but 1902. (37 in.) (8) By Warner, 1901, with long inscription. Donor (45 in.) of the ring E. H. Watts. Tenor in F, weighs 15 cwt. Thanks due to the chief ringer, Mr. J. W. Jones, Secretary of the Llandaff Dioc. Assoc. of Bellringers, for details here and at the Cathedral. NEWPORT. St. John (Maindee). (One bell.) 1) E. RIEPE'S PATENT CAST STEEL NAYLOR VICKERS & co ( 1861 SHEFFIELD No 2477 (32 in.) NEWPORT. St. Mark (1875). (Five bells.) (1) (2) (4) (5) By Taylor, 1908. (3) By Warner, 1874. [A.W., 1915.] NEWPORT. St. Paul. (One bell.) (1) F. W . W E BBE R & J PHILLIPS CH WARDENS 1852 JEF FERIES & P RICE BRISTOL [A.\V., 1917.] NEWPORT. St. Thomas (). (One bell.) (1) LIBERTY 1908 (12 in.) From the late Lord 's yacht Liberty (see News Chronicle, 17-12-38). The remaining Newport churches are modern and their bells of no interest. OAKDALE. St. David (formerly Woodfieldside). Modern. THE CHURCH BELLS OF MON.MOUTHSHIRE 77

OLDCASTLE. St. John Baptist. (Two bells.) (I) I· R FEe~ ;·I793 (16! in.) (2) I * c X 1778 [Fig. 42] (2I in.) No. (I) by John Rudhall. No. (2). On an altar-tomb in the churchyard is an inscription to "john Curzon, a native of Weford, near Litchfield, and since of this Parish ... died 10 Feb. I799, in the 75th year of his age." His wife, Elianor, died January 17th, 1809, aged 70. This John Curzon was probably the donor of No. (2). [A.W., Sept. 3, I9I9.] PANTEG. St. Mary the Virgin. (Three bells.) 1) : THO : PETTINGALLROGER · RYTHER : C · W ·DENES : ( i661 . . . (25 in.) (2) (On waist) W. N. G. ELIOT REcToR LLEWELLJNS & JAMES (28 in.) HoRATIO J . PARKHURST}CHURCHWARDENS BRISTOL RICH~ H. WILLIAMS 1885 (3) ; THOMAS· PETTINGALL ; ROGER · RYTHER ; C · WDENS ; (29t in.) 1661 ; I P · Browne Willis-2 bells c. 1750. Nos. (I) and (3) by John Palmer II, of Gloucester. A farmhouse in the parish known as Pettingale is so called from the family of that name. Bartholomew Pettingall was one of the Englishmen brought by John Hanbury to his ironworks at Pontymoel, and in 1615 was aged 50. The nuncupative will of Hanbury Pettin­ gale, 1648, gave to his brother Ffrauncis1 all his lands in Landewech (Llanddewi Fach). In May, 1651, Thomas Pettingale, of Mamhilad, was admitted to lands in Llanddewi Fach, and in 1697 Ffrancis Pettingale surrenders land there. The family gave rise to several clergy of distinction, including Francis (1683-1726), Vicar of S. Woollos, Newport; John (1707-8I) Prebendary of St. Paul's Cathedral; Thomas (d. I826) Usher at Westminster School from 1770 to 1773, and later Rector of Great Hampstead, Berks; and Charles Thomas, Rector of Little Broxted, Essex. For a pedigree of the family see Bradney III, 119. Rev. W. N. G. Eliot was rector 187I to 1896 and rural . He died at Tenbury, Worcs., in 1912.

1 Married at Bedwellty, November 22nd, 1641, to Mary Gwynne-children, Bartholomew, Barbara, and Henry, born 1642-45. 78 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

