146 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1947-48.

VII.

E CHURCTH H F RENFREWSHIRO S DUNBARTOND AN E - SHIRE. BY R. W. M. CLOUSTON, B.Sc.ENG., F.S.A.ScoT.

presene th U o pt t time very littl bees eha n published relatin churco gt h d othean r bell n Scotlandi s . Onlo countieytw s have been coveren i d detail, namely, Kincardineshire in 1897 and Linlithgowshire in 1913, both being the work of Dr F. C. Eeles, F.S.A.Scot. Durin yearso tw ga ' residenc Renfrewshirn ei authoe eth thif o r s paper discovered that, unlike England where most of the exploratory work has already been done, presented a large field for investigation, and so starte thin do s survey. When Christianity first came to these shores the only used were those that could be carried by hand by the missionaries, and of this type we have the Skellat bell preserved in Dumbarton. After a number of years stone churches or chapels were built, having either an open bell-cote or a tower. The bells were then a fixture in the church and were not of any great size, each church usually havin gsingla e bellScotlann I . d righo t p tu the Reformation we find that only the richest churches had more than one thesn i belld e an ,case belle sth s were seldom tune wite don h anothern I . England, however, rings of bells were known in the twelfth century; there sevef o wae ns on bell t Croylansa earle th ydn i year thaf so t century. These bells were definitely tune wite on dh anothe d weran re rung successively. Normally, however, the English parish church at the time of the Reforma- earle fivo t th e yp seventeentn e i u bellspar th tiot d f o nbu t,ha h century there was introduced a system of scientific , and as the total numbe f changeo r s possibl fivn eo e bells, being factoria s onli , y5 l 120t i , was soo vogun i increaso e t o eve d t p an n numbee u x eth si o bellf t o r p su an octave. For change ringing the bells are hung in a special type of frame, with wheels, stayd slidersan s y whicb , e swunhb then ga ca y complete circle and made to rest mouth upwards when necessary. Instea f followino d e Englisth g h metho f ringingo d , Scotlans wa d influenced by the continental system. In the latter large numbers of bells, 23 or more, are hung stationary or "dead," and are hit with hammers manipulated by wires from a keyboard. These collections of bells are tei-mejIcja^l/Dns when their number excee.ds, 22Va^dcover a range of two octaves or more. Any number less constitutes a . Unlike the English system where each bell require ringe"r7~"onsa operatn ca n ecarilloa ma e n CHURCH BELLS OF AND DUNBARTONSHIRE. 147

in much the same way as an organ, and sometimes it is purely automatic, being geared from the clock; the hammers being tripped by pegs fixed in the circumferenc a barrel f o e , whic s rotatedhi . However, this system pro- duces bad results if the pegs wear or get distorted in any way, thus losing the beat of the music. Hammered bells have an inferior tone to those swung in completa elattee circleth n rI cas . resule face eth th t louders o i tt e du , thae bel th s s structclappei l it y kb r tongu o r e whes horizontai t ni r o l almost upside down and the sound is then projected upwards and outwards. The English system of change ringing is by no means unknown in Scotland, but it has been introduced only in modern times. There are rings of bells t Cuthbert'S t t Mary'a S d san Cathedral, Edinburgh t James'sS ; , Leith; and in Alloa, Dundee, Glasgow, Paisley, Inveraray and Inverness. An earl steeplye t Andrew'sth rin S bellf n f i go e o s sa , Edinburghe , th cas y b t Foundry, London towe1788e n i , Th unsafs r.i e whe belle nth s are swung, so they are clocked and chimed. preparinn I g thi Eeles. s C pape . F author'e , r th r D o t s e thankdu e sar F.S.A.Scot., for his help and encouragement; to Mr Frederick Sharpe of Launton, Oxon., and Mr A. D. Lacaille, F.S.A., F.S.A.Scot., of London, for the loan of a block and a photograph. The firms of Messrs John Taylor & Co., of Loughborough; Messrs Gillett & Johnston, Ltd., of Croydon d Messran ; s Mear Stainbank& s f Whitechapelo , , London, have very kindly furnished the weights and notes of the bells they have supplied . Hughestheso t countiesA o . etw A r , M J.P.. , Manage last-namee th f o r d firm s alsha o, bee f greano t assistance r JameM . .Boyd D s , F.S.A.Scot., Curator of the People's Palace Museum, Glasgow, very kindly gave permission belld ol so undetw chargs 'foe photographee hi rth b r o et d (Pis. XXXV, 1 , and XXXVI).

E CHURCTH H BELL RENFREWSHIREF O S . Renfrewshire, though one of the smaller counties of Scotland from the poin vief o t hig a areaf w o s hha , densit populatiof yo consequentld nan ya large numbe f churcheso r e majoritth , f whico y e moderne ar hth t A . Reformation it consisted of sixteen parishes with parts of two others; a numbe thesf ro e parishes have since been divide formatio e alloo dt th r wfo n of such towns as Port-Glasgow and . e countth n I ypre-Reformatioo n ther e ear n bells actuall usen ye i th , only one remaining from that period being the very small that was found some years ago under the floor of Renfrew Parish Church. This survey of the church bells and others in the county covers the bells oldee th l ri nal paris h churche l bellal municipan si d an s l possessionn I . addition, wher moderea n church possesse chima s rina f r bella geo o r o s single bell of any magnitude, these have been included. 148 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1947-48.

