Cheshire by J. W. Clarke File 02 Parts III and IV

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CHESHIRE BELLS

PART Ill

By J. W. CLARKE.

HE following paper deals with the bells in the T deanery of (outside the city) and part of the deanery of South Wirral. A prc-Reformation has been found at , and in the same tower a bell by Thomas Roberts of Shrewsbury. Plemonstall provides further evidence of Scott's inferior craftsmanship. Rudhall installed his first ring in Wirral at in 1724, a nd subsequent events at Eastham g ive an indication of that rivalry between parishes which he found so profitable. Rudhall's competitor in the north-west, Richard Sanders of Bromsgrove, is represented by four bells at . There are some excellent bells by present-day founders, and a fine by Van Aerschodt of Louvain at Ea ton Hall. In contrast, U pton is the unfortunate possessor of a cast steel gong.

RURAL DEANERY OF CHESTER.

CHRISTLETO:\', ST. J.UIES.

Abel Rudhall cast a ring of six bells for this tower in 1743. A tenor was added in 1812 and a treble in 1830, and it would appear that the original fourth bell was flattened in tone to make th e first addition possible. The eight were not good musically. Warner rehung the bells in 1890, when the second, being cracked, was recast, hut the original inscription was not reproduced. 30 CHESHIRE BELLS The complete ring was recast and hung in a new metal frame by Taylor in 1928, the Rudhall inscriptions being reproduced in facsimile.

Treble. G : PRICE & I : T.-\YLOR ESQRS C HUR C H\V . \RDE~S 1830 I : RUDHALL FECIT

2. ~~~~~ 1871 ~~~~~(shoulder) REV L GARNETT RECTOR RICHARD BARBER} , • . . , . · J.\\fES OWEN CHURCH\\ARDENS (waist) 3. PEACE AND GOOD NEIGHBOVRHOOD A (bell) R 1743

4. PROSPERITY TO THIS PARISH A (bell) R 17 43

5. AB~L RUDHALL OF GLOUCESTER CAST US ALL 1743

6. JOHN BENNETT : HUGH DEAN CH : WARDENS A (bell) R 1743

7. I TO THE CHURCH THE LIVING CALL AND TO THE GRAVE DO SUMMON ALL A (bell) R 1743

Tenor. THE GIFT OF JOHN HIGNETT ESQ: OF ROWTON 1812 I. RUDHALL FECT (Shoulder) lOS: FAULKINER & DANL FO\VLDS CHURCH\:VARDENS (\Vaist)

(Weight 12 cwt. 1 qr. 26 lb. Note F.) (Diameter 40~in.)

The waist of each bell carries the circular mark of T aylor of Loughborough and the date of recasting. The bells hang in two tiers with the second, third and sixth above. Over a century ago the village was famous locally for its ringers who styled th emselves "The CHESHIRE BELLS 31 College Youths," and boards in the ringing chamber testify to their energ y and ability.

DonLESTo:-.:, ST. JfARY.

All that remains of the a ncient church is the low ~ r part of the tower, rebuilding baYing taken place in 1870. At the same time Warner carried out a restora­ tion in the when the treble of the old four was recast and a new treble added to make a ring of five, all hung in a new oak frame. In 1929, Gillett a nd Johnston of Croydon installed a sixth bell, which was hung in a light meta l frame bolted to the timber. The older bells were also cleaned and tuned.

Inscriptions.

Treble. GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDO~ 1929.

2. CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1870. (Shoulder)

IN MEMORY OF F. ANSON D.D. DEAN OF CHESTER RECI'OR OF DODLESTON. (Waist)

3. CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1870. (Shoulder) GOD SAVE THE QUEEN. (Waist)

4. RICH .\RD LEY RICHARD HESKEY \\'.-\RDENS 1681.

5. X a ve m a a (\V eig ht 5 cwt. 2 qr. 23\b. Note B.) (Diameter 32 in.)

Tenor. THOMAS BORGARIE WILLIAl\-1 ::\tOSLEY WARDENS 1618 (\Veight 8 cwt. Note A.) (Diameter 35! in.)

The two vVarner bells have the royal coat of arms on the waist opposite the inscription. 32 CHESHIRE BEJ.LS The fifth is the oldest bell a nd is from the :\ otti ngham foundry. The inscription "ave maria" is in black letter smalls, the letters or pairs of letters being \Yidely spaced and preceded by a cross saltire. Cheetham found a bell at Brindle, Lancs., o n which the same inscription is arranged in an exactly similar manner, but in gothic capitals . Waiters, to whom he referred a rubbing, dated this bell 1500-50. 1 Other pre-Reformation bells han" been examined at Conway (originally at Chester cathedral), H a ndley, a nd Bunbury, and the first two of these can be dated with reasonable accuracy . The former was cast for the re-built south-west tO\ver (commenced 1508)2 and the latter was almost certain!:· cast for the new tower built in 1512. All these bells, including the fifth at Dodleston, have the same initia l cross, a nd the inscriptions are all in black letter. From this evidence, therefore, they can be considered as forming a group of castings by R obert :\Iellour in the early sixteenth century. The fourth bell is interesting, as it has every appear­ ance of being cast by the Shrewsbury founder, Thomas Roberts (1673-83). This foundry, which was aftenvards in the ha nds of Ellis Hughes, ceased to operate after 1700, and few of its products went very far afield. The lettering used is angular in shape and the fi gu re 8 in the date is flat at the top. The tenor was cast by H enry Oldfield II of Notting ­ ham, who worked the foundry from 1582 until 1619. The initial cross used here is one which was acquired from \Vorce:;ter and which originally belonged to the nwdieval founder, William Rufford (1380-1400). Both the fifth and tenor have large pieces broken from the sound bow. This damage was probably sustained during the Civil War when the village served as head­ quarters for Sir William Brereton during his attack on C hester. No record r e main~ of the original in scriptio n on the bell recast in 1870. ·

1 Trails. L. a11d C. .1111. Sor., XXXII , l :l~. 1 [bid. , LX, 90, l'L.ITE I

OODLES TON. :\ ring o r six bell s in wh ich Jive founders are represented. The prc-Reform ation bell is at th e top right and the dnmagc to this a nd the tenor opposite is clearly shmYn.

/ 1 1/0to by l;:i11d p ermis~iort of Jfessrs . Ci/Jcft C:.·...., jolll/slou. I' LITE I!

1

2 4

5 7

l)

1. D oDLEST0;\1 . ('ro:o;s and blnck letter inscription from the pre- Reform:ttion fifth bell. 2. D oD LESTO~. L ett<' l·ing on the tcnn1·. H cnn· Old field I I 3. D at<> on the s;111w bell. -L Jlr .E~ IOK STA LL S cott ':-< un tidy lettering on the treble. 5. D oDLESTO:\ . Lell1•r ing by R oberl~ of ShrC\Y~burL 6. D c1ll' on the ''""c bell. 7. P LE.\10:\ST .-\1.1.. f);tt P on the sPcorH.I. P rob:tbly hy Georgr- Oldfield. S. B .\C I ~FORI>. LO\\'t'r C;-t~C lt-'ttering Oil tht' third 1)_\' S;llldl'r:-' of n ·ronhgro\"t.'. 9. P Lr-::-. r O:\~T.\1.1.. Ornament on the st·corHI. l'LATF. Ill

CRO\VN STAPLt.

~ METAL CA.SINQ L EA.THEit LIN EO WOOO CENTIU..

~ LEATHER_ TIE FOR.. WOOD STIFFE.NE~ i'I..ITE ] \ "

D .\TE, LETTEI ~ I NC .-\ND 0JH\ .\.\!ENT O N TilE SECOi'\ D , PLE~\ 01\ST.\ LL.

P o u1~ ("t~ . \FTS .\1.\1\'SIItt'. ~C O TT's T~-: r-.:o t~. Pt.E.\t OI'ST ..-\L L. CHESHIRE BELLS 33

E.HO:\" H\LL. The present Eaton H a ll. which replaced Porden's g reat mansion of 1803, " ·as designed by vVaterhouse a nd commenced in 1869. Its style is early Gothic and one of the most prominent external features is a lofty clock tower of slender proportions adjoining the chapel. In this tower is a carillon of 28 bells.3 - As far as investigation has gone, these bells provide the only example of foreign \V Orkma nship in the county, being cast by Chevalier Severin Van Aerschodt of Louvai n in 1877. The Louvain foundry was opened by Peter Van Den Ghein about the middle of the sixteenth century and developed into one of the greatest of the Low Countrv bell-foundries. In the nineteenth century it was in the ha nds of Van Aerschodt, who succeeded to it by marriage. Another example of his work can be seen at Cattistock in D orset (35 bells), and there was formerly a carillon by him at Boston, Lincs. In the tower at Eaton the bells are hung in a frame­ work of oak which occupies the space between the operating room and the clock dials above, the bells being arranged in tiers with the largest at the base. A spiral staircase of wroug ht iron ascends through the centre of th e frames and thus gives access for adjust­ ments to the striking mechanism. Both clock a nd carillon are weight driven, and thirty-one tunes can be played from the five hardwood barrels, each of which is ten inches in diameter and studded with brass pins. "-\ li st of tunes is displayed in the operating room. Barrels one and two a re set for fifteen hymn tunes (for use on Sundays), while the remaining three produce secular tune:; ranging from a Bach fugue to "The Bluebell s of Scotland." Tlw carillon is set in motion bv the clock

:l In a carillon the hells are fixed and cannot be swung as in ringing. They a re sounded by means. of external hammers operated by wires from :1 da,·icr (kevbnnrd) or hy projecting' pins in a re\'olving barrel. Th~ term carillon is properly u>ed wben not fe,Ye r than 25 bells are employed . . \ny numb ~r less than this is known as a . An interesting chapter on the carillon will be found in ~ichols, Bells thro' the Ages (1928). 34 CHESHIRE BELLS mechanism which causes one tune from the barrel to be played after the striking of the hour on the bass bell. This hourly music was formerly much enjoyed by the ma ny visitors who walked in the park, but the carillon has not been heard for a number of Years now. The tone of the bells, however, can be judged from those used in the clock chimes which are still heard from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, and from the deep note of the as it marks the hours. · A ll the bells are inscribed with an ornamental letter W on the waist, and the bass bell bears the following inscription : THIS PEAL OF 28 BELLS WAS CAST AT LOUVAI'\' FOR HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF WESTMINSTER BY VAN AERSCHODT. A.D. 1877 (Reputed weight 2i tons. Note C.) (Diameter 60 in .) In contrast, the diameter of the smallest bell is only 12 in.