In a book of Church Accounts (1726-56) we find many bell entries, mainly for ropes, thus :- 1726. Rope 2s. 6d. Fetching same 1s. Od. the prices varying from 2s. to 8s. Other entries include :- 1732. Box for bell 1s. 6d. Tongue 1s. 6d. 1737. New wheel 12s. 6d. 1742. New standard and brass for wheel 11s. 8d. New wheel 15s. Od. 1756. Ropes 8s. Od., Oil 3d., Ale for pulling ropes 6d. The last-mentioned item is of frequent occurrence. From 1756 new ropes appear to have been provided annually ; the prices rising to 15s. 7d. (1797), £1 3s. Od. (1804), and £2 1s. Od. (1813), after which there is an annual charge of 15s. till 1858 when it ceases. Many thanks to Rev. Joseph Morgan, B.A., for church accounts, etc. [A.W., A.J.G., 1917, 1921.] PENALLT. St. Mary. (Four bells.) (1) PROSPERITY TO MY BENEFACTORS W tl E 1751 (28! in.) (2) (R) GEORGE · PROBERT : KNIGHT (0) WILLIAM · lONES · (29 in.) W ·I · D · C · W · 1662 (R) I P · (3) I IOHN I EDWARDES I DAVID I MATEN I CVRCH I WARD H-I (30 in.) EE ti 1700 (4) (Scroll) TH06 EVANS CHURCHWARDEN W tl E 1751 [Fig. 43] (34 in.) Nos. (1) and (4) by William Evans, Chepstow, and No. (3) by Evan Evans I (1686-1724) of the same foundry; No. (2) by John Palmer II, of Gloucester, the stops being obverse and reverse of the "shekel." Stops on No. (3) are the usual cable pattern, whilst the triple stop is as at Llansoy No. (2) (Fig. 31). The scroll on No. (4) is similar to that at Risca, 1734 (Fig. 43). [A.W., June 3, 1922.] PENALLT. Pentwyn Chapel. (One bell.) (1) Blank. (c. 14 in.) PENHOW. St. John Baptist. (Five bells.) (1) PROSPERITY TO ALL OUR BENEFACTRS W tl E 1744 (26! in.) (2) WK lONES · CH : WARDEN W tJ E 1744 (Scroll) (27! in.) I•C-/l18 Fig. 42.-0LDCASTLE. >-! ::z:: trl () ::z:: q \X!Jl£ ~ J?SJ ::z:: Fig. 43.-PENALLT No. 4. t:d trl t"' t"' (fl FEARERB GODBilil HOHEOR: ------8 z

~ THEIRI(INO AHHO 162£ ..... ------~ 41P4 -..] co Fig. 44.-PENRHOS No. 2. 80 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

(3) EDWARD WATERS GENT W tJ E 1744 (Scroll) (28 in.) (4) MR WM COTES MR HENRY WATERS W tJ E 1744 (30! in.) (5) IENKIN !ONES RE<;:T'R WM EVANS CAST US ALL 1744 (33 in.) Fastened to iron stocks by five bolts apiece, and with an iron ring shrunk on the cr:own. No canons. Hammers fitted for chiming, by Taylor of Loughboro'. For scroll on (2) and (3) see Fig. 43. A tradition. in Llanvaches (q.v.) is that these bells came from that parish, being sold for church repairs. Browne Willis mentions "four of 1744"- evidently a miscount. [A.W., Oct., 1920.]

PENMAEN. SS. Philip and James (1845). (One bell.) (1) Blank, by Warner, of Cripplegate, 1857. (17 in.)

PENMAEN. . Cwrtybella School Chapel. Two bells formerly here have now disappeared. St. David Woodfieldside (see Oakdale).

PEN RHOS. St. Cadoc. (Four bells.) (1) * JOHN TAYLOR & C0 * FOUNDERS * LOUGHBOROUGH A.M.D.G. ET IN MEMORIAM (29! in.) GULIELMI FELTHAM A.M. OXON. HU)US PAROCHIAE PER XXXVII ANNOS PASTORIS UXOR VIRI PATRIS LIBERI SEPTEM TURREM RESTITUENDAM ET QUARTAM HANC AERIS VOCEM CONSECRANDAM CURA VERUNT A. D. M. D. CCCCIV. FEARE (Scroll) GOD (Scroll) HONEOR (Scroll) THE KING ANNO (2) 1623 tf I P tf [Fig. 44] (30! in.) (3) l:±:l ~B1lQTtl • ~Jil\(!)tf6~TB (32! in.) On waist : Taylor's circular bell medallion. RECAST 1904 4) (0) · SAMEL : WATKINS: GENT : WILLIAM. MOGAN : GENT ( . : : C ·WARDENS : I : P : 1672 (37 in.) On. waist: As No. 3. . . . Three N 's and one G on (2), and all G's on (4) are reversed, as is the 3 in the date on (2). (See Fig. 44) Nos. (3) and (4) excellently recast with inscriptions in facsimile, when No. (1) was added and the iron frame constructed. The old third was by Hendley of Gloucester (c. 1450-1500). [A.W., 1922-23.] THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 81

