In Considering the Bells of a Scottish County It Is Important to Remember the Main Facts with Regard to the Character and Use Of

E CHURCTH H BELL F LINLITHGOWSHIREO S 1 6 .

IV.

E CHURCTH H BELL F LINLITHGOWSHIREO S . EELESC . F ,Y B . F.R.HiST.S., F.S.A. SOOT. In considering the bells of a Scottish county it is important to remembe maie th r n facts wit hbellf o regarcharactee e sth us o dt d an r in Scotland as a whole, as compared with England. During the later middle ages, as church bells increased in size and number, we find three methods growing up in regard to their arrangement. Sometimes bells were multiplie churca n di h tower without regarmusicae th o dt l relatio f theio n r notes, suc ha collectio f bellno s being rung together t haphazarda single th r eo , bells used separately. e Thith , s is was d ,an practice in the neighbouring parts of the Continent and in the larger churches of Scotland. In England, on the other hand, the tendency was to arrange the bells so that their notes formed part of a scale, and to ring them successively as well as all together, or each separately. A third metho e Continentth n Scotlani n do d ,an d thougn i t no h England, was to cast a large number of small bells upon which tunes could be played. After the Reformation period there was a great developmen e Continenth n o t thesf o t e musical bells sete f whicth ,s o h are know carillons na belle th s s: themselves were fixed " dead,t i s "a is called, and struck by hammers operated by a system of wires attached to a row of keys or levers. These carillons, unknown in England r largeou f ro ,Scottis w existee Continentfe th a n hn o di d an , O ' ' O churches, as additions to the other collections of much bigger bells, which were rung by ropes. In England, after the Reformation, there wa a paralles l though different development. Hero en thers wa e •carillon of many musical bells, but the collection of large bells, whose notes had all along formed part of the scale, was itself developed, and after the Restoration of Charles II. all the larger churches began to 2 6 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH P O S , DECEMBE , 9 1912R . r eigho hav x t si ebell s e majotuneth o drt scale, this number being afterwards increasetwelver o n te . o dt This developmen accoms wa t - panied by, and in its later stages was largely due to, the peculiarly English growth of change-ringing, which also caused the bells to be made extremely heavy, and to be hung in such a way that they could be easily manipulated. Wherea large sth eContinene bellth n so d an t Scotlann i merele dar y hung between beam gentld san y swunfrod ,an go t the heavy English bells are hung in a special kind of frame, with an apparatus of wheels, stays, and sliders, by which they can be swung right roun madd dan reso et t mouth upwards when necessaryt Ye . e lesth s massively cast Continental bells have frequently attaineda greater size. To put the whole matter in a few words : as far as bells are con- cerned, Scotlan s tildlha recently been Continenta practicen i l d an , little t alla f ,i , influence Englandy db . s alsi ot I worth whil o notict e e that wherea n mani s y partf o s England village churches had towers, each containing several bells, in Scotland, even in the richer districts, the country churches seldom had towers and seldom more than a single bell each. n vieI f thesw o t surprisin no e s facti t i so fingt d that froe mth fifteenth century to the middle of the eighteenth, bells were frequently imported into Scotland fro Netherlandse mth thad an ,t bell Scottisf so h make were cast on the Dutch or Flemish model, in some cases their very ornaments being actual reproductions of those on Dutch bells. In England foreign bells are remarkably rare. Bells in Scotland have been but little studied. The writer believes tha e accounth t f thoso t f Kincardineshireeo , whic e publisheh n di 1897, t 'ipresena s e onlth t y book dealing systematically wity an h e subjectth par f o t . Since tha s collectet ha tim e h e d materiar fo l similar account e churcth f so h bell Aberdeenshiref so f thoso f d eo an , Kirkcudbrightshir d Wigtownshirean e , besides examining numerous bell n Roxburghshirei s , Midlothian, Fife, Forfarshire d elsewherean , . THE CHDECH BELLS OF LINLITHGOWSH1KE. 63

The result of these investigations has been to confirm the views set e introductioth fort n i h o Churcht n Bells f Kincardineshire,o d an briefly outlined above.

Linlithgowshire or West Lothian is a small county consisting of thirteen parishes, one of which, Whitburn, only dates from 1718, when it was taken from that of Livingston. While it is possible that there may once have been separate parishe f Binninso Auldcathied gan t i , therithay sw sa truno te o t eonl y remain twelv churchesd ol e r o , churches representin churchesd gol whicn i , h ancient bells remair no whicn i h they could have survived. The olde classifiee rb belly sma d thus :—

,T, „ -,. , C2 Scottish. (I.mediaeva3 ) l |j DoubtfuL (II. seventeent5 ) h f2 Scottish, century ]^3 Dutch. Dutch1 / . (III.) 4 eighteenth } 1 Danish, century "S 1 English. ( 1 Doubtful.

Six parish churches now have modern bells, viz. Bathgate, Dalmeny, Ecclesmachan, Abercorn, Bo'ness, and Whitbuin, although at Bath- gate one of the bells is recast from an older one whose date it records, and at Abercorn and Bo'ness the older bells are still left. Of the three mediaeval bells, the earliest is probably the old bell now carefully preserved in the modern parish church of Bo'ness (fig. 1). Thivera s si y fine smooth casting wit gooha d e canontonth e; e sar large, plain and rounded, the shoulder is large and rounded off on to the crown, on which there are no rims or mouldings. Above and below the inscription are rims and shallow mouldings ; there are three rims whicf largeste o , th e middl s hi th e , immediateleon y above 64 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , DECEMBE , 19129 R . e soundbow th smalo tw ld onean , s abovinscriptioe e lipTh th e. n is in Lombardic letters, and is as follows: —

+ EN : KATERINA : VOCOR : VT : PER : ME : VIRGINIS : ALME

Fig . Mediaeva1 . l Bel t Bo'nessa l .

The initial cross, the stops, and the letters are each upon a separate rectangular die whicf o , groundwore hth bees kha n enriched with some kin f ornament do regularle ar l Al .y placed t closse , o eact e h other E CHDECTH H BELL F LINLITHGOWSHIEEO S .

and close to the rims above and e belowe letterinth Th s . ha g appearance of having been much ornamentae use wornd th dd an an , - tion on the dies or paterae is very indistinct. The shape of the bell seems to indicate the middle of the fifteenth century as the prob- able date, but the lettering may well be from much earlier stamps (fig. 2) - I have been unable to find another instanc f thio e s lettering either herEnglandn i r eo . Similar letterin s commogi n Englandi n , bu t I discovecannotye s a t r another case wher identicals i t ei . The inscriptio whas ni knows i t n as a Leonine hexameter, but it is obviously incomplete, and was no doubt continued upon another bell. t KatharinS e patronesth s i e f o s d parisol e h th churc f Kinneilo h , the double belfry of which is still standing, and the bell is doubtless a paion f o er casthar fo t t church. Bo'ness Churc s originallwa h a y chape n Kinneii l s l Parishwa d an , buil n 1634i t s ;give .ie wa tth n status of a separate parish in 1649, but this was suppressed in 1669, since which time it has taken the FIG. 2. Initial Cross and Lettering i Bel t Bo'nessa l . VOL. XLVII. 5 66 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBEE 9, 1912.