ECCLESTON, ST. ~1ARY. The nineteenth century saw three churches in this picturesque village on the D ee. The first, developed from the twelfth-century structure, is shown on an old e ng raving as having a graceful tower and half-timbered porch. From a fine set of churchwa rdens' accounts which are complete from the sixteenth century to present times, information about the bells in this tO\H' r is obtained.

1634. s. d. For three bcllropes 7 0 Pa id to the ringers (Nov. 5) 2 0

1638. For ringinge ye Coverfeu 3 4

1639. F m hanging the bells 8 9 , . mending the frame of the bells 8 9 CHESHIRE BELLS 35 A good deal of repair \\·o rk was done in 1641, and some recasting in 1658. s. d. Paid for loading the bells at Eccleston 0 Pd fo r weighing the bells at Ch e~ter , for loading and unloading of them 5 0 Paid the bcllfounder a nd man 8 mea ls at 4d. 2 6 (sic) for 3 horses 1 night and 1 horse 3 night ... 2 0 Paid the Bellfounder the sume of £3 0 0 Pd for Drawing the bell into the Steeple 1 0 for the Bellfouncler's meals his son and ma n 36 meals at 4d . ye meale . . 12 0 for Becre for the Belfounder & his ma n . . . 3 0 Paid to the Bellfoundcr the sume of £12 0 0 The number of bells recast is not mentioned, but from the cost involved it would appear to have been two. Neither is the name·of the founder recorded, hut Scott of Wigan is indicated.4 In 1757 the treble was recast hy Abel Rudhall, the transaction being recorded in the <~ cco unts thus: Pd for a letter from ye Bellfounder 0 4 Pd for a letter from ~ es t er Ruclhal 0 4 Pd Samuel Gelion for Drawing the bell 2 6 Pd for fatching the Bell 2 6 Pd for a bote! of woine for :VIr. Rudda l the founder 2 0 Paid Mr Ruddalls bill £7 16 0 The bell would he drawn to a nd fetch ed from Shrewsbury. The church was taken down in April. 1807, and Hanshall gives the foJJm,·ing information about the fate of the bel Is : ·' One of the bells is placed in the clock tower in the stabl e vard at Eaton Hall; a nother was sent to to increase the ring to fo ur bells; and the remaining- two to Farndon making the peal there six bells. This sounds Yer~· interesting, hut unless theY were

4 }e ffery Scott is stated as being the founder at Chester St. Mary where the accounts record •· Spent on tlw beltroundf'r and hi s son etr." in 1657. "Cheshire Bells.'' 11. Tra11s. L a11 d C . . 1nl. Soc .. LXI. 69. 5 J. H. H ansh nll, The Histnry .of the !aunty Palatine of Chester, 308n. 36 CHESHIRE BELLS recast it is difficult to imagine hO\Y those sent to :\ldford a nd Farndon fitted in with the bells already there. Further research may throw some light on the matter. The new church was designed by William Porden, who was a lso responsible for the second Eaton Hall. For Eccleston's embattled and pinnacled tower Thomas M ears cast a ring of six with a tenor of 13 cwt. in F ;. The following note copied from the Ay-leaf of an ol d account book6 gives a g limpse of the revels at the offi cial "opening" : E ccleston New P eal of 6 bells was rung for the first time vVedncsday Octr the third, 1810. Lord Grosvenor gave a sheep a nd the Church vVardens Plenty of ale a t the house of Mr. Geo. Taylor. Opened by the young ringers of St. John's, Chester consisting of the following persons. Geo. Sincla ir, 'A;"m Doy!e, Jno. Doyle, Edw. Jones, Geo. ;\lichen, Jno. Andrew, Geo. Vvoodin and Richcl. Wilclman, with a detachment of the Liverpool ringers. Mr. Geo. T aylor was the landlord of the inn. The bells remained in the tower for a comparatively short time, and only one major repair was carried out. This was done by Mr. Swindley in 1895, and as an example of costs at that time the details are here reproduced from his account book. Aug. 27. To taking clown 5 bells in tower, laying & steelg 10 g udgeons and turning ends of same in lathe and Hardening. Refitting 10 Brass Bushes & Gudgeons .. 12 square plates and nails fo r frames. Repairing screw bolts & clips t o. Bell headstocks. 9 new stavs & bolts for bell wheels. Refixing bells. . £5. 15s. In the following year the duke of Westminster decided to build a new church on a n adjoi ning site and the existing building was demolished so that the stone might be re-used. On the evening before work began the bells were rung for the last time, and on the follow­ ing day they were lowered to the ground. The new

6 Belonging to the Swindley family who ha\·e carried on a business rts wrought-iron workers for ;!lmost three centuries. CHESlllRE BELLS 37 church was dedicated on .-\scension Day 1900. It \Y as lavishly furnished , and :\Ir. John Taylor was called to E aton to discuss proposals fo r the bells which the duke desired should match the back eight of the carillon at the Hall. As this proved impracticable, they were eventually cast as a heavy ring of eight in the key of D. They were first rung in 1907 and the result was more than satisfactory, for these bells are without doubt one of the fin est ei g hts in the country.

Inscriptions . .\11 are ornamented at the shoulder with a pattern of oak leaves and acorns and a re inscribed with the founder's name, Taylor of Loug hborough, and the date. The name of the donor appears on the wa ist of the tenor.

DONO DEDIT HUGH, DUKE OF WESTMINSTER. 1899 (Weight 26 cwt. 3 qr. 3 lb. :\Tote D.) (Diameter 531 in. )

The curfew. noted in 1638, was rung until the early twenties of the present century .

H ooLE, ALL SAINTS.

The parish was formed from Plemo nstall and the church built in 1867. A small tower at the south-west is capped with a stone spire, and for it a light ring of five bell s was provided by Warner of London. Two bells were cast in 1867 and three in 1868, and they were presented to the new church by :\Irs. Harrison. It \\·as net until 1925 that a sixth bell was added. It " ·as cast bv l\Iears and Stainba nk as a \Yar memori al and was d~dicated on Whit Sunday. It is an excellent match with the older fiy e and has made a considerable improvement in the ring generally. CJIESIIIIIE B ELLS Inscriptious. T,·ebk:. TO THE i\IEMORY OF THE PARISHIONERS \VHO F E LL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918 (on vvaist) :\IE.-\RS & STAINBANK FOUNDERS LONDOX. 1925 (on soundbow; 2-Tenor. C.-'\ST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS, LONDON. (\:Veig·ht 74 cwt. approx. :\'ote B.) (Diameter 34t in. )

The date 1867 follows on the third and fourth, and 1868 on the second, fifth and teno r. The frame is of timber.

PLDlO::\STALL, ST . PETER. Reached by a narrow winding roadway, the church is a good mile from the village and stands in the marsh­ lands with th e River Gowy swinging round on the western side. The churchyard is the reputed site of the hermitage in which lived St. Plegmund. From this pl.ace he was s ummoned to the court of King Alfred as a teacher and subsequently became archbishop of Canterbury. The church is of early foundation, but was almost entirely rebuilt in the fifteenth century with a timber belfry rising above the roof at the west end of the north aisle. In the seventeenth century three bells hung in this belfry, the ropes falling to the floor beneath where a space was left clear to accommodate the ringers. The wardens' accounts are extant from 1755 and the follow­ ing extracts are taken from them. It is clear that even in this lonely spot occasions of national importance were observed with due ceremony.

1761. £ s. d. ;\pi. 25 Pd Mr Harrison for the bell-ropes 0 7 0 ., 27 Paid for putting the ropes up 0 1 0 Sept. 22 Spent on the Ringers etc on the King s Coronation day .. 0 4 6 CHESHIRE BELLS 39 1762. Octr. 4 To treating the Ringers on acct of the News of taking the Havannah 0 2 6 1798. ~I ay 2 To timber for a Bell \;v'heele 7s. 6d. 3 hundd of nails 1s, 0 8 6 Nov. 3 To John Peacock for making a Bell vVheele 0 16 8 to J. Pcaco{;k for fixing a Bell & repairs 0 6 9

The question of the disposal of old bell ropes came before the Easter vestry in 1806. Many uses could be found for the odd lengths of sound rope thus obtained, and it would seem that both the ringers and the clerk claimed the perquisite. The vestry finally settled the matter.

April 7th. It was agreed at this Vestry Meeting that the Old Bell Ropes when unfit for the purpose of wringing shall be the Property of the Clerk as witness our hands. E. \Vatkin John Recce Thos Gamon

The timber belfry began to show signs of decay at this time, and after various patch ings an extensive repair was carried out in 1815. Ten years later, however, it became clear that the structure was no longer safe. In the summer of 1825 a parish meeting decided to take down the belfry and replace it with a stone tower. The wardens acted quickly. John Gunnery of , an architect and builder of repute, was chosen to carry out the work, the stone being carted by the parishioners from a nearby quarry. The tower was completed within the year and cost some £180, part of which was raised by subscription and the remainder by a loan to be repaid from a serie.~ of church leys. The building is plain in design and about thirty feet high. It is 8ft. 7 in . 40 CHESIIWE BELLS square internally. and the middle stage. \\·hicl1 is reached by a short ladder, forms the ringers' chamber.

1828. £ s. d. :\ 0\". 5 To hanging the Bells 17 12 6 To Saml Hughes specifing on the bells 7 6

The cost included the making of a new frame, but .\Ir. Hughes seems to have had little knowledge of such work or of the stresses set up by revolving bells. The timber was not thick enough in section and the frame was not properly braced. The weakness of this structure seems to have been a pparent in a very short time, for there are no records of payments to the ringers after 1834. Except for inevitable dilapidation, the bells and frame are still as hung by Hughes in 1828.

Inscriptions. Treble. GOD SAVE THE KH1G 1663 w I S (Diameter 24 in .)

2. + GOG ~ SAVE @ OVR ~ CHVRCH ~1635@ (Diameter 27 in.) Tenor. GLORIA IN EXSELSIS DEO 1663 w I S (\Veight 7 cwt. approx. Not e B.) (Diameter 30 -k in.)

