Extracts Relating to Bells from the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle
by Robert Blair
File-03 – Section C Locations in Northumberland
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ALLENDALE TOWN (vol.4 p.281 29/10/1890) There is one bell in the tower ( 25~ dia. x 8~ h. ) inscribed : ALLENDALE TOWN 1815. "The large bell of Allendale Town church was procured in 1815 replacing the two old ones one of which went to St. Peters, the other to Carr Shield chapel"
ALNHAM (vol.4 p.235 26/05/1890) In the tutTet at the west end of the church is a bell, which Mr. Wilson (Churche.• of Lindi~farne) says is inscribed: ALNHAll{ NOV. 1759
ALNMOUTH (vol-4 p.257 30/07/1890) The chapel formerly here was of' early Norman age. Wanton spoliation hastened its destruction. John Carr, gentleman, Ralph Carr, gentleman, and Edward Shepherd were pr~sented at the archdeacon's court in 1662, for taking away the leads, the bells, and stones, from the church, nnd Maria Moore for taking down the lead ot the chancel and other ornaments of the church. The principal bell was removed from Alnmouth to Shawdon iibout 1714 by Mr. Brown who was owner of property in Alnmouth : it was used as the dinner bell at Shawdon, but when that house was destroyed by fire on May 17th, 1849, the bell* was melted.' Serw. Nat. Club 1'rans. vol. viii, p. 253.
(vol.6 p.218 06/08/1894) ALNlllOUTH. The Assize Roll 1305-1311 (in the possession of the Duke of Northumberland) records a charge brought against Peter of-Duustan of having broken into the church of ' Alnemuth ' and stealing therefrom the chalice and vestments : the jury found him not guilty of burglary. He was detained on a charge of having robbed certain merchiints of Berwick. ALNWICK (vol.3 p.79 29/06/1887) There are three BELLS in the tower of St. Michael's Church all inscribed, the first two in Lombardic capitals :- No. 1 ( 2 ft. 2 in. die.. by 1 ft. 9 in. high) :- On shoulder, + AVE + MARIA + GRACIA + PLENA On rim, + ORATE + PRO + AIA + DE + IOHANNE + VALKA [R] " Bells with the names of people on them ought to be traceable as to their dates by any one possessing the requisite knowledge. Is anything known of Johanna W alkar ?-as I surmise the name to be. There is clearly a letter between &\, and the initial cross and I don't see what it can be but~. A serious attempt should be made to find out the lady's date as it may serve to determine the use of Lombardic lettering with stops in the North country. If the Bell were in the South of England I should put its date 1350-80."* The following are representations ( one half full size ) of the initial cross and letter, and stop:-
No. 2 ( 2 ft. 7 in. dia. by 2 ft. 2 in. high):- The inscription, commencing with the second line, is in two lines as follows, and consists of a mixture of large itncl smrill letters : ADIVTORIO + POPVLO + DEI + MI + CHAEL + ARCHANGELE + VEN! + IN " The use of letters of different sizes unnecessarily, usually denotes late ~ork. Probably 1530-40. The mixture of letters of different sizes 1s rather a weakness of North-country bell-founders. Mr. Whitehead has noted several in Cumberland."• The following show the initial cross, also used as a stop, and the letters preceding and following it :-
No. 3 ( 3 ft. dia. by 2 ft. 2 in. high) :- WM STODDART M : A CURATE JNO DAND & JAB GLAIDSTONES CH WARDENS [ro.~e] LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT [a b~ll]. Under th~ bell is the date 1764. After pointing out the different objects of interest in and about the church, the members and friends to the number of about seventy walked to • Mr. J. C. L. Stahlschmidt (author of the Bella of Kent, &o.) in a letter lo the Editor. ALWINTON (vol.4 p.10 27/02/1889) In the bell cote at the west end of the church there is now one small bell without inscription.
(vol.4 p.235 26/05/1890) . According to Mr. Wilson ( Churches of Lindisfarne) the bell here is inscribeu :
MR THO SELBY OF BlTELSON ESQ AND MR LOUK CLENNEL OF CLENNELL ESQ GIFTERS OF THIS BELL TO THE PARISH OF ALrNTON R.M. FECIT EDD 17ll.
ANCROFI' (vol.4 p.236 26/05/1890) In the curious cistern-like arrangement on the top of the tower, erectetl in 1884, are two bells both inscribed :- 1. 1829 ( 15 dia. by 12 h. ). 2. CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON ( 33 dia.. by 24 h.). On the waist of this bell there are traces of a long inscription ; this has been. carefully chiselled off. There is in the vestry a third bell ( 20 dia. x 1fl h. ) without inscription. probably that mentioned by Raine (North Durham, 217), who says: 'A small bell, given by Mr. Sibbitt of the Greens, hangs in a small turret on the western wall, the chapel was before without one. The northern portion of the arched ground floor chamber of the tower is used as a vault by the Sibbitt family'. The small bell now in the tower is from John Wesley's chapel in the east end of London. It was bought by R. Crossman, esq., of Cheswick house, and presented to the rev. J as. Henderson, the former vicar of Ancroft.
BAMBURGH (vol.4 p.237 26/05/1890) In the tower there are two bells, neither inscribed, one 31 dia. by 23 h., the other 36 dia. by 31 h.
BEADNELL (vol.4 p.238 26/05/1890)
In the tower there are three bells measuring respectfully 16, 17, and 18~ in diameter. All are inscribed: EX DONO EDMUNDI CRASTER: T. MEARS OF LONDON l'ECIT 1811, BEDLINGTON (vol.3 p.226 28/12/1887) In the " vj yere of the reigne of oure S'overing Lorde Kinge E. the VI " there were in " BEDLINGTONNE . ij sakring bells, ij begger belles." There are at the present time two modern bells-one, bought by a former Vicar, now cracked, and the other obtained when the church was rebuilt. This is inscribed:-- J. TAYLOR AND co LOUGHBOROUGH.
BELFORD (vol.3 p.398 31/08/1888)
In the tower there is a peal of three bells cast by Taylor of Loughborough in 1886, weighing respectively 8, 11 and 16 cwts. On the south wall of the nave is a brass plate thus inscribed in slightly ornamented capitals:-+ TO THE HONOUR & GLORY OF GOD I ARE THESE BELLS GIVEN TO BELFORD CHURCH I BY F. J. LEATHER I & IN MEMORY OF HIS BROTHER I JOHN TOWLERTON LEATHER I OF MIDDLETON I BORN 3 DAY OF AUGUST 1804 DIED 6 JUNE 1885. When these were hung the old bells were sent to Lowick.
BELLINGHAM (vol.3 p.227 27/12/1887) The Rector ( Mr. Measham ) informs me that the bell was given by one of the Reeds, a leading family in Bellingham 150 years ago. It is inscribed : ALEXANDER REED 1734.
BELTING HAM (vol.3 p.367 25/07/1888)
The old bell was sent to Henshaw ( see next page ) ; the bell now in the turret is inscribed: CAS'l' BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1884. It is 22 ins. in dia. and weighs about 2 cwt. BERWICK-UPON-TWEED (vol.5 p.20 25/03/1891) The parish church, which is the only one in the town, has neither tower nor bell ; the people are summoned to Divine Service from the belfry of the town hall, which has a very respectable steeple. A strange clergyman who had to preach a missionary sermon was found one Sunday morning trying the town ball door and rating the sexton, this building being more church-like than the church. More curious still, there is a meeting-house in Berwick which has a bell, for the ringing of which Barrington, Bishop of Durham, granted a licence. At the time when the bell was licensed the congregation were in communion with the Church of Scotland (see Notes and Queries, viii, p. 293 ). In the tower of the town hall there is a ring of eight bells, supplied by the Whitechapel foundry in 1754. The tenor weighs 21cwt. All the bells are in scribed, though the letters are so much corroded by the action of the atmosphere as to be almost illegible in places :- 1. 29~ dia., 24 high to shoulder. 2. 31 25f " ) Inscription on each round haunch: 3. 32 " 27 THOMAS LESTER AND THOMAS PACK 4. 32~ " 27 OF LONDON FECIT 1754 followed by 5. 36 " 29 a nebuly line. 6. 39 " 29 " 7_. 42~ " 31 " I. 8. (Tenor.) 48 dia., 34 height to shoulder. Inscription round haunch in two lines. One line reads : BERWICK UPON TWEED THESE EIGHT BELLS WERE CAST IN THE MAYORALTY OF WILLIAM TEMPLE ESQR 1754. The other : THOMAS LESTER & THO PACK OF LONDON MADE us ALL ::>O<><>C The canons of No. 7 have been broken off. Their place on the bell has been supplied by bolts.
BIRTLEY (vol.3 p.293 05/05/1888) The vicar (the Rev. G. Rome Hall, F.S.A.) informs me that there are two bells in the bell cote here, one by Sellars of York, the other by Abbot of Gateshead. Temp. Ed. VI. at 'BYR1'I,EY' there were ' one challes of tenne, * * * one bell.'
BO LAM (vol.4 p.135 28/08/1889) There beiug no means of access to the tower of the church, the bell could not be examined. The Rev. J. Rees, vicar of S ..Jude's, Newcastle, has since informed me that it bears the date 1737 simply. BOTHAL (vol.2 p.112 16/10/1885) There are three bells, one of them is dated 1615 and inscribed Qliloria 8Jur ~oli and has an ornament in the rim, the other two are modern. There is an Elizabethan communion cup and cover, of the usual form, the latter, used as a paten, is inscribed on the bottom ANO DNI 1571. Both cup and cover bear the same plate marks.
(vol.3 p.16 30/03/1887)
By R. BLAIR :- A rubbing of the Inscription on the uppermost of the three bells in the turret at Botha! Church: ~uli !)tu glaria. Beneath the ip.seription there is a continuous band of ornament consisting of crescents and jleurs-de-lis ; below this band and between the words ' Soli' and 'gloria' the date 1615, and under the word ' deo ' is the shield shewn in the illustration. The initials W 0 are those of William Oldfeild, a bell-founder of York.
(vol.10 pp.260-262 30/07/1902)
The belfry has some remains of tracery, and holds three bells, an unusual number for that_ form of it; one of these bells is dated 1615, and
(continued) BOTHAL (continued) (vol.10 pp.260-262 30/07/1902)
~ ... __.__..._..._ __ ._ ...... ~. .- l
BRANXTON (vol.4 p.238 26/05/1890) There is one small bell il). the tower but it is out of reach. BRINKBURN PRIORY (vol.2 p.275 03/09/1886)
The despoilers did not leave the church many of its ornaments or sacred vessels, as can be gathered from the 'Invantore of all the churches within Northumberland.' ' 18 August, 6 Edward VI. (1551-2) (there is) at Brenkebourne one tene challes, ij owlde westments, one owlde .coppe, ij small belles, one smalle hand belle, one holly water pot of brase.'
(vol.5 p.86 03/08/1891) Respecting the priory bells there are several interesting traditions. One relates that a deep pool of the river, yet called the ' Bell pool ', is said to have derived its name from the bells having been thrown into it by the Scots. Another avers that the monks thems6lves threw the bells into the river to save them from being taken by freebooters ; whilst a third, a most. improbable account, says that it was on the approach of Oliver Cromwell that the 'full set of bells, made of beaten silver, was cut down and sunk in the Coquet '. This could scarcely happen, because the monks and their bells had disappeared from Brinkburn a full century before the days of Cromwell and the Commonwealth. (vol.5 p.87 03/08/1891) The bells of Brinkburn are said to have been taken to Durham after the dissolution, but this can scarcely .have been as there is no record of such at Durham (see account of Durham cathedral bells Pmc. iv, p. 123 ), and as the bells there are comparatively modern the Coquetdale saying that the 'Briukbum bells are heard in Durham ' has now no point if ever it had, besides the same story is told of the Haddington and Paisley bells (Ibid. p.124). Another tradition is that the bells were lost in the deep pool near the priory which is still pointed out. The singular thing, however, is that some years ago the fragments of a hell were found across the river, not far from the 'bell pool ', while a drain was being dug. These fragments, which consist of five pieces including portions of the sound bow and canons, are preserved at the hall and were shewn to the members. (continued) BRINKBURN PRIORY (continued)
(vol.10 p.200 05106/1902)
llRl"IKllURN PRIORY FRO;\! S.E. (From a photograph Ly l\lr. Joseph Oswalcl.)