place of the old church of Kinneil as the church of that parish, which has since gone by the name of Borrowstounness. The bell was probably brought from Kinneil when that church fell into ruin t hun:i g in the belfry of the old church of Bo'ness till the new one was built in 1887. Its place has been taken by a large new bell, cast by Taylor of Loughborough in 1894, and it is now preserved in the new parish churc objecn a s historif ha o t c valu interestd ean . The othe mediaevao tw r greae l th bell e t bellar s thirde th , t Lina , - lithgowe bel t th Uphalla l d an , . Thes froe e samar em th e foundry, and are of undoubted Scottish casting. The Linlithgow bell is 34f inche diameterhigrathea n sd i s han ha r t pointeI . d crown, with very large angular canons, quite plainshouldee Th . s surroundei r d with rims and mouldings, so large and numerous as to give the bell a somewhat overloaded, though massive appearance. The waist is long rathed an r straight soundboe Th . wcomparativels i y smal prod an l- jecting. There are simple mouldings above it ; just above the lip is a wide hollow moulding, very shallow t particularl tone no s Th ei . y clappegoode Th . moderns ri . The inscription is chiefly in black letter, with a few small Lombardic capitals:—

LYnlithq+ ville m feciwaS S vocoS t almS r mariS a TurS a iacobnS S i quarti S tempore S magnifioiSeno millenoquadringeno S nonageno. The black letter is in fairly high relief, but the whole inscription is very thickly set, and is not very clear. The 1's are rather more ornate e th t a tha e otheY nth d r an letterse Lombardic L Th e . th e ar s beginnin wore th df g o " Lynlithqw, initiae "f "th e o Turn, th T l d "an final S of " magnificiS." These Lombardic letters are very plain, and are too small for the inscription, being the same height as the black letters, viz. f inch (fig. 3)/ Immediately unde initiae th r lbeginnin e crosth t inscripe sa th f go - tion, the rims and mouldings are broken by the insertion of a large THE CHUttCH BELLS F UNLITHGOWSHIRE.O . 67

crown, which surmount shieldsa , bearin royae gth l arm f Scotlandso , e belle waisth th f . f o to Thi p to s shielplacee th s 2t di da | inches

cw--.J.v ••- A --• ^^_,^gy^ ;^j.

FIG. 3. Part of Inscription and Ornament on the Third Bell at Linlithgow. (Fro mcast.a )

broad by 3-| inches high, and immediately below it is a smaller shield, 1! inches broa Iy fb d inches high whicn o , circulaa s hi r medallion 68 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 9, 1912. seemingly representing the burgh seal, which here bears a half-length figure of an angel, surrounded by an illegible black letter inscription, and holding a shield charged with the greyhound and tree, in later times considered the reverse of the seal of Linlithgow (fig. 4).

i |lStjS;^WVS:J&* "•#$& -...ip 5gS»a*e ' ^^^^^^^^^i^ppmwsro^1^ I ^--^, -1 ^m^^m^-fmx-

Fig. 4. Initial Cross and Coats of Arms Fig . Founder'5 . s Mar d parkan t on the Third Bell at Linlithgow. (From of Soundbow of the Third Bell a cast.) at Linlithgow. (From a oast.)

In a direct line below the cross and shields, and immediately above e soundbowth a rectangula s i , e bearin di t rAndrew' S a g s cross, followe blaca y db k letter " t," thut (fig. ThesX 5) s.: 1e J ear inche s high. They a founder' appeae b o t r s mark. They also appean i r same th e bele plac t Uphallth la n eo bela t Dundonald,n la o 1503 d an , , THE CHURCH BELLS OF LINLITHGOWSHIKE. 69

Ayrshire, 1495. It may therefore be considered certain that these three bells are by the same founder. The little Uphall bell, which is only 13| inches wide at the mouth, is a very similar casting, except that it is smoother, neater, and better proportioned. It is inscribed in black letter, which, like the Lin- lithgow inscription, has a few Lombardic capitals of a size too small. The inscription runs :—

x Inonore Sanote Nicholas Campana Ecolegie de strabork Anno Don! [on waist] MDV° iii

The initial cross, which is exactly like that at Linlithgow, but smaller places positioe i ,t Andrew'S th a n di f no s cross. Beloa wt i shield, with the arms of Seton and Hay quarterly, occupies the whole waiste o th abovfd ,an soundbowe eth , t alreadbeloX datee e wth th ys ,i referred to. The I in the inscription is a black letter capital; the other capitals are Lombardics (figs. 6 and 7). Another bell by the same founder is at Dundonald in Ayrshire. It is 16| inches wide at the mouth, and is inscribed :—

Sanot+ enobio egidipr sa anneor i mo°dn ccco° lxxxxvto

The cross is like that at Linlithgow, there is the same cresting of fleur-de-lys waiste belo th shouldere n wsame th o . th t eX d an , It is clear that, whoever he was, this founder was casting bells in this part of Scotland from 1490 to 1503, but there is nothing known at present which will revea s identithi l r wheryo workede eh bele lTh . at Dalgety in Fife may be his ; it is not dated and has no Xt, but the lettering is similar and the fleur-de-lys crest is the same. There is another similar bel t Fowlia l s Easter, dated 1508 alsd ,an o without the Xt. At Giles'S t , Elgin bela s i l, dated 1502, wit hblaca k letter inscription in similar lettering to that at Linlithgow, though of a little larger Lombardice ar s o' e sizeTh , .rathe r larger tha largese nth t Uphalla t , •70 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , DECEMBE , 19129 R .

but smaller than the smallest Lombardics at Linlithgow. Immediately belo e grouwth f rimo p s beneat e inscriptioth h e letterth e sar n a simpl s i t Andrew'eS X XESte Th . s cross like that which forms

11 v If rfSfl'tt'fi*i

Fig . Par6 . Inscriptionf o t Shield 'an d Fig . Par7 . Inscriptionf o t , with Date on Waist of Bell at Uphall. (From d Founder'an s Mark Beln o t , a l a cast.) Uphall. (From a cast.)