The second bell has no founder's mark but has every appearance of being by George Oldfield. There is an initial cross a nd a typical border, a band of foliage and berries with the cable pattern above and below. However, as the Cliburys were copying Oldfield at this time, it is quite possible that this bell was cast by them. The treble a nd tenor are by John S cott of Wigan, and provide further evidence of the inferior work turned out by this foundry. On the treble the letter stamps are not CHESWRE BELLS 41 all from the same fount, while the final letter in the word GOD is reversed, as is also the N in KING. There is a general appearance of untidiness. On the tenor the lettering is slightly better, but the spacing is erratic and a \vrong letter has been used in the third word. No decoration appears on either bell. As usual, S cott found difficulty in casting the bells in tune. The treble is reasonably correct, but the tenor is two tones low and it is obviously a thin casting. The moving from turret to tower probably accounts for both these bells being damaged at the rim. It is interesting to find that the bells are fitted with the medieval clappers which were obviously made for their predecessors, and which are still in remarkably g ood condition. Their design is illustrated o n Plate II.

P U LFORD, ST. MARY. stands at the edge of the county, the church being but a few yards from the W elsh border. It was twice rebuilt during the last century, first in 1833, when a sixteenth-century tower was demolished, and again in 1882. Previous to the last rebuilding there appear to have been two small bells in the tower. The present church has a tower with oak-shing led spire at the north-west, a nd was originally furnished with a light ring of six bells in a timber frame. The keenness of a young band of change-ringers resulted in the duke of W estminster presenting two more bells in 1903, and the captain of the ringers, l\'lr. James Morgan, himself made the frame. P eal boards in the ring ing chamber testify to the skill of the ringers over a long period. Inscriptions. Treble. PRESENTED BY THE 2 N D DUKE OF and 2. vVESTMlNSTER 1903. Back s tx. Tr\YLOR & CO. FOUNDERS 1882. (\V eig ht of the tenor, 9 cwt. 3 qr. 10 lb. Note :-\. 11) (Dia meter 37t in. ) CHESliiHE BELLS

TAR V 1.:-::' ST. AN PR!..:\ V. ln this splendid tower of the late sixteenth century is a ring of six bells cast by Thomas Rudhall in 1779. As the wardens' accounts -...vere destroyed some years ago, nothing can now be recorded of the bells in the tower previously, but they \V ere no doubt bought by H. udhall and broken up. About 1890 there was a complete restoration by lldears and Stainbank. .:\ new timber frame was built and the bells were rehung from iron headstocks with new fittings. They are stiU in excellent order, after being in use for well over half a century. Here the "Pancake Reil." is rung on Shrove Tuesday M 11 a.m. This interesting custom, formerly common enough, has in most cases fallen into disuse, and it is, therefore, of more than passing interest to meet with it at . The curfew was also rung until the recent war. It \vas heard at eight o'clock each evening, except Saturday when it was sounded at seven.

Inscriptions. Treble. PEACE & GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD 1779 2. FEAR GOD HONOUR THE KING 1779 3. THOS: RUDHALL GLOVCESTER FOUNDER 1779

4. JOH~ BLYTHE & HENRY BRISCOE \VARDENS 1779 5. THE REVD: MR: THOS: DlCKENSO~ VICAR 1779 Tenor. COl\lE AT MY CALL AND SERVE GOD ALL T (bell) R (\Veight 9 cwt. appmx. Xote A.) (Diameter 37 in.)

The bells are fine castings with inscriptions carefully executed in 1-l-in. Roman capitals. On the fou~th the Cl! ESIJl RE HELLS inscription band is of double width (about 7 in.), the lettering being placed at the top and a complete band of repeating ornament below. A.SHTO:-< HAYEs.-A bell in a western tower inscribed in Lombardic capitals: C ET G MEARS LONDII\l FECERUNT, and dated 1849. \Veight 10 cwt. HARROW .-Single bell in an eighteenth-century tower. It is dated 1736 and appears to be a Rudhall. Weight about 9 cwt. GmLDEN SuTTON.-Two small bells in a western timber turret. UPTO:>:.-A hemi-spherical cast-steel gong' hung from a horizontal bar fixed in bearings in a metal. frame. It i.s swung by a rope attached to a ri1etal wheel, the dapper being shaped like an anchor with the points ~awn off. Tt is 39 in. in diameter and has a .strike note C. Other churches not mentioned possess single bells of . no particular interest.

DEANERY OF SOl!TH \VIRRAI...

BACKFORD, ST. OswALD.

In this church worshipped George Ormerod of Chorlton Hall, the writer of the famous history of the county. Th~ tov.'er dates from the early fifteenth. century and is one of a group of four in the neighbourhood built by the same master mason. In each case the middle stage is only about eight feet in height, too low to be used as a ringing chamber, so that the ropes must be taken down to floor level. An inventory of church goods in \Virral taken in 3 Ed\\'ard VI3 records : "Bakfort. ij chale.ss, a ringc of iij belles" ; but there is no further i nfo rmntion concern-

7 Probably cast by N~yl01·, Vickers, & Go., of Sh!!ni<>ld, whoSt• effuns to P'lpularisc ~. lecl bd\s nncl gongs fortunately, met with lhtle e;uccess . . 11 Record Office. Pdnted in Wir1'al Notes and Qut · ri~s, Vol. Ir (166] . All t•xtrnC"ts following an• taken fmm the salllt S\lUrt:e. 44 CHESHIRE BELLS ing the bells here until 1714, when a ring of four ,,·as cast by Richard Sanders of Bromsgrove. Sanders carried on business at the foundry from 1703 to 1738. His bells are common in vVorcestershire and are also found much further afield, some few coming into Cheshire. The absence of any record of the purchase of the four bells here is to be regretted, for the inscrip­ tion on the treble bell clearly indicates some sharp difference of opinion in the parish as to the choice of founder. Sanders' competitor was no doubt Abraham Rudhall, who had already established a reputation by casting two good rings in Chester. :\Iuch pleased with his v ictory, Sanders could well afford to write : "Let none be in anger" in the mould for hi s first bell. From a vestry book preserved in the church clwst one or two items of interest can be gathered. Under the date 12 l\Iarch 1735 the following appears :

\ Ve the Vicar and Ch Wardens whose names are here­ under Subscribed and do for the more want the regular ringing of the Bells of our Church make and give these Orders following that is to say: Imp. \Ve Order that the Bells shall or may be Rung upon every Sunday and Holy day Thro out the year 2 upon each of s uch days, the one peal immediately after the Ringing the first bell in the morning and the other peal immediately after divine Service is over on Sundays a nd after prayers on Holy days. Every such peal not exceeding the time of half an hour. ffarther we Order also that the scl Bells shall or may be Rung every nig ht during the time the eight o'clock bell is rung, that is to say One peal immediately after Ringing for eight o 'clock and tolling the day of the Month is over the sd peal not exceeding the ti me of half an hour. After the signatures had been affixed the matter was evidently opened up again and it was thought advisable to make an addition. Turning over the page, the vicar \\TOte :

NOTE: The Orders on the other side are made and appointed to regulate the common ringing of CHESHIRE BELLS 4.) the Bells. not to interfe re with the ringing of them a t any time upon ext raordina ry occasions or upon special times for wch paymt is allow'd by ve~try.

The ring ing of a bell on Sundays and holy days in the morning· obtained in most parishes in the ei g hteenth century, although the actual time of ringing varied con­ siderably . In some churches it was as early as 7 a.m., while in others it might be as late as 10 a.m. The custom of ring ing such a bell had survived the service for which it was originally a summons, and whereas it formerly called the parishioners to mass, it was now sounded for a very different purpose . At Backford it was probably used as a "Sermon bell" and denoted that a service with sermon was to follow. It is clear from the second part of the minute that the curfew was rung each evening at eight o'clock, a number of strokes corresponding to the day of the month being sounded afterwards. The nave of the church was rebuilt in 1729 and again in 1879, but the chancel a nd tower were not di sturbed. Sanders' ring of four did duty until 1887 when, in honour of the Jubilee, a fifth bell was added by the Loughborough foundry, the timber fra me being extended to accommodate it. At the same time the old four bells were quarter-turned and furnished with new clappers, wheels, and bearing s. Two years later the same founders augmented the ring to six, as a memorial to Bishop Jacobson who held office 1865-1884. After giving cause for anxiety for some time the bells were dismantled in 1946. The timber frame, part of which had been in the tower for nearly two and a half centuries, was much damag ed by beetle, and was replaced by a metal one of A-pattern design built at one level. The bells were rehung from iron headstocks with complete new gear, and on 25 January 1947 the wstored ring \\·as re-df' dicated b;· the bishop. CHESHIRE BELLS I nscriptio11s. Treble. 1889 (shoulder) A. M. D. G. 9 ET PIAM MEMORIAM REVERENDISSIMI IN XTO PATRIS GUL JACOBSON CESTR. NUPER EPISC. D.D. R. J . FAIRCLOUGH (waist) 2. R. J. FAIRCLOUGH M .A. VICAR. W. A. TAYLOR AND R. DAVIES CHURCH­ WARDENS. (shoulder) CAST IN THE YEAR OF JUBILEE IN COMMEMORATION OF THE FIFTIETH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF QUEEN VICTORIA. 1887 (waist) :1 . Let none be in anger wee ware cast by Richard Sanders.

4. , •0 •c:_ 1. T. ~J*ck 1714 ?'\. _,t_1o'c:.. o o 5. )\.'J'\. I. BIRKHENED ESQr :A ,'c:_ 1714 .?\:10t

Tenor. IOHN WELLSBE ~''<: WILLIAM H ATON CHURC HWARDENS ,t_*. 1714 4" :k_ (\ Veight 10 cwt. 12 lb. :\Tote G.) (Diameter 39 in.)

The lettering on the treble a nd second is in sans-serif capitals and the Loughborough mark, a bell encircled, appears on the waist opposite the inscription. Both these bell s are considerably domed at the crown. Richard Sanders was one of the few founders to use the lower case lettering ·here seen on the third. His foundry mark does not appear on any of his bells in this tower. ·rhe initials on the fourth are those of John Turner, vicar from 1691 to 1720. The t\YO roundels after the inscrip­ tion were produced by th e impression of coins or medals in the mould, but any details which might have been visible orig inally are now obliterated. John Birkenhead (fifth bel l) \vas lord of the manor of Backford (b. 1675, d. 1720). T he ornament appearing; on the three larger bells had been rreviously used by Oldfield (ill ustrated

9 ad majorem Dei gloriam . CHESHIRE BELLS 47

111 Part I of this series) and by the \Vorcester founder, John 11artin (1644-1693) . .\11 the bells in this ring- are nm\" without cannons.

BROl\IBOROUGH, ST. BARXAB.-\S. A new church was built here by Scott in 1867, a tower with stone spire being added later. The inventory of '1549 records "a ringe of ij belles," but beyond this there is no further information until Taylor of Lough­ borough cast a heavy ring of eight for the new tower in 1880. These bear inscriptions of unusual length, composed by the Rev. Dyer Green who was rector for forty-seven years. 10 On the first seven bells they take the form of rhyming couplets of no special interest. The tenor carries "GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO" at the s houlder, a nd a lengthy inscription in Latin on the waist records the fact that the ring was installed in 1880 in memorv of Charles S. Bamford. The names of the rector and wardens appear on the opposite side. The bells hang from elm headstocks in a massive oak frame built at one level and all have cannons except the tenor. New bearings were fitted in 1927, and the ring was again rehung on ball bearings with new clappers in 1947. Tenor. (Weight 23 cwt. 1 qr. 5 lb. :--Jote E tJ .) (Diameter 50 in.)

Bl'RTON, ST. NICHOLAS. BY repute the most picturesque village in Wirral, Burton stands on the rock itself above the marshes of the Dee estuary. The dedication of the church to St. Nicholas recalls the former importance of the village as a port. Except at the north-east, the present church dates from the early eighteenth century, while sheltered within

10 Details. of the inscriptions are !"'!'Corded in Wirral .Yoles a11d Queries, Vol. !I [ 187]. 48 CHESHIRE BELLS a re a fe\\. stones from the twelfth-century building. At the inventory taken in 1549 there was "a ringe of ij belles" in the tower. Further information can be gathered from the registers which contain mixed entries. 11 1613 The frames of the Bells weare made this year by Arald \Va tte of Chester and Oliver Wilson of Burton a nd were finished the xxiiij daie of December 1613 Thorn's Smith and \V ill 'm Moores bei ng Churchwa rdens the sa me yeare. 1617 The steeple was pointed this yeare att Bartholus tyde by men of Li verpoole 1617. 1620 This yeare the midle bell was borred through a nd mended uppon the pprr. coste and charge of the inhabitants of Pudd ington and the inhabitants of Burton refused to bee or pay any charge or money towardes the m endinge of the mid!e bell. But onclie yt was payd upon the charge of Puddington.

There were evidently three bells by this time and the addition of the third may have been the reason for the new frame in 1613. The boring was most likely necessary because of a broken cannon, iron straps being passed throug h holes made in the crown so that the bell might be securely fixed to the headstock . Some local squabble is indicated by the remainder of the entry. Puddington was, and still is, a small township within the parish, and it was then the normal practice for one third of the expenses to be paid by this township. In this instance Burton seems to have taken the line that as the damage had been done by a Puddington ringer the rule should not appl~ · · . 1657. The middle a nd great bell ,,·holes \Yere made this year by John Harper of Thornton Hough and were fini shed the lOth of July.

11 P . F ..-\. \lorr"ll. :\"oft's 011 llurf,,,, l'il r is/1 H egi>ter s (190S). CHESHIRE BELLS 49 A vivid picture of the state of the church fabric in 1720 is provided by the following extract from a brief dated 9 January:

Some years since the upper part of the Steeple of the Parish Church of Burton was taken down and the Bells taken out the better to preserve the same ; yet by reason of its great Antiquity the said Church is now become so ruinous that it gives way outwards from one end of ye Church to the other; and the Arch between the Church and Chancel is so rent that the walls will not support itt; the Steeple also is crack'd in several Places from top to bottom a nd the four s ides of it so sbatter 'd that some of the stones are ready to fall out. 12

Any sort of repair was obviously out of the question and the church was, in fact, shortly afterwards rebuilt, except for a small part at the north-east. The names of the master mason and the master carpenter are carved over the porch doorway, and the latter has also left his name, William Cross, 1721, on a principal of the tower roof above the bell frame. The three bells were no doubt set up in the new tower, but in 1724 Abraham Rudhall was commissioned to cast the ring- of 11ve which are still in use. The wardens' accounts are extant from 1780. They contain many payments for ringing and for repairs to bells and fittings, but unfortunately begin too late to record the purchase of a n interestin g clock made and installed by Joseph Smith of Chester in 1751. The dial is unusual in having the hour hand only, made in the shape of an arrow. In 1896 the bells were re-hung in an iron H-pattern frame with metal headstocks and new fittings a nd a treble was added to make a ring of six. Recently new bearings a nd pulleys have been fitted hv a local engineer.

12 From the Cough :\ISS. (S t ~e l' s cnll Pction) in the Bodleian library. Quoted hy Benzley in .\'otes 0 11 th e Parish Church of Burton in Wirral. .)I) CHESHIRE BELLS Inscriptions. Treble. + JOHX TAYLOR & CO + FOU\"DERS LOUGHBOROUGH. RJ)JG OUT BL\CK SI\" F.-\IR PEASE RJ)JG J)J A.D. 1896 (waist) 2. PEACE & GOOD )JEIGHBOVRHOOD 1724

3 ABR: RUDHALL C.~ST VS ALL 1724 4. PROSPERITY TO THE CHVRCH Of.' ENGLAND 1724 5. PROSPERITY TO THIS P.--\RISH 1724 T enor. WM: \VILSON & ROBT: JONES CHVRCH­ WARDENS 1724 ('Weight 8 cwt. 2 qr. Not e.-\ .) (Diameter 34 in.)

The treble carries a band of vine leaf and grape orna­ ment below the shoulder. On the other fiv e typical R udhall ornament fills the space after the date. These were the first Rudhall bells in Wirral.

CAPENH URST, HOLY TRIJ\' ITY. The tower is of pleasing design, having a timber superstructure which forms the belfry, a nd a shingled spire. The parish was formed a nd the church built in 1857, and the first bell s were a ring of four cast by the Whitechapel foundry and presented by G. l\1. Taswell, Esq. After being derelict for some years, these bells were replaced by a new ring of six in celebration of victory in 1919. They were cast at Loughboroug h. E ach bell has a decorative band of ornament at the shoulder and the circular Taylor mark on the waist. The tenor

EASTHA:Il, ST. ::\!ARL The tower has one of the two broach spires found in the county. It was built in the early fourteenth century, and being much decayed was extensively repaired in 1752 and again in 1889. The Edwardian inventc>ry notes "a ringe of ij belles," and the wardens' accounts. which begin in 1598, contain many items relative to the bells a nd their ringing. They give no indication, however, a<:; to when additional bells were placed in the tower, but there were certainly four early in the eighteenth centun·. The curfew was rung at eight each evening.

17~2 s. d. for candles at ye 8 a clock bell . . 6 Ringing ye bell at 8 at night 5 0 In the early part of 1751 the condition of the bells was such that a parish meeting was called. May 29. At a Parish meeting legally summoned in the Parish Church of Eastham it is unanimously agreed to put the Bells in repair and that Mr. Rudhall be sent for to take a View of them and give his proposals to the Parish. It is clear that Mr. Rudhall visited the tower shortly afterwards, and subsequently made a written report in which he recommended that a· new ring of five should be provided from the metal contained in the old four, and further metal. added if necessarY. Aug. 19. At the legall Parish meeting called on purpose concern­ ing the repair of the Bells in the P arish Church of Eastham it is resolved by a very great majority of the Parishioners then assembled that the metal of the present four Bells ~hall be cast into five near Bells such as it 5:.? CHESHIRE BELLS

will reach to make & as near the same weight as can be guessed according to the conditions in \Vriting by l\1r. Rudhall a nd that the Church \Yardens do immediatelY set about it. ·

The wardens, ho,,·ever, seem to have been unable to implement the resolution, for it was found that the spire was in urgent need of repair, and heavy payments for the execution of this work are recorded in 1752. At the same time, it is difficult to account for the long delay which followed. It was not until 1755 that th e matter was again discussed, when a most unusual agreement was drawn up at a parish meeting held 23 October. Thomas Wilson, yeoman, was to be paid £100 to

take down the Bells and carry them to Shrewsbury, casting and hanging the bells and all necessary and unaYoidable expenses. That .the present metal be cast into five Bells of the same pitch or note with Burton Bells, namely the biggest Bell to sound C sol farr, and if the metal will allow to be cast into Bells something bigger (without any loss or detriment to the said Thomas vVilson with regard to his contract) the Bells to be as big as the metal will allow, but the said Thomas not obliged to be at the expense of any additional metal. The concluding paragraph provides that Mr. Wilson shall have the disposal of all wood and iron remaining when the work is completed. This curious agreement, which from the wardens' point of view had the advantage of both relieving them of responsibility and exactly fixing the cost, is quite contrary to the usual practice when wardens carried through their part of the work with interest and vigour. The note of the tenor, however, is a long way from C. It was almost a year before work began. In October 1756 the bells were taken from the tower and the wardens, pleased to see some action at last, disbursed seven shillings. They also took the precaution of going to Burton to hear the bells. In the meantime it was felt that the church must have a bell of some sort and one was borrowed from N eston. CHESHIRE BELLS

1756. s. d. Spent Borrowing the Bell 1 0 Spent when the Bell came 1 0 Pd Thomas Smith hanging ye Bell 1 11 Spent when the Bell was Hanged 2 0 For fetching the Bell from N es ton 2 6 Pd to John Ball for use of ye Bell 10 0 Rudhall recast the bells in 1757, but in view of the agreement with Wilson, no details appear in the accounts. John Johnson of Little Sutton laid a new floor in the belfry and, under the direction of the bell­ hanger, put in new beams to carry the bell frame. In 1758, the vestry levied six leys to provide the necessary money, three to be collected immediately. All these bells have been recast, the treble and third twice, but the inscriptions on four have been preserved. 13 2. FEAR GOD AND HOXOUR THE KING 3. WHEN WE RING WE S\VEETLY SING 4. WE WERE ALL CAST BY ABEL RUDHALL OF GLOUCESTER ,\.D. 1757 Tenor. I TO THE CHURCH THE LIVING CALL AND TO THE GRAVE I SUMMON ALL In 1889 the wardens were again faced with heavy expenditure, for both bells and spire were in a dangerous condition. Fifteen feet of the spire had to be rebuilt, and the bells were sent to Loughborough where the treble was recast (with a fresh inscription) and a new tenor added. The old third had also to be recast a semi­ tone lower in order to fit in the new scale, the original inscription being repeated. The recast treble and the new tenor \vere inscribed : Treble. GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO. Tenor. OF THINE OWN HAVE I GIVEN THEE. The bells were hung in a new timber frame which is still in use, although the complete ring was recast by Tador in 1922. The tenor is now 12 cwt. 1 qr. 11 lb. in G.

13 Isabel Tobin, Tl1e Parish of Eastham (1920). 27

CHESHIRE BELLS

PART IV By J. W. CLARKE. INTRODUCTION HE following paper completes the record of bells in T · the Chester and Wirral deaneries. ln. the ancient churches it reveals a repeating pattern of recastings ot the pre-Reformation bells by the Cliburys and Scotts in the seventeenth century, because they were either "broken" or "untuneable". Two medieval bells remain, one originally at the cathedral and now at Conway., and the other at Dodleston, while recastings of such bells can be seen in the remote villages of Plemonstall, and , two at Shotwick being effectively incor­ porated in a modern ring. The oldest dated bell yet found is at Stanney. In the eighteenth century the Rudhalls, keen, persuasive and efficient, completely: changed the contents of most of the city towers and also of a number of othersin the area under review. The specialist in frame-making comes into the picture at this. time. The nineteenth century brought restorations by Mears. Taylor and Warner, by which time any·pre­ Reformation bells which might have survived .were, like many of the churches which housed them, in astate of extreme dilapidation. The loss of so many of these ancient examples of the bellfounders' art is to be regretted, but in these times a parish had little use-for cracked bells and saw only one solution: · In more modern times bells of interest even when damaged, are frequently preserved, as for example, the Scott bell now resting in the north aisle at Shotwick. The one surviving medieval bell-frame is at Stoak: there are medieval clappers at Plemonstall, a Rudhall 28 CHESHIRE BELLS frame at Chester St. Peter, and one of 1714 was recently taken out

COMPLETION OF THE DEANERY OF WIRRAL SOUTH

NESTON, ss. MARY AND HELEN .

The bells of this church formed the subject of a paper by the late F. H. Cheetham, 1 who was able to make use of an excellent set of wardens' accounts to build up a record more complete than is usually possible. The following account, therefore, covers the essential points only. Of the three bells noted in the Inventory, one appear!' lo hava been confiscated, but when the wardens entered into an agreement with Jeffrey Scott in 1664, the church again possessed three bells, the treble and second being­ "broken and very untuneable". Scott was to recast these two so that there should be "three sound, solemn and tuneable bells" in the tower. Tne result provides yet another example of his inferior craftsmanship. for in spite of much chipping, alteration of the clappers. and a suggestion that "much ringing would make them

t Trans. L. & C. A .. t. Soc., XLVIII, 16 CHESHIRE BELLS 29 right, 2 the wardens were not satisfied and refused to pay. When Scott died a year later, his executors (wife and son) entered a suit against the wardens for the recovery of £21. 7s. owing for _Neston bells, but unfor­ tunately there is no record as to whether or not they were successful. In spite of their imperfections the bells were in use for well over half a century, and it was tfie usual parish rivalry which eventually led to a change being made. In 1724 Rudhall. cast a musical ring of five for the neighbouring parish of Burton. , as a larger village, immediately decided to have six bells, but internal squabbles held up the project until 1731. The accounts provide a vivid picture of the manner in which two energetic wardens made themselves personally responsible for the carting of the old bells to S<~lop. en route for Gloucester, and also for the carriage of thP new bells in tfie reverse rurection. The interior of the tower was thoroughly renovated and a new bell-frame bu'ilt by Joseph Wrigiey3 of Manchester, who was a specialist in th'is work. The tenor, being cracked, was recast 'in 1804 by a "Mr. Webster", who seems to have bern a Liverpool brassfounder. Its weight is recorded as being 11 cwt. J qr. 7 lb. and the names of the wardens, Wm. Hutchin­ son and Andrew Gibbons, were 'inscribed on it. During the next decade the ringers were liberally paid when the parish celebrated the manv victories on sea and land, but later on their absence on Sundays proviaed a sub­ ject for much discussion. Finally. in 1855, the Easter vestry resolved "That the services of the present ringer<; be forthwith dispensed with".

2 Even at a much later date it was commonly believed that bells improved in tone bv beinR runR together. The explanation is, of course, that 'isteners eventually got used to their sound, and the ear accepted the discrepancies. 3 ThP \\'riglevs, sometimes stvled as "bellwrights", are frPquentlv met with as makers of bell-frames and in close connection with Rudhali. 30 CHESHIRE BELLS The church was demolished and rebuilt in 1874-5, but the ancient tower, suitably restored, was left standing. In 1884 it was decided to install a ring o£ eight with a heavier tenor, and this was accomplished in the follow­ mg manner.) Two new bells were cast as the treble and tenor; th~ fourth of Rudhall's ring of six' was recast a semi-tone lower in tone as the fifth of the new eight ; Webster's bell, which was probably of inferior quality, was also recast as the new seventh. In the present ring therefore, only four of the original Rudhall bells remain. Inscriptions. Treble. VENITE ET ASCENDAMUS AD DOMUM DEI JACOB MEARS ET STAINBANK FUNDURUNT 1884. (Waist) 2. PEACE AND GOOD NEIGHBOVRHOOD A '(bell) R 173L 3. PROSPERITY TO THIS PARISH A (bell) R 1731. 4. PROSPERITY TO THE CHVRCH OF· ENGLAND A·(bell) R 1731. . 5, VENITE EXULTEMUS DOMINO MEARS ET STAii\IBANK FUNDURUNT · 1884. · · ·· . (Waist)' 6. ABR: . RVDHALL OF GLOCESTER CAST . VS ALL 1731. 7. ' VENITE ADOREMUS MEARS ET STAINBANK FUNDURUNT 1884. (Waist) Tenor . . ADORATE DOMINUM I N ATRIO SANCTO EJUS MEARS ET STAINB.'\NK FUNDURUNT 1884. (Waist) (Weight 14 cwt. 2 qr. 24lb. Note F .) (Dia!)1eter 42 in .) The Rudhall bells have cable cannons (except the fourth from which they have been broken), a nd on the sixth a band of orna~ e nt runs below the inscription as well as within. The bells hang from timber head-

4 This bell was cracked so that recasting w as necessary in any case. CHESHIRE BELLS 31'· stocks in an oak frame at one level. After being in poor condition for many years they were re-hung and the frame strengthened in 1953.

SHOTWICK ST. MICHAEL. There was "a ringe of iij belles" here in 1549, the heaviest being about 9 cwt. In 1610 or thereabouts the second bell was recast, but the name of the founder is not recorded. When it reached the church, however, a good deal of chipping had to be done rto make it in tune, and the following extract5 from the Consistory Court proceedings in 1629 completes the story.

~T ee present Richard Chamberlain th' elder for taking away and not accompting to the parish in his time for 32 pounds of Bellmetal (being worth xxiijs.) when he was church warden. Richard Chamberlain Senior of Gt. saith that 18 or 19 years ago, hee being Churchwarden of Shotwick, a bell viz. the middle bell being cast, he agreed with one to cast the same & saith that after it was cast and came to the church it was not tuneable, and then he did hewe the same thinner & did take out ·mettle which he caused. to be weighed by one John Caldey who said it was.30 li, or thereabouts which mettle after it was weigh'd he delivered to Root. Carter the Parishe Clarke of the said P'ishe for the use of the P'ishe. It seems strange that the case should be brought to the court after such a lapse of time. In 1616 the tenor was recast by William Clibury of \:Vellington, and. was returned to the church as a fine. example of the bellfounder's craft w'ith that excellent lettering and ornament which was a feature of Clibury's work. The second bell was again recast in 1621, and the correct spelling of "Excelsis" in the inscription suggests that the work was done at the Holt branch of the same foundry. The river would provide direct and easy transport.

5 Quoted in Tl1e Cheshire Sheaf. 3rd. St'ries, Vol. I, [9]. 32 CHESHIRE BELLS The treble was recast in 1664 by Scott, whose indif­ ferent work at Neston in the same year has already been noted. The recasting at Shotwick was inferior to that of Clibury, and with complete lack of imagination he repeated the inscription already on the second bell. There are some interesting entries in the one surviv­ ing set of wardens' accounts. One shilling was paid for "tufting" the bell-ropes in 1724, an operation by which short lengths of wool were woven into the rope to provide a grip for the hands. In 1726 the clock and "finger board" were installed and the hours made to strike upon the tenor, and in the same year the ground round the tower was lowered "to keep ye water out of ye Belfre". The floor of the tower, from which the bells were rung, was of eartfi and remained so until recently. In 1728 the tenor fell from its bearings, no doubt whilst being rung, and became wedged in the frame. The­ striking- clock still be'ing a novelty, the hammer was immediately moved to another bell, but the fall of the tenor was a pointer toi the poor condition of the frame and bearings. Three years later a scheme for the re­ hang-ing of the bells in a new frame was agreed upon and duly recorded. £ s. d. 1731 To ye Rin~-ers on Christmas Dav in the morning- wn ve Bargain was made for Hanging ye Bells . . . 00 01 00 The work was done by Barnes, a Nestt>n carpenter. and his charge of £24 2s. was subsequently questioned when it was discovered that "they" (meaning Burton) had headstocks and frame made for five bells for only "12 or 14 pounds more". Barnes, however, made an excel­ lent job of the frame· but the hanging was not so good. Tohn Owen, known as "Dld Mortalitv". visited Shot­ wick about 1850 and recorded that a set of ringers' rules was oainted on the plastered south wall of the tower. but the oanel was deMroved when the plaster was removed from the walls later in the century. l'!..\TE Ill

:\I F.DIEY.\ 1. ().\I\. l ·h:J.T.-FI~ . \.\IE .\T ST(J .. \1\..

T h t· h: t:'t' tinli.H· r:-: of t h :.· r r ~ tllH' do not r o nlp lc t ~.: h · :-; tn·rril acro :-;:-; the \(1\n•r ::md r c::'.t on lw;un~ ~p anni ng th v :-~!Tuctun: fro;ll nort h tu ~o uth. In th f': fr:un•· th(' trr hle h ang~ a t t iH· sout h . th ~ · t •· JHX in tiH-· n·nt re a nd th e s<::cond at the norl;,, \]\,,; ! )J.: I.\11.': .\. 10 in. I"· :> in. B. 1:2 in. ll\· ~ i n. ('. ~in. ))\ · ~i n. D. :~2 i n . 1)\· H in . IH· H i n . . E . l. ~ tt•·r rt 'J) I : t ccm ~..: n t. F. \l•>< k r n " ' id i rion . Tntal IH·i glll -J. fr. 7ft i n. 1'1..\ TI. I,.

STu.\K: Til E MEDIE\":\1. FlU .\! I·: S II O\\"U\c;. TilE C L'I{VED S TJ{L" T . STO.\K: T ! I E SECO:\D l.H: l.l . \\TI'Il ITS lll·:. \DSTUCI~ .\\'[) \\' llEEI.. The rope :md pu ll ey indicate how th e Lc nor is "clocked". Pu rE \ '

S IIOT\\' I CI' Scon ·'s 0 1. 0 T I.\TJ.: .\.\' ])TilE 1.\'!TJ.\J.S ()]<' Sll~ Hl ·: .\'1~ \' Bt ' .\'l:t ' J~Y. 1\.T. 3 2 4

5 6

7 I. SIIOT\\' ICK: Leuering from the olu treble. Scott 1664. 2. T he ma r k of l" libury of 1-l olt. Stnak treble. 3. I nitial cross from Shot\\·ick tl'nor. Clibun· 16 16. 4. T he m nrl, of C liln11·y of \\'ell ington. Shot.\\·icl, tenor. 5. Oate on Stoak treb le. 6. Letter ing :111 d c:1ble border o n tlw second :lt Stoct k . C liburv 1642. 7. L etter.ing by C libu ry of \\'ell ington. Shot\\·ick, 5th bell, 16 15. CHESHIRE BELLS 33 The three bells remained in the tower until 1938, by which time only the treble was in use. It was sounded by means of a stout cartrope attached to the clapper, and in this way had been cracked. Under the terms of the will of the late Rev. F. R. Wansborough, for thirty-six years rector of the parish, the tower was repaired and a ring of six bells 'installed in 1938. The two Clibury bells became the fifth and tenor, and they were fitted with headstocks of special design by which the cannons were retained. Four new bells were cast at the Loughborough foundry and the complete ring hung 'in a metal frame. Scott's bell was placed in the north aisle where, stand­ ing on a platform made Trom the oak of the old frame, it keeps company with the three-decker pulp'it and the canopied churchwardens' stall.

Inscriptions. Treble, 2. 3 and 4. t D. D. F. R. WANSBOROUGH t FECITTAYLOR MCMXXXVIII 5. t GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO 1621 (Weight 6 cwt. 2 qr. 21th. Note G#.) (Diameter 35 in .) Tenor. t JESUS BE :k_*-*.-*. OVR -k:k*- SPEED*-** 1616 (Weight 8 cwt. 3 qr. Note F#.) (Diameter 38! in.) Old treble in the north aisle. GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO 1664 C W W D J B (Diameter 31! in.) The Clibury (Wellington) mark is on the waist of the tenor, and Scott's mark on the old treble The fifth is the earliest Holt bell yet found in the county.

STOAK, ST. LAWRENCE. The church was largely rebuilt in 1828 when a western tower was added. In 1549 there was "a ring-e of iii belles" which hung in a timber belfry pictured6 as a fairly large boarded structure perched on the roof at the

6 Trans. L. & C. Ant. Soc., LVII, 82. 34 CHESHIRE BELLS west end'. This was destroyed at the rebuilding of the church. All three bells were recast at various times during the seventeenth century, and they can still be seen in the medieval oak frame which was moved from the old belfry to the new tower. The large wheels date from 1790, this date and the carpenter's initials, J. B. being engraved on the wheel attached to the second bell.

Inscriptions. Treble. GOD SAVE HIS CHVRCH OVR KING AND REALME 1631 (diameter 28 in.) 2. GOD SAVE HIS CHVRCH W, F. T. L. 1642 (diameter 30 in.) Tenor. t GLORIA DEO EXCEI::.SVS H.B. 1615 (Weight St cwt. approx. Note B tJ) (diameter 32 in.) The treble is the first bell yet found in the county which bears the markl of the Clibury branch foundry at Holt, a shield with the founder's initials separated by an arrow pointing downwards. This is placed imme­ diately below the dateon the waist. The second bell is obviously from t'he same foundry, a 'nd the initials are those of \Villiam Fisher and Thomas Lowe, church-· wardens. The tenor is a typical Clibury with fine letter­ ing on a floreated background, and a cross preceding the inscription. The 'initials are those of Sir Henry Bunbury, Kt. These bells, probably the only complete Clibury ring extant in the county, are of .considerable interest since they indicate that some time between 1621, when a bell was cast for Shotwick, and 1631, the date of the treble at Stoak, a complete change was made 'in style and format. They adopted the style of lettering and the

7 Both Ormerod and H anshall noted the dilaoidated condition of the belfry. The latter , writin!!' in 1823, recorded that it was "in a state of great decay and extreme . danger" (History of the County Palatine of rheshire, 612). Onnerod noted that there were four bells ('s ed., fJ, 389). CHESHIRE BELLS 35 cable borders used by George Oldfield of Nottingham, and it is difficult to imagine why a change should be made to something so much inferior to their own.

STANNEY ScHOOL. A bell of exceptional interest is now in the Women's Institute at Stanney, a, township in the parish of Stoak. This building was formerly the village school and the bell hung outside, but during recent roof repairs it was taken down and placed within the hall. It is dated 1598 and, like the tenor at the church, has the initials of Sir Henry Bunbury inscribed at the shoulder, as well as those of Roberr Orrell of \Vigan, its founder. The bell is illustrated on plate VI. The diameter is 121 in. and the weight, with the present metal fittings, is 54 lb. Two of the cannons are broken but otherwise the bell is in an excellent state of preservation. There can be no doubt that it was cast as a sanctus for the church, and the four bells which Ormerod records as being in the belfry are thus accounted for. It seems probable that the bell was never placed in the new tower of 1828, but subsequently installed at the school when its present iron fittings were made in place of the original timber headstock. Little is known of the Orrells. They appear to have been brassfounders who added to their business in the last quarter of the sixteenth century. Cheetham in 1915 recorded8 a bell dated 1587, formerly at Turton Tower, but then at PendTebury, which carries the initials R. 0., the letter R in this case being- 'identical in shape with that on the bell at Stanney. Orrell has also been noted 'in this series as casting- a bell at Holy Trin'itv, Chester, in 1600. when the work was done on the soot. Other small bells by him have been found in North Wales. and it would seem that Orrell did much of his busim·ss in bellfounding as an it'inerant. Robert was still casting bells in 1614, and the brass.foundry at

s Trans, L. & C. Ant, Soc .. XXXllT, 46, llQ. 36 CHESHIRE BELLS Wigan was in operation in the following century, but how long bellfounding remained part of the business has yet to be discovered. It is of interest to note that in the eighteenth century Sir Henry Bunbury was a: member of the Chester Scholars, a ringing society which had its meeting room in the city and practised the art of change-ringing at St. John's church.

MosTYN HousE ScHooL, PARKGATE At the west end of the chapel is a carillon of 37 bells in three chromatic octaves, which thirty years ago was placed there as the school's war memorial. The original project was to install 31 bells, and this number was cast in 1921, six heavier bells being added in 1922 and 1923. The carillon is hung in a metal frame and is exposed to the weather. The bells are ornamented at the shoulder with the vine and grape pattern, and each carries the drcular mark of Taylor of Loughborough, with date, on the waist. With. a diameter of 47 in. the bass bell is 19 cwt. in E. The carillon is operated by clavier from a chamber below, and is used not only before the chapel services, but also to mark the t'imes when changes in the day'<: routine of the school take place. The tone of the bells is excellent.

OTHER BELLS. The Bvzant'ine-style church at Hooton chang-ed its orig-inal blank belt of 1858 for a new one by Tavlor in 1953. Its weight is about 3 cwt. At Thornton Hough a bell of 14 cwt. in F hangs in tlie base of the spire because of complicated clock mechanism below. In

DEANERY OF WIRRAL NORTH. BEBINGTON' ST. ANDREW. As at Eastham, the tower is capped with a broach spire originally built in th~ fourteenth century, and in 1549 there were three bells. The weights of the three taken out by Mears in 1845 show that they wer~ then 10 musical sequence, so that recasting of the originals (probably in the seventeenth century) is indicated. Mears sold the tenor to a Mr. Redhead of Rock Ferry. The name is an uncommon one, and Bagshaw's .Direc­ tory9 lists but one, the Rev. T. F. Redhead who was the first vicar of the newly-built church of St. Peter. It seems evident, therefore, that the bell was purchased for this church. Its weight was 8 cwt. 0 qr. 15 lb. Mears cast and hung a new ring of six with a tenor of 6 cwt. 2 qr. 24 lb. in 1845, and in 1907 two more bells, a treble and tenor, were presented to the church, the fourth bell being recast a semitone lower in pitch to form the fifth of the new octave. This work was also carried out by Mears. The bells are inscribed with the founders' name and date at the shoulder, while the words "Recast March 1907" appear on the waist of the fifth. The treble and tenor are inscribed: "Gift of William Watson, Esq., Sheriff of Cheshire, March 1907". The tenor is 8 cwt. 3 qr. 10 lb. in G#, diameter 38 in., and the bells are hung in a timber frame.

HIGHER BEBINGTON, CHRIST CHURCH. This church of 1858 has a fine tower added in 1885, and it is unfortunate that the efforts of the parishioners

9 S. Bagshaw, History, Gazetteer & Directory of the County Palatine of Chester (1850), 694. 38 CHESHIRE BELLS to furnish it with bells have been so misguided. .Their first gift was a steel bell 10 cast in 1859 by Naylor, Vickers & Co. of Sheffield, a fact recorded on the soundbow and followed by "E. Riepe's patent cast steel". On the waist is recorded the names of the vicar and committee. The bell has traditional fittings for ringing and, with a diameter of 31 in., weighs about 8 cwt. It is much corroded. In 1920 a set of eight hemispherical gongs11 was installed as a war memorial. They are drilled through the crown and threaded on a horizontal bar, a clavier or keyboard in the ringing chamber operating wires to the striking hammers. The name of the founders, Mears & Stainbank, is inscribed round the rim of the base gong which is 30 in. in diameter and weighs 3l cwt. Note C.

HESW ALL, ST. PETER. At the 1549 inventory there was "a ringe of iij belles", the tenor being recast in 1627 and the other two in 1672. The church was rebuilt in 1879-80, and as part of the general restoration scheme the three bells were again recast by Warner of London, the inscriptions being reproduced, but not in facsimile. In 1884 the same founder added two trebles and rehung the five in a new timber frame. This ring is still in use.

Inscriptions. Treble. CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON (shoulder) C. J. C. TOUZEL RECTOR WILLIAM HOUGH } CHURCHWARDENS ALFRED MOORE 1884. (waist) 2. (As treble.)

10 A number of steel bells, including complete rings, are to be found in the industrial north, but this nineteenth century experiment was for­ tunately short-lived. 11 Hemisphericals were introduced by the Whitechapel foundry about fifty years ago and were intended for small towers where then~ was insuffi~ cient space for bells. CHESHIRE BELLS 39 3. RECAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1881 (shoulder) DULCEDENE VOCIS CANTABO TUA NOE 1672 CHARLES. JOHN CLIFF '!'OUZEL M.A. RECTOR HENRY TOTTY } EDWARD BROSTER CHURCHWARDENS (waist) 4. (Shoulder as 3.) GULIELMUS RAMSBOTHAM RECTOR 1672 CW WR IT Tenor (Shoulder as 3.) GLORIA IN EXCELSVS DEO 1627 RB EB (Rector and wardens as 3.) (waist) (Weight 9 cwt. approx. Note G.) (Diameter 37 in.) The word "Excelsus" on the tenor gives a clear pointer to Clibury of Wellington as the founder recasting the bell in 1627, and the inscription on the present third suggests that Scott recast this and the fourth bell in 1672. The initials12 on the tenor are probably those of Richard Brown, patron of the living at the time, and his wife.

MORETON, CHRIST CHURCH. Built in 1863, the church has a small tower at the uorth~west for which Warner cast a ring of four bells. After being buried under an accumulation of rubbish for many years they have recently been uncovered and are again in use, apparently little the worse for this prolonged illtreatment. They bear no inscriptions other than the founder's name and date, 1863, and the royal coat of arms on the waist of the tenor which, with a strike note C and a diameter of 31 in., weighs about 5! cwt.

12 The su~gestion made by Mr. F. H. Crossley (Trans. L. & C. Ant. Soc., LVIII, 232) that the initials R. B. are those of an unidentified bell­ founder, is without foundation. 40 CHESHIRE BELLS

U PTON OvERCHURCH, ST. MARY.

13 The old church , which, stood nearly a mile from the village, had a small western tower with standstone spire of fourteenth-century date. The Inventory records "a ringe of iij belles". In 1709 leave was given to the p~rishioners "to sell two bells towards ye charge of repairing ye church which was very ruinous and ye steeple which was blown down in a storm" .1 4 When the church was .eventually demolished in 1813, the one bell remaining was recast for the octagonal timber belfry of the new structure built in the village. The recasting seems to have been done by a brassfounder who carefully copied the size and shape of the bell, but did not reproduce any inscrip­ tion which might have been on it. This bell is still in existence and its shape date~ the original as late fourteenth century. The two sold were probably of the same date. · The present church, which has a small tower at the south-west, was built in 1868. There are five bells hung in a timber frame of two tiers, the tenor and third bell being placed uppermost. All are inscribed on the shoulder, ROBERT STAINBANK FOUNDER 1868, and on the waist of the tenor is recorded : THESE BELLS WERE PRESENTED TO ST. MAR Y'S PARISH CHURCH UPTON BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION 1868. The diameter of the tenor is 38 in., the strike note G, and the weight about 9t cwt. In 1937 the original founders strengthened the frame, quarter-turned the bells, and fitted them with cast iron headstocks, new bearings and clappers. The chimes of the clock (1912) are unusual but interesting. The old

13 An excellent description of this church by E. W . Cox is printed in Trans. L. c:~ C. Hist. Soc., VII, N. S. The church at Upton·hy­ Chester, built 1854, appears to be a ol'eplica. 14 Cross:ey, Trans L. C:- C. Ant. Soc., LVII, 110, quoting Francis Gastrell, Notitia. Cestriensis, Ed. by F. R. Raines, I. 168. CHESHIRE BELLS 41 bell, formerly displayed in the church, IS now hidden away at the base of the tower staircase. Its diameter is 19! in.

PORT SUNLIGHT, CHRIST CHURCH. ( undenominational) The church was built in 1904, and the low tower at the south-east furnished with a ring of eight bells in a metal frame by the Whitechapel foundry. In addition to the founder's name and date, the bells are inscribed as follows:, Treble. "Ring out the false, ring in the true". 2. "Ring in the love of truth and right, ring In the common love of good''. 3. ''Ring out the darkness of the land, ring in the Christ that is to be". 4. "He prayeth best who loveth best all things both great and small". 5. ".Disdain one must the foolish workman who brings no thought to what he tries". 6. "Faithful1 work adorns the freeman. Honour, kings receive for splendour". 7. ''When people unrestrained would live, the public weal no more can thrive". Tenor. "For the honour of God, and for the use of this village, these bells were raised by William Hesketh Lever. A.D. 1904". Tlie tenor has a diameter of 45 in. and is 14 cwt. 1 qr. 25 lb. in F. To mark the centenary of the birth of the first Viscount Leverhulme, founder of Port Sunlight, the bells were rehung and all fittings restored by the Croy­ don foundry in 1951.

THURSTASTON, ST. BARTHOLOMEW. The church, built in 1884-5 by Pe;:trson, is an excel­ lent example of its period with a fine central tower. The bells, however, are hardly in keeping with the magnifi­ cence of the church, being a light ring of five cast by Taylor in 1885. They hang in a timber frame and carry no inscriptions except the founder's name and date. Tenor : 6 cwt. 2 qr. 15 lb. in B; diameter 33! in. 42 CllESHIRE EELLS

WEST KIRBY, ST. BRIDGET. The surviving wardens' accounts begin too late to record the probable recasting in the seventeenth century of the three bells which the church possessed in 1549, or to give any information concerning the ring of five which Rudhall installed) in 1719. This latter ring remained undisturbed until 1854 when the tenor, which weighed about 9 cwt. was cracked. It was recast by a firm of Liverpool brassfounders who boldly labelled it with their name in heavy Roman capitals on the waist. The original inscription which read, MR : JOHN CLEGG A GOOD BENEFACTOR 1719,. was not reproduced in the recasting. In 1882 the tower was repaired and the bells rehung by Taylor. Seven years later, as a memorial to Canon Eaton, the same founders augmented the ring to eight when they cast two new trebles and a tenor. This means that either the old five were in the minor key, or the old third (present fifth) was lowered in pitch to fit the new key. A few years ago the eight' were again rehung.

Inscriptions. Treble. VENITE EXULTEMUS 1889 2. DONA DEI DEO 1889 3. PROSPERITY TO THIS PARISH+* 1719*-'Jt 4. MR: THO: RICHARDSON CVRATE 15 ')\'17191t 5. IOSH: IENNINGS INO: TOTTEY CH: WARDENS*** 1719**-* 6. ABR: RVDHALL CAST VS ALL 1719 7. 1719 BATHGATE AND WILSON 1854 Tenor. *-*** GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO **** IN MEMORIAM THOMAS EATON HUJUS ECCLESIAE RECTORIS 1889 (Weight 12 cwt. 0 qr. 23 lb. Note G.) (diameter 41 in.)

IS The curate was in charge of the parish at this time, the rector. (Rev. John Oliver) being non-resident. CHESHIRE BELLS 43 The Taylor circular mark appears on the waist of the treble, second and tenor. The frame is of timber and metal, the sides being of H-section castings, and the bells are hung in two tiers with the treble and second above. In 1665 and again in 1671 the wardens were presented for their failure to provide equipment for the proper ringing of the bells, and the eighteenth-century wardens' accounts indicate that these officers were duly "rung in" each year at a cost of 2s. 6d. There seems to have been difficulty in finding ringers early in the next century and in 1831 the Vestry resolved: That Five Pounds should be given to five persons who will ring a peal of bells every morning and evening every Sunday during the ensuing year, it being understood that an extra sum shall be given to them for ringing on the King's birthday. No doubt this generous offer produced the desired result. ,wooncHURCH, HoLY CRoss. The appearance of the ancient tower is unusual since its western buttresses, rebuilt in 1657, project 9 ft. at the base and ascend by a series of steps to the middle stage. The three bells recorded as being in the tower in 1549 were probably recast in the seventeenth century, as their weights16 when they were broken up in 1846 show that they were in musical sequence. The surviving wardens' accounts (1760-1810) record many payments for the maintenance of bells and gear, particularly the ropes which were bought by weight.

1765. To Bell Ropes 42 lb. t. at 6d. pr. lb. . . . £1 1 0 Later in the century, the frequent renewal and high cost of ropes, as well as payments for ringing led the Vestry. to decide

16 7 cwt. 1 qr. Sib.; 8 cwt. 1 qr. 17 lb.; and 12 cwt. 0 qr. 161b. CHESHIRE BELLS ... that the Allowance for ringing on Nov. 5: and Christmas Day be discontinued & that Bell ropes shall not be replaced with new ones without the Consent of the Vestry. In 1846, J. R. Shaw, Esq., of Arrowe Hall, presented the church with a new ring of five bells which were cast and installed in

Inscriptions. Treble. MEARS & STAINBANK FOUNDERS LONDON 1884 Others·. C. & G. MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON 1846 (Tenor. 9 cwt. 1 qr. 3 lb. Note A 1J .) (Diameter 38 in~) In 1937 the six were rehung with metal headstocks and ball bearings, clappers and all fittings renewed, and the frame strengthened.

DEANERY OF BIRKENHEAD. BmsTo"", ST. OswALD. "Byddeston" possessed three bells in 1549. The customary recastings followed during the next century and the bells were finally broken up in 1868, when the inscriptions are recorded17 as being:- Treble. LAUDATE DOMINUM IN SANCTO EJUS 1673 2. CANTATE DOMINO NOVUM 1615 Tenor. 18 SANCTI OSWALDI CW J ,w ww There was formerly a tradition that the tenor was brought from a ceiT on Hilbre Island at the Suppression

17 Wirral Notes (.,., Queries, Vol. II [2141 18 Mears & Stain bank g.ive the weight of this bell as 9 cwt. 0 qr. 20 lb. CHESHIRE BELLS 45 and that it originally came from St. Oswald's 1n Chester. Whether this is true or not, the church­ wardens' initials make it clear that the bell was recast in the seventeenth century. The inscription and date on the second strongly suggest that Clibury recast it, and similarly Scott would seem to be responsible for recasting the treble. The Whitechapel foundry installed a new ring of five in 1868, and added a treble in 1882. The frame is of timber. Inscriptions. Treble. MEARS & STAINBANK FOUNDERS LONDON GLORIA DEI G.R. & E.G. 19 1882 (wai~t) 2-5 ROBERT STAINBANK FOUNDER LONDON 1868 Tenor. ROBERT STAINBANK FOUNDER LONDON 1868 THESE BELLS WERE PRESENTED TO BIDSTON CHURCH BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIP­ TION 1868 C. A. GRANTHAM M.A. INCUMBENT GEORGE ROYDEN } EDWARD PARKINSON WARDENS (waist) (Weight 5 cwt. 1 qr. 24 lb. Note B) (diameter 31 in.)

BIRKENHEAD ST. MARY. This church, the first in Birkenhead, was built in 1819-22 near the remains of the old priory, and its six bells still form the only ring in the town. They were cast in 1821 by William Dodson of .Downham Market 'in Norfolk. Dobson was responsible for over seventy rings in various parts of the country and had achieved some fame by his casting of the twelve for Liverpool St. Nicholas in 1812-13, which ring (since twice recast) was considered his masterpiece. He was therefore the obvious choice for1 the work' at St. Marv, and five of his bells here are extant, the other being unfortunately

19 George Roberts and Emily Glover. 46 CHESHIRE BELLS damaged as early as 1837. The inscriptions read: Treble. William Dobson, Downham, Norfolk Fecit 1821. 2. God save the King. 1821. 3. The first stone of this church laid by Lloyd Lord Kenyon, July 26th. 1819, in the 59th. of George Ill. 4. These six bells were cast by W. Dobson on the 26th. of July, 1821. 5. Glory be to God on High, Peace and goodwill towards men. Alleluia. George Gillibrand, Liverpool, ­ hanger 1837. John Taylor, Oxford, Campanarius. The Right Revd. John Sumner D.D. Lord Bishop of Chester : Francis Richard Price Esqr. Lord of the Manor and Patron: The R evd. Andrew Know, Minister. Tenor: Laudo Deum Verum plebem voco Congrego Cl.erum defunctus plero Festa decoro. The inscriptions on the recast fifth bell are spread over various parts of the bell, which is the earliest Taylor bell yet recorded 'in the county. It was made when William a nd Tohn Taylor worked a foundry at Oxford (1821-1854) before mov'ing to Loughborough. In 1929 the same fotinders rehung the bells in new fittings and replaced the timher frame with a metal one. The tenor is 11 cwt. 9 lb. in G. Diameter 40 in.

OXTON, ST. SAVIOU R. This parish, carved from Woodchurch, erected its first church in 1848 and the single bell was hung in a western stone belcot. The present church, with a massive tower. was completed in 1892, and four years later a ring- of eig-ht bells was cast and hung- in a metal frame bv the Loug-hboroug-h foundry. This was the first metal frAme installed in Cheshire bv the firm. The bells, which were presented bv the late Edmund Tavlor. carry' no inscriotions. but the Loug-hboroue-h mark appears on the wa'ist of eAch. The tenor is 20 cwt. 1 or. 16 lh. 'in E. Diameter 4q in. After the demolition of tlie first church . its bell was lost, and it was not until 1913 that it was discovered CHESHIRE BELLS 47

under a heap of rubbish in a builder's yard. It wa~ subsequently hung in the present tower as a sanctus and is inscribed : PRESENTED BY JAMES McMURDO OF LIVERPOOL (lion's head) TO ST. SAVIOUR'S CHURCH (lion 's head) OXTON 1848. COWGILL, ]ONES & MARSDEN, LIVERPOOL (on waist) Its weight is about 2 cwt. and the makers were obviously a firm of brassfounders.

RocK FERRY, ST. PETER. The first ring20 here was a very light five by Mears in 1859, the tenor being only 4 cwt. 3 qr. 20 lb. (diameter 30 in.). In 1914 these bells were recast with additional metal by Taylor and hung in a new metal frame. They are inscribed with the founders' name and date and in addition the tenor carries on the waist, "To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Thomas William and Alice Eleanor Oakshott, the five old bells of this peal were recast and the tenor bell added". The bell :is 10 cwt. 0 qr. 8 lb. in G. Diameter 38t in. The church was badly damaged during the war and although the tower appears to be unharmed, the bells are now not used.

RURAL DEANERY OF WALLASEY.

LISCARD ST. MARY. The church, which has a fine western tower, was' built in 1877, and ten years later two families united to provide a ring of eight bells, their benevolence being quaintly recorded on the fifth bell. The ring was cast at Lough­ borough and hung in a composite frame which 'is built along thr walls of tfie belfry, leav'ing the centre clear.

zo See Behingt0n St.. '\ndrew above. CHESHIRE BELLS The inscriptions are typical of the time and read: Treble. "Hear Liscard all the Gospel call". 2. "\Ve toll for God o'er Mersey broad". 3. "Ring welcome free to ships from sea". 4. "To outward bound God speed we sound". 5. "By Brooks and Sands my voice expands". 6. "Frances E. Sands. In Gloriam Dei". 7. "In Memoriam Wlilliam Brooks, Elizabeth Brooks". Tenor. "Henry Cochrane M.A. Vicar 1887. Victoria Regina Jubilee". The Taylor mark appears on the waist in each case. Tenor. 16 cwt. 2 qr. 2 lb. in F . Diameter 45 in. The bells were rehung with ball bearings in 1927. , ... ~u 1'1~ J WALLASEY, ST. HILARY. The church of St. Hilary, Wallasey (anciently known as Kyrkeby \Valley), possessed three bells in 1549. Of these, the treble has an unfortunate history, being first recast in 1624 as recorded in the parish registers. Mem. that uppon the Seventeenth day of June An'o D'ni 1624 the firs t Bell b elonging to this Church was new cast by William Clibbery Belfounder at ye Holt alias the Towne of Lyons, the new Casting whereof cost 7 li and 12 d. That is to say 4 li 10 s for Casting it and 51 s for ffifty Pound of mettall that was added unto it. By 1672 the bell was again cracked and the wardens engaged one Lanckshaw (Langshaw), who seems to have been an itinerant, to recast it, and also to:· tune the tenor. He completely failed to accomplish the recasting, but chipped 31 lb. of metal from the tenor, for which work he received six shiUings and six pence, while the waste metal was sold for £1 3s. 6d. Scott of Wiganwas then called in. £ s. d. Spent when certaine of the p'ish & wee ag-reed w'th Wm Scott to cast the bell 00 09 00 p'd for drawing- articles on both sides .. . 00 05 00 for a horse to Wiggan to see the bell cast .. . 00 04 00 CHESHIRE BELLS 49 Spent in meat a nd drinke to a Company of assistants to the bellfounder 00 12 09 P'd charges for the bellfound'r & his brother at the hanging of the bell & for their horses two days 00 09 06 The addition of 26 lb. of metal made the new treble heavier than the second bell. The tenor weighed 11 cwt. 3 qr~ 9 lb. In 1687, whilst the bells were being rung for service, the treble broke away from its bearings, crashed through the floors and according to an account written by Henry 21 Robinson the schoolmaster , "broke all the mai ne timbers of the Lower Loft & stroke halfe over head through the flaggs into the ground & hurt none nor harm'd itself & was got up againe". In 1724 a complete new ring of five bells was installed by Luke Ashton of Wigan, the bells being carried by road to Liverpool, ferried across the river to Seacombe and then carted to the church. For some reason or other Ashton did not purchase the old bells, and although the accounts do not g ive a very clear picture of events, it would appear that they were eventually sold to Rudhall22 who was then in Liverpool concerning the recasting of the six bells at St. Nicholas. £ s. d. For my ferry and Expcnce when I meade the bargain for the bells to go to bristol 00 02 Ofl Spent at Sacom on the Carts and assistances to geet the bells a boorcle the boote 00 03 ()( The new tenor weighed 9 cwt. 3 qr. 22 lb. and, aft<>• deducting the amount recovered by the sale of the olc bells, the ring cost the parish some £60. The inscriptions23 were: Treble : "Luke Ashton i1 Wiggan made us all1723" . 2. "Gloria Deo in Excelsi

2 1 Til e Cheshire Sheaf. \'ol. I, N.S., [100]. 22 Trans. J•. <"~·C. li nt. Soc. XXXIT. 51. 23 These details, as well as those concerning the decoration nn the hell are taken from Wirral Nntcs and Queries, Yol. 2, [2181. 50 CHESHIRE BELLS 1723". 3. "John Robinson. Joshua Young. Church­ wardens 1723". 4. "Let us sound to the honour of Christ & to the Glory of All Saints". Tenor: "I to the Church the living call and to the grave do 24 summons all • Memento Mori 1723. 1\lr. Thomas 25 Arson ''. Luke Ashton, who took over the foundry from his father about 1720, cast a number of bells for the north­ west, especially for Wales. The bells here were decor­ ated with a crowned G.R. on the waist, a border of oak leaves at the shoulder, and one of roses at the sound­ 26 bow. Cheetham , however, found no such decoration on bells in Lancashire, but notes heart-shaped stops used singly between the words and in groups of five preceding the inscription. Like Richard Sanders, Ashton is notable for his use of lower-case lettering. In 1853 the parishioners presented a new treble to make a ring of six. It was cast at Whitechapel and suit­ ably inscribed and dated. Four years later, on the morn­ ing of Sunday, Feb. 1, the church caught fire and, the tower acting as a chimney, the timber bell-frame was quickly consumed and the bells dashed to the ground. The broken metal was subsequently used by Taylor in the casting of a ring of six for the central tower of the new church. These bells, which are still in use, carry no inscriptions other than the name of the founder and date. A restoration scheme was carried out by the original founders in 1948. The tenor is 8 cwt. 2 qr. 17 lb. in G. Diameter 38! in.

WALLASEY, ST. NICHOLAS. The gift of the Harrison family, this fin e modern ::: hurch was completed in 1911. The central tower, which is 23 ft. square internally, contains a ring of s'ix bells by

24 Obviously copied from Rudhall. 25 Probablv an error. Thomas Urmson headed the ~ist of subscribers. 26 Trans. ·L. & C. Ant. Soc., XXXII, 157. CHESHIRE BELLS 51 Warner which are accommodated in a massive frame built up from iron girders and designed for eight bells. Each bell is inscribed "Cast by John Warner & Sons 1911 ", with a border of clover-leaf ornament below. The royal coat of arms is cast on each headstock. The tenor is 16 cwt. 2 qr. 20 lb. in E. Diameter 46 in.

OTHER BELLS. The large residential and industrial areas covered by the deaneries of Wirral North, Birkenhead and \Vallasey, contain some sixty churches and mission churches, most of them modern. Where bells of interest exist they have been recorded, but space forbids the inclusion of the many single bells which hang in other towers and belcots. There is a bell of 14 cwt. 3 qr. 26 lb. in the tower of Birkenhead St. Mark, cast by Mears in 1913, hung with complete fittings for ringing, and obviously intended to form the tenor of a future ring, while one church, Prenton St. Stephen, has the distinc­ tion of being without a bell of any sort. 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