BYWELL ST. ANDREW (vol.3 p.124 09/07/1887) In the tower of St. Andrew's there are two old bells bot with no inscription on either of them. Part of an early Saxon cross has been built into the side of the belfry window of this church. BYWELL ST. PETER (vol.3 p.124 09/07/1887)
The tower of St. Peter's is of the thirteenth centnry, and was evidently intended as much for defence aa for ecclesiastical purposes. It contains two bells, both ancient and each about 2 ft. in diameter-one, of the thirteenth century, bearing the inscription :- i. + '®T J}·?W&, : J?J}'®'JlT?W&, : + ) J @ &c., to end of alphabet. The other, which appears to be of a later date, bears the inscription :- ii. + 'a('®$'ij(Jt®)liJ'® Q(JS'D}'®J}$T®@@nt_cy®Jt'.lpJ}'® D. @~@®~j{@J'®J&$ ( Ut surgant gentes vocor Horn et cito jace [n] tes.) which may be translated, ' I am called Horn and I call the sleeping people to arise,' or, more literally, 'That the people may arise I am called Horn and I summon the sleepers.' Probably it was used in pre-Reformation times for ringing the ' Morning Ave.' It may also have served the purpose of an alarm bell on such occasions as those mentioned in the Survey of 1569, when the Bywell men were summoned 'in the night season' to prepare for the defence of their goods. (vol.3 pp.129-130 29/07/1887) Referring to the inscription on one of the bells at Bywell Peter, Mr. C. J . Bates (Arch. Ael. XL 15) thinks that the whole legend is faulty, and that the correct reading shoul
In the tower of the church there is a ring of six bells, all inscribed :- 1. 33 dia. by 23 h. to shoulder. ) 2. 34 " " 24 " . All inscribed in ornamental capitals : 3. 36 " " 24 " CAST BY GILLETT & CO. CROYDON 4. 38 26 LONDON 1884. 5. 40 ,, " 29 ,, 6. 46 ,, " 33 " CAST BY GILLET & co. CROYDON LONDON, round shoulder ; and on the side : To CALL THE FOLK TO CHURCH IN TIME WE CHIME WHEN MIRTH AND PLEASURE ON THE WING WE RING WHEN FROM THE BODY PARTS THE SOUL WE TOLL Below on a.ribe.nd : GET & EAT 1884 The only remains of the ancient chapel of Cambo (which was in decay in th£ sixteenth century*) are the grave covers resting on the bases of columns in the modern church, and other bases and a. corbel with a head carved on it in the churchyard. • 22 Sur. Boo. 84.
CHA'ITON (vol.4 p.239 26/05/1890) There is one bell in the tower of the church ( 22 dia. by 16 high ) inscribed : FC?R ' THE ' PAROCH ' OF ' CHATTON ' R.M. FECIT EDR. I 1721.
CHILLINGHAM (vol.4 p.239 26/05/1890) The ivy-covered turret at the west end of the church holds one bell. It is 20 dia. by 15 height to shoulder, and bears the date on the shoulder 1753, and the maker's name E. Se II er in an oval between two roses. Edward Seller II, successor in 1724 to his father, E. Seller I, and sheriff of York in 1731, cast a good many bells for Yorkshire from 1724 to 1764 (Bell News, vol. n, p. 183 ). He recast the second bell of Carlisle cathedral in 1728. The bell at Chillingham Castle, which is 18 dia., is older, as it bears the date 1604 followed by the letters ~ and ~. probably those of the founder, with a rose stop between them. In a.ddition to these a ' Prince of Wales ' feathers and a bell surmounted by a crown occur. There is a legend that this bell formerly belonged to the church.· CHOLLERTON (vol.4 p.101 29/07/1889) Temp. Ed. VI. there were towe bell, ...... and one sakring bell at Chollerton ( 22 Sur. Soc.!.) Now there is one modern bell on the top of the tower.
CORBRIDGE (vol.3 p.142 06/08/1887)
There are three BELLS ( 28f in., 26 in. and 21~ in., in dia. respectively), one inscribed :- : AARON : PEEVER : FECIT : JOHN : WALTON : VICAR : 1729 : Mr. Heslop has discoverad the following references to the founder of this bell: " The name of Aaron Peever occurs on the bell at Blackf01·d, near Carlisle on which the :inscription reads :- _ ' ANTONY :: WELTON :: EREC :: OF:: KIRKLINTON IOS :: DECKERS :: APPELBEE :: ESQE :: ION:: LATIMOOR :: :: W :: HESLOP:: CHVROHWARDINGS :: 1724 gR :: EDWARD :: MOOSGREVE ARON :: PEEVER :: FACIT :: 1724. In the above, throughout, the N and s are upside down , and from this circumstance and the use of a double semicolon as intervening stops, churchwardens spelt ' churchwardings,' as well as the general character of the lettering, two bells at Caldbeck Church, dated 1724, but without maker's name, are recognized as the handiwork of the same founder. His residence, as well as his name, occurs on the Kirkoswald treble:- AARON PEEVER KIRIWSWALD FA 1729 At Addingham a fragment of a bell had on it part of an inscription, viz.: DEO ECCLESIAE ARON .... founder's missing surname no doubt PEEVER.'-(Carlisle Patrio t, Oct.12, 1883, Art. on ' Blackford Church Bell')." (vol.3 p293 05/05/1888) The folloajng _!tppeared in the Newcastle Dafly-Journal of the 23rd May, 1888. A new peal of six bells, recently placed in the tower of Corbridge Parish Church, was inaugurated yesterday. Tlie project of obtaining the new peal arose from the loco.I memorial of Her Majesty's Jubilee. · Amongst other objects, it we.a decided to re·ce.st the three old bells, but Mr. F. M. Laing of Turnley Grange, offered to provide a. new bell, and this example was followed by Mr. T. Sheldon of Summerville, and his sister Miss Sheldon ; and at a meeting of inhabitants of Corbridge, held in January last, it was determined to complete the peal of six bells. Messrs. Gillett nnd Co., of Croydon, offered the anccessful tender for the erection of the peal, the weight of which is 31 cwt., the tenor weighing a boat 7 cwt. The bell presented by Mr. Laing bears the inscription " This bell was presented to the parish of Corbridge by F. M. Laing, Jjlsq., of Fe.rnley Grange, in commemoration of the Jubilee of the reign of Queen Victoria, Jnne, 1887.'' On the bell 11rP.sented by Mr. and Miss Sheldon is a similar J;lotiftcation, and on the thh·d bell is in•cribed-" Three old bells in thi• tower were replaced by this peal, the cost of which was defrayed by present and former parishioners, to commemorate the Jubilee of the reign of Queen Victoria, Jone, 1887." The cost of the whole peal is estimated at £281.
(vol.8 p.43 29/05/1897)
According tot.he inventory of the Commissioners of the 6th year of Edward VI. there were at 'Corbreg, a •elver challes, xxvjs. viijd., iij. westments, iij. belles' iij. n.lterclothes, iij. albes, iij. towelles, ij. candelstykes of copper, a hand bell •.ii CORNHILL-ON-TWEED (vol.4 p.240 26/05/1890) There is a bell in the turret at the west end of the church out of reach. On April 5th, 1774, according to the parish book, it WflS ' agreed by the vestry to have a new bell whose depth must be 11~ inches by 14t do. the diameter'. This is probably the date of the bell now in the turret.
CORSENSIDE (vol.3 p.228 27/12/1887) There is in the bell turret here one bell, inscribed :- THE GIFT I OF IOHN I FENWICK I OF BYWEL ES'!VR I DAVID I GRAHAM I VICAR I 1747 I WMF It is 18 in. dia. and 17 in. high. The N's are reversed thus lif • The Corsenside bell is evidently by a local founder whose initials are w .M. At Hesket in the Forest, Cumberland, Mr. Whitehead notes a bell (the treble) inscribed wM MASON 1736 and surmises him to have been a Carlisle founder.' [J.C.L.S.]
(vol.3 p.311 04/06/1888) There is one bell in a turret at the west end.•
CRAMLINGTON (vol.4 p.175 27/11/1889) There are six bells in the tower cast by J. Taylor and Co. of Loughborough, their respective diameters being 331;, 34~, 37i, 39!, 43~ and 48if. The tenor weighs 21 cwt. Against the west wall of the nave is a marble tablet thus inscribed: THE CLOCK AND PEAL OF BELLS IN THIS TOWER, I WERE ERECTED A.D. 1873 BY THE WORKMEN OF CRAMLINGTON COLLIERIES I AND THE PERSONAL FRIENDS OF THE LATE EDWARD POTTER, I OF CRAMLINGTON HOUSE IN THE PARISH, I AS AN ENDURING MEMORIAL OF THE HIGH REGARD I IN WHICH HE WAS HELD BY THEM, AS AN EMPLOYER, AND OF HIS GREAT WORTH I AS AN ATTACHED AND CONSTANT FRIEND. I w. HORNSBY, w. CURRY, I SECRETARIES I J, s. HIND, D.C.L., VICAR I w. TELFORD, TREASURER IT. MAUGHAN, ENGINEER. For funerals the tellers are as at Morpeth, three triple strokes for a man, thme double for a woman, and three single for a child. The clock strikes the Cambridge chimes. DODDINGTON (vol.3 p.342 21/06/1888) There is a bell-cot for one bell at the west end. The ancient bell is at Ewart Park, Sir Horace St. Paul having supplied a new one in place of it.
(vol.5 p.254 28/12/1892) (see vol. III, p. 342). At the Easter Vestry meeting on the 18th April, 1865, "the churchwardens reported that the old church bell was cracked through on Sunday, March 5th last, and thflt Sir Horace St. Paul, Bart, Ewart Park, had kindly undertaken to pay for a new and somewhat larger Bell which bad been ordered from John Mills and Sons, Bell Founders, l!'orth Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne." The old bell " weighed Ii ve stones and measured 15 inches diameter at mouth. Sir Horace. St. Paul keeps the old Bell RB an antiquity, and pays for the new Bell which is to be 16 inches in diameter and wei~bs 120 lbs." The old hell is now at Ewart P11rk . It b1·ars the inscription : w ·r MANE [.fleur-de-lis ] 1G12 f"llowP.d by five .tle11r~-de-lis and 4 cocks alternately. The T is crowned, the N and E are tied, and the ~ of 1612 is reversed. The new bell now in tho bellcote on the west gable is that for which Sir Horace St. Pan! paid. It cost £14 ls. 6d., made up as follows:- cwt qr lb 'Dr to John Mille & Sons for Bell 1 0 6 at 1/6 ...... 8 17 0 to do for Iron Work, chain covered with leather & Rope .. . . 2 10 0 Oak Stock & Jabour...... 11 6 paid for carriage lrom Newcastle & fitting up here .. 2 8 0'
EARS DON (vol.3 p.293 05/05/1888) In the tower of the chnrch here are three bells, all inscribed:- i. MEARS & STAINBANK FOUNDERS LONDON 1866. ( 22 di>1. by 20 h.) ii. Same inscription ( 25 dia. by 22 h. iii. Same inscription but 1867 ( 37 dia. by 30 b.)
EDLINGHAM (vol.3 p.96 29/06/1887) There is one BELL in the tower of modern make, 1 ft. 10 in. dia. by 1 ft. 4 in. high, without any inscription. EGLINGHAM (vol.3 pp.101-102 29/06/1887) There are two ancient BELLS in the tower, but owing to the gre 1t difficulty of reaching them only one could be examined. It is 1 ft. 6 in. in dia. and 1 ft. 3 in. high, and is inscribed :- if! ~ntcnfo e\7 mtnen name ic hen gemaet int jae:1: [small rose) ttl [small rose] cccc [small rose] lltltltilt Antony is my name I was made in the year 1489. "An interesting bell. Specimens of J.ow Country manufacture are very rare in England-only six or seven are known to exist. The earliest is one at Duncton in Sussex, dated Vl69, made at the Hague by a founder apparently named De Flothe. At the Church of St. Crux, York, the sanctus bell is by a Dutch or Flemish founder an d bears date 1423. All the others are dated in the 16th century and are by Peter Van den Ghein of Louvain. The exception is the pretty little sanctus bell at Frindsbury in Kent, dated late in the l 7th century, and made by Gerrit Schimmel of Deventer. It is impossible to assign the present bell to any particular place or person. From its small size it would seem to have been originally a sanctus bell." LJ.c.L.s.) The bell is said to have belonged originally to Old Bewick Chapel in the parish of Eglingham, and to have been subsequently made use of in the ancient pele in the village of Old Bewick, over the site of which the road now passes.
ELLINGHAM (vol.4 p.242 26/05/1890)
There is one bell in the tower (29 dia. by 22~ h.) inscribed : JOHN MILLS & SONS NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE 1864.