e founder'th par f o t e smalar s s marl d t Linlithgoa kan E e th w ; Lombardics e samth , e siz s thosa e t Uphallea ; the' s veri t y rudely formed and is more like a rough representation of a hammer than a black letter t. It seems reasonable to conclude that we have here the THE CHURCH BELLS OF LINLITHGOWSHIKE. 7l

same founder's mar anothen ki r form, wit founder'e hth s initiale th n si middle. At Elgin the X is f of an inch high; at Linlithgow and Uphall, If inches. t CloseburnA , Dumfriesshire bela GHy s b i l, , probably George Hog, cast in the " Potterraw" (Edinburgh?) in 1606. Here the founder use e crownesth d hamme e Edinburgth f o r h Hammermen Incorpora- tion as his mark, with his initials on either side. It may be con- jectured from this tha some tb thery e connectioma e n betweee nth hammer-lik Elgie e distinc e th " f t n"th o d beltan l hammer usey b d e case Hogth f thi I e , b s.thes e bell y possibls ma wit t yX h have been cas Edinburgn i t foundra t ht a bee ye ynt tracedwhicno s hha . At Queensferry is a fine seventeenth-century Dutch bell, cast in e well-know163th y 5b n founder Michael Burgerhuy f Middelburgo s , who cast many bells for Scotland, notably the great bell of St Nicholas, Aberdeen, "Auld Lowrie," whic brokes fire f 1874hwa th eo n i . This bell, like "Auld Lowrie, lona s g" ha inscriptio morn i e tha linee non , and in lettering of two sizes, and it has the same ornament of dragon- headed strapwork above the inscription. Burgerhuys' bells are still very commo Scotlandn ni exceptionalln t a thi bu s ,i s y ornate example. While man f they o e vermar y much alike d have an , th e same inscription, with nothing to connect them with the churches where they hang, it is clear that this bell was actually cast for Queensferry.1 Until recas n 1884i t e samth , a bel ey thers b lfounde wa e t a r Bathgate, dated 1620. Next in date, and also of Dutch origin, is the bell at Carriden, cast by Peter Ostens of Rotterdam in 1674. This has Ostens' mark—a recumbent ox—and the same lettering and ornaments as his bell at Banchory Ternan, Kincardineshire, casyearn te t s earlier. Like that t Kinneffa e on e , th Kincardineshire beld an l castine th , s almosgi s a t writee 1Th r intend illustrato st e Burgerhuys's ornament letterind san a n gi Churce worth n ko h Bell Aberdeenshirf so preparationen i lon whics d ha g ha e hh . 72 PKOCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , DECEMBE , 19129 R . smooth as a piece of plate, and the frieze of grapes and vine leaves extremely refined and delicate1 (fig. 8). Another Dutc e Tolbootth hn i bel s hi l Steepl t Queensferrya e ,

Fig . Bel 8 .y Pete b l r Osten f Rotterdamo s , 1664 t Banehora , y Ternan, Kin- cardineshire, showin ga bel l almost exactly like tha f Carrideno t e th y b , same founder, with the same lettering, founder's mark, and ornaments.

dated 1694, and cast by Adriaen Dop. It is a small plain casting, wit inscription ha lineso tw ,n i an ornameno dn t except what appears Churche 1Se Bells oPlatd f Kincardineshire,an . , eI 24 d an 5 1 . pp E CHURCTH H BELL P LINLITHGOWSHIKEO S . 73 a smal e b e beginninl th o rost e t inscriptiona eth f o g mucw no ,h corroded. This bell is now disused.

Fig. 9. Part of Inscription and Ornaments on the First Bell at Linlithgow. (From a cast.)

The first at Linlithgow is certainly a Dutch "bell, and probably cast at Amsterdam. The account for taking down, shipping to Holland, and recasting this bell is preserved among the burgh records of Lin- lithgow, with a letter from one Andrew Storie, the shipmaster, who 74 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 9, 1912.

writes from Amsterdam on 24th March 1719, and speaks of the bell as of " 145|lb. Amsterdams weight." The inscription runs:

+ ClVITAS LlMNTJCHT ME FECIT AMPUOKEM ME DE NtTO ANNO DOMINI J7J8VO 'AEEGNI GEOBGY REGIS 5TO VOCOB SICUT QUONDAM MEG DUNCAN

The letterin rathegs i r irregularly place singla n do e wide band, with no division betweelineso tw .e nth Abov smala s ei l indistinct frieze; belo bordea ws i acanthuf ro s leaves waise verth n reliefi , n w tyO lo . e armth therf Linlithgo o e s ar e s upow a reverse th n eburge oth f h seal, within a wreath formed of two branches of palm (?), the lower end f whico s e upo li he moulding nth s between wais soundbowd an t . letterine Th s vergi y sharhign i clead hd pan reliean r f (fig. .9) With these Low Country bells must be classed the late eighteenth- century Danish bell ,tim e whicon e t hunha t Abercorga n Churcht bu , preservew ino s t Hopetoua d e mosnth Houses ti elaboratel t I . y ornamented bell in the district, and is inscribed : — SOLIDEO GLORI0TROSCHEL+ + FECI E M M T+ A+ L + COPENHAGEM + Ag J78J-

Owaise nlarga th s i t e monogra surmounteT mC crowa y db n with five archefloraa d lan s ornamen eacn o t h letterine sideTh . verys gi plain. Abov d belo an e inscriptio wth a vigorou s i n s bordef o r acanthus leaves. Turning to the later bells of Scottish casting, we find a bell at Kirkliston inscribed : — [Head in wreath] FOR • KIRKLISTOVN • SOLI • DEO • GLORIA. [Head in wreath] ANNO • J687 : It was cast by John Meikle, of Edinburgh, who has reproduced Ostens' strawberry-leaf border belo inscriptione wth Burgerhuysd an , ' strapwork frieze above letteringe Th . largs i bold d ean . THE CHURCH BELL LINLITHaOWSHIKEF O S 5 7 .

At Torphichen is a later and plainer example of Meikle's work, dated 1700, wit usuas hhi l small thick letterin ornamentso n d gan . In the Tolbooth Steeple at Queensferry is a bell of somewhat commonplace English appearance inscribed :— DONX E O HENRJCJ CVNJNGHAME DE BOQVHAN J72J.

There is a similar bell at Buchanan, in Stirlingshire, and some small ones not unlike it in the carillon in Stirling Town Steeple. The only other bell in the county cast before the nineteenth century e seconth s i t Linlithgowda , whic pooa s hi r specime e worth f f ko no e ubiquitouth s Whitechapel foundry, London, cas Pacy b t Chapk& - ma n 1773ni d onlan ,y remarkabl s havina e largo gtw e medallions upo waise nth t displayin obverse gth d reverse burgan eth f o he seal very roughly represented. handbellso Thertw t Torphichene a ear e on , , datet a de 1734on d an , Queensferry Town Steeple, originally cast by John Meikle at Edinburgh in 1692 t recasbu , 1823n i t . Amosn si t part f Scotlandso traditioe th , n remain Linlithgown si - shire of ringing the bells of the parish churches at some early hour o casestw r n ,servicei fo viz s d wela s a .an l, Linlithgo d an w Livingston bela , runs i l g immediately after service. It is well known that in post-Reformation times a bell was rung for the service that was conducted by the reader before the minister came in. The early bell ringings still remaining are no doubt survivals of this, but in the country parishes, at any rate, they also probably come down from a still earlier time. In the mediaeval church the Sunday morning service consisted of matins with lauds, prime and terce, followed by a procession and the principal mass of the day. The early bell ringin y originallma g y have been tha r matinsfo t e seconth , d tha r processiofo t r massfo r n,o continue post-Reformation di n times for the reader's service and the minister's service, the ringing for the modern 12 o'clock service being a later addition. Thus the early 76 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 9, 1912.