The olde classifiee rb belly sma d thus:

(I. mediaeva1 ) l Unknown founder. f2 Scottish. (II.) 4 seventeenth century -! 1 English. |l Dutch. 2 Scottish. {2 English. 1 Dutch.

Two of the seventeenth-century bells have been recast, but in both inscriptiond ol case e sth s have been reproduced thesf earliee o e Th e. on r used to hang in the church at Kilellan before the latter was abandoned, and was cast by Charles Hog in 1618. It is probable that this founder was the son of George Hog who cast the bell at Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, which is inscribed: x TREGINT+ +AGVSE A+D T +APVD POTERRAW• / ANNO + DOMINI +1606

On the waist is a medalh'on similar to that found on the Kilellan bell (fig. 3), t wit initiale bu hth s wore G.HTh d. Poterraw would referrine seeb mo t g place th tha f eo o t t name 'in Edinburgh ,probable whicth s hwa s e hi sit f eo foundry e medallioe hammee crowth th Th n d .o n an rn refe o theit r r membership of the Incorporation of Hammermen of Edinburgh. Another bell by Charles Hog is to be found in the mansion of Burnhouse, Midlothian, inscribed:2

MICHEAL. BIL. EVIR. MOIR. 1613. /ONLY. TO. GOD. BI. HONOVR. AND. GLOIR. RING. KIRK.»

Below are the initials CH in the medallion as illustrated. The Paisley Silver Bell bellnexo e made s ar pointw sn ar ti e ageef to Th . of pure silver, and are in the form of a cone with the base closed by a per- forated hemisphere. Inside each there is a ball which when disturbed cause e bell th stinkleo t s . They wer e Paislee e prizth mad r th efo s y ea Races which were institute largee 1620n di Th .r bel Burgld bearol e hsth Arms with the initials O.P., and the other is dated 1620, with a coat of arms and initials H.C., which probably stand for Hew Crawford of Cloberhill, thewhn omwo first. 1 Report of Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments, Dumfriesshire, p. 175. 2 Ibid., West and Midlothian, p. 175. 3 [This must surely have been originally intended to read: ' Only to God bi' honour and gloir. Ring Kirkmicheal bil evirmoir. 1613"—Ed.] CHURCH BELLS OF RENFREWSHIRE AND DUNBARTONSHIRE. 149

CO

+H +,- >> o o »s°s!' 1 SB T3 rH - fl . «5 '

,O 60 '" * <4H to o ° ^ S * S

3 iS ' cS ^ i 2 "r « ? B W ,a •1—J1 c

• GLORI SOLO DE A• I• CORNELI S• OVDEROGG E• PEGI T• • ROTTERDA • 0O 1I • • D • M N • ANNE O DOMINI 1648/FOR• TOWN• PASLAY/RECAS• E F O TH E• T BY/J. MILLER REID/ GLASGOW/1897.

Though the inscription is supposed to be facsimile one error is at once apparent writine th , f FEGIgo FECITr Tfo . With thi minn si t wouldi d also appear e originatha th D-I-OI-e th n t t o reproduce ls no s Owa i t i s da bell. The author has been fortunate in being able to communicate with a fellow enthusias n Hollandi t . Mijnhee n Art Ja f rTilbur o s g has made the collection of data on bells and their founders his hobby for some bee s timha ne kin h past d d an ,enoug telauthoo e ht th l r something abou histore th t thesf yo e seventeenth-century Dutch founders whose work is foun Scotlandn di t appearI . s that ther fewe ear f anyi , , e bookth n so subjec Dutcf o t informatiohe th bells d an , bees nha n collected from various sources. Of the Ouderogge family, he writes that there were four founders. Jan Ouderogge I, born in Amsterdam in 1573 or 1574, was the son of Cornelis n SymonszooJa n Ouderogg Marid ean a Gerrits marriee H . 159n di d 8an was a bellf ounder in Amsterdam for a time; but in 1613 he left for Rotterdam, wher startee efoundryh n gu die e da H d . 29th Augus buries t 1625wa dd an , e Grote-Kerinth n Rotterdami k n 162I e cas.e metah 2 th t l statuf o e Erasmus for the city of Rotterdam, "a masterpiece of the founder's art." So far none of his work has been found in Scotland. sonso tw , d Corneliha I Dirkd n san Ja . Both were born about 160n 0i Amsterdam and moved with their father to Rotterdam. Cornelis was • married on 27th July 1631 to Cornelia Dirks Nobel and died in Rotterdam in the beginning of July 1672. Dirk married in 1631 and died in October 1649. Cornelibrothes hi d san r Dirk wer foundern egu belthed d an an sly worked in partnership, though Cornelis, being the elder, gave his name to the firm. Cornelis had also another name, lansen, i.e. son of Jan, which he uses on a bell at Culross Abbey cast in 1659. On manbelle th f sy o remainin Hollann gi d to-day that were cas t thia t s foundry the inscription reads:

CORNELIS OVDEROGGE FECIT D • I • O • ROTTERDAM . . .