PENTERRY. St. Mary. (One bell.) (1) THE GIFT OF TH08 HACKET RECAT (?) W tiE 1734 (c. 23 in.) Read from below. Bradney (IV-i-47) mentions "bell in turret by W. Evans." The last word is doubtful; it might stand for "recast," but is not for "rector." [A.W., J.W.G.W., 1936.] PENTWYN Chapel. (See Penallt.) PENTWYNMAWR. Holy Trinity. (One bell.) (1) Modern, blank. PENYCLAWDD. St. Martin. (One bell.) ( 1) PROSPEI:UTY TO THIS CITY W ti E 1739 (22! in.) By William Evans. It must have been made for some larger place. [H.B.W., A.W., Aug., 1920.] WENTLOOG. St. Peter. (Eight bells.) 1) JOHN WANRER (sic) AND SONS FOUNDERS LONDON 1913 (231 in ) ( IN MEMORIAM 2 . JOHN HEATH STUBBS A.D. 1913 (2) Same as (I), but WARNER. (24 in.) (3) RECAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1913 (25 in.) GLORY BE TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST E.E. W.E. 1726 (4) As on (3) but under. (26! in.) ON EARTH PEACE E .E. W.E. 1726 (5) RECAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON (29 in.) THESE BELLS WERE RESTORED & RECAST AT THE EXPENSE OF HENRY RADCLIFFE ESQ. J.P. of DRUIDSTONE TO COMMEMORATE THE VISIT OF THEIR MAJESTIES KING GEORGE V & QUEEN MARY TO CARDIFF IN 1912 (6) IOHN BAKER CH: WARDEN EE ti WEt} 1726 (30! in.) (7) As on (3) but under. (34 in.) PEACE & GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD E .E. W.E. 1726 (8) NATHAN CHAPMAN GENT BENEFACTR EE t} WE t} 1726 (37 in.) A ring of six by Evan II and William Evans, of Chepstow, 1726, of which four were recast and two trebles added in 1913. In excellent condition, rehung by Warner in iron stocks. Rung by a team from Marshfield, both churches being under the same Rector. [A.W., 1917, 1926.] 82 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

PONTLLANFRAITH. St. Augustine. (One bell.) (1) Blank. (c. 13 in.) PONTNEWYDD. St. Mary (1861). See Llanffrechfa Lower, p. 46. PONTNEWYNYDD. St. Luke (1845). (One bell.) (1) Blank. (c. 22 in.) All Saints. (One bell.) (1) Blank. PONTYMISTER. St. Margaret (see Risca). PONTYPOOL. St. James. (One bell.) (1) Blank. (c. 20 in.) St. Matthew. (One bell.) (1) Blank. PORTSKEWETT. St. Mary. (One bell.) (1) LASARVS I MORGAN I CHV I WARDEN IE IE tt I 1699 (28! in.) By Evan Evans I, of Chepstow, with cable stops. [A.W., April, 1921.] (To be continued.) 83

THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE. Bv ARTHUR WRIGHT, B.Sc. VI. RAGLAN. St. Cadoc. (Two bells.) ( 1) C : & I : RUDHALL 1785 (Scroll ornament Fig. 6) (24 in.) (2} (Scroll) Ornament. 1805 (Scroll) [Fig. 45] ( 44 in.) Pits for three; clappers tied; in good oak frames, wooden stocks and wheels and short iron stays. Clock, by Henry Mills, of Caerleon, strikes on the larger bell. This is probably a Rudhall bell, but the ornament is the Whitechapel pattern adopted by Lester & Pack, c. 1760. On theW. front of the tower is the following:- The Clock in this Tower was the gift of Anna Maria Bosanquet 1 A.D. 1863 [A.W., June, 1922] REDWICK. St. Thomas. (Five bells.) (1) ~ ~~cn·Y~D I WILLIAM I RICHARD I GIBON I c I WI EE I B I (28! in.) (2) PROSPERITY TO THIS PARISH W tJ E 1763 (I) (2) (31 in.) (3) 1®1 10l\B1111fl8 ~I VOC1BQVR (33 in.) (4) ~I ]\18'618 0 VI'6<90 (37 in.) S) (Scroll) CHRISTOPHER GEORGE CHURCHWARDEN W ti E (39 in.) ( 1752 THOB HOSKINS · No. (1) by Evan Evans I with his cable stop; Nos. (2) and (5) by his son William. The stops at the end of No. (2) appear to be impressions of obverse and reverse of a George II guinea. Nos. (3) and (4) are Bristol bells of c. 1350-80, belonging to Group 112. The wheel and cross [Figs. 46 and 27] are Nos. (11) and (59) in Ellacombes " Bells." The bell at Undy with its un­ usual inscription is from the same foundry and about the same date. [A.W., April, 1921.] . St. David (1843). (Six bells.) (1-5) CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1875

1 Of Dingestow Court. 2 Trans. Bristol and Gloucs. Arch. Soc. XLI, 72. Mr. H. B. Walters' classification. 84 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

(6) Same and in addition :- IN MEMORIAM ANDREW BUCHAN WHO DIED FEBY. 4TH 1870 Andrew Buchan was manager of the "Company Shop" of the Rhymney Iron ·co., and in 1839 of the brewery, later known as "Andrew Buchan & Co." His funeral in 1870 is described as the largest ever seen in Rhymney. [Rhymney Memories by Dr. T. Jones.] [A.W., C.T.E., Feb., 1917.] RHYMNEY. St. Matthew, St. Mark. Both modern and blank, c. 18 in. and 15 in. respectively. RISCA. St. Mary. (One bell.) (1) HENRY EVANS CH: WARDEN W tiE 1734 (Scroll) [Fig. 43] (27! in.) The churches of S. Catherine (Cross Keys) and S. Margaret (Panty­ mister) are modern. [A.W., Sept., 1915.] ROCKFIELD. St. Cenhedlon. (Three bells.) (1) (R) (0) ·MEMENTO · MORI · IANVARI : 9 : 1655 :: I · R : (26! in.) ) (R) : SOLI · DEO · DETVR ·GLORIA : IANVARI : 9 : : 1655 : ( ! in.) (2 (0) ; I· R; 29 ~ (3) (O)ROBBART ; VPTON ; MORG . WILLIAMS ; C : WARDENS (32 in.) ; FEARE ; GOD ; I · P ; 1669 ; N.B.-B, D, on (3) are reversed. The stops (0) (R) are the obverse and reverse of the "shekel," and all three bells are by John Palmer II, of Gloucester; the I.R. of Nos. (1) and (2) probably stand for a foreman of the foundry; compare I.G. at Cwmyoy in 1672. The inscriptions given in Bradney are in­ correct. [A.W., April 28, 1922.] . St. John Baptist. (One bell.) (1) Blank. ROGIET. St. Mary. (One bell.) I CHARLS I EDWARDS I SAMVEL I FALCONER I C I WI EE ti (30 · ) (1) 1700 By Evan Evans I; cabled stops. Ill. [A.W., June, 1919.] RUMNEY. St. Augustine. (Six bells.) (1) By Taylor, 1909. (28 in.) THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 85

(2) COME LET US RING FOR CHURCH & KING W tf E 1763 RECAST 1909 (30 in.) Taylor's bell medallion (3) PROSPERITY TO THIS PARISH W tf E 1731 (31 in.) WILLM MORGAN & WILLM RICHARDS CHURCHWARDENS (4) 1789 Under as on (2). (33 in.) 5) iB I MILES I WILLIAM · LEWIS I MORGAN I CHVRCH I ( WARDENS I EE it 11709 I 00 (36 in.) (6) I TO THE CHURCH THE LIVING CALL & TO THE GRAVE DO SUMMON ALL T RUDHALL FECT 1789 (40 in.) The stops at the end of No. (5) are impressions of obverse and reverse of a Chas. II half-crown. The tenor weighs 9 cwt. 1 qr. 27lb. Thanks to Mr. H. Pacey, chief ringer, for weights and measurements. [A.W., July, 1917.) ST. ARVANS. St. Arvan. (One bell.) (1) PROSPERITY TO THIS PARISH W ft E 1751 Thanks to the Vicar, Rev. J. Tilley, 1922. ST. BRIDE'S NETHERWENT. St. Bridget. (Two bells.) (1) mave ;Mti:SIB

1 H. B. Walters, Ch. Bells of Shropshire, pl. vii. 86 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE recast; Baschurch (Salop), Flemish, dated 1447; Llanallgo (Angle­ sey), circa 1281. The last-named bell was discovered by Mr. W. J. Hemp when investigating the Ancient Monuments of Anglesey, and is fully described there. (R.C.A.M., Anglesey, p. cxxvi, p. 34, Plates 56 and 57.] It bears, as stop, the reverse of an Edward I penny (Durham mint), which seems to point to an English origin. The crosses in the above cases are all fairly plain, with no cusped points, whilst that at St. Brides is more ornate, the ends of the arms being cusped, with trefoil ornaments in the angles, which appears to point to a rather later date, c. 1300. Altogether this bell appears unique, and the utmost care should be taken for its preservation ; it would be better still if it could be scheduled as an "ancient monument." Its shape is not noticeably long waisted, nor round-shouldered, in which it resembles the Llanallgo bell; it thus shows transition from the shape of the earlier bells at Gwernesney and Kemeys Commander, c. 1250. [A.W., A.J.G., 1919, 1920.] ST. BRIDE'S WENTLOOG. St. Bridget. (Six bells.) (1) PEACE & GOOD NEIGHBOVRHOOD A tJ R 1734 [Fig. 8] (27 in.) (2) PROSPERITY TO ALL MY BENEFACTORS A t,i R [Fig. 6] (28 in.) (3) PEACE & GOOD NEIGHBOVRHOOD A t,i R [Fig. 9] (30 in.) (4) A : RVDHALL CAST VS ALL [Fig. 9] (30! in.) Underneath a band of ornament, Fig. 7. (5) CHRISTOPHER WILLES CHVRCHWARDEN 1734 [Fig. 8] (33! in.) I TO THE CHVRCH THE LIVING CALL & TO THE (6) GRAVE DO SVMMON ALL 1734 (cracked at the crown) (37! in.) All by Abraham Rudhall II (1718-36) of Gloucester. The orna­ ment called here No. (8) varies slightly from that pattern, the under spandrels containing similar ornaments to those above, instead of lozenges, as in Fig. 8. [A.W., July, 1917.] ST. MAUGHAN'S. St. Maughan. (One bell.) X X X X X X X X (331 ' ) (1) 0 X ROBERT X NEEDHAM X GNT X C X W X GOD X PRESERVE X 2 lll. X X X X X X X X X X X X QVEEN X ANNE X EEt,i X 1714 X [Fig. 47] X X X X The initial stop is a coin (indistinct) about 1 3fl0ths in. in diameter and the other stops triple crosses. By Evan Evans I. Robert THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 87 v 't) 0 ....co

~ "0 s:l C"l"' ui z0

~ z u < ...... l ~ 0 A p::< ., p::~ I I IF,) <.0 ""'b.O ""'b.O ~ ~ 88 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

Needham, who died March 15th, 1723, married Susan, daughter of Turberville Morgan. He was the son of Sebastian Needham, who was buried at Skenfrith, March 26th, 1667. Hilston or Upper Hilston was the seat of the Needhams till John Needham sold it in 1803. [Bradney I, 57.] [A.W., April, 1922.] ST. MELLONS. St. Mellon. (Six bells.) (1) By Warner, 1913, with names of Vicar and C. W. Given by the parishioners. (2) Recast by Warner, 1913; the gift of ]. F. Matthysens, of Witla Ct., St. Mellons. (3) GOD BLESS OUR BENEFACTORS\ THE GIFT OF HENRY EE. 1713 RADCLIFFE, ESQ., J .P., DRUIDSTONE 1913. (4) GOD BLESS OUR QUEEN & ITHE GIFT OF MATTHEW CHURCH. EE. 1713 COPE, ESQ., J .P., QUARR HILL ST. MELLONS 1913 5) THOMAS MORGAN ESQ. \ THE GIFT OF MRS. MAUD R. ( GRIFFITH THOMAS WILLIAMS HALL RECTOR E.E. FECIT 1713 ST. MELLONS 1913 6) LEWIS DAVID JOHN J ONES CHURCHWARDENS IOne side ( EE 1713 +THE GIFT OF JOSEPH ALLEN ESQ., BRYNHYFRYD, ST. MELLONS, 1913 + (other side) (3) to (6) also bear :- RECAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1913 Browne W illis-4 (c. 1750). [A.W., July, 1917.] ST. PIERRE. Holy Trinity. (One bell.) (1) W ti E 1752 (c. 16 in.) [A.W., April, 1921.] . St. Thomas a Becket. (Six bells.) (1) By Mears & Stainbank, 1918; with names of (24 in.) Vicar and CW. Given by Capt. C. 0. Liddell, J.P. 2) COME LET US RING FOR CHURCH AND KING W ti E 1756 ( RECAST A.D. 1918 (26 in.) (medallion) MEARS & STAINBANK LONDON (3) PEACE & GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD W fi; E 1756 (27! in.) (4) (Scroll) WM EVANS CAST US ALL 1756 (28! in.) THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 89

(5) CHRIST'R HOWEL & ROB'T PHILLIPS CH: WARDENS (30 in.) W tf E 1756 (6) THE REV'ND SAM'L BUTCHER RECT'R W *.... E 1756 (3312 ln.' ) Browne Willis-"Newtown-3." (c. 1750). All in old oak frames except No. (1), which is in a steel frame. [A.W., April, 1921.] SIX BELLS. St. John Baptist. (See Abertillery, p. 12.) SKENFRITH. St. Bridget. (Six bells.) (1) T ti R 1764 0 (ob. of George II halfpenny) (28 in.) (2) WHEN YOU US RING WE'LL SWEETLY SING T tJ R 1764 (30 in.) (3) THOB RUDHALL CAST US ALL [Fig. 9] 1764 [Fig. 9] (30! in.) (4) THOMAS RUDHALL CAST US ALL 1764 [Fig. 9] (31! in.) (5) THE REVD MR INO DAVIS AND MR JOSEPH ROSTEN CHURCHWARDENS 1764 (34 in.) (6) THE LIVING TO THE CHURCH I CALL & TO THE GRAVE DO SUMMON ALL 1764 (38 in.) Browne Willis-3 (c. 1750). Rev. john Davies, M.A., was Rector 1760-78. joseph Austin, Gent., son of Matthew Austin of Llangattock-v­ Avel, yeoman, d. July 15th, 1797, aged 84. He left £50 Deed Poll on Crickhowell Turnpike to the C.W. and overseers for ever. [Bradney I, 68.] A piece of land comprising about four acres, near Blackbrook, is called Y nys y Gloch, and Y nys yr Eglwys [Bell and Church MeadowJ the profits of which were for repair of the church and maintaining ropes for the bells. In 1691, it was let by the C.W. to Richard Morgan, wheelwright, for 99 years at a rent of 20s., he agreeing to keep the bells in order. In 1783, Sir John Briggs purchased it for £63, and joined it with his lawn, pulling down a house on it, and cutting down the timber. It was sold in 1825, with the estate, to Edward Barker, who, on demand, gave £1 to buy bell ropes. Ld. Brougham's Commission recommended that action be taken for the recovery of the land, but this has not been done. [lb. I 68.] SUDBROOK. Holy Trinity (in ruins). Has been in ruins more than two centuries; last interment, that of a sea captain, Blethyn Smith, was in 1755. [E. Rhys, "Sth. Wales Coast," p. 32.] The western turret, still standing, shows openings for two bells. 90 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

TINTERN. St. Mary (Chapel Hill). (One bell.) (1) THOMAS 1 BRABAN 1 c 1 WARDEN 1 EE tt 1713 1 (20 in.) The tower is new-a view in the tower, dated 1848, shows neither tower nor turret. A Geo. Braban was buried at Chepstow near the W. door. The inscription on his gravestone is:- sou DEO GLORIA GEO. BRABAN, VINTNER, DIED 12 SEP 1639 [A.W., April, 1921.] TINTERN PARVA. St. Michael and All Angels. (One bell.) J. WARNER & SONS LONDON 1867 (c. (1) (Royal Arms) 24 in.) PATENT . The bells from the central tower were among the first to be taken from this county, for on March 20th, 1541, William Wilson and Christopher Draye, the King's plumbers, were paid the sum of £8 for melting the lead and bells of the Abbey. [Car Let. and Papers, Hen. VIII, Vol. XVI, 745 f. 41.] Also see L. Thomas, "The Reformation in Llandaff Diocese," p. 48. TREDEGAR. St. George. (One bell.) (1) THOMAS MEARS OF LONDON FOUNDER (26 in.) Probably about 1804. The churches of St. James, St. Luke, and St. Thomas (Sirhowy) are all modern and their bells of no interest. TREDEGAR, New. S. Dingat (1900). (One bell.) (1) Blank. Thanks to Alec James and T. Wiseman, 1917. TREDUNNOC. St. Andrew. (Six bells.) 1) CAST 1662 RECAST 1881 ( (Waist) C. T . SALISBURY RECTOR LLEWELLINS & jAMES (26! in.) E WILLIAMS CHURCHWARDEN BRISTOL (2) FEERE GOD HONOUER THE KING (27! in.) c.w. 1662 (Waist) WILLIAM MoRGAN do. PHILIP VANE (3) (Waist) THY WILL BE DONE do. (29! in.) (4) (Waist) THY KINGDOM COME do. (30! in.) (Waist) HALLOWED BE THY NAME do. (5) with Bristol Arms below. (33! in.) (6) @] Iaqon • HLflli,8 '68 • POllO 1111 (37 in.) PLATE IX (1).

St. B ride's, 1\etherwent. No. (a). PLATE IX (2) .

St. Bride's, Netherwent. No. I (b). PLATE X.

Tredunnoc. No. 6. (% actual size.) ~:~:ROBERT;NEEDH AMEG 1\JT

:c w:GoD:PRESERVE:~VEEN~ ------::t: c: :ANNE;EEA:J7J4: : t""' (fl Fig. 47.-ST . MAUGHANS. 0 "rj

~ z0 ~ \@1 0 ~ \Vl 00 ~ 00 rnJ 00 c: >-l :I: (fl :I: ..... m rmJ rm ow oo E1 rn ~ om lB1 w; ~ lea ~

(!:) Fig. 48.-UNDY . - 92 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

The inscription on No. (6) is puzzling. The letters are ill-formed and in some cases shapeless : the reading given above is merely an approximation, but Plate X shows it in facsimile. It is probably sixteenth century and maybe an attempt at "sANCTA-ORA PRO NOBis." Some of the letters resemble those of R. Hendley (1450- 1500), and are probably his letters in a worn state, used by a later founder. [H.B.W., A.W., 1920.] TREGAER. St. Mary. (Five bells.) (1) DE FORTI EGRESSA EST LDULCEDO (28 in.) Cast by T. Mears & Son, 1808, recast by Llewellins & James, 1921. (2) DOES BATTLE RAGE DO SANGUINE FOES CONTEND WE HAIL THE VICTOR IF HIS BRITAINS I FRIEND MAY GEORGE LONG REIGN WHO NOW THE SCEPTRE SWAYS & BRITISH VALOUR I EVER RULE THE SEAS. T. MEARS & SON OF LONDON FECIT 1808. (31f in.) WM WYSOME WERN Y MELLIN CHURCHWARDEN 1808 ( ·n.) (3) T. MEARS & SON OF LONDON 3211" (4) VAE MIHI SI NON EVANGELISAVERO (33-l in.) Cast by John Mears, 1810, recast 1920 by Llewellins & James. Vicar and churchwardens' names as on (1) ) (I) (2) IOHN · EVANS ; IOHN · POWEL ; CHVRCH · (37 in). (5 WARDENES ; SOLI DEO DETVR GLORIA (3) 1659. (5 reversed) (1) and (2) on No. (5) are the obverse of a Chas. I shilling; (3) the reverse of the "shekel" of John Palmer II, of Gloucester. The verse on No. (2) was composed by a school master of High Ercall, Salop, named Wilding, who supplied topical and patriotic verses for several rings in his locality, for John Briant, of Hertford [High Ercall, Salop, 1812 ; S. Alkmund's, Shrewsbury 1812.] The ring of 12 at S. Chad's, Shrewsbury (1798), by T. Mears, bears a set of his verses, and this founder made frequent use of his services in other counties. The Tregaer example is the only one yet found in Wales. [A.W., June, 1922.] TRELLECH. St. Nicholas. (Three bells.) HI PROBERT I SQ I L I GWIN I I I EDMONDS I c I WARDENS! (30.1 . ) (1) EE tt 1704 1 2 m. (2) ~ lln~O:SEIIJ ~ II ~7b}EWIS I GNT I L I G I 1 I E I c 1 (33 in.) x HENRI ; PROBERT ; ESQVIER ; CHVRCH ; WARDEN ; (36 · ) (3) OF ; TRELLECK ; IVNE ; 26 ; 1642 Ill. THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 93

Nos. (1) and (2) by Evan Evans I; the stops are his usual cable pattern. No. (3) is by John Palmer II., of Gloucester. Browne Willis 4 (c. 1750). S. John's Church, , is modern. [A.W., June, 1922.] TRELLECH GRANGE. (One bell.) (1) Blank with wide inscription band, but no inscription. (c. 14in.) TREVETHIN. St. Cadoc. (Eight bells.) (1-7) CAST BY GILLETT & C° CROYDON 1884 [23!, 25, 29!, 31, 32!, 34£, 35! in.] (8) Same as above and under. THIS PEAL OF 8 BELLS ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION 1888 JOHN LLEWELLIN VICAR A. A. WILLIAMS } CHURCHWARDENS W. HASKINS · (40! in.) No. (2) is hung above No. (1), and No. (3) above No. (4). This ring of bells hung in the "Village of Old London" at the London Exhibition of 1887, and was there bought by the late Mr. Pegler, of Pontypool, and erected in Trevethin Church by public subscription. [Ex. inf. Rev. Addams-Williams, Panteg, May, 1917.] The churches of S. John the Divine, and S. Cadoc are modern. [A.W., Feb., 1917; Jan., 1932. TROEDYRHIWGWAIR (Tredegar). S. David. (Modern). TROSTREY. St. David. (Two bells.) (1) Plain-lines on shoulder (no canons, bolted to stock) (20 in.) 2) : (0) CHARLES · HVGHES : ESQVIER : FEBRUARY 16 : 1666 : (22! in.) ( I P · (R) By John Palmer II, of Gloucester. "Charles Hughes was during the Civil War a major in the Marquis of Worcester's Regiment, and as zealous and as useful an adherent to the Royal cause, as was his brother (Thomas) to the Parliament, he being Col. in their forces and Governor of . Thomas, of Moynes Court, d. Aug. 22, 1664, and is buried in Matherne, aged 59." [D. Williams-History of Monmouth, 1796, p. 164.] A monument is on the N. wall of the nave at Trostrey to the memory of Charles Hughes, and his wife Jane. She died 6 Apl., 1663, aged 31, 94 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE and he 7 Mar., 1676, aged 57. He had been major in K. Charles I's army, and 'Prothonotary and Clerk of ye Crowne for ye several countyes of Monmouth, Glamorgan, , and Radnor in ye Reigne of King Charles ye fecond.' " His thirteenth son, Richard, died 1739, aged 78, and is buried in the Tregunter Chapel, . Thanks for rubbings to Mr. C. E. Williams, of . [H.B.W., A.W., Aug., 1920; A.W., Sept., 1922.]

UNDY. St. Mary. (One bell.) (1) *VI'fiGiffi D :Mtll\le D LtiVDS:,S (cracked). (33 in.) Rehung in 1920. A Bristol bell of 1350-80 (see Redwick) ; the inscription has been so far met with nowhere else ; and this bell should be preserved as unique. The lettering is slightly different from that at Llangattock-juxta-Usk, which has the same cross. [Fig. 48] [A.W., April, 1921.] USK. St. Mary. (Eight + one bells.) (1) Band of Taylor's spiral ornament (25 in.) (2) } on waist 19 (medallion) 25 (25! in.) LET VS RING & MERILY SING [Fig. 9] A : R t,t 1713 (3) [Fig. 9] (27! in.) (4) PROSPERITY TO THIS PLACE [Fig. 6] A : R t,t 1713 [Fig. 6] (29! in.) : PEACE & GOOD NEIGHBOVRHOOD A : R t,t [Fig. 12] (5) [Fig. 6] 1713 [Fig. 9] [Fig. 6 t,t] (32 in.) t,t ABR RUDHALL OF GLOUCESTER BELLFOVNDER CAST (6) VS 1713 ti [Fig.6] (33! in.) [Fig. 12 twice] WILLIAM !ONES ESQR EDWARD PRYTHERH (7) CHURCHWARDENS 1713 [Fig. 9] tJ MR SAMUEL MORGAN VICAR [Fig. 10] PROSPERITY TO THIS PLACE AMEN (Fig. 6] [Fig. 10 twice] THE LIVING I TO CHURCH DO CALL & (8) TO THE GRAVE DO SUMMON ALL [Fig. 10] 1713 (43 in.) (On waist) SIX BELLS RECAST AND TWO ADDED 1925 • * • Taylor's Lamb and E. MORGAN VICAR Flag Medallion T. D . R. SAGE }WARDENS H. T . PEARCE T. HALE & SONS (Ting-tang.) BRISTOL (16! in.) 1854 Browne Willis-43 (c. 1750). THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE 95

In steel frames and stocks by Taylor. Nos. (3-7) bear also on waist the TAYLOR, LOUGHBOROUGH medallion with RECAST 1925. Before this date the ring of six cast by Abraham Rudhall in 1713, was in oak frames, much decayed; their diameters were 28!, 31!, 32!, 34, 37!, 41! in. ; their inscriptions have been reproduced, but not entirely in facsimile. There is a set of Ringers' rules, dated 1829, in the ringing-chamber, as well as several peal-boards. For T. Hale & Sons, see Llantrissent (p. 59), also Manmoel, and Llanfihangel Torymynydd. Thanks to Mr. E. W. Luff, bell-ringer. . [A.W., Aug., 1912; Sept., 1937.] VICTORIA S. Mary. }M d d b 11 · t t' WHITEBROOK Chapel. o ern an e s umn eres mg. . (Dedication unknown.) (One bell and a ting tang.) ) GOD PRESERVE OUR KING & KINGDOM & SEND ( in.) (1 PEACE W ft E 1758 38 (2) OBEDITE W fi E 1758 (15! in.) Browne W illis-Widstow 1. [A.W., Feb., 1921.] . (Dedication unknown.) (One bell.) (1) EE ft WE fi 1726 (c. 18 in.) By Evan II and William Evans, after the death of Evan Evans I. [A.W., April, 1921.] WOLVES NEWTON. St. Thomas a Becket. (Three bells.) (1) IOHN RVMSY: GENT ; L ·THOMAS : C · W ·DENS : 1680 · I.P. (25! in.) RECAST BY A. Hughes medallion W. W. HOOD ESQ. (Mears & Stainbank.) 1914 GEVE THANKES TO GOD ANNO DOMINI 1607 (2) (Under as on No. 1) (27 in.) IOHN RVMSY : GENT ; L YSONS THOMAS : C : W · DENS : (30 (3) 1682 : I : P in.) (Under) A.M.D.G. (Hughes Medallion) THESE BELLS WERE RECAST MEARS & S TAINBANK THROUGH THE LOVING CARE LONDON AND AT THE EXPENSE OF W. W. HOOD ESQ: OF TREDEAN 1914 An interesting trio, carefully recast in facsimile. Nos. (1) and (3) are very late examples of John Palmer II, of Gloucester, whilst 96 THE CHURCH BELLS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE

No. (2) is the only example in the county by Robert Wiseman (d. 1618) of Montacute, Somerset, the inscription being his favourite one, including the spelling GEVE. [H.B.W., A.W., Aug., 1920.] WONASTOW. St. Winwaloe. (One and a ting-tang.) (1) THOMAS RUDHALL FOUNDER 1769 [Fig. 6 repeated) (24 in.) (Ting-tang.) [Fig. 7] T ti R [Fig. 7] 1778 (10! in.) [H.B.W., A.W., Aug., 1920.] . St. Theodore. (One bell.) Modern ; appears to be inscribed. (c. 28 in.) This document is provided for you by The Whiting Society of Ringers visit www.whitingsociety.org.uk for the full range of publications and articles about bells and change ringing