ringings remain, thoug servicee hth s which gave ris theo et gonee mar . It is rash to dogmatise, but it has been somewhat hastily assumed that these early ringing e merelar s y e reader'relicth f o s s service. Similar customs survived in England, where there was no such long tradition of a reader's service, but where the other services had been transferred to a later time. It is often impossible accurately to identify the particular ringings, and in many cases, especially in towns, they have no doubt been gradually transferred to later hours. At Linlithgow, on 8th November 1529, it was agreed by the Town Council, " thae parocth t h clerk ryn e matigth n bel t fyva l e houris in somyr and sex houris in winter, and to ryng the bell at evin, bayth somyr and winter, as consuetude is, and nychtlie to ryng curfowe." t woulI belle dth seef si wers ma e onl yservicee runth r g fo choi n si r and at the high altar, and not for any of the numerous masses which were sai t sidda e altars every half-hour fro ma.m5 summern .i 6 r o , in winter, until noon. And it is clear that in the case of great churches like Linlithgow, the times of ringing have frequently been altered. It rathes countre i th n ri y tow e thath nn i churches thareasonabls i t ti e oldese th looo t r ktfo survival timesn si ringingf o ' . After the Eeformation the ringing and the services at Linlithgow l arlateral e , e eveningexcepe earlth th n e yi n tI th par . f o t seventeenth centur e reader'yth a.m.8 s t therd servica ,an s ewa e was ringing for this at 7, 7.30, and 8. The preaching was at 9.30, and was rung for at 8.30, 9, and 9.30. Evening service was at 5. The ringer was ordered to ring " as lang as ane may gang betwixt e Wes th e Kirk."tth Pord an 1t e LinlithgoTh w Obits r foundationo , r anniversarfo s y requiem service particular sfo r person familiesr so l contaial , entry—e nth e "th Beadle, for ringing the bell through the town, ii d." These run from

1 Burgh Records, 10th January 1623, qu. Ferguson, Ecclesia Antiqua, Edin., 1905; p. 66. THE CHURCH BELL P L1NLITHGOWSHIREO S . 77

142 1556.o 5t x This coursef o , , ringinrefere "e th deid-bell,th o st f go " or parish handbell, the use of which at the actual funeral procession survived all over Scotland almost till within living memory. TABLE SHOWING TIMES OP KINGING OF CHURCH BELLS ON SUNDAYS. N.B.—The small figure e sparticula refeth o t r r bells used, thus 92 means that the second bell is rung at 9 o'clock. " 15 m." = fifteen minutes during which the bells are rung; in other cases they are rung for five minutes or less. Square brackets indicate that former ringing at that hour is now discontinued.

PABISH. TIMP O E TIM SERVICP O E E TIMF O E RINGING. AND RINGING. RINGING.

Bathgate 82 102 II2 (15 m.) Ecclesmachan [8] 10 12 Queensferry 8 10 ) 11.3m. 5 0(1 Torphichen 8 10 12 (15m.) Uphall . 8 12 Linlithgow 92 103 11.151-2-8 (15m.) I3 Kirkliston 9 10.30 (Sun1 1 . Sch.2 1 ) Livingston 9 [10] 12 ' 1.30 Carriden 9 12 Abercorn 2 1 0 10.30 Dalmeny 10 12 Whitburn 10 12

TABLE SHOWING TIME F RINGINO S F TOWGO N F BELLSO D AN , CHURCH BELL WEEN O S K DAYS.

PLACE. A.M. P.M.

Bathgate (church) 62 102 Bo'ness 5.30 9 1 6 Exc. 8 Exc Sat. Sat. Kirkliston (church. ) 5 sum. 5.30 spr. and aut. 8 6 winter. Linlithgow 5.40 10 126 Queensferry [5 summer, 6 winter] 8 Exc. 10 Sat. Sat. only.

1 Ferguson at.,336-348. . pp op , . 78 PROCEEDINGS OP THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 9, 1912.

BELFRIES. north-ease th n I Scotlanf o t d remarkablthera s ewa e local development of ornate belfries of very striking design in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Even in the eighteenth century some good ones were built d rican h, example f earlieo s r date were sometimes preserved from older churches. Linlithgowshire cannot be said to present belfrie f exceptionao s thal e w meritar fe t t a ther bu ,e ar e deservin f mentiono g t AbercornA . , upo e gablth n e ovee th r chancel arch, is a simple arched belfry with a saddle-back top, absolutely devoid of ornament, and probably dating from the thirteenth century (fig. 10). e simplesThith s si t possible kin f stondo e belfry, and is the type from which the others developed. There is a double belfry of similar type, but probably later in date, on the west gable of Kinneil old church, now in ruins, and the sill of one on the eas te Whit e choigablth th f f o reo e Friars' churc t hQueensferrya . This is a most unusual position for a belfry. afted sixteente an th r n I h centur a ydevelopmen t took placn i e Scottish belfries. They were built much deeper from back to front, the sides were pierced, and the roof made pyramidal, various ornamental accessories, such as pinnacles and angle shafts, being added. Latterly this kind of belfry degenerated into a structure like a rough stone imitation of a bird-cage, generally finished with a ball on the top—a for f belfrmo y whic a familia s i h r feature barn-likth f o e e churches with which Scotlan s coverewa d d froe earlmth y part of the eighteenth century to the end of the first quarter of the nineteenth. t QueensferrA y ther gooa s ei d plain belfr ye sam builth t ea t time churche asth squars i 1635n ,i t I planpyramidaa n e. i s ,ha l roofd an , is very plain. At Kirkliston there is a belfry with square pillars at each corner, the edges of which are chamfered; it has a low pyramidal roofdiminutivd an , e pinnacle e cornersth t sa , each crowned wita h E CHURCTH H BELLS OP LINLITHGOWSHIEE. 79

small ball. There is a weather-cock on the top. It probably dates fro me seventeent th lat n ei h century soms i t feeI e5 . t squard ean

Fig. 10. Thirteenth-century Belfry over Chancel Arch at Abercorn.

fee5 t 4: inches from sil corniceo e pillart l th 10e d sar Jan , inches thick. Two broken pieces of a gravestone are built into the belfry as lintels side th e o openingst bea d followine ,an th r g remain inscriptionn a f so , date seene b Th en . seem 1596e ca b s a o st r . asfa 80 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 9. 1912.

N O MH • NOBII-H N •BENC A • E ; EM D 10NE E D • D GERE•ACTA CONIVGI ALVTIS FIDVCIA POS TVI• T ANTI. • 10 • XCVI Over the west end of Torphichen Church is a belfry of the late kind pyramidaa f o p to wit e s lworthi th roofa hbal t n I o f noticl. o y e because of its good proportions, but it marks the period when belfries begae featurelesduld b an lo nt s structures devoi f architecturao d l merit.

BELLAE LISTH Sr T o ARRANGE D ACCORDIN PARISHESO GT . followine th n I g list particular e bell th n parisl givee i s al sar f no h e oldeth churche f ro belld n burghai an s l possession, with their inscription e diameterth d an st theia s r mouths inscriptione Th . s have been reproduced not merely with verbal and literal accuracy, but with some attempt to indicate the character of their lettering by mosthe tof simila use r the style types of musIt .born be t minein d that this only provides an approximation and is not facsimile reproduction. All crosses and marks are indicated. Except where e contrarth stateds inscriptione yi th l al line,n i shows e a s ar sd nan are situated between rims just below the shoulders of the bells. In the handbelle caseth f bees o s ha n t s i necessar emploo yt y typsiza f eo much too large to be in any sense in scale with that used for the inscription othee th n rso bells.

1 ABERCORN t WilfridS . . MEARG C& S FOUNDERS LONDON 1857 ; Diameter 0 inches2 , . In modern arch belfry at west end of north aisle. There is an ancient belfry on east gable of nave, over chancel arch, consistin a singl f o g e arch wit a hpointe d roof 8 inche3 , s higy b h 22 inches wide by 27 inches deep from west to east; sides 11 inches THE CHURCH BELLS OF LINLITHGOWSHIBE. 81

inche7 2 thic d s an khig o sprint h f archo g . Probably thirteenth- century work (fig. 10). The previou preservew s no crackeds bel s i wa l t Hopetoud a an , n House ; see below. This bell replaced an older bell, which is said to hav e churchyare th lai n ni r manfo d y years, until removee th y b d first Free Church Disruptio e ministerth t a weno t wh 1843ou ,n tn i . e Uniteth Th t a ed belw Freno l e Church recena appear e b to t s casting. The Rev. J. N". Balfour, the present minister, writes that a mistak s i "t i o suppos t e e removes thabely wa an lt d froe mth Parish Churchyard at the Disruption for the Free Church . . . the shid churchd ol p ol n bell a e . whics bel i . th ,,alss whic. n loi hwa h was bought by Mr Currie, who was minister here shortly after the Disruption." HOPETOTJN HOUSE. Here there is preserved the former bell of Abercorn Church ; it is inscribed : —

•SOL GLORIO DE I AM+ E FECIT+ M [>aOTe^me] COPENHAGEM + Ao J78J a crown[ waist]n [o • ] rMonogram") L CT J Diameter, 20 J inches. An exceedingly richly decorated bell, beautifully cast. Saio t d have been taken from a Danish man-of-war at the battle of Copen- hagen. BATHGATE.2 Dedication unknown. 1. SOLGLORIAO IDE . MICHAEL BURGERHUY FECIE SM T A.D. 1620. GLASGOW: RECAST A.D. 1884. BY JOHN C. WILSON & C°. [same line] FOUNDERS. Diameter, 18 inches. Weight, Icwt. Iqr. 51bs. 2. CAS JOHY TB N WARNE SONR& S LONDON 1884 [on waist] PRESENTED BY JOHN WADDBL ESQR. OF INCH 1884. Diameter, 36 inches. 6 VOL. XLVII. 2 8 PEOCEED1NG E SOCIETYTH F O S , DECEMBE , 19129 R .

The firs churchd t useol e hano dt th . n gi Kun follows ga s :— No. 1. For meetings of Kirk Session. No. 2. Sundays : 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 10.45-11 a.m. (for service), 6.15-6.30 p.m. (for service). Week day a.m. 6 p.m 0 s: 1 , . BORROWSTOUNNESS1 t KatharineS . . JOHN . FOUNDER TAYLOCO D AN R S LOUGHBOROUGH ® [on waisl] BORROW8TOUNNE38 PARISH CHURCH ERECTED 1887 TOWER SPIRE AND' BELL ADDED 1894 Diameter inches 3 largese 4 , Th .county e t belth n li . Old Bell: +EN KATERIN: VIRGINI: E M : AR VOCO : SALM: :PE T V E R: Diameter, 23| inches. Note, Eb. A very fine preservew bel 'nee no l th w n i dparis h churcn a s ha objec f historicao t d artistian l c value. Shoulders smootd an h rounded; no rims on crown; large plain rounded canons, one single canon broken. Three rims above soundbow e middlth , e on e larger than the others ; two small ones above lip (figs. 1 and 2). This bell was brought from the old church, whither it probably came fro parise mth h churc Kinneilf ho , where ther doubla s ei e belfry still remaining. The inscription was no doubt continued on the other heres evidentli s i bellt i t i , s a ; y unfinished. The churc t Bo'nesha buils swa t about 163 chape a parise s 4a th n li h of Kinneil 164n I .9 Bo'nes mads swa separatea e parish 166n i t 9 bu , Willia Anned man , Duk Duchesd ean Hamiltonf so , obtainet Ac n da of Parliament declaring Bo'ness the church of the two united parishes. When the new church was built in 1887 the old church was sold to the Scottish Episcopa factord lol Churchn a y hange d belw th an ,no l n si plain bird-cag ee wesbelfrth tn o yende churc Th s mostl. wa h y rebuil 177n i tagai d 5an belfr e 1820n i th d y ,an probabl y dates from one or other of these times. TOWN STEEPLE. A modern bel Wilsoy b l Glasgowf no , 186 inches)6 0(3 . THE CHURCH BELLS OF LINLITHUOWSHIRE. 83

CARRIDEN.1 Dedication unknown. [small flower] PIETER [recumben ] OSTENox t S GOOTY EM T [same line] ROTTERDAM. A° 1674 Diameter, 16f inches. Rung on Sundays at 9 a.m. and for service at 12. A good example of Ostens' work, most delicately cast, with a frieze of grapes and vine leaves above inscription, and a border of strawberry leaves below. e bel f BanchorTh o l y Ternan, Kincardineshire s i her, e (fig) 8 . illustrated, as it is an almost identical example of the same founder's impossibls worki t I . photograpo et Carridee hth n bell.

DALMENY. St Cuthbert. 1 T HEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1832 Diameter, 19| inches. modern I n bird-cage belfry over west end. Rung on Sundays at 10 a.m. and from 11.50 to 12 for service, and from 5.50 p.m. to 6 for service. SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURC t MarS f e HVirgino y th , QUEENSFERRY. No BELL. This is the old church of the White Friars, and consists of chancel with central tower and south transept. The tower seems to be un- a barre finisheds ha l t vaultI o hole. r ropesn whictw i , fo s e ar h, showing that there must have been two bells at one time. Over the east gabl remaine ear belfrya f so , which havy ma ,e containe sanctuda s bell, and which consist of three plain rounded corbels, supporting a projecting sill, of which the edge has a hollow moulding. The central corbel is narrow and those at the sides are wide.1 The church dates from fifteente th lat n ei h centur e r earlyo th n yi sixteenth.

volf o .e illustratio 7 f Macgibboiii1Se o 30 . . p n Rossd o n nan , Ecclesiastical Architecture Scotland.of 84 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 9, 1912.

ECCLESMACHAN. St Machan. 1

MEARG C& S FOUNDERS LONDON 1854

Diameter, 17 inches. insignificann a n I t bird-cage belfry over^west end. Rung on Sunday a.m8 t a s. (formerly) r servic 0 a.m.fo 1 , d e,an at 12.

KIRKLISTON; Dedication unknown. . 1

[Hea wreath n 'di R KIRKLISTOVFO ] N ' SOL• O I DE ' [same line] GLORIA . [Head in wreath] ANNO ' 1687.:

Diameter inches9 2 , . Johy B n Meikl f Edinburgheo . Ornaments reproduced from those of Michael Burgerhuys (above inscription), and Peter Ostens (below inscription). Gf. bells at Carriden and Queensferry. Above the upper ornamental border may be seen the angular mark- ing edgp s to formee stame e ofth th y dpb : thi absens i Burgerhuysn ti ' ornamente th us f eo belle Th , .lik e some othersame th ey sb founder , somewhas i t tub-shaped. Letterin unusualln i gs i y high relief; edge letterf so s very sharpe Th . small ornament appears to be a head surrounded by a wreath. The stoc hangingd kan s seem largely original. Centre par stocf o t k large raisedd an . In bird-cage belfry of about the same date, over east end of saddle- back tower, which is at the west end of the church. Gf. Uphall, Tor- phichen, and Cricbton. Rung on Sundays at 9 a.m., 10.30 a.m., 11 a.m. for a Bible class, 12 for service, and 6.30 for service, on alternate Sundays; on week days at 5 a.m. in summer, 5.30 a.m. in spring and autumn, and 6 a.m. in winter, and 8 p.m. all the year. From Kirk Session Records :—x

1 I am indebted for these extracts to Mr H. O. Grieve, Session Clerk. THE CHURCH BELL LINLITHGOWSHIEEF O S 5 8 .

" March 29. 1687. " Weighte r HugSi r hd fo WaUac Inglistof eo Joho nt n Meikle Founden a r Riven Bell, weightin stapound.3 5 g 2 n& " Clark."

t Kirkliston"A . " Augus 168. 22 t 7 " The whilk day Sir John Dalrymple of New Liston, his majesty's Advocate, John Ske f Hallyard no r JohSi nd Wallacan s f Jnglistono e t wite me ,th h Minister, according to an intimation made by the said minister from the pulpit, the last Lord's day, and the said heritors, having found that the casting the Church Bell, wit additionae hth workinle metath d an lg thereof, together with some additional charges will exten li therebyr 5 bo 2 o d t findin d an , t necessargi y that the founder be presently satisfied for the casting of the said Bell for the additional metal and the working thereof, they ordered Thomas Wemyss collector into g o o t Edinburg, hthif o som sy weeeda k ther satisfo et saie yth d Founder, and having brought out the Bell with all diligence to employ trades- me steeple hinginr saie th nfo th d n i f e o Church.t g i "

3 LINLITHGOW t MichaelS . . l. +CIVITAS LIMNUCHI ME FECIT AMPLIOREM ME DE [same line] NuO RfiFECIT ANNO DOMINI J 7 J 8 vo 'AREQNI QEORQY REGIS STO VOCOR SICUT QUONDAM [same line] MEG DuNCAN [ore waist] f Greyhound and Tree"! |_within wreath J Diameter | inches18 , . Note, Bfc>.

2. PAC CHAPMAK& LONDOF NO N FECIT 1773

[on waist]

Diameter, 30f inches. Note, Eb 6 8 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , DECEMBE , 19129 R . 3. 4j* LYitItt|rqf io§ m foill ftti§ a frcrta§ i alm§ r maria§ a Tarn § iambi § quarii § tempos § magnifraS^no

[on waist]

[above y soundbow] ARoya= l arms. Sea= Linlithgowf o B l . Diameter, 34f inches. Note. B , . Friez1 . No e above inscriptio borded nan leavef o r s belo froe war m stamps of earlier date than the bell ; they are in very low relief and are blundered in many places (fig. 9). Canons rather angular; each humaa s ha anglee n th fact mucn o bu e, h worn. Larg beautifud ean l wreat waisn ho t encloses revers burgf eo h seal. Run levery gb . No . Ton2 . e rouggooda t bu h, casting hardly worth tradie th f yo - tions of the Whitechapel Foundry, which is one of the most famous in England. The medallions, representing obverse and reverse of burgh seal, are rough and poor. Crown staple broken ; crown pierced on each sid piecr e fo irof eo n from whic e clappehth r hangs. No. 3. One of the largest mediaeval bells in Scotland. Long waist rather straight, soundbow somewhat small and projecting; high pointed crown with huge plain angular canons. Shoulder covered with rims d mouldingsan . Clapper modern. Tonet particularlno y good. Black letter inscription in high relief ; Lombardic initial L for " Lyn- lithqw." The Y also Lombardic, but smaller ; T of " Turn " and f "finao magnifici S l S " also Lombardic t Uphala s A .l (q.v.),e th Lombardic e sizblaca smalo th e eto r sar k fo l lette. r5) , (figs4 , 3 . The relations of the notes of these bells may be thus expressed : — Scale of Bb. Scale of B. 1st. Keynote. 1st. Leading note. 2nd. Subdominant. 2nd. Third. 3rd. Semitone above octave 3rd. Keynote. of keynote below. THE CHURCH BELL F LINLITHGOWSHIREO S 7 8 .

e bell e hunTh ar s g between four beams which res n corbelo t n si north and south walls of tower. They are rung as follows :— ON SUNDAYS. 2nd ...... a.m...... 9 5 minutes. 3rd...... 0 „.1 ...... 5 Alt once...... 1a l 1 ...... 5 .1 „ ... .for servic t 11.15ea . 3rd ...... about 1 p.m..... 2 to 3 ,, ..... after service. Al t once...... a l . 6.15 .fo. „ . r ...... 1servic , , t 6.30ea 5. MARCHEN O S DAY. Linlithgow Marches Day, upon which the Riding of the Town's Marches takes placee Tuesdath s i , y followin e seconth g d Thursday in June. The procession assembles in the Market Place at 11 a.m., when all the bells are rung simultaneously. It then proceeds to Linlithgow Bridge, the bells ceasing as it passes out of sight over the Horsemarket Head at the west end of the town. When it reappears at the same place on its way back, the ringing is resumed, and continued whil t passeei Blacknesso t sy t eastwardpassei wa s t e A sou th . n so o fe Duke'sighth t a ts Entr e ringinyth g ceasess begui d nan , again whe processioe nth n reappears there, ending whe processioe nth n breaks up about 4.30 p.m. after it has passed thrice round the Cross Well.

ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS. l run al belle ge Th sar simultaneousl fro d p.m.1 y an m o ,frot 2 m1 7p.m 8 p.m o .t . EXTRACTS PRO E TOWMTH N RECORDS RELATIN E BELLSTH O GT . I.—THE IST BELL.

November 1718. It[em puttinr ]fo bele gth l calle Duncag dMi nboura Alexf do r Starks Ship 0 0 : 2 1 : 0 . . . sene t oHollan agaib . o t cas w e b n tne o dt t [emI Thomao ]t s Whyt for tackin down Mig Duncan t0 o0 Bor : 4 :0 nes : s0

Rotterdam 1719 : 16 March

Mr: James Gaff Merch* Linlithgon i : w Debe Andreo t w Storie

4 r With Will "Clar: 1 k hopeful e Merchth : ' :p l binnie Joh Borr Mr :fo n Ai : nes Viz Meg: Dunoan Renued : a bell, weight 145J Ib. Amst™ : Weight at 7 sh : 6 : Ib 123 : 13 : 8. 8 8 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , DECEMBE , 19129 R .

: 0 : 4 1 : 2 Toune foh th rs sf 7 dBell| g: o Ib7 t a .s i , for Setting the Moto & Touns-Arms on the sd : Bell 2 : 0:0 for Carvin e motgth Arm o& n Timben o o s t Coule i t Er r dpu the Bell 5 : 0:0

Rebate Viz. 8 : £13 7 3 : [in margin] By Order Returned, to you

Meg : Dunoan's old Bell weight 94f Ib at 45 pr: 100 Ib £42 : 10 : 0

Shorebringin sailere th ther r o 0 st fo g: e& Carefulne6 1 : O s s Board putting & Barrel to put the Bell in while aboard sO : 19 : 8

8 : 5 1 : 1 — : 3 1 9 : 2

Rotterda Marc4 m2 h 1719. Mr: James Gaft. S1 : I'm favoured with Yours of the 13 October, Accompanying the smal bell (Meg : Duncan) Wcl1 : by advice of Your Majestrats & Town Councell Sent over to me to Cause found hit a New, adding 55 Ib to the 95 Ib she Weighted, In Answer Returned to You 16 Instant, woh : Mr: Wm : Clark Merch': pr: yr : hopefull-binnie John Air Mr: for Borrestones, The sa: Bell Renued, is Now 145J Ib Amsterdams Weight, Charg" n Additioi : f Weigho n t foundine th g Bell New Toung, Carving the Moto & Touns Arms on Timber, Setting them on the Bell, Shoreb', sailers dues, Board-putting & Barrel for the bell Rebate

being the old Bell, is pr: preflxt ace': £92 : 13sh : for Wch: as ordered, I'm to dra Youn wo , payal Mo t ' :r Archbald Groser orderCurane n o tth t ,a t Exchange, Not doubting Your due Complyance I'm Sir, Your humbl: Serv*. Andrew Storie To Mr James Gaff Merchant In Linlithgow DWillia. r:Mr m Clark Merchant [Endorsed] s2 h b payeli 8 d10 for Renewing the Dunca: g BelMe l n 1719 THE CHUECH BELL LINLITHGOWSHIBEF O S 9 8 .

II.—THE 2ND BELL. [fo. 1

Londo . 17735 y .nMa Rec' o1 n Board of the Samuel and Jane James Drummond Master for Bo-ness, One Sound Church Bell, Stock, Clapper, and a Case, consigned To Linlithgow Town, by Edinburgh Scotland Pr Alex Syme

Mr Henry Gillies, for Linlithgow Town 3th April 1773 Bo*, of Pack & Chapman.

C qr Ib To one Bell . . wl 6 „ 3 „ 5 . .at 14'1 p Ib. £44 „ 7 „ 10 one Clapper . 21J . . 9 do „ 15 „ 11J o d 4 9 1 „on8 „ e . pai . r . 7oJ f . Brasse . s one Stock Iron work; wheel, roller, rope \ 500 Capboar ' d TeeStrapplesd "' san fittind " /an ,n go & To a Case for the wheel, & package To Cash Engravern paia o dt Engravr fo , - \ „ „ ing the Coats of arms j " " . T„2 plat„oa . e fo. r Engravin . . g the . n mo T- o Cas _ h paid, wharfage, porterage 1 . &c , and Shipin "~ ne e wgth " Bel ' l &c ' . ' / 19th Mar : To Cash paid freight. Landing Loading \ _ _. and Cartage &o of old Bell ) ' ' ~ " "

£55 „ 3 „ OJ

Cr q CI b 19th Mar: By an old Bell w* 5 „ 3 „ 17 Gro: 8 old Iron Stapl d ede

„2 4 „7 £2 t 10'a 1 . . . 9 „„3 5 nea t Clapped ol Bn ya r = = 20. lb. 2d = „ 4 3 „ By old Iron = == 17 . . 1£ = „ 5 „ 1\

2 7„ 3 „1 1 J

Ballance £27 } „ 0 4 „ 1 0 9 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBE , 19129 R .

[fo. 2 London 8th May 1773. Sr. We received your favour of the 4th. March last, as also the old Bell, and agreeable to your order have Cast you another ; and shipt it according to the othersideReceipte th n o s a , : whic hhopI e will come saf hando et answed an , r your expectation— Aothee chargee th Bilth n havf ru o o lside s yo e a , whichI hop wilu eyo l find right, Pleas requeso et persoBelle e put th th to scre o ,t p snu stocwh e wth k close down on the Bell, as the screws may get a little loose before she may be got up: and to let the Brasses in straight, and level, with each other, with due respect for self & C°. Your most ob* Hble ser Como t ' d Thos Pack.

COUNTY BUILDINGS. A modern bel Wilsoy b l f Glasgowno , 1866 (35£ inches).

LIVINGSTON. Dedication unknown. I

No INSCRIPTION. <, Diameter inches6 1 , . This bell has neither inscription nor ornament. It may very likely e samth f beeo perioe churchth s da , whic rebuils hwa 1732n i t t I . hang bird-cage belfra th n si f yo e type sidee ,th whicf so closee har n di with louvre boards, giving the whole structure the appearance of a pepperbox. Underneat bele h th chimney-lika l e passag e westh tn i e e churcwalth f o lh lead doorwaya o st , whic e gallerhth openo t yn so stai sucin r hpositioa n thaimpossiblis laddea it t get r eplaceto din it. The bell is therefore inaccessible. The present minister, the Rev. T. Aiton, informs the.writer that some years ago the bell fell a.m9 Sundabeadle a rant e n th a h o . t t gs downi ehi a y d morningan , , and that he then examined it and found no inscription on it. Eung on Sundays at 9 a.m., formerly also at 10 a.m. (this was discontinued abouconclusioe th servicer t te a fo 1885)th 2 d f 1 no an ,t a , service about 1.30. THE CHUECH BELLS OF UNLITHGOWSHIBB. 91

QUEENSFERRY. No special dedication? 1 • SOL ' O GLORII DE ' A 'MICHAEL ' MAERCHANT OF • EDENBRVGE • G1FT1D • THIS' BELL-TO • THA T• TAKE - ANN S• I T • FRAE OTH • DOMIN E• O• 163 5 [A continuation of the first two lines above] BVRGERHVYS ' ME • FECIT • DAVID • IONKING THE-KIRK'OF-THE-QVEENS-FERRIE-CVRSED-BE-THEY Diameter, 28| inches. Note. C , A fine example of the work of Michael Burgerhuys of Middelburg. "An excellent bell which the shipmasters brought from Holland at the erection of the church " (New Statistical Account). massivn I picturesqud ean e bird-cage belfry over west end. Rung on Sundays at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 11.15 to 11.30 for service, and recenn i t times from 5.4 servicer fo 5 6 p.mo .t . TOLBOOTH STEEPLE. 2

E SEAME1. TH * QVEENSFERRIF O N GIFD DI ET THIS BELL TO THE TOWNE ANNO 1694 ADRIAEN OOP FECIT Diameter, 14f inches.

2. EX DONO HENB.JCJ CVNJNGHAME DE B 0 d V H A N J72J. Diameter, 21J inches. Note, Bj,. No. 1. Hung between beams in upper part of steeple ; disused. A floor has been made across the beams beneath the bell, which has been turned up, and now rests upon the floor in a position in which it cannot be used. Shank-heade s mouldingha d; crownn so . Sharp-edged shoulders; inscription in two bands close together some little distance below shoulder. Three rims above and two below soundbow. Surface very badly corroded. Inscriptio vern ni y plain letters precede kina y db of rose, the exact nature of which cannot now be determined. No. 2. Hung between beams immediately above clock, which strikes upon it. Three-quarter wheel, and nailed straps. Rung as follows :—8 p.m. except Saturdays, 10 p.m. Saturdays only. No ringing on Sundays. Before about 1900, was also rung at 5 a.m. on 2 9 PBOCEED1NG E SOCIETYTH F O S , DECEMBE , 19129 R .

second Tuesday in March (Calder Fair Day) and thence till the following Calder Fair (in October) ; at 6 a.m. on the Friday following the second Tuesday in October (Calder Fair Day) and thence till the following Calder Fair (in March). In the Town Council Minute Book, under date 29th February 1720, is the following :— " Bailie George Hill reporte Councie th o t d l that Bolquha madd nha n ea offer of advancing & gifting to the Town as much money as well could build a Steepl procure& eClock a e CounciTh . l accept e sameth f o s, & ordaine th s Bailies to return a letter of thanks to him therefor. And further ordains the buile samb o tet opposit tolboote th o et hothey Staian r ro convenien t place about the tolbooth ordaind An . s Bailie James Jameso Bailid nan e George Hill Councilloro tw any dan overseo st wore eth k provide materials hire workmen everythino &d g necessary thereanen repor& t t their diligenc progrese& s from tim Council.e timo eth t o et " The procuring of the bell is not mentioned. The present steeple was the result of this Act of Council. The 'clock referred to in it was supersede presene 1897n th i e y db on .t ' Mr Peter Miller, Town Clerk of Queensferry, to whom I am indebted e extracfoth r t given above, inform s neve e thatha m se r h , traced whether. there was an earlier steeple or where the present bell came from. TOWN HANDBELL.

(incised IOHN • MEIKLL • ME • FECIT • EDR- waist}n o . 1692 RECAS• T J82• 3 Lettering evidently imitated from 'Meikle's. Iron handlep to , wrapped with leather. Diameter | inches5 , . Height, 4| inches. Height with handle, lOf inches. Used by Town Crier.

TORPHICHEN. Dedication\ unknown.

IOHN • MEIKL • FECIT • FOR TORPHICHIN • KIRK • 1700 Diameter inches1 2 , . A typical exampl f Meikle'o e s smaller, later d plainean , r work. Has three small rims above and below inscription, but no ornament. E CHUECTH H BELL LINLITHGOWSHIREF O S 3 9 .

n picturesquI d well-proportionean e d bird-cage belfry over west end. HANDBELL.

[on waist >|f THIS BELONGS TO THE CONTBIBUTEBS IN TORP ' incised]HICHE N PARISH J734

Mouldings on soundbow and above lip. Oval ring handle. Diameter | 6 inches, . Height inches5 , . Height with handle8 , inches. Widt f handleho inches4 , .

1 UPHALL t NicholasS . .

Santte Nitjjolae Campana Ealtgit k ftrakrk Annm D o

[cm waist] Shield MO yc iii

Xt Diameter | inches13 , . An exquisite little bell, most delicately moulded e samth ey b , founder as the great bell at Linlithgow. Black letter inscription, with black letter capita "r In.fo I l " Lombardi worde c capitalth l sal r sfo excep "d t strabork. "an e " date e MVr d th fo siza f o ,Cd o to e an " small t Linlithgowa s a , . '* Inonore honore, "n "dat= I e th e d read"an s M°+Vx CIII+ , i.e. millesim quinto+ o x centesiino +terti 1503o= . Strabor Strathbrockk= e parishnamd founder'e th ol f Th o e .th , s mark Xt is the same as at Linlithgow and Dundonald. A large shield occupies the whole of the waist at one point, and bears the arm f Alexandeo s r Seto f Toucho n , viz. :—Quarterl d 4than ,t 1s y 3 crescents within a double tressure flory counterflory (for Seton) ; 2nd and 3rd, 3 inescutcheons for Hay of Tullibody, being the arms s motheohi f r Egidia Hay marrieo wh , r AlexandedSi r Seton, first Earl of Huntly, 1426-27. The same coat of arms appears above the doorwa f Greenknoweo y , Gordon, Berwickshire e CastellatedSe . and Domestic Architecture, Macgibbo Eossd nan , iii. 544, fig. 483. Single canons barbarously file admio d t a peculia s awaf a o t o ys r 94 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, DECEMBER 9, 1912. kind of iron stock. Crown staple broken, and replaced by usual devic irof eo n loop passing throug holeo h tw crown n si . Run Sundayn servicgr o . fo a.m12 8 d t t esa a an .

WHITBURN. Parish disjoined from Livingston in 1718. 1 —— LEADBETTER ——------GLASGOW — — 1857 —— Diameter, 21^ inches. Recast from old bell. Plat crown and rather long waist; eight very large canons, wit o centrahn l boss. Rims interrupte o admidt f o t inscription as shown above. In bird-cage belfry over gable of south transept. Rung on Sundays at 10 a.m. and for service at 12; also in recent times for service at 6.30 p.m. once a month.