Another bell of this type had the word EN after FECIT, so producing a great similarity with the Paisley bell. We may therefore safely infer that CHURCH BELLS OF RENFREWSHIRE AND DUNBARTONSHIRE. 151

the two letters " • OI •" are superfluous on this bell. Jan Arts suggests tha initiale tth s stan Dirr dfo k Jansen Ouderogge, showint no d g thaan e th his brother cast the bell. This bell at Paisley is the only one bearing Cornells Ouderogge's name that also has the initials on it, but to test the theory in the future there should be no bells dated after October 1649 bearing Dirk's initials. Other bells by Cornelis or Dirk Ouderogge in Scotland are at Forfar, dated 1637 possibla ;t Ruthvena e eon , Aberdeenshire, 1643; Hutchison's Hospital, Glasgow, 1649; Navar, now in Arbroath Museum, 1655; the Holy Rude Church, Stirling, 1657 Culrosd an ; s Abbey, Fife, 1659. Cornelis had a son Jan II who was the last of this line of founders. His marries dat wa t known birt f e e167o n no dh i t s ht i Rotterda9a bu , d man d belan lwa n foundes s gu ' Gravenhageactiv a t a rs ea s bellHi n i s. Holland range from 1681 to 1709, though he was working in 1676 when he cas magnificena t t canno Kinr nfo g Charle I weighinsI Ib6 1 . . cwtg9 qr 1 . basemene vien th o we Whitn i w th Thif no o tes si ToweTowee th n f i ro r London. The earliest English bell in the county now comes to our notice; this bell hangs in the West Kirk, , and is inscribed:

A = FOR • THE : CHURCH = OF = GRINOCK | 1677 = R A A P

The latter part of the inscription is illustrated in fig. 14. This bell was probably cast by Roger Purdue of Bristol, who was founding from 1644 to 1688. Greenoc keasn a bein yn i positiogpora s wa t tradr nfo e wite hth wes t surprisin Englandf no o t s i t i o gs , tha belle tth s cam eafieldr frofa o ms . Another Bristol bel preserves i l Paislen di y Museu beard me datan th s e 1767. The Burg Porf ho t Glasgow possesse smalsa l brass handbel whicn o l h is typed an inscription and date 1707. The Town Crier used this bell in the old days, and judging from the tone it is as well that the bell is no longer in use. The last Dutch bell to be noticed hangs in a turret in Paisley Abbey; the inscription has almost corroded away, but it is reputed to be:

JOHANNES SPECHT ROTTERDAM A.D. 1730

Bells by this founder are rare in Scotland, as at this time the Scottish foundries were workin Edinburgn gi elsewhered hn Artan Ja . s stateM . s that he knows of ten bells cast by this founder between the years 1749 and 1768. Another Scottish exampl t Portsoya s ei , Banff, dated 1746. At the close of the eighteenth century the great Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London supplie da bel Eagleshamo t l . This startes firmwa 156n di 7 152 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1947-48. s beeha n d foundinan g bells continuousl presene th o yt t day, having cast importanmane th f yo t bell Englann Empiree si th d dan . Bells from this foundry are found at Eaglesham, 1792; Kilbarchan, 1811; Neilston, about 1830; Neilsto Churchd nOl , 1863; Paisley Steeple largese , 1863th d tan ;bel l countye inth , tha Renfren i t w Parish Church, weighing just over 22^- cwt. There were bells from this foundry at Gtreenock, Mid Kirk, 1787; Paisley, High Kirk, 1823; Johnston, 1847; and Lochwinnoch, 1849, but these have since been recast. othee leadino Th tw r g bell-founding firm Englann i s d have done some notable work in the county. Messrs John Taylor & Co., of Loughborough, Leicestershire, cast and hung the octave in St James's Church, Paisley, each bell being arrange swino dt completa gn i e circle. Messrs Gillet Johnston& t , Ltd., of Croydon, Surrey, cast the chimes of bells at Greenock, St George; Paisley Tow e Orphan th Hall d nan ; Home f Scotlano s Kilmacoln di m parish bell2 1 s,d respectivelyconsistinan 0 1 , 9 f go , with tenor f 16^so , 19|- cwt1 1 .d an Two Scottish firms have provided quite a number of bells in the county. One firm was started by David Burges of Glasgow, who was made a member