ELSDON (vol.3 p.228 27/12/1887)
There is one bell in the turret, 1 ft. 6f in. in dia. and 1 ft. 4 in. high, inscribed :- R : PHELPS LONDINl FECIT 1724 ::=::::::::::: The following are extracts from the churchwardens' book relating to the bell : April the 7 1724. The bell of Elsdon wied lower Scotts stone 5 pound t. Bell Roapes .. .. , ...... 00 : 01 : 00 to Mr. Davison for ye Bell...... 11 : 16 : 8 No attempt seems to have been made to preserve foxes as from other entries we find: for fox heads ...... 00 : 6 : 6 Alowed Wm. Elott for fox heads 00 : 6 : 6 In 1724 are: font cover ...... 00 : 03 : 6 flagon paten and bason ...... 00 : 07 : 10 for glasening ye windows ...... 00 : 09 : 2 EMBLETON (vol-4 p.241 26/05/1890) In the tower there is one bell, 30 dia. by 23 h., without inscription. The letters T. Wand B. Wand the date 1733 are carved on a beam in the belfry. (vol.6 p.6 25/01/1893) The old bell here appears to have been cnst by a. Mr. Dockray, in 1765, of whom nothing is known. The following ure extructs from the pnrisb books, relating to this bell :- U A~il HM ~q.lli For a new Bell weight 5 - 2 - 11 at 15d plb 39 . S - 9 deduct the value of the old bell weight 4 : S : 8 at lOd plb 22 - 10 - O To balance due to Mr Dockray for casting ye Bell 16 • 18 • 9 For taking ye Bell down & Hanging her again 4 · 4 • 0 To the carriage of the Bell due Wm. Davison 1 • 10 - 4 Dockray's bell was preceded by oue concerning which the archdeacon in his visitation on the 10 May, 1764, rnRde tbi> following note in the parish book: The cracked Bell to be exchanged and a new ono of the sa.me weight provided. It having been determined to remove Dockray's bell and to place a ring of six new bells in the tower, the sum required was rnised by subscription. The bells were obtained from the well-known founders, Mmus and Stainbnnk, of the Whitechapel fonnd1·y. In October, 1892, after an inangnral service in the church, 11 peal of 5040 changes was rung hy some members of the Durhnm and Newcnstle Diocesan Association of Ringers, on the bells in two hours, fifty-one minutes, being seven 720's in seven different methods. The Revel. C. Buston, curate of Embleton, has kindly supplied the following particulars of the new ring :- c. q. 1. Height. Width. I Note. Treble. 5 1 3 2 ft. 1 iu. 2 ft. 5 in. D ~harp 2. 5 3 1 2 2 2 6 C sharp 3. 7 0 2 2 4 2 9 B 4. 7 1 9 2 5 2 10 A sharp 5. 8 3 24 2 7 3 1 G sharp Tenor. 11 2 13 3 1 3 5! F sharp All the bells bear the names of the founders MEARS & STAINDANK, WBITE CBAPEL FOUNDRY, LONDON, and ERECT 1J;1J BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION OCT. 1892, inscribed on them. The tenor has in addition : M. F. OSBORN, VICAR J, CRASTER } J. M. Fons·rER CBURCBWAllDENs JAS. THOMPSON
FALSTONE (vol.4 p.10 27/02/1889)
In the tower there is one bell, 20 dill. by 16! h., inscribed : IOHN LEE NEW CASTLE UPON '£YNE : 1765 : .i, : .i, : The N'S are .reversed thns V1. FELTON (vol.4 p.181 18/12/1889) There are two bells in the turret at the west end of the church. One of them (21 dia. by 1 H h.), which is uninscribed, is probably the bell that was Bupplied in 1764 after a visitation by the archdeacon on the 23rd July, 1763, when amongst other things ' "·Bason for the alms and the crack'd bell to be exchang'd and a bell of equal weight ' were ordered to be provided. It is thus men tioned in the church books : 1764. By churchwardens Expence in hanging up the new Bells . . . . 0. 1 • 4 By a carriage for the new Bell ...... • . . 0 • 4 • 6 By John Scott for carrying the old and bringing back the new Bell from Morpeth.... 0.8.0 The second bell (21~ x 16!) is of pre-Reformation date, and likely one of those referred to in the inventory. It is inscribed:- + fol_~@: : 00////Y:l'W..fi:I_ : ®Ylfii.@r'W..fi:I_ : )?~::a:n1 Ja • An ancient sanctus bell at Dunstable bears the same inscription (North's Bedfordshire Bells, 34, 56, 14 7.
FORD (vol.3 p.344 21/06/1888)
In the three arches of the belfry which run from aast to west may be seen stone brackets intended to support bells. At present there is only one bell.
The following extracts are from the parish books :-
1692, April. " The old Bell after some Expence being found still unservice able was sent to Edinburgh to be new moulded by - Meikne ffounder, who added thirty ponnds of new mettell and being ceased coming home by Sir John Shaw & unjustly detained by him, it was a considerable charge to recover it." Robert Rotherham. There happened a suit between Thomas Carr of Ford Castle and Mr. Rotherham, the then present incumbent, which continued seven years. It was occasioned by Mr. Rotherham taking or causing to be taken out of the said parish church the tounge or clapper of the said Church Bell and converting it to some secular or lay use, for which the said Mr. Carr was angry aud caused him to be cyted, and after some years' contest between the. said Mr. Carr and the said Mr. Rotherham, the latter in the pulpit of the Uhurch upon the Lord's day towards the conclusion of the sermon did openly and publicly declare that Mr. Carr and himself had been long at diffe1·ence but he hoped God Almighty would make peace betwixt them when ill speakers should be taken a.way, and immediately aftewards Mr. Rotherham came down from the pulpit and sat down upon his knees before the pew or seat where Mr. Carr and his family then sat and asked Mr. Carr forgiveness and did openly and publicly declare that he had done much wrong, and Mr. Carr did then declare openly that he forgav!) him and prayed that God would forgive him.-( Related by one of the witnesses in a trial about the tithes early in the seventeenth century.) HARTBURN (vol.4 p.167 30/10/1889) In the fine square tower thc·re are two long-waisted bells, apparently ancient, but suspended on beams so high above the floor as to be inaccessible without a long ladder. Mr. F. R. Wilson (Churches of Lind-isjarne, 177 ), says both are inscribed. (vol.5 p.234 26/10/1892) The two pre-reformation -bells in the tower are very fine examples, being thick and rather long-waisted and having inscriptions in Lombardic letters decorated with leaf scrolls. The inscriptions are : J_ J_ J_ J... l· + :WI®"A:€3":J::Jn::W@:tn®Bffi:3I: -'-- fol lft':®J:~l@"@": ..i?;I.::@hJC (27 ins. dia. x 24ius. high to shoulder). [ 'I have no doubt that cA is a con~raction of CAMPANA, i.e., 'bell ', and, that. being so, one must suppose HI to be a contraction of me. Bad Latin, no doubt, as ' campana' is of feminine gender, and the pronoun should be' bee '.'-H.W_ But bell-founders sometimes made mistakes. The legend then seems to be : ' Hie campana est in honore Sancti Andree apostoli '. ' This bell is in honour of Saint Andrew the apostle.'] 2. + AVE.: filfil. X--tIA: @>:£-1-M-©Ifil- : W~E.:F1fil.: :E>®IDI:©VS: 1E'E.@V,GU (27§ x 24). On the 'Mary' bell the Vs, Ms, and Ns, are Roman in form, the cross on it is more ornate than on the other, the c0nt.rc being also open, and judging from the three-pellet stop this bell appears to be the earlier; in other respects the lettering on both bells is ve1·y similar. In the certificate of Edward VI. no mention is made of the bells, though both are beyond all doubt of pre-reformation date. (vol.6 p.215 06/08/1894) In the tower, suspended on beams rather difficult to reach, are two pre-reformation bells, one bearing the usual invo cation to the Virgin, the other telling us that it is the bell of the holy apostle Andrew. 22
HAYDON BRIDGE (vol.4 p.52 30/05/1889) There is now in the bell-cot at the old church a bell which was brought from Warden church when the tower of the latter received n.ew bells a few years ago. In the tower of the church at Httydon Bridge is. a bell ( 28 dia. by 20 h. to shoulder ) inscribed : ABBOT & Co. 1850.
HENSHAW (vol.3 p.368 25/07/1888) The bell in use is that which was at Beltingham until the restoration of the church. It bears the date 1794 weighs 80 to 90 lbs., and is 16 or 17 ins. in dia. HEXHAM, ST. ANDREW'S PRIORY (vol.3 pp.44-45 27/04/1887) Mr. J. P. GrnsoN then read his paper on the Hexham Bells, in which he stated that the old bells, according to the plate in Wright's HistonJ of Hexhain, were inscribed in Lombardic Capitals:- i. AD : PRIMOS : CANTUS : PUISAT : NOS : REX : GLORIOSUS : ~ ii. ET : CANTARE : TRA-I : FACIET : NOS : VOX : , •.. ~ iii. EST : NOBIS : DIGNA : KATERINE : T (?) : VOX : BENIGNA : ~ iv. OMNIBUS : IN : ANNIS : EST : VOX : DEO : ORATA : IOHANNIS : A : D : M:cccc:1n1:~ V, ANDREA : illl : CARE : IOHANNJ : CONSOCIARE : A : D : M : CCCC : IIII : ~ vi. EST : MEA : VOX : ORATA : DUM : SIM : MARIA : VOCATA : A : D : M : CCCO : JUI : PUJSAT in the first line stands for PVLSAT. The modern ones which succeeded them are inscribed :- i. (Treble.) 1742. T. LESTER ii. THOMAS MEARS OF LONDON FOUNDER 1883 iii. THOMAS LESTER 1742 ALFREDUS B. LAWSON REFECIT A.D. 1884. iv. bas no inscription, but the date 1775 is roughly chiselled on the upper part of the bell, where an inscription has apparently been erased. V. THOMAS LESTER OF LONDON MADE US ALL & TOBIAS BENTON HANGED US ALL ALFREDUS g, LAWSON ME ET TERTIUM EX MEIS SOCIIS REFECIT A.D. 1884. vi. REVD W. FLEMING M.A. MINISTER REVD ROBT. CLARKE LECTURER RALPH LONGSTAFF MATTHW LEE EDWD SWINBURN MATTHW COULSON CHURCHWARDENS. THOMAS MEARS OF LONDON FECIT. 1801. VU. 1742. THOMAS LESTER MADE ME ALFREDUS S. LAWSON ME BEFECIT, 1884. On Lester' s bell, re-cast in 1884, after the inscription there was scratched "AND GAVE TOWARDS WOODWORK AND IRONWORK £10. Tenor. WALTER BLACKETT. ESQ. LORD REVD MR WM GRAHAM MINISTER WM VAZIE, JOHN JOHNSON, TH09 LEE, & ROBT, ROBSON, CHURCHWARDENS. 1742. THOMAS LESTER OF LONDON MADE US ALL. The paper will be printed in extenso in the Arch. Ael. The CHAIRMAN moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Gibson, which was carried unanimously. Mr. J. RomNsoN asked if Mr. Gibson could give him any information abontthe small bells which used to be in the church many years ago. It used to be said that it was the custom for the bell-ringers to go about the town with the small bells at Christmas time. Could Mr. Gibson tell him the meaning of the " Cheese and Bread Bell 1 " Mr. GIBSON said he had not seen or heard tell of them lately but would enquire. They were, he believed, missing. He had last seen some of them in the possession of an old bell-ringer. The bell-ringers went to people's houses wherever they thought they would get anything. He thought it was an old custom to ring one of the large bells, the " Cheese and Bread Bell,'' at seven o'clock on Christmas Eve. The CHAIRMAN : What has it to do with bread and cheese ? Mr. GIBSON: When the bell rings people go ronnd begging for bread and cheese, which it is customary to supply on these occasions.
HEXHAM, ST. JOHN LEE, ACOMB (vol.3 p.228 27/12/1887) One bell here, 2 ft. 5 in. dia., inscribed : ABBOT & co 1858 HOLY ISLAND
(vol.1 p.234 07/08/1884)
The monastery fell with the smaller ones in the time of Henry VIII. (1541), and was used together with all its adjacent buildings as "the Qneene's Majestie's shorehouse" (1560); and was finally unroofed by the Earl of Dunbar, then Lord War den of the Marches, in 1613, who took away the bells, the lead, and everything valuable upon which he could lay hands. (vol.3 pp.403-404 31/08/1888)
The bell is out of reach in the turret, but it is said to be of the beginning of this century. The following are two extracts from the church books relating to an earlier bell :- Oct. 15, 1720 paid out of this [19 11~] for freight and putting the bell aboard...... 0 03 0 6 l\farch 172% Allowed to John Jackson for taking down the old bell 0 03 0 'The 27 l\fay, 1720. It is this day agreed by some of the representatives of the mother church of Holy Island, that l\fr. Watson of Berwick shall be deman ded to make restitution of a bell which was by his grandfather, l\fr. Thomas Watson, taken from the church of Holy Island and never returned.' On the 3rd July, 1723, a contract was entered into between the representatives ..of Holy Ishtnd and l\fr. Francis Gatton, to take down the old bell tower and erect a new one to hang the bell in, to repair the battlements, and make a new south door, to make a seat for the clerk, &c. The necessary stone to be taken from the old church. Estimate 241. The bell was recast in 1745. Raine No. Durham, p. 147. An inventory of 1367 mentions one sixty fathom of rope for the bells. In an inventory of 1348 (Raine 96) there were ' two gilded chalices for the high altar with a small one of silver lent by Gilbert the Prior to Robert de Haggerston.' In one of 1416 'there were also 2 chalices, 1 chalice without a paten, 1 chalice the gift of William Pomfret,' and according to the last pre-Reformation inventory ( of Prior Castell ) of 1533 (Raine, 125 ) there were at ' the church : Imprimis, Two chalices, with gilt patens, ...... 1 small bell, 2 small bells. In the Belfry. Two large bells and a small one ...... a bell called • larumbell.' ' All these have disappeared.
HOLYSTONE (vol.4 p.296 17/12/1890) In a bell-cot on the west gable of the church, there is one small bell bearing the inscrfption: 'To the Parish of Hallystone, the gift of Perceval Clennell of Harbottle Castle, Esq., second son of the late Luke Clennell of Clenncll, Esq., deceased, A.D. 1788 '. HORTON (vol.5 p.30 29/04/1891) There is one bell in the tower, said to be of the seventeenth century, but as access is difficult, it could not be examined.
ILDERTON (vol.3 p.333 20/06/1888) The bell is on a beam in the tower out. of reach, but it appears to be modern.
INGRAM (vol.4 p.241 26/05/1890) There is one bell in the tower ( 18 dia. by 14 high to shoulder) inscribed : T. ROW R W MARCHOL G FORESTER CW A PEEVER 1746 KIRKHARLE (vol.1 p.103 27/12/1883) l\Jr HENRY WATSON exhibited a bell from the church of St. Wilfrid, Kirkbarle, wllich, be said, ba:l been sent to him to have a stock or wbe <>l added to it for ringing pur poses. The date of the bell was 1732, and three silver coins ot George I. had been fastened in when the bell was being cast. '.rbe silver coins were about the size of our present crown piece. He never before saw a bdl with silver coins similarly let in. lVIr LONGSTAFE'E asked if this wa• not a continuation of a superstition about silver bells? It struck him that this ins~rtion of silver coins tad been a relic of the old notion of having silver in bells. lVIr WATSON thought that was the idea. He believed the insertion of the silver coins was no improvement, but wa-s rather a risk to a oell. He never before •aw r. bell with coins in it. (vol.1 pp.120-121 27/02/1884)
The CHAIJUIAl!l' Uien re11.d an interesti.ng paper on "Bella." The subject was suggested by the exhibition of a . bell from St. Wilfrid's Church, Kirkharle, at a previous meeting, and which bell had been sent into Newcastle for repairs. This bell, according to a letter read from llir George Anderson, was most probably purchased by Sir William Lorraine, who, according to Hodgson's "History of Northumberland," "built at his own charge, the west gable, pnrcb, and bell.cope, all ruin· ous." Sir William was born in 1659, and died in 1743, which would account for the bell being cast temp. Geo. I. Idr Watson stated that the bell is 15 inches in diameter, and ih weight is 3qrs. and 2lbs. It bas three silver coins cast in, and was made In 1714. (vol.4 p.168 30/10/1889) There is one bell in the bell-cote on the west gable of the church. Mr. Anderson of Litt.le Harle tower has kindly supplied a rubbing of the lettering and states that the bell is 15 ins. dia. and 12 \ h. t.o shoulder. It reads : ' A: R: 1732: .i, [l] dt, [2] Jk. [l]. The inscription is followed by impressions of crowns of Geo. I., apparent.Iy of 1716, two obverses [11 and one reverse [2]. The fleurs-de-lis are the same as.thoseon John Lee's bell at Castle Eden. Th~latemr. H. Watson of the High Bndge, Newcastle. to whom the bell was sent m 1884, for repairs, stated in a paper• read in that year, that the bell weighed 3 qrs. 2 lbs. (vol.4 p.176 27/11/1889) With respect to the bell, the rev. H. Whitehead thus writes: " The Kirkharle bell was no doubt cast by the celebmted Abraham Rudhall of Gloucester. The Gloucester foundry, when it came into his hands about. the year 1684, had been in active operation for more than three centuries, and it was held by his descendants down to 1830, when it was fused into the foundry at Whitechapel ( Ellacombe, Devonsh. Bells, p. 62 ). Mr. Lulris, speaking of the Rudhalls, says 'everything connected with their casting exhibits care and attention and shews that the fonndry in all its departments was well looked after' (Arch. Jonr. xxvii, 422). Two of the bells at Brigham in Cumberland were cast by Rudhall, the tenor being inscribed : A R 1711 PEACE & GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD. Mr. Ellacombe says (Devonsh. Bells 62) that •they must have been ...• good church and state people, for nearly all their bells bear good wishes for the one or the other'. Amongst notable specimens of Abraham Rudball's handiwork are the bells of S. Bride's, Fleet Street, for which he cast a ring of ten in 1710, increasing them to twelve in 1718. His epitaph in Gloucester cathedral runs thus : ' Abraham Rudball, bell founder, famed for his great skill, beloved and esteemed for his singular good na tore and integrity, died J anuary 25, 1735, aged 78 '." KIRKHAUGH (vol.7 p.126 22/08/1895) The church here is a modern structure with a slender spirelet, (copied from the fl,eche of a small German church in the Black Forest), in which is one bell. It was erected in 1868 on the site of an oldAr building, the east window of which of platectracery is now built iuto the west end of the new churuh.
KIRKHEATON (vol.4 p.118 31/07/1889)
In the quaint bell turret, with its pepper caster-like pinnacles at the angles, there is one bell. The seventeenth
Temp. Ed. VI. there were at ' CHURCHE HETTON, one challes of tenne, one westment, one albe, ij. alter clothes, one bell.' ( 22 Sur. Soc. 1.)
KIRKNEWfON (vol.3 p.362 07/07/1888) There is in the tower of the church a modern bell presented by Lady St. Paul which replaced an older. It has two bands round the shoulder, one containing the inscription: l5lC' SIT NOMEN DOMINI BENEDICTUM ANNO J.C. 1867; the other LOUISON FON- DEUR I A TOULOUSE; and incised :-fJiven oy Jane ftZiza s~ f!auZ. Above the bands is an ornamental cresting and below them two rows of mullets and a third round the rim. The diameter of the bell is 22 in. and the height 19 in. KIRKWHELPINGTON (vol.4 p.159 25/09/1889) In the tower there are two p1·e-Reformation bells, one of which is said by tradition to have come from Brinkburn priory. If there be any foundation for this, it must relate to the ' Mary ' bell, as the other and smaller bell bears the name 0£ an early sixteenth century vicar of Whelpington. The following are the inscriptions on the bells : 1. + ~M.lft©~E. ®J:JKA~ :®:fil.5 Xl ST. BARTIIOLOMEW'S CHURCH, KIRKWHELPINGTON *vol.5 in the third series KNARSDALE (vol.4 p.298 17/12/1890) The1·e is a bell in the turret at the west end of the church out of reach btit said to be withotit inscription. The following curious items relating to the bell and other matters are from the church books : In 1695 Item to Ann Parker of Eals alias Helens Nann .. 0 05. 06 Item Tho Bell for mending the stocks 0 00 10 1696 laid out for 2 Souldiers ...... 1. 0 0 The vse money was Ja.id out for the burying of Ann Parker alias Helens Nan 1705 lt. to Rich. Bell for a Swo.lp to the bell 1 • 0 It for a belroape 1· 4 1712 for a bell Swaip 1. 0 for a bell Roap 4 1714 for 2 shifts & cloggs .. 0. G. 0 1715 for bell roap & bell tongu_e ...... 0. 0. 8 1719 June 16 for sweeping the ehurch & fox heads & wild eats •. 0 .03. 6 1722 for mending the bell to Lovewell Pareivall 0. 0 .10 KYLOE (vol.4 p.242 26/05/1890) There is a small bell in the tower of the church, but being out of reach it . could not be examined. LESBURY (vol.3 p.228 27/12/1887) There are two bells in the tower, both' about 50 years old' and uninscribed. One 1 ft. 8 in. dia. and 1 ft. 1 in'. high, the other 1 ft. 9 in. dia. and 1 ft. 3 in. high. LONG FRAMLINGTON (vol.4 p.182 18/12/1889) There are now two bells in the turret at the west end of the church, one only in position, the other, which is 19! dia. by 13~ h. to shoulder, is lying cracked on the bottom of the cot. This is without inscription. The bell in use is 18k dia. by 13k h., and is inscribed : W: READHEAD: ROGER WARDEL CHVRCHS 1725 SS h' Id WARDEN • Ebor on as le ' followed by fleur-de-lis ornament. LONG HORSLEY (vol.4 p.183 18/12/1889) There is one bell in the turret at the west end of the church but it is not accessible ; though judging from the entries in the church books it is quite modern, as it was purcha~ed in 1809, and cost £18 6s. 2kd. The following are extracts from the church books :- 1738 Disburst and paid for Exchangeing the flaggon .. 0. 2. 3 1740 pd. Jno. Robson for Basses to lay about the Alter .. .. 0.2.10 1742 pd. in ale at a Poor Man's Funeral .. ..0.1.0 pd. for Calling the stolen Surplices ...... 0. 3. 4 1801 paid Francis Bowey for mending the Church Bell .. 2 6 Thomas Lilburn for repairing the bells 9 .10 1809 By Cash paid part of the Bell .. ..1.3.8 do...... 9. 6. 1! By Cash Thos. Lilburn for hinging ye bell .. 14. 6 to Mr. Errington Ale .. 14. 0 to Mr. Carr for carrying the Bell .. 12. 0 pd. part of the Bell ...... 7 .16. 5 1814 By Cash paid Thos. Lilburn for repairing Bell 5. 0 1815 By Cash paid the Smith Lilburn for Stocks &c. . . 17. 0 LOWICK (vol.4 p.242 26/05/1890) In the tower there are now three bells, all inscribed :- 1. 1600 (14 dia. by 10 high.) 2. BELFORD PARISH I SEPTR 4TH I A.D. 1829 ·:: (25 dia. by 20 h.) 3. T MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1825 • See Notes of Belford bells, vol. iii, p. 898. MELDON (vOl-4 p.140 21/09/1889) In the turret at the west end of the chmch are two small hells, apparently modern, without inscriptions. MITFORD (vol.3 p.115 07/07/1887) The building was restored and partly rebuilt some years ago by Lieut. Col. Osbaldiston Mitford at a cost of about £10,000. In the new tower which replaced the turret is a peal of eight saucer-shaped bells rung by machinery, the bells being struck by wooden hammers. In the vestry is the ancient bell, which is unusually high in proportion to its diameter (19 ins. high by 19 ins. dia.). It is without any inscription. (vol.3 p.274 28/03/1888) CORRECTIONS, &c. :- p. 115. Lieut.-Col. Mitford writes " we have a carillon of 13 bells-or what is called an octave and a half. These bells are played by machinery which is wound up on Satmdays afternoon, so that the man in charge has nothing to do on Sunday. They play for an honr without req,uiring further winding. The advantages in a country place are obvious as a team of ringers could not be found." (vol.7 p.139 28/08/1895) OLD BELL, MITFORD. The following is from the Pall Mall Magazine for October, 1895, p.193 : 'This bell which formerly hung in the church of Mitford in Northumberland is of unknown but certainly of great antiquity. It is very interesting ~ marking a distinct stago in the evolution of the present form of bells. The chief points of interest are: (i.) The height is EQUAL to the width, instead of four-fifths or less ; and (ii.) the bell, instead of terminating in an OUTER cusp termina~es in an INNER one ; so that as seen in the illustration, it stands on it~ INNER nm.' (continued) MITFORD (continued) (vol.7 p.139 28/08/1895) MORPETH CLOCK TOWER (vol.4 p.176 27/11/1889) In the Market Place there is a medieval tower with the top stage added about 1760. • It contains a ring of eight bells belonging to the corpora tion, which when rung at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on S:mdays, serves for all the places of worship in the town. In the bell ringers' chamber, suspended around the walls, is to be seen the leather collar, with strong buckle, and the thick rope about forty-fivo feet long attached to the collar by an iron swivel, for merly used in Morpeth for the barbarous sport of bull-baiting. The bells bear the following inscriptions :- 1. } T. MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1833. 2. (each 24 dia. x 17 h. to shoulder.) 3. R: P: 1706 (26 X 19). 4. B P 1706 (28 x 21). 5. THESE 6 BELLS WERE GIVEN BY MAIOR GENERAL EDMOND l\IAINE GOVERNOR oF BERWICK 1706, followed by an impression of a crown of William III. (30 x 22). 6. RICHARD PHELPSt MADE THESE BELLS 1706, followed by impressions of crowns of Charles II. (33 x 23). 7. R : P : 1706 (36 X 25). 8. THE GIFT OF MAIOR GENERAL EDMOND MAINE TO THE CORPORATION OF MORPETH 1706 (39 x 29). The N's are reversed thus li1. A tablet in the bell-ringers' loft informs us that THESE BELLS I WERE RESTORED I IN THE YEAR A.D. 11886 I JOSEPH W~ CHIRNEY, MAYOR. The curfew is rung every night at ei~ht o'clock and the market bell every Wednesday morning at eleven o'clock. For deaths the tenor bell is tolled every minute for fifteen minutes, followed by the tellers, three triple strokes for a man, three double strokes for a woman, and three single strokes for a child. * Inscription on front' Repa.i.r'd in the year 1760 ',with the names of the Bailiffs. t Richard Phelps held the Whitec.hapel foundry from 1701 to 1738. He cast the old gi·eat bell of S. Paul's Cathedral. He also cast the belle of S. Andrew, Newcastle (see pp. 46, 191 ). THE MORPETH CLOCK TOWER MORPETH GRAMMAR SCHOOL (vol.5 p.30 29/04/1891) There is a small pre-Reformation bell in a turret on the roof of ·new Grammar School, which ha.s never been rung since its suspension in its present position. It was brought from the old chantry near the bridge end when the school was removed, where it hung in a cote on the west gable of the building. The inscription in Lombardics is : AVE · MARIA · GRACIA · PLENA followed by three marks, one a ragged staff, the others escallops, all in one line. In a second line: DOMINUS · TECUM, and beneath the ' J\![ ' of ' Dominus ' there is a third escallop. On the sound bow the letter • S '. The bell is 14~ dia. by 12 high to shoulder. 'l'he objects on the Morpeth bell appear to be the Dacre badges of the ragged staff and escallop, similar to that which may be seen conjoined by the knot on the panels of one of the window recesses in 'Belted Will's' oratory at Na worth, as is shewn by the annexed illustration from a drawing by the earl of Carlisle.• The Dacre arms are three escallops. There is every probability, therefore, that this bell was presented by Thomas lord Dacre who married Elizabeth, the heiress of the Greystokes, and thus acquired the Greystoke property including Morpeth. Lombardics with stops are of much earlier date than the beginning of the sixteenth centuryt, and Lombardics without stops were in use in the second quarter of the sixteenth century ; this date will suit for the Morpeth bell, though there is a single dot between every two words and it therefore would rather come within the earlier classification, but as Mr. Stahlschmidt has pointed out, bellfounders used what letters they had in stock and as a conse quence early lettering sometimes appears on late bells. § This occurs every yea.r, the charge being sometimes more, sometimes less. * Sec also the cut (Proc. Soc. Antiq. N'O .• iv, p. !iv) (lent by Messrs. Sa.rnpson Low a.nd Co.) from Mrs. Bnry Palliser's book on Devices, &c. t 'EMlier than 1400 approximately·•.-Stahlschmidt, Kent BeU., p. 5. GBAJDUB SCHOOL BBLL1 MOBPETH, There are two BELLS in the church tower, both inscribed, No. 1-the larger ( 2 ft. 7 in. dia. by 2 ft. high ) is cracked. 1. .i,Jk,Jk,Jk,cRY ALOVDE REPENT MDCXXXV Jk,Jk. j Jk,Jk, IOHN ROBSON PERSON WILLIAM GREEN ALLEXANDER FOSTER ROBERT SMYTHJ!l WILLIAM j MILBORNE WARDENS The inscription on this bell is in three lines. There were in the first year of Ed. VI. ( 22 Sur. Soc. xlviii) at Morpeth " one vestment of rede velvet, one seute of vestments of greane selke, one cope and vj. vestments, one hole seute of vestments of whyt dammeske, vj. vestments, one pare of orgonnes, iij. alterclothes, ij. challeses of selver, pryce iijl. vja. viijd., ij. challes of copper, one crosse of copper, gilt, one erase and pare of sensours of copper, vj. candell steks, one holly watter pott of brasse, one !aver of brasse, ij. crouetts, with a paxe of brasse, one sakringe bell and towe gret belles." (vol.6 pp.251-252 29/09/1894) The bells are described in these Proceedings, vol. iii, p. 107, but since then the larger bell, which was cracked by boys throwing stones at it through the windows, the louvres having decayed, was consigned to the melting pot in 1888. A new bell has taken its place. This is 33 ! ins. diameter at the moutl) and 3lf ins. high. It bears the old inscription:- "Cry aloud repent MDCXXXV. John Robson, Person. William Green l Alexander Foster Wardens". Robert Smythe William Milburn And in addition: " Recast by public Subscription 1888 The Rev~ The Hon. F. R. Grey, M.A. Rector. Tho. Gillespie H. Stone l W. Moor Churchwardens". John Simm Respecting the smaller bell Mr. Bulkeley writes : " When the larger bell was cracked and uttering unpleasant jangling, it was heard by an occasional visitor to the town, a Mr. Clark, deceased, whose brother was a watchmaker in Morpeth, and ho bought and presented this bell, which he purchased in London, it having been 'in some disused city church ' . As yet I have not been able to find out the name of this church; indeed, I did not know that it h ad yet become the fashion to disuse city churches ; nor is there any record of the exact date of presentation, but it was between 1842 and 1849. ThA bell is dated 1662." NETHERWITION (vol.10 p.271 27/08/1902) EXHIBITED- By Mr. Thornton Trevelyan of Netberwitton. ( per Mr, Blair) :- Tbe rubbing of tbe inscription on a bell wbich is said to have been in use· at Netherwitton hall but more probably at the church. It is inscribed soLI . DEO • GLORIA , 1690. Above the inscription is a band of scroll work, and the same below, interspersed with cupids' heads. Tbe diameter at the mouth is, 13 ins., and the height to the crown is 9 ins. NEWBIGGIN-BY-THE-SEA (vol.3 p.392 29/08/1888) In the tower is a modern bell (21 h. by 30 dia.) inscribed: ABBOT & co 18G3. NEWBROUGH (vol.4 p.243 26/05/1890) In the turret at the west end of Newbrough church there is a modern bell placed there when the church was built. NEWBURN (vol.2 P-45 19/06/1885) The Rev. J. R. Bo=:E so.id that the Church was' dedicated to St. Michael, and tb,at the bell bore an inscription in which St. Michael was addressed :- " .!hncie ;glity11:ele, Jira JlrO nolris.'' Mr. LoNGSTAFFE said he was not aware of the inscription; they had no foll account of the Northumberland bells. They had lists for other counties, but Northumberland; where there should be a number of ancient bells, seemed to have escaped notice to a considerable extent. (vol.3 p.191 26/10/1887) In the church there are three bells, all inscribed:- 1· J. ABBOT, & co 1865 (2 ft. dia., 1 ft. 6 in. high). 2. R. WATSON I NEWCASTLE I 1844 (2ft. 5 in. dia., lft. lOin. high). 3. ,Sanda o _GQ.el:'g.el:'.da + @)l:'a o ~l:'O' )11.obi~ (3ft. dia., 2ft. 5in. high) . " This mis-spelling for ' Mar garet ' is idio - syncratic. A London-made bell with this well known foundry stamp, which when it was first discovered was a considerable crnx to campanists. Peacock, Bird and Sparrow were some of the names suggested. Mr. A. Daniel-Tyssen solved the problem by turning up the will of the owner at Somerset House. His name is William Culver.den, the bird being a cnlver or wood pigeon-the rebus reads eaaily enough. This date is 1513-22. Dr. Raven has printed his will in e.rtenso in the 2nd ed. of Church Dells of Cambridgeshire,* it is dated the 29th September, 1522 -shortly before his death. He describes himself as • William Culverden, citezen and brasier of London and parishioner of the parisho of Sa.net. Botulph without Alga.ta of London.' He givPs directions touching' all and singular my belmolds and - implements wt. all other stnffe · wtin the said house grounde and shedds necessarye and belonging to the cra.fte or science of Bellfounders or brasiers.' His bells, though not numerous, are found in Kent, Middlesex, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Dorset, Cambridgeshire,:a.nd, as we see, in this county [Bedfordshire]. "t * pp. 42-46. North's Church Bells of Bedfordshire, p. 44. (continued) NEWBURN (continued) (vol.3 p.293 05/05/1888) The following is from the Newcastle Daily Journal of the 15th May, 1888 :- The fine peal of six bells, the gift of Mr. Thomas Spencer of the Grove, Ryton, was dedicated on Sunday afternoon by the Lord Bishop of the diocese with the special form of service used in the Winchester diocese, and an appropriate address was delivered by the Bishop from the chancel steps. The Blaydon ringers rang several changes during the afternoon. The repair of the old church tower has been very carefully carried out under the supervision of Mr. W. S. Hicks, architect, and a new ringing floor with handsome carved oak screen and spiral staircase bas been erected at the west end of the church. The bells, which are of very fine tone and quality. are from Messrs. Taylor and Son's establishment at Loughborough. The tenor weighs about 16 cwt. In addition to the bells, Mr. Spencer bas presented the ringers with a peal of 21 hand bells from Messrs. Shaw and Son's establishment at Bradford, and has also made a donation of £22 towards the Tower Repair. Fuud. Mr. Hicks writes 'that the ancient bell [from the foundry of Wm. Culverden, seep. 191] , is all right, hung on separate beams above the peal, and only to be nsecl for certain purposes by pulling its clapper.' NEWCASTLE (found in Ellison Place) (vol.t p.362 30/12/1884) Exhibited by Colonel Collingwood (per Dr. Bruce), a Chinese bell , found iu Ellison Place, Newcastle, in 1881. NEWCASTLE ALL SAINTS (vol.3 pp.189-190 26/10/1887) In the ' Chauntry of Sent Thomas in the Churche of All Seints one litle bell.' ( 22 Sur. Soc. p. xci.) According to an inventory of about 1630 there were 'ffyve Bells in the steeple.' In 1639, as appears from the following extracts from the Churchwardens' books, the treble bell was recast by Mr. Oldfield at Durham:- £ s. d. John l\1oody for carryin$ ye treble Bell over to Durham and back againe •.•... I 5 O mr. Oldfield Bell founder, for casting ye said bell a new and for overplusmetal.. 6 4 O Robt Willis and Raiphe walker for ther necessary exspenses too days and one night at Durham in attending ye casting of the Bell and for Expedition theirin 1 0 O Robt Slaitor maison for takeing down ye steeple window to lett out the bell and setting up againe ...... 0 6 0 the weigh maister for weighing ye bell and unto six labourers for drawing her downe to ye sand.hill and back againe ...... 0 8 4 In 1655, when the use of bells at funerals, which had been discontinued since 1644 as superstitious, was revived, a note appears in the vestry books which states that ' those who desire to have the use of the Bells may freely have them as fformerly paying the Accustomed dutye.'• In 1696 the five old bells in the steeple were taken down and six new bells, weighing respectively 5 cwt. 1 qr. 24~ lbs.; 6 cwt. 2 qrs. 1~ lbs. ; 7 cwt. 2 qrs. 26~ lbs.; 9 cwt. 3 qrs. 19 lbs.; 12 cwt. 3 qrs. 15~ lbs.; & 16 cwt. 1 qr. 15~ lbs.; were cast, and hung in new frames, by Christopher Hodson of London, for which he received £182 17s. lld. The old bells weighed 58 cwt. 1 qr. 21 lbs. and the new ones 58 cwt. 18~ lbs. On the petition of the churchwardens the corporation granted them 'the Metall yt was left of the Horse part of the Statue of King James the Second,' which formerly stood on the Sandhill, but' in the conclusion of the yeare 1688 was by Some Officers and Soldiers pulled down and defaced.' This metal was sold to the founder at ~d. per lb. amounting to £84 l 7s. lld. t We thus see the end of the horse part of the statue of James II.; the following extract from a letter written by Chas. Townley, Esq., to R. Thoresby, the historian of Leeds, dated June lst, 1707, will explain what became of the figure of the Kingt :- 'But now to what I found at my return here at York. Mr, Smith [Samuel Smith was one of the Sheriffs of York in 1723: his bells are very abundant.] our ingenious bell-founder, purchased and brought from New castle, a large part of that equestrian statue of king James, set up, and afterwards thrown down by the mob at that time. Here is his face very well wrought and very entire, besides several other parts of his body. Had I money and a house and place, none should hinder me from purchasing such a great ornament for a garden. There is nothing of Jacobitism in this; were it of that great r [ascal] Cromwell I should think it of great value; and I hope Mr. Smith will look upon it, and conserve it as such, till some noble purchaser comes that has money, and will think a good round sum well laid out on what in time to come, if not now, may prove a curiosity of the first magnitude.' In a letter written by Henry Gyles ( a glass stainer who died in 1709) of York, Nov. 25, 1707, he says:- 'My nephew S. S [mith] bought the remains of K. James's statue in brass, at Newcastle, which will be melted down ere long; but I have advised them to save a buste of his head to the paps,' &c.t According to Bourne the bells were founded in the ground belonging to Austin Friars behind the Hospital of the Holy Jesus. He says their sound was not so melodious as the others in the town, but their note exact and more tuneful than the others. The following were the inscriptions on three of the old bells :- Great Bell : ' I sound King William's deliverance from popish conspiracy in the year 1695-6-Christopher Hodshon made me.' • Sopwith's All Saints, p. 14. t Sopwith, p. 15. l Stulceley's Diaries and Letters, Vol. III. ( 80 Sur. Soo. 303.) (continued) NEWCASTLE ALL SAINTS (continued) (vol.3 pp.189-190 26/10/1887) 4th Bell: 'Christophei· Hodgson me fecit 1696.-Nathaniel Ellison, Vicar, Michael Hall, Thomas Turner, Churchwardens.' 5th Bell: Christopher Hodgson made me 1696.-Nathaniel Ellison, Vicar, Mark Browell, Ralph Forster, Churchwardens.' • The present peal consists of eight bells, all cast by Mears of the Whitechapel foundry:- 1 (trebie) to 7 are inscribed: = Tuos MEARS OF LoNDON FECIT 1797 000000 Their respective diameters are 2ft. 5in., 2ft. 6in., 2ft. Sin., 2ft. lOin., 3ft. 2 in., 3ft. 6 in., and 3 ft. 8 in. 8 (Tenor) is inscribed in two lines :-THIS PEAL OF BELLS WAS CAST BY THOMAS MEARS OF LONDON ANNO DoMINI 1797 BY ORDER OF THE ComnTTE }'OR REBUILDING THIS. j PARISH CHURCH OF ALL SA.INTS IN NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE SAMUEL LAWTON EsQR CHAIRMAN. oooc.oooococooooooooooooooooo lts dia. is 4 ft., and weight 19 cwt. They were opened on the llth of October, 1797, by the Union Society of Newcastle, with a peal of Holt's grandsire triples, consisting of 5040 changes, in three hours and one minute, 'in celebration of Admiral Duncan's Victory over the Dutch Fleet off Camperdown ' ( p. 73 ) ; the entries in the Church- wardens' books are :- £ s. d. Ringing one Day on Opening of ye New Peal . . 1 1 0 do. do. for Glorious Admiral Duncan . . 1 1 0 The foiiowing are further extr11cts from the same books concerning the bells t: £ •. d· 1638 for wyer tor the chimes ...... 0 5 9 Itm paid for ringing e.tt the king's Ma.tie. his comeing to Towne . . . . 0 G 0 Itm paid for ringing att his Matie's. returne . . . . 0 4 2 1686 Paid for ringing on the procession dayes . . . . 0 2 6 1689 Raiphe Walker House wreight for the three quarter wheels to ye five bells 7 10 0 fior 2 new brass rods from Durham to hing the bells in .. 2 2 8 John Huntley for 5 bell ropes and a rope to ye clocke .. 2 7 7 John Moody for work done about ye chimes .. 0 8 0 for ringing the Bells wn the kings ma.iegty came to the towne in his N ortherine exspedition . . , . 0 8 4 The Ringers ye Crownation day ...... 0 2 0 1641 (for ringinge at ye kings maties. going into Scotland Aug. 0 4 6 fior ringing the thanksgivinge day Sept. 0 2 4 fior ringing the 5th of November ...... 0 5 0 fforringingthe 19th and 20thNovember at his Matie returne from Scotland 0 5 0 fior ringinge his Matie, inauga1ated Ma_r 27 . . . . 0 5 0 1643 pd for ringing 4 and 8 a clocke bell for 'l year . . . . 0 I 5 0 1675 pd for sope for the Bells and ye pomps . . 0 0 4 1679 pd for ringing the bells for the Duke of York . . . . 0 3 6 1681 Paid for Leathers for the Bells tongues ...... 0 4 0 1689 Paid Renton ~ a yeiar Cellary for Ringing ye 4 o Clock Bell . . . . 2 0 0 1700 pd for Ringing the Bell when my Ld Bishop was here . . . . 0 6 0 1701 Oct. 5th pd the Bell Ringers at the King's arrivall from Holland 0 2 6 1726 Pd the Bell Ringers on All Sts Day 0 2 6 1734 Jan. 30, Muftels for the belle 0 1 0 1726 Jan. 30, Bell Ringer for Chyming on this day 0 2 6 1790 Paid Bell Ringers at hanging of same 0 5 8 1194 John Bennet for Fire Bell . . 0 2 6 17- For ringing 2 Days for Adm Nelsons Victory . . 2 2 0 1806 Pancake Bell . . . . 0 1 0 * Sopwith's All Saint•, p. 42. t Sopwith, 126-1$1._ NEWCASTLE GUILDHALL (vol.3 p.307 30/05/1888) J3y J. VENTRESS of 43 Wharncliffe Street, Newcastle:- The following rubbings :- ii. & iii. ' Are from the two bells hanging in the roof of the Guildhall, it is said a third was taken to the jail ' :- 1. Q MATREW FEATRERSTONRAUGR ESQ : MAYOR RICRARD SwINBURN EBQ: SHERIF oF NEWCASTLE R : PRELPS LoNDINI FECIT 1724. 2. [fleur-de-lis] MATREW FEATRERSTONRAUGR ESQ: MAl'.OR RrcR: 8WINBURN ESQ : SRERIF R : P : FECIT 1724. iv. ' Is from a bell in Melson by church steeple, in Lombardic capitals':- ffi 3[ Ofl ~ _$,l_ Eff fol_ ,G[l :@ fol_ )2~ fol_ @- ® :® .S ~ ]?( T;D X-3 E . fi.l ~ 3I: JG)JJi~lI!XlEf.S The second letter iu 'Ista' is placed on its side, and the last letter but one in ' Johannes ' is reversed.' Editor's note: Items i, v, viand vii had nothing to do with bells. Melsonby was in the North Riding of Yorkshire. NEWCASTLE GUILDHALL NEWCASTLE ST. ANDREW (vol.3 p.25 30/03/1887) Speaking of the bells of St. Andrew's Church, of which there are six, Mr. PHILIPSON said that it was interesting to know that the largest bell was cracked when it was being tolled for the death of the Earl ofBeaconsfield on the 19th April, 1881. The six bells in the tower are thus inscribed :- - 1. WILLIAM COULSON ESQ : OF IESMUND 2. THE REVD : WM : BRADFORD A : M : VICR : N : ELLISON A : M : LECT Wl'II : WILKINSON A : B : CURE : R : PHELPS LONDINI FECIT 1726 . 3. EDW : IOHNSON FRA. : RuDSTON NIC : FENWICK Wr.r. : CARR ESQs : ALDERMEN R: P: FEC : 1726 4. SR: WM: BLACKET BA.RT NATH: ELLISON MA.TH: FEATERSTON HEN : REAY RIC : RIDLEY ESQs : ALDERM : . R: P: FECIT 1726 5. THE WORSHIPL : NAH : CLAYTON ESQ : MAYOR IOHN ISAACSON ESQR RECORDER THO: WA.SSE ESQR: SHERIF 6. (Tenor.) MESSRs CHR: HllTTER FENWICK LAMBERT THO : SHEuILL PERCIVAL BET.,L CH: WARDENS R: PHELPS FECIT 1726 The tenor bell, which weighs 19 cwts., unfortunately cracked when being tolled for the death of Lord Beaconsfield, April 19th, 1881. ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH, NEWCASTLE (vol.3 p.160 26/08/1887) CoRREOTioNs :- p. 46, line 5, add after' IESHUND' on lst bell,' R: P: FEOIT 1726 [rose].' p. 46, line 10, for ' FEATERSTON ' read 'FEATHERSTON.' (vol.3 p.191 26/10/1887) For account of the bells of this church see p. 46. The full inscription on the lst bell is WILLIAM COULSON EsQ : OF IESMUND R : p : FECIT 1726 [rose] On the 4th bell read 'FEATHERSTON' and not 'FEATERSTON.' In the 'Chauntrye of our Ladye in Sent Andrews Parishe •• a sacring bell.' (p. xciii.) ' NEWCASTLE ST. ANNE (volA p.183 18/12/1889) In the tower of this church there is one bell ( 28 x 22 ) inscribed : EDW : MOSLEY : MAYOR : RICH : LACEY : ESQ : SHERIF: Brand ( Newc. I. 30) says 'that the bell formerly in the Exchange with Alderman Barnes's name upon it was afterwards removed and put up in a new chapel erected without the walls', i.e., S. Ann's or Sandgate chapel. This bell seems to have been recast in 1767 when Edward Mosley and Richard Lacey were respectively mayor and sheriff. NEWCASTLE ST. JOHN (vol.3 pp.190-191 26/10/1887) There are eight bells in the tower thus inscribed :- 1. [Not inscribed.) 2, 3, 4 .. CAST BY JOHN. WARNER & SONS LONDON 1884 5. . . , .. , .... , , .INO NOMINE BENEVOLENTIA 1706 6. ROBERT PERCIVALt TE DEVM LAVDAMVB 1706 7. BENIDICIMVS ET VENERAMVR TE WILLIA~1 RAMSAY EoQ 170611 8. (tenor.) GRATIAS AGIMVS PRO <+LORIA TVA IMMENSA MR ANDRE BATES MINIS§ 1706 The respective diameters are 2ft. 2 ~in., 2 ft. 4 in., 2 ft. 4~ in., 2 ft. 6 in., 2 ft. 7in., 2ft.9in., 3ft., &3ft.4in. 'The lettering of the last four bells is so corroded from the sulphur in the smoke that has reached them that one cannot say with certainty what the inscriptions are, but they seem to read as above.' Between the words there are scroll ornaments and under each of the inscriptions an ornamental band consisting of bells and 11 shield alternately, the latter inscribed E=~R [for Samuel Smith of York, a well known bell founder, he was the elder one of that name and died in 1709.' See North's Bells of Lincolnshire, p. 136.] In the • Chauntry of Our Lady in Sent John's Churche' there was • a lytle bell' (22 Sur. Soo. xc.) and in the ' Chauntry of Peter and Paule' 'one bell.' t Robert Percival was a pin·maker in Newcastle. He contributed 3 l. to the bolls in 1707, and in 1710 built the north gallery a,d beautified the altar. Brand i., 116. II William Ramsay, junior, was Sheriff in 1696 and Mayor in 1701. Brand ii. 501 & 504. § Andrew Bates, M.A., was appointed Evening Lecturer of St. John's on July 25th, 1689; 'be had in writing e. scuffle with Dr. Gilpin touching nonconformity.t Brand i. 119 & n. NEWCASTLE ST. NICHOLAS (vol.1 p.122 27/02/1884) In the tower of St. Nicholas. Newcastle, we have nice bells-a peal of eight -and the largest, the gift of Major Anderson, on which the hours are struck, was added in 1833, and is 3 ~ons 13 cwt. in weight. i, RALPH REED ESQ: MAYOB FllANCIS loHNSON ESQ: SHEBIF 1717 R : PHELPS LONDINI FECIT ii. The same. iii. :t COVRT ·TO ·THIS· HEIGHT· YOW .t, WHEN· THIS· TOWRE. WHEN t 1658 · .t, I .;k, H .;k, SEE ·IT• WAS· BVILT The inscription on this bell (iii) is in two lines. Under the first word (WHEN) of the second line are the arms of Newcastle, with crest and supporters, in an oval. Between the words (except where fleurs-de-lis, and between WHEN and 1658) are diamond-shaped ornaments. iv. ~ ;:@iU.ci• o .St•:tO' o .GlaeH• o @"ampana o ):TocO'>: o ,GE! icaeli'°" On the top of the bell are four pointed shields each with a chevron between three laver pots. ' By William Dawe of London ( 1385-1418 ), better known as William Founder, as he calls himself in his circular stamp. The initial cross which has been missed in rubbing, is one formed of four .fteurs-de-lis. It is only within the last year that I have succeeded in discovering his surname. The shield with the three !aver-pots is not peculiar to him, it was probably the device of the 'Guild of the Bellemakers,' which existed in London about this date.' [J.C.L.S.] v. TJI (vol.3 p.188 26/10/1887) For description of these bells see pp. 39 & 40; also Arch. Ael. II. (N .S.) 17-23 for Mr. Ventress's account of them; and the Gent's. Mag. XIX. N.S. p. 273, for the Rev. J. T. Fowler's. Speaking of No. vii. (p. 40), Mr. Stahlschmidt writes:- ' I don't think the group can be meant for the Annunciation. I can not make anything angelic about the left hand figure, while on the right hand one the divine child is fairly traceable. I would suggest SS. Mary and Nicholas.' In the ' Chauntry of Sent Katherins within the Paryshe of Sent Nicolas, ' there was among other things 'one lytle sacring bell,' ( 22 Sur. Soc. xc.); and in the 'Chaµntry of Sent Thomas one lytle bell,' and 'Sent Cuthbert' the same. ( p. xci.) (vol.3 P-410 26/09/1888) From the old pew books, the following information relating to the seats of the bell-ringers has been extracted: 'North side men's seats. On Ap. 14, 1712, By consent of the Churchwardens this pew [number 17] is granted to the chimers of the bells, to sit in when they have done chiming.' 'By consent of the churchwardens this pew [number 10] and No. 17 is granted to the chimers of the Bells in consideration of their extraordinary paines.' (vol.5 pp.35-36 27/05/1891) The conncil reported that the secretary had hitd 11 correspondence with the vicar of St. Nicholas, Newcastle, concerning the old bells in tho tower of that church and their preservation. It appears that it had been determined to save the three pre-Reformation bells from the melting pot but that the others were to be condemned to it. The oldest of the post-Reformation bells should certainly be pre served, but this can only take place in the event of a sum equivalent to its value as old metal, £3/3/- per cwt., being handed over to the vicar and churchwardens. The council therefore recommended the society to make an appeal to the church authorities to save the bell in question from destruction. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. EAST seconded by Mr. HODGES, that as recommended by the council, an appeal be made to the vicar and churchwardens for the preservation of the oldest of the post-Reformation bells. (vol.5 p.156 27/04/1892) The secretary reported that the oldest post-reformation bell of St. Nicholas'B church cast by John Hodson in 1658 for the guildhall, has fortunately escaped the melting pot, as it had been purchased from Taylor and Co. of Loughborough, the well-known bell-founders, by Mr. C. J. Bates, for his castle of Langley to which it has been sent. (continued) NEWCASTLE ST. NICHOLAS (continued) (vol.? p.117 03/08/1895) Since the last account of them was written a new ring of ten bells has been obtained from J. Taylor & Co., of Loughborough, at a cost of more than £2500, making a total ring of fourteen bells. Mr. A. J. Robinson has kindly supplied the following description of the new bells:- Treble bell: diameter, 2 ft. 4ft ins ; note F ; weight, 6 cwt. 2 qrs. 5 lbs. ; motto, '0, come let us sing unto the Lord.' Second bell: diameter, 2 ft. 6! ins. ; note E flat; weight, 7 cwt. 2 qr. 13 lbs.; motto, 'We' praise Thee;o Lord.' Third bell : diameter, 2 ft. 9 ins. ; note D flat ; weight, 8 cwt. 2 lbs ; motto. ' 0. all ve works of the Lord, bless ve the Lord.' Fo1;rth bell ;' diameter, 2 ft. 10 .ins. ; note C ; weight, 9 cwt. 4 lbs. ; mottos, 'Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,' and 'I mark the passing hours.' , .Fifth bell : diameter, 3 ft. H ins; note B flat ; weight; 11 cwt. 14 lbs. ; mottos, ' O be joyful in the Lord all ye lands,' and ' I mark the passing hours.' Sixth bell: diameter, 3 ft. 4! in~. ; note A flat ; weight, 13 cwt. 1 qr. 2 lbs.; mottos, 'My soul doth magnify the Lord,' and 'I mark the passing hours.' Seventh bell : diamet.er, 3 ft. 8& ins. ; note G flat ; weight, 17 cwt. 16 lbs. ; motto, ' 0 sing unto the Lord a new song.' Eighth bell: diameter, 3 ft. 11~ ins ; note F; weight, 20 cwt. 3 qrs. 23 lbs. ; motto, ' Lord now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace.' Ninth bell : diameter, 4 ft. 4& ins.; riote E flat; weight, 27 cwt. 23 lbs· ; mottos, ' God be merciful unto us and bless us,' an~ 'I mark the passing hour.' Tenor bell: diameter, 4 ft. 11 ins.; note D flat; weight, 37 cwt. 2 qrs. 16 lbs. ; motto, •This peal [? ring] of ten bells is the joint gift of the Cor poration of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and John Hall, Esq., J.P., of the same city: Wm. Sutton, Esq., Mayor; Ben. J. Sutherland, Esq.• Sheriff; A. T. Lloyd, D.D., Vicar; A. J. Robinson, H. Thompson, T. Blenkinsop, and A. H. Dickinson, Wardens. 1892.' • The Major' or hour bell is 6 ft. 11! ins. in diameter, note A flat ; weight, 5 tons 18 cwt., and bears the .inscription:-• Purchased for the clock to· strike upon agreeably to the will of Geo. Anderson, Esq., 1833. Originally cast at the foundry of Sir R. . S. Hawks & Co. by James Harrison, of Barton on Humber, November 23, 1833. Recast in the year 1891, at the expense of Alderman T. G. Gibson, Esq., J.P. of this city, by J, Taylor & Co., of Lough borough. Time flies. ' The chimes are struck on the fourth, fifth, sixth, and ninth bells. The bells were rm1g for a short time only after being mounted, but owing to the dangerous state of the lantern, they have for some time been silent. Of the old ring, the three pre-Reformation bells have been preserved, being hung for ringing if necessary ; they are chimed every day for daily service. The oldest post-Reformation bell, that originally cast for the Guildhall, was purchased by Mr. Bates in order to save it from destruction, and it is now on the top of his castle of Langley. (continued) NEWCASTLE ST. NICHOLAS (continued) (vol.7 pp.266-267 26/08/1896) Dr. Adamson asked if any one could give the origin of the obligation reating on the corporation of Newcastle to repair and keep in repair the tower and lantern of St. Nicholas'& church, Newcastle? The obligation was undoubted., Mr. Dendy said he thought that the reBSOn why the Newcastle corporation had to repair St. Nicholas's church steeple was because it was the belfry of the town. One of the first privileges usually obtained by burghers from tbefr feudal lords was permission to erect a bell tower from which peals were rung to summon the people to council or to arms. Brand says that • From the earliest entries in the common-conncil books of Newcastle upon Tyne, the corporation of that town appeared to have repaired the steeple of St. Nioholas'e chnroh, which contains the common bell, that convenes the burgesses to their oourt.s of gnild, etc., to which meetings there are no other summons •, And Bourne in the .dntiquitates Vulgares 11ays • The tolling of the great Bell of St. Nicbolaa's Church here, is an ancient Signal for our Burgesses to convene on Guild-Da:JB, and on the Day of electing Magistrates :-Our little Carnival on Pancake Tuesday commences by the same Signal :-A Bell, usually called the Thief and Reever Bell, proclaims our two annual Fairs :-A peculiar kind of Alarm is given by a Bell on Accidents of Fire :-A bell is rung at Six every Morning (except Sundays and Holidays) with a view it would seem of calling up the Artisans to their daily employment ;-and we retain also a Vestige of the old Norman Curfew at eight in the evening. The case which he understood had recently been submitted to counsel on behalf of the Corporation of Newcastle, and counsel's opinion on the case, would probably throw light upon the subject'. Dr. Hodgkin remarked that the word belfry is said to have no connection with bell, but is derived from Burh-frieden = the tower of peace. The fact that the French for belfry is beaufroi or belfroi, which bas nothing to do with cwche the Frellch for bell, seems to confirm this view•. This also bears out Mr. Dendy's statement. (vol.7 pp.286-287 30/09/1896) ST, NICHOLAS'B CHURCH TOWER AND LANTERN, NEWCASTLE. Mr. Alfred E. Ingledew read an interesting paper on the liability for the repair of St. Nicbolas's cathedral church steeple, Newcastle, in which be said it was ra.tber an open question, but the weight of testimony appeared to be that the Corporation of Newcastle were liable, they having from time immemorial actually done the repairs under a feeling of obligation. It was an acki;10wledged fact that church bells in the olden times were instrumental in guiding the traveller to bis home in the dark nights. The church of St. Nicholas was not only of service in that way but also as an inland lighthouse. Pennant spoke of the pathless moors of this neighbourhood in the past century, and many a wayfarer who traversed them had reason to bless the lantern of St. Nicholas in the nights of old. History recorded the prominent part which the steeple played during the Civil Wars when the Scots besieged the town, and the incidents tended to show that the mayor and burgesses bad at that time the control, management and maintenance of the lantern and tower. Again, one of the bells in the steeple was known as the 'common' or 'thief and reever' bell. The free burgesses appear to have bad some control over the bells and belfry, and they at the present time meet in guild three times in a year, and at their meetings the mayor presides and is usually accompanied by the sheriff and town clerk. They are summoned to attenil the guild meetings by the tolling of the ' common bell,' and on these occasions the ringer is not paid by the freemen but by the Corporation. The (continued) NEWCASTLE ST. NICHOLAS (continued) (vol.7 pp.286-287 30/09/1896) Corporation possess, or did possess formerly, keys to· the belfry, and they can require the bells to be rtmg when they think fit, so long as they do not interfere with divine service. For the use of the bells the vicar and churchwardens have contended, and still contend, that the Corporation are responsible for the keeping in repair of the lantern or steeple. So far as can be ascertained the vicar and churchwardens have never admitted any liability to repair the lantern, and when in 1829 it was discovered that the belfry was dilapidated, the following letter was written and sent by the churchwardens of St. Nicholas to the then town clerk of Newcastle:- Newcastle, lst July, 1829. Sir,-Your Jetter to the rev. the vicar stating that ~he Corporation had repaired a part of the steeple of St. Nicholas, and suggesting that in respect to other parts, reported to be in a decayed state, the vicar would take care that what was proper should be done without delay, has been handed to us as Churchwardens, it being our duty to see that the parish church is kept in repair. Assuming your meaning to be that the decayed parts alluded to ought to be immediately repaired at the expense of the parishioners, we have upon that point made some enquiries, and the result is that it appears that the Corporation has from time immemorial at its own expense repaired the whole of the steeple and belfry of the Church of St. Nicholas hence we conceive that the Corporation cannot do that which will have the effect of casting the liability of making such repairs upon the parish· ioners. We therefore hope that the Corporation will at its own expense continue and complete the reparation it he.a so well begun.-We are, your obedient servants, John Richardson } W. Alder Smith Churchwardens of the Jacob Yellowle)I' Parish of St. Nicholas. Henry lngledew After further correspondence counsel's opinion was taken by the parishioners the advice being that the Corporation were legally liable, after which the Corpor ation carried out the necessary repairs. Mr. Ingledew, in his paper, gave further instances of the Corporation having done repairs to the steeple when they were necessary, and concluded by saying that as the repairs to the belfry and lantern had now been proved to be cast on the burgesses of Newcastle, it was hoped tbat the Corporation would always maintain and keep the same in thorough repair, and so preserve to the town in perpetuity a spire universally admitted to be unequalled for lightness grace, elegance and beauty. Thanks were voted to Mr. In~ledew for his paper. (vol.7* p.116 05/10/1915) The communion plate is des cribed in these Proceedings, 2 ser. III, p. 359, and the bells at p. 39 of the same volume. Since the bells were examined in 1887, several changes have taken place amongst them, the bell of 1658 with its curious inscription, made by John Hodson, has been sold, and is now on the top of Langley castle, having been acquired by the late Mr. C. J. Bates. Three new bells were added in 1914. *vol. 7 in the third series NORHAM (vol.4 pp.244-245 26/05/1890) In the tower of the church there are two bells, both inscribed : - 1. ANTHONY BARTLET MADE MEE 1670 (25 dia. by 19 h. to shoulder.) 2. J: TAYLOR AND c~ FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH (31 dia. by 27 h.) The N's on the first bell are reversed thus, Jif. Anthony Bartlett held the Whitechapel foundry from 164 7 to 1676. A bell is rung every Sunday morning at 8 and 9 o'clock. OLD BEWICK (vol.3 p.337 21/06/1888) In the church are two ancient bronze hand bells which were found during its restoration among the accumulated rubbish under the vault of the apse. They are now chained to the window-sill of the vestry. One has a long handle and is 9t in. high, the bell itself being 3t in., and the dia. at mouth 4t ; the other is 2!1: in. total height with a dia. of 2-k in. OVINGHAM (vol.3 pp.167-168 03/09/1887) There are three BELLS in the tower of the church, all inscribed, two of them being pre-Reformation:- i. (Dia. 2 ft. 4! in., height 1 ft. 9 in.) Suggested reading:- + 0 SANCTA I KA'l'ERINA + THOMAS FECI CAMPANA The inscription on this bell is in small Gothic capitals, and is • probably a fourteenth century bell from a York foundry.' [J.C.L.s.] Under the s· of ' Thomas ' is the letter T and beneath it a heater-shaped shield with a design, probably of the maker. ii. (Dia. 2 ft. 8 in., height 2 ft. 2 in.) :- + IHC + CAMPANA : SANCTI : ANDREE ET OMNIUM SANCTORUM The Gothic capitals forming the inscription on this bell are larger than those on the preceding bell and are very ornate. It is ' clearly 'from the '3 dot' stop a mediaeval fourteenth century bell at latest; Lettering Yery handsome ; very possibly the handiwork of Richard Tunnoe of York (1320-30), to whom the celebrated bell-founder's window at York Minster is dedicated.' [J.C.L.s.] . iii. ( 3 ft. dia. by 2 ft. 5 in. high ) :- J TAYLOR & CO FOUNDERS LOUOHDOROUGB 1879 (vol.3 p.230 28/12/1887) OVINOHAM BELl.. (See P• 168 ). (vol.3 pp.293-294 05/05/1888) (See p. 168.) In the tower of Carlisle Cathedral is a bell dedicated to Mary, one of a ring of four presented by William de Strickland, bishop of Carlisle (1400-19). Of the ring, this, the second, only remains. It is the fifth of the present ring. The letters I : B probably the initials of the maker are upon it. The lettering, which Mr. Whitehead* describes as stately floi;iated • See Tram. Onmb. and West. Antiq. Soc., Vol. viii. p. 185. (continued) OVINGHAM (continued) Gothic capitals, is so exactly like that on the larger of the two ancient bells at Ovingham, that they must have come from the same foundry nnd therefore the latter cannot be by Richard Tunnoe of York. On the Ovingham bell, however, the founder's initials are not to be found. Mr. Whitehead gives woodcuts of the letters A, M and c and the initial cross, these by the kindness of Chancellor Ferguson are here given. The inscription on the Carlisle bell ia :- + IHC + IN : VOCE : BUM : MUNDA : MARIA : SECUNDO : SECUNDA; and immediately below the rnc are a + and the letters r : n. Mr. Whitehead writes that ' On a bell at Dacre, Cumberland, there is· a Lom bardic inscription with the letter A the same as that on the ' Maria ' bell in Carlisle Cathedral, but with the other lettere and the initial + different from it.' PONTELAND (vol.4 p.135 28/08/1889) In the tower are two bells, both inscribed, the older of them probably one of the • ij. belles ' mentioned in the inventory. 1. ,UJ'Q fi:l. '"\ff: J:M_ (24 dia. by 20 h. to crown.) The inscription is in Lombardics with wide spaces between the letters. The • R ' is upside down. A cross with forked ends is on the skirt of the bell, a very unusal place for it. The letters are similar to those on the Alnwick S. Michael bell ( Proc. iii. 79 ) . 2 (tenor). J TAYLOR & co LOUGHBOROUGH 1883. ( 32l dia., 26~ h. to crown, weight 8 cwt.) (vol.7 p.206 30/05/1896) From the parish books the following have been taken :-· 'In the year 1755 a new sett of Communion Plate, &c., was purchased, the account whereof is as follows:- 2 Flaggons .. .. 31 0 0 Given by Chalice & Cover 6 17 8 The Rt. Hon. the Lady Paten .. .. •. 5 18 s Kingston . . . . 10 10 0 Box for the Plate, &c. .. 0 10 8 Sr Arthur Hesilrige Bart . . 10 10 0 A Prayer Book .. 110 0 Nathanael Ogle Esqr . . 5 5 0 A new Table .. .. 110 0 Dr Robinson Warden of 2 Stools .. 0 4 6 Merton Col .. . • 2 2 0 The cre.ckt Bell was sold for 16 5 7 The old Chalice & Flaggon.. 2 18 10 47 10 8 47 6 5 RENNINGTON (vol.4 p.258 30/07/1890) There are two small bells in the tower, both apparently modern. They do not seem to be inscribed. ROCK (vol.4 p.274 24/09/1890) There are two bells which are of the same size, ( 18 dia. x 15 h. to shoulder), in the turret at the west end of the church, both inscribed :- 1. voco VENI PRECARE 1720 in a band of scroll work; oval shield below on which SS [ Ebor 2. R. WATSON 1857 Mr. Bosanguet of Rock Hall has kindly supplied rnbbings of the inscriptions. ROTH BURY (vol.2 p.269 03/09/1886) There are only two bells in the tower, one is modern, the other bears the inscription :- 'John Thomlinson, rector of Rothbury, 1682.' (vol.3 p.158 26/08/1887) There are two BELLS, both inscribed :- i. ( 22 in. in dia. 18~ in. high) : c & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON 1850 ii. (21 in. in dia.17 in. high); IOHN THOMLINSON RECTOR OF R01'HBVRY 1682 the founder's mark of three bells, 1 and 2 in a circle of leaves, the mark of James Bartlett of the Whitechapel Foundry from 1676 to 1700. SHILBOTEL (vol.3 p.295 05/05/1888) In the large belfry of the church are two bells :- 1. The date 1857 only upon it (24 dia. x 18 high). 2. J: TAYLOR AND c~. FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 1885 (39 dia. x 27 high). SIMONBURN (vol.3 p.228 27/12/1887) There are two bells in the turret, one ( dia. lft. Sin.) with the date 1751 only, upon it, so the rector ( Canon Rogers) informs me. STAMFORD HAM (vol. 4 p.136 28/08/1889) In the tower of the church is one bell (25 dia. by 20 h.) with a foliated band round the shoulder, inscribed : R' WATSON NEWCASTLE 1820 STANNINGTON (vol-4 p.184 18/12/1889) Temp. Ed. VI. at ' STAINGTON.' there were ' a selver challes, price xxs., towe bells, towe hand belles, one erase, ii pott of brasse, iiij. vestments, iii. 11lbes, iij. alterclothes, iiij. towelles, a teine crowett' ( 22 Sur. Soc. xlix ). · In the tower of the church there is one bell, 29 dia. and 22 h. to shoulder. It bears the maker's name and the date 1759. THOCKRINGTON (vol.4 p.109 29/07/1889) There are two bells in the bell-cot iit the west end, but owing to being so difficult of access they could not be examined. TWEEDMOUTH (vol.4 p.268 31/08/1890) There is one bell in the tower 23! dia. x 18;\ h. to shoulder, inscribed round tho sound bow •••••• BUBRow 1784. TYNEMOUTH (vol.3 pp.21-22 30/03/1887) The original peal of bells consisted of six bells cast in 1787 by Thomas Mears and Son of the Whitechapel Foundry, London. The bells were rung for the first time on the Queen's Birthday, January, 1788. They were given by James Storey, Esq., one of the principal inhabitants of the Parish of Tynemouth. In connection with these bells Mr. John Armstrong of Church Street, Ship and Insurance Agent, who died in 1858, informed the writer, that the first set of bells intended for the Church, was lost on the passage from London to the Tyne, and the second set, the gift of Mr. Storey, was brought from London in a ship called the 'Happy Return,' in which Mr. Armstrong was serving as an apprentice. He was born in 1771 and would therefore be sixteen when the bells were brought from London. In 1807 the tenor bell was cracked and a new one cast by the firm who had made the original bells. In the year 1874 the old peal was increased to 8 bells by the addition of 2 new treble and tenor bells, the weight of the new tenor being 19 cwt. These 2 bells were presented to the Church by John Joicey, Esq. of Newton Hall, and John Straker, Esq. of Stagshaw House, who was born in the Parish of Tynemouth, and were cast by Messrs. Mears and Stainbank, successors to the firm who cast the original bells. When the bells were hung, the old bells were re-hung with new fittings, wheels, ropes, &c. The addition of the new bells made the peal one of the finest in the County of Northumberland, and ringers from far and near have come to handle these bells. Change-ringing on scientific principles is practised greatly on these bells, and from this Church originated the Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers. In the year 1878 Miss Maria. Wheately of Dockwray Square, a parishioner, presented to the Church two more bells in memory of her father and mother, making the peal to consist of ten bells, this being the only ring of ten bells in the Dioceses of Durham and Newcastle. The last-mentioned two new bells were dedicated to the honour of God by a special service in the belfry, at which nearly 200 of the parishioners were present, on Christmas Eve, 1878. Several peals of 5,000 changes have been rung on these bells, the time occupied in ringing each peal of 5 ,OOO changes was about three hours. INSCRIPTIONS ON THE BELLS. I. (TREBLE BELL.) ' In memory of William Wheatley, erected by his daughter, Maria Wheatley, Christmas, 1878. Thomas Brutton, M.A., Vicar.' II. (SECOND BELL.) 'In memory of Margery Wheatley, erected by her daughter, Maria Wheatley, Christmas, 1878. Thomas Brutton, M.A., Vicar.' III. (THIRD BELL. ) 'Given by John Joicey of Newton Hall, 1874.' [These three bells have in addition: MEARS & STAINBANK, FOUNDERS, LONDON.] IV.-VIII. W. & T. MEARS, LATE LESTER, PACK & CIIAPMAN FECIT 1787. IX. ' Rev. Charles Charleton, Vicar. Robert Laing, Esq. } Shallet Dale, Esq. Churchwardens.' Albert Liddell. Esq. And the founders' names : T. MEARS & SON FECIT 1807. X. ( TENOr BELL.) ' Tms PEAL OF BELLS WAS COMPLETED BY J THE ADDITION OF A NEW TENOR, PRESENTED I BY JOHN STRAKER, AND A NEW TREBLE RAISED BY-SUBSCRIPTION HENRY WILLIAM FAWCUS AND WILLIAM REED GOT IT DONE 1873. MEARS & STAINBANK, FOUNDERS, LONDON. (vol.10 p.282 02/08/1902) At the time of the Disso-luti,m there ,;,ere at Tyuemnuth priory, 6 bell~, 62 ounces of gold, and 1827~ onuces of silver, besides jewels aud riugs.7 ULGHAM (vol.5 pp.22-23 25/03/1891) Temp . Edward VI. (22 Sur. Soc. xlviii) there were at "Owgham. Towe vest ments, towe alterclothes·, towe towelles, one challes of selver, a sakringe bell, one hand belle, towe renginge belles." All these have disappeared as have also the "silver cup and cover, 1571, with that running pattern which is very general through the country " mentioned in the notes of Archdeacon Singleton's visita tion of the lst June, 1826. They were probably destroyed when the new chalice and paten were obtained in 1848. The bell now in the cot on the west gable is said to bear the inscription : 'Robert Lawson Thomas Potts 1684 '. It is about 2 i ins. in diameter. The following are extracted from the churchwardens' accounts : 1688 for gaoll money •• 00 :08 more for a bell rope •. 01.02 1695 It. for ye Bell roapes 00:02:00 1700 pd for a Bell rope &a chine 00:02:00~ 1704 pd for mending the bell •• 00:00:06 1705 pd for repaireing ye bell ehaine •• 00:01:06 1718 for a Bell Rope • • . • • • 00 01 06 1714 mending ye Chain of ye.Bell & a Band to ye door 0 2 0 1721 for cutting the fourm & putting up the bell Rope • • • • o :·o: ·a· 1729 Pd to James Marshal for Ale - ) Note this ale was given when 0: 0: 6 Pd to Henry Bewly for Ale }- ye Bell w&l! taken down & ) hung up agam 0: 4: 0 Pd to Robt Davison for carrying bell . • • • • • 0: 1: 6 Pd In pt for mending the Bell .• 0: 5: 0 WALLSEND (vol.3 p.295 05/05/1888) In the church tower here there are two bells, both inscribed :- i. THOMAS OSBORN FECIT DOWNHAM NORFOLK 1801 ! :-:- (25 dia. by 18h.) ii. TJIE GIFT OF loHN WATSON OF WILLNGTON [sic] 1811 ~ (26~ d1a. by 22 h.) At Godmanchester, Hunts, at Foldon, Norfolk (Notes WARDEN (vol.4 p.159 25/09/1889) In the ancient tower of S Michael's church there are three modern b~lls, placed. there by canon Cruddas the rector in 1878, thefr respective diameters berng 19L 21, and 24 inches. All bear the inscription cox & soNs, FOUNDERS l"Ound the haunch, and in an oblong label with the angles taken off on the waist : IN MEMORIAM I JANE CRUDDAS I 1878. In 1578 Matthew Leadbeater was parish clerk ( 22 Sur. Soc. 31 ). WARK (vol.2 pp.9-10 28/01/1885) A CHINESE BELL: The Rev. S. Beal, rector of Wark, professor of Chinese in University College, clescribed a curious Chinese bell which was found under a dwelling-house in the town, forwarded by Colonel Collingwood to Dr. Bruce, and afterwards sent to him for examination, he said that he had written a short paper on the bell for the meeting, but, unfortunately, by an accident it had been destroyed, so therefore he m ;st just s.ty a few words to them on the subject. The Chinese or Buddhist conception of the spiritual world was that of sphere rising upon sphere, in natural rrogression; and the Chinese were in the habit of hanging these bells one above another on their pagoda~ to typify this belief. When the air passed upon the bell it made a pleasing sound and this symbolised the "music of the spheres." There were 13 platforms in these pagodas, and they became gradually less and less until the topmost one was reached, where there was a flame denoting the highest sphere of the Divinity. The inscription on the bell-to put Chinese characters into English letters as near as possible-w~s SBE NGAN which meant the four quarters of the world at rest, while the othe1· words were PH!G KHE which signified a wish for the prosperity of the seasons, and at the bottom the!e · was a scroll, called the Meander Scroll, which was a charm against evil influences. The PRESIDENT thanked Professor Beal for his account of the bell, which he said was of very deep interest as it pertained to Chinese religious ideas and showed they had high and poetical conceptions. WARKWORTH (vol.3 p.149 26/08/1887) Some of the members ascended the tower of the church to examine the bells, both of which are modern and uninscribed. One is 2 ft. 3 in. in diameter and 1 ft. 9 in. high, the other is 2 ft. n in. in diameter and 2 ft. 1 in. high. WHALTON (vol.4 p.136 28/08/1889) In the tower of the church there is one modern bell ( 24 dia. by 18 h. to shoulder) inscribed i- . H. MARSHALL NEWCASTLE 1824 UPON TYNE. (vol.7 p.213 30/05/1896) In 1796 Ralph Bates, esq., major of His Majesty's 6th or Inniskilling regiment of dragoons, placed a clock in the tower, and in 1824 a new bell was added. The bell was ca•t by H. Marshall of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. WHITFIELD (vol.4 p.300 17/12/1890) In the time of Edward VI. ( 22 Sur. l:loc. xlviii) there were "one selver challes, weinge vi. onces, one westment, towe alterclose, ii. belles in the steppe!!, one crouet, one lytill bell ". All these have disappeared. There is a bell in a turret at the west end of the old church, apparent!,!! inscribed, but it is out of reach. In the new church is a bell 36 ins. dia. by 26' high to shoulder, inscribed G MEARS FOUNDER LONDON 1860. WHITTINGHAM (vol.3 p. 98 29/06/1887) Owing to the absence of the Vicar (Mr. Shield) neither the bells nor the commun ion plate could be examined; indeed, the Church door being locked, some time was spent in hunting for the key to obtain access to the edifice. A member of the Society-the Rev. W. Taylor (of the Catholic Church there)-has since examin6d the two bells. He says "the larger on which the 'Jubilee Clock' strikes, measures 24 ins. in dia., 221\- ins. height of top; the other 20£ ins. in dia., 2H ins. from lip to top. Neither is inscribed." WHITTONSTALL (vol.5 P-48 27/05/1891) The bell in the cote on the west gable, cast by Taylor or Loughborough, is modern. It was presented to the church by the late vicar-:-the Rev. Ca~on L_o'.'" WIDDRINGTON (vol.4 p.185 18/12/1889) The bell is in a turret at the west end of the church out of reach. WOOD HORN (vol.3 p.392 29/08/1888) In the tower of the church are two bells, one of them, a long-waisted flat-topped bell (about 24 high and the same in dia.), is without inscription; and the other (19 h. by 24 dia. ), a pre-Reformation bell, is inscribed:- [ + [ t_lQ.fo:I_ :Bt:{JP.I.. with what appear to be roses between the letters. WOOLER (vol.3 p.329 21/06/1888) The bell is 18 ins. high and 23 in. in dia. and is without inscription. The vicar, the Rev. J. S. Pickles, 'cannot learn any further about the preceding bell, except that tradition says it came originally from Durham and had a very pleasant sound. On the occasion of the marriage of the Prince of Wales, the loyalty of Wooler was shewn by the ringing of the bell o the parish church. The ringers, exhausted with their loyal labours, and sundry potations, ascended to the belfrywith a hammer, with a view of producing sounds more easily. The result was a cracked bell, which the churchwardens of the time, instead of having recast, exchanged for the present bell.' 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