of the Incorporation of Hammermen of Glasgow on llth June 1833, an1 d founded till 1854, whe retirede nh . During this tim e caseh a beltr fo l Rossland Church, Bishopton 1844n i ,alsd an o, recas e Kilellath t n beln i l the same year. He was succeeded by John C. Wilson in 1854, and the firm was made into a limited company, which cast bells till 1928. The site of the foundry was first at 34 Shuttle Street, Glasgow, but it soon moved to 99 Portugal Street, Glasgow, and it became known as the Gorbals Bell Foundry. The goodwill and plant of this firm have since been acquired by Messrs Steven & Struthers of Glasgow. Throug kindnese hth daughtee th lase f so th t f ownefoundryo re th f o r , Mrs Sykes-Wright e authoth , s bee a cataloguha r ne se abl o f t ebello e s cas t thita s foundr earltile p yu lth y year thif so s century. This catalogue, unfortunately, gives neither the dates nor the weights of the bells, and as foundrsome th f eo y records have disappeared hars i obtait o ,i d t accuratn na e figure for the weights and the dates of such bells as are inaccessible. One guid fixinn ei e dat gth f bell eo turretsn i s , wher actuae eth lt datno s ei e stylin e firmvisibleth th y f b .g o s i ,Joh . WilsonC n alon founs ei d from 1854 till about 1873. From then till about 1895 the firm was called John C. Wilso Co.frod n& an m, then tillimitea ls 192wa d t 8 i company. There are a large number of bells from this foundry in the county, mos thef o t m singl private th e n bellsi et chape bu ,Righe th f lo t Honourable Lord , at Wemyss Bay, there is a chime of eight bells cast in 1878. Other chimes by John C. Wilson are at Lamlash (9), Coatbridge Wesleyan

ChapeGlasgoe th n i l w(6)d Tolbootan , h bell 6 ther 1 l cas sal e 1881 n i tear . Incorporation1 of Hammermen of Glasgow, H. Lumsden and P. H. Aitken, p. 314.

CHURCH BELLS OF RENFREWSHIRE AND DUNBARTONSHIRE. 153

The other local foundrknow s t Greenocka wa s Messrs t ni a y wa d an s, James Duff & Sons. Their first bell in the county is in the old church at Port-Glasgow, dated 1839. Most of the bells in Greenock and Port-Glasgow were cast or recast by this firm; the tone of these bells is not particularly good judge modery db n standards bele verf 183s th i o l 9d y an ,reminiscen t e shapoth f f belleo s cas Englann i t earle th yn di thirteenth century—just lik flower-potea .

LISA THP TO E BELLS ARRANGED ACCORDIN PARISHESO GT . In this list the parishes are arranged in alphabetical order. Unless otherwise stated the inscriptions commence on the band below the angle eacf o hd linen shouldere odenotes e th fi th obliqun a d y dan ,b e stroke. The diametere accessiblth l al f so e bells have been measured frod an ,m the approximatmn a eweighte ideth f bees ao sha n computed certain I . n cases the exact weight is known, and when a list contains both actual and approximate -weights lattee th ,markee rar d thus: ;£};.

1. BRIDGE OF WEIR. St Machar. A chime of three bells; tenor about 12 inches diameter. All inscribed:

JOHN C. WILSON & C? FOUNDERS GLASGOW . . .

These bells are hung stationary or dead in a gable turret in two tiers, e tenoth r being above. The e soundeyar beiny b d g struc externay b k l hammers. The turre s onli t y accessible with very great difficulte abovth d e an y inscriptio s foun usinny wa b d a gtelescope e remaininTh . ge th par f o t lettering, being presumabl datee yth obscures i , masonrye f th o e y db On . belle th supposes si slightle b o dt ychimine crackedth s a t g mechanisbu , m was not in order at the time, this could not be verified. The bells wer e Gorbal th cas t a t s Bell Foundry,e Glasgowth s a d an , firm is styled John C. Wilson & Co. they were made between the years 1873 and 1898.

2. CASTLE SEMPLE. Collegiate Church. Of this church onl walle yth s remain, consistin chancela f go , navd ean a western tower. It was founded in 1504 by John, Lord Semple, and it is recorded tha t thaa t t tim dutiee Sacristae eth th f so n wer tako et e charge

of the churchx , the ornaments, the vestments, to regulate the clock, and to 1 Archceological Collections of Renfrewshire, vol. i. p. 60 154 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1947-48. rin belle g th t Mattins sa , Evensong, Compline t Sunda,a y mass t Curfe,a d wan for prayers Fasn O t . custo e days th doublo s t a ,m s ringinge wasewa th e h , . t leasa Th tile p etu l us churc1612n i thoug d s ,an hwa h fro foregoine mth g t wouli d have appeare hav o dt mord eha e tha belle non , thertraco n f s eo i them or of the bell frame. turrea n I t abov ecara t stablee lodgth n ei s nearby there hang bellsa , 16^ inches diameter, inscribed:

C.H. —:— WM MACDOWAL : —:Q —BS L 1762 — :—

This belinscriptiolooe s th typeha d l p d ol canon an e ,scratches th nwa f so d t stamped moule ono therefor ns th i d t dI an . e probabl ylocaa l product. William Macdowall, Esq., bought the estate from Hew Lord Sempill in 1727, and was Member of Parliament for the Glasgow District of Burghs and later Membe counte th r Renfrewshiref rfo yo .

3. CATHCART. St Oswald. recenn I t churc yearw beene s sha ha n erected previoue nea sitth e f reth o s one, which dated from 1831. The western tower of the older building alone remains, and contains one bell, 28 inches diameter, which is clearly the product of a brass foundry as a full-sized pattern was used in its casting. bele devois inscriptiony i Th l an f mouldino do n s ha , g wires beloe wth shoulder, and has been cast with a handbell type argent in lieu of canons: t probabli y dates fro rebuildine mth churce th f go 1831n hi .

4. EAGLESHAM Churchd Ol . . In a tower with spire, built in 1788, there hangs one bell, 20^- inches diameter, inscribed: THE GIF F THTO E RT HONB.L EAR F EGLINTOUNO L THEO T E / PARISH OF EAGLESHAM. T. HEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1792

The bell has the usual Whitechapel Foundry canons of that period, and is fitted with a wooden headstock and a very rough wooden wheel of local manufacture. The rop vers ei y thic weightyd kensuro an t d ean , tha bele verticatth s l i l for the clock hammer, a quantity of lead sheeting is nailed to the wheel to form a counterbalance. Lord Eglinton herito a , churche th responsiblf s ro ,wa admirable th r efo e street planning in this village. CHURCH BELL RENFREWSHIRF SO DUNBARTONSHIRED EAN 5 15 . 5. EASTWOOD. Old Church. A western tower with spire containing one bell, 45 inches diameter, weighing about 14^- cwt. It is inscribed: JOH . WILSOC N N FOUNDER GLASGOW N° 779/PRE- SENTED TO EASTWOOD CHURCH BY WALTER CRUM OP THORNLIEBANK. A.D. 1863. This bell was cast at the Gorbals Foundry, Glasgow, and is hung for ringing inverted. The fittings are of wood, with a large counterbalance weight bolted to the headstock.

6. ERSKINE. Old Church. e wester Outsidth e roo f th o f n o e tower hang e bell inche8 on s2 , s diameter, inscribed: CAIR ? MAKERC O& S GREENOCK 1825./ 4-1-11 This bell is hung in a wooden frame with a small roof over it, and is fitted with a metal quarter wheel and metal headstock; to the latter is attached a counterbalance weight. The figures on the inscription are incised, and record the bell's weight as soundboe th n IbO 1 41 . w . cwt therqr ornamenta n a .1 s ei l border. fir e . starte f CairmTh o Co d& d their foundr Greenocn yi 1809n ki y b ; 1826 they were making machinery n 184i e fird 4th m an , startee th n di shipbuilding business whic mads hha e their name famous shipbuildine Th . g managew yardno e Messry sar d b s Harlan Wolffd& . The present church was built in 1813, the bell from the older church being retained n Octobei t bu , r 182 s recordei 4t i e Kirth d k n i *Sessio n minutes that Dr Stewart, the minister, reported that the bell was now "cracked and useless,'' and a committee was appointed to "get a new bell or to have the old one recast." Two years later the new bell was installed, belld ol , e fro th inferree costinmr b fo y leswhic 6 3 dsg£ ma £3 t thahi e th t old bell must have weighed much less tha nhundredweighta . 7. GOUROCK. Old Church. A single bell, 40 inches diameter, weighing about 11 cwt. JOH . WILSONC FOUNDERS D C

The bell hangs in a wooden frame with metal headstock and wheel. A counterbalance weight is provided. The bearings are unusual, being of gudgeotypee y dr Th .e th nheadstoce pinth n si k eac rollerso h tw res n o ,t the latter being about 5 inches diameter and are held at a centre distance of abou inchet3 beside gudgeoe sotheron e th es th A .n pins rotate rollere ,th s also turn about their own axes. This type of bearing is suitable for exposed positions, but has a bad failing in that the rollers get jammed and the gudgeon pin then scrapes on a dry metal surface, making the bell hard to swin leadind gan excessivo gt epin e weath f .o r

8. GOUROCK. St John. A chime of two bells; treble 34 inches diameter, tenor 42^ inches diameter.

Weight. Cwt. Qrs.Lb. Treble. THE GIFT OF MISS LONGLANDS/ 7 0 0^ AS A MEMORIAL OF HER BROTHER/ THOMAS LONGLANDS OF GOUROCK CASTLE/JOHN C. WILSON & C°. FOUNDERS. GLASGOW. A.D. 1877.

Tenor. CLOCK AND BELLS ERECTED A.D. 12 0 0 |J 1877/REV: ARCH: RUSSELL, M.A. MINISTER./JOHN C. WILSON & C° FOUNDERS. GLASGOW./ VOCO, "VENITE IN DOMINI TEMPLUM."

On the treble the whole of the inscription except the foundry data is incised belle e openhune th Th ar s .n g ,i underneat Imperian ha l Crown. The trebl huns ei tenoe g th dea huns t i r dbu bearingsn g i .

9. GOVAN. Elder Park Church. In a tower with spire there hangs one bell of about 20 inches diameter. The bell is devoid of inscription, has no moulding wires below the shoulder, bees ha n d casan t wit hhandbela l type argent instea canonsf d o bel e lTh . produce th s brasa i f o t s probabls foundrywa d an y, cas 182n i t 6 whee nth church was originally built. This church originally stood near Govan Cross and was the old Parish Kirk of Govan. In 1826 it was felt that the old building should be pulled thes builte nwa on t decidei ;w ne buildin doww a d d ne tha ne an gtth should be faithfully modelled on the lines of the parish church at Stratford-on-Avon. CHURCH BELLS OF RENFREWSHIRE AND DUNBARTONSHIRE. 157

1884n I , when neethera s de wa fo largea r r churc Crosse th t ha , this building of 182 removes 6wa d ston stony eb rebuild s presenit ean n o t t site some quarter mile away.

10. GREENOCK. West Kirk. A chime of two bells; tenor 48 inches diameter, treble 17f inches diameter.

Treble :E CHURC. :TH R =FO H=F =GRINOCO K : 1677 =AR A AP

Tenor. JAMES DUF SONS./MAKERS./GREENOCK./187& F 3

The treble is cast with canons and is hung dead from a beam in the louvre windows bele s probablTh l *.wa y cas Rogey b t r Purdu f Bristoleo o wh , was founding from 164 o 16884t . This e seconfoundeth s dwa rwit h this name, and usually worked in partnership with a relative William Purdue. time Aon te they temporarily migrate Salisburyo d t probabl s i t i t bu e, that this cass bel Briston i twa lboa y b send Greenocko t p an lu t . e Parth f o t inscription is shown in fig. 14, the lettering is plain, without any ornament- ation above or below it. tenoe Th huns ri chiminr gfo g with metal fitting counterbalanca d an s e weight s muci t I h. wor s beenha n internallyt i alread s a d yan , quarter turned, eighth turning will soo necessarye nb . cloce presentes Th kwa e quarter 1856n th di d struce an ,sar botn ko h e teno th e hou th n r o bellrd onlyan s , wit preliminaro n h y chimee Th . quarter chimes are most peculiar, due to the great difference in note between the two bells. At a distance the treble is inaudible. The original West Kirk2 stood near Princes Pier and was founded in 1571. s firsIt t bel supposes i l havo dt e come from Holland 167n i t 5 thibu , s bell was cracked and the present treble was cast. The bell of 1677 hung in the Old West Kirk till 1856, when it was moved to its present position in churchw familiarls bele ne wa Th le . th y know s "Tarna ' Langno " from sounds it . A predecesso e teno s cracketh s recas f wa rro wa y t 185n b ti di d 6an Messrs James Duf Son& f f Greenockso t froe presen e datbu ,th m th f eo t teno t woulri d appear tha agais bele th tlwa n recast.

. GREENOCK11 . Middle Kirk. towea n I r with spire hang ssingla e bell inche9 3 , s diameter.

JAMES DUFF & SONS/MAKERS/GREENOCK/1891

2 1 Smith's History of Greenock, . 364p . Storye Th o f Westd theOl Kirk, N. Hill34 . p , 158 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1947-48.

This bell is hung for chiming in a wooden frame with metal fittings, pooa ans rd ha tone 1786n I . , whe nsteepla clocd an ek were erectet da

the Mid Kirk, the Tow1 n Council put in a bell, cast at the Whitechapel Bellfoundry, London, that was said to be equalled in sweetness of tone in e Westh t Countr thay yb te Ctorbals onlth f yo , Glasgow. Unfortunately successos bell'it d ol se reputationth r doeo t livt p Whitechapese eno u Th . l bell bor inscriptione eth :

YE RINGERS WHO WOULD HAPPY BE, IN CONCORD LIVE UNITY/D AN MEART W& S (LATE LESTER, PAC CHAPMAN)K& , LONDON, FECIT 1787.

12. GREENOCK t GeorgeS . . A lofty tower containing a chime of nine bells, tenor 44 inches diameter, which are inscribed: Approx. Bell. Inscription. Weight. Civt. Qrs. Lb. Treble. RECAST BY GILLET JOHNSTOT& N 320 CROYDON 1913./FOUNDED 1889 Second. CAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1912. Treble.]n o s [A Third. 4 2 0 Fourth. [As on Treble.] 4 3 0 Treble.]n o s [A Fifth. 5 3 0 Sixth. RECAS GILLETTBY JOHNSTOT& N 0 0 CROYDON 1912. CAST 1889. Treble.]n o s Seventh[A . 8 2 0 Eighth. RECAS GILLETY TB JOHNSTOT& N 11 2 0 CROYDON 1913./THIS OF BELLS WAS PRESENTED BY/MK.S ROBERT SHANKLAND/TO THE FREE MIDDLE CHURCH GREENOCK./IN MEMORF YO PARENTS/MR HE MD E.S AN »GIBSON , PAISLEY./1889. Tenor. CAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON 16 CROYDON 1912./MIDDLE UNITED FREE CHURCH/GREENOCK/THIS TENOR BELL WITTREBLESO HTW / CONGREGATIOADDEE TH Y DB N IN/ 1912. Williamson's History of Greenock, . 131p . CHURCH BELLS OF RENFREWSHIRE AND DUNBARTONSHIRE. 159

Directly below the inscription band there is a border on and, in addition to the above inscriptions, each bell bears its number in the chime, this figure being placed on the soundbow. The bell e casar s t with fla e boltet ar head o steed t d an sl girders, being struc y internab k l hammers operate y wireb d s fro ma keyboar d below. Ther s alsei oa mechanica l chiming apparatus whic s installehwa n di 1889 for the original chime of six bells; this rings changes on the six heavier bells. thesn I e change tenoe sth r remain same th en si positio n throughoud an t strikes at the end of each row or change, leaving the five other bells to change amongst themselves. Whil 0 differen12 e t row r changeo s e possiblar s e on 5 bells, the mechanism only rings 30 of these before the bells come back into rounds, that is playing in descending order of note, written 123456. For the campanologist, the machine plays a plain course of Doubles with the tenor covering. Earl 194n yi 8 this churc completels hwa y burnt oute toweth ; r still floore chimind th standsl san al t g bu ,machiner y have been destroyede Th . bells still hang from their steetenoro tw crackele girderse sar th d t dan bu , other alsbelly affectede ob probabls ma i t I . e tha belle th t e s b wil l al l recast.

. GREENOCK13 . Well Park Church. In a large tower with spire hangs one bell, 45 inches diameter, weighing abou inscriptioe cwt5 1 Th t . n reads:

JAMES DUFF & SONS MAKERS GREENOCK 1867./ WELL PARK FREE CHURCH GREENOCK.

This bels metaha l l fittingcounterbalanceds i d an s s tonIt s muc.ei h superio othee largo th o rtw t r e bell Greenocn si k fro same mth e foundry.

14. GREENOCK. Town Hall. Ther preserves ei Towe th n ndi Hal bella l , 15f inches diameter, which is inscribed simply with the figures 1616. This bell has a handbell-type argent instea e materiaf canonsdo th d s an cas,i l t steel, rust being quite clearly visible. This being so, it is almost impossible for this bell to have been cast in the seventeenth century, as the casting of steel is of com- paratively recent date, and thus there can be little doubt that the figures do not form a date but only some foundry or ship's number. This bell until recently was in the possession of the Greenock Harbour 160 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1947-48.

Trust, and it had been previously thought1 that it might have belonged to an old steeple that was erected near the harbour in 1752. The bell was probably cas earlieo n t r than 1850.

15. HOUSTON Churchd Ol e ,Th formerl. t PeteryS . westera n I n tower hang belle inche3 son 3 , s diameter, weighing about 7 cwt. The inscription reads:

THIS BELL WAS GIVEN/TO/HOUSTON CHURCH/BY/M5! ELLICE WHE E BUILE SH CHURCH/A.DN TH T . 1875/ CAST BY/THO? LEADBETTE C9/GLASGOW/N& R 7 49 2

This bel huns i l chiminr gfo g with metal fittings presene Th . t church, buil sitee 1875vern d i thirte th an ,th y n do s ,littli e seemknowe b o st n about its predecessors. The parish is now amalgamated with Kilellan.

. INCHINNAN16 l HallowsAl . . This church is cruciform in plan, with a central tower which was only partly erected e worth , k being e belstoppe e th floo lf th chambeo rt da r f thio swhicp formroow to e roofn hfno th sO ther . e hang singlsa e bell, 28 inches diameter, hung in a wooden frame. The bel s inscriptiondevoiy i handbell-typa l an s f ha do d an , e argent instea canonsf do . The present church was built in 1904, replacing one of 1828. Previous to this latter date the church was substantially tweKth century, and the old takes belwa l n rebuildine dowth t na recastd gan . Thu presene th s t bell almost certainly dates from 1828.

17. INVBRKIP. Old Church. In a closed turret there hangs one bell weighing about 2 cwt. This bel accessibls li e only wit louvrf ho grea t se e te difficultyon s a t bu , board missings si seee b ne beln th fro, ca le groun a m th f o d ai wit e hth handbell-typtelescopea s ha t I . e hunargens i d g an twit h metal fittings. No inscription is visible, but the type of argent makes it probable that the bel nineteents i l h century churce rebuilTh s . hwa t between 180 180d 2an 5 bele probablth s l i d an thif yo s dat laterr eo . Ther alss ei osimilaa r bell, 24^ inches U.F d diameterOl . e Church,th n i , with no inscription but dating no earlier than the Disruption. 1 Smith's History of Greenock, p. 364. CHURCH BELLS OF RENFREWSHIRE AND DUNBARTONSHIRE. 161 18. JOHNSTONE. High Kirk. A tower with spire containing one bell, 45 inches diameter, inscribed: ERECTED A.D. 1884./JOHN C. WILSON &, C?, FOUNDERS, GLASGOW./VOCO, "VENIT N DOMINI E I TEMPLUM." This bell is cast with normal canons and is fitted with a wooden wheel and headstock. Ball bearings are used and a heavy counterbalance weight is fitted. This bell replace cas e Whitechapee 184n son ti th t 7a l Foundry, London, by C. & G. Mears. This latter bell weighed 16 cwt., slightly more than the presen ttowe e bellbuils Th 1792n wa r.i t . The Roman Catholic Chapel in this parish has a chime of three small bells l cas al Joh,y b t Wilso. Ltd.. nC Co f Glasgow,n& o .

. KILBARCHAN19 . West Church. In an open turret hangs one small bell, about 16 inches diameter, which on being inspected with the aid of a telescope appears to be without inscrip- cass bele tionwa tlTh wit. h normal loop canon mouldind san g wiresd an , bears a resemblance to the bell over the stables at Castle Semple (q.v.). The building with this bell turret was built in 1724, replacing an earlier churce sam th churc w en s buil o hne site hwa A t . nearb n 190yi d 0an buildind ol e bel e th uses hallga i lTh s da therefor. daty ema from 1724 certainls i d an y eighteenth century.

20. KILBARCHAN Municipae Th . l Steeple. A single bell, 29f inches diameter, inscribed: . MEART LONDOF O S N FECIT isn This bel cass i l t wit usuae hth l Whitechapel canon thaf so ts i date d an , hung in gun-metal bearings with a wooden headstock, the remaining fittings being metal. The belhoue use s runth p.mli s clock e i 6 rs d d th t a d bel g a r . an an ,lfo 10 p.m. every •week-day, and for quarter of an hour before the two church services at 12 noon and 6.30 p.m. on Sundays. municipae Th l buildin erectes gwa 1751n di .

. KILELLAN21 t FiUanS . . A single bell, 16^ inches diameter, inscribed: A hand,[ fig. } CAROLV1 S [Stop, E ] [fig.FECI2 M ] G [fig.2 Tfig.HO ] 2 [fig. 2} 1618/ [Medallion, fig. 3] KILLELLIN BELL/DAVID BURGES/FOUNDER/GLASGOW/1844. VOL. LXXXII. 11 162 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1947-48.

This bell has a handbell-type argent and metal fittings. Though the bell has been recast the inscription and stamps on the old bell have been well reproduced. The old parish church of Kilellan, now in ruins, dates back at least to thirteente th h renovates centurywa t I .1635n di s thi,a s date appears abov e soutth e h doorway n 176I . e paris0 th s amalgamatewa h d with Houston d shortlan , y after s decide178wa t 0o i removt d e roof th eo f the old church. e heritorss th wa f o t Th I e . e on keps removes bely wa b wa tl d dan recas hanggrounde w tre a th 1844 n no i tn n e si i d Barochaf so ,an n House. e autho Th . Henderso S s muci r. F . h D r permissio obliger nfo M o dt o nt inspect this bell in his grounds. f Georg o probabls Charlen wa so eg e Hog ycassHo th o bela ,twh r fo l Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, in 1606. This bell bears the words "APVD POTTERRAW," showin gstreee tha th foundr e thaf n o tth i s t namywa e in Edinburgh.

22. Churchd Ol . . One bell, 30-^ inches diameter,-inscribed:

CLOCK AND BELL PRESENTED TO THE PARISH OF KILMA- COLM,/BY D.C.R.C. BUCHANA DRUMPELLERF NO . A.D. 1875./ JOHN C. WILSON FOUNDER. GLASGOW.

The belrectangulas lha r canonhuns i d g san with ' metal fittingse th n I . repor Presbyteriae th tn 1o l Visitatio 173n ni noteds i 4t i : "The west gavil sidd an e wall Kirf Bell-housso d kan Stg.rebuil8 e b cos £2 a " o ef t t o a tt However, nothing is known about this earlier bell. Sir David Carrick Buchanan, K.C.B., was the last patron of the living, f 1874o t ,Ac d whe whic e an th nh abolished patronage s passedwa , e h , generously surrendere s clai hi dr compensatio mfo d presentean n e th d church wit hcloca belld kan .

. KILMACOLM23 Orphae Th . n Home Scotlandf so . e toweth n rI attache e churcth o t dh hang a chims f twelvo e e bells, tenor 38-j^ inches diameter in Al>.

1 Kilmacolm: ParishA History, James Murray 131. ,p . CHURCH BELLS OF RENFREWSHIRE AND DUNBARTONSHIRE. 163

Weight. Bell. Inscription. Note. Cwt. Qrs. Lb. Treble. G 0 14

RECAST GILLETTBY JOHNSTON& CBOYDON 19461 LLEWELLINS & JAMES/BRISTOL/lSSe

Second. Bb 1 1 26 [The same.] Third. Ab 2 0 7 [The same.] Fourth. G 2 1 24 [The same.] Fifth. Gb 2 2 25 GILLETT JOHNSTON& CROYDON 1946 Sixth. F 3 0 1 RECAS Y GILLETB T JOHNSTON& T . CROYDON, 1946./LLEWELLINS & JAMES/ BRISTOL/1886/ ^ Seventh. Eb 4 0 21 [The same.] Eighth. D 4 2 21

GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON, 1946./ ;'

Ninth. Db 5 1 15 [The same as the Siocth.] Tenth. C 6 0 7 [As the Sixth but no full stop after the founders' names.] Eleventh. Bb 7 3 17 [The same as the Tenth.] Tenor. Ab 10 3 18

RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON. CROYDON, 1946./ LLEWELLINS & JAMES/BRISTOL/1886/ ^ /THESE BELLS AND CLOCK ARE ERECTED/IN MEMORY OF/THE LATE ALLAN DICK OF GLASGOW/BY HIS SISTERS. 164 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1947-48.

In addition to the above inscriptions each bell bears her number in the chimsoundbowe th seven e eo th d n large,an r bells also have foundry numbers. These bells bear a trade shield which may roughly be described as a saltire between four bells chien i , f three wool-packs. The five lighter bells have their inscriptions and moulding wires incised thir fo s d reasoan letterine nth italicsn i s gi . All the bells have flat crowns, without canons or argent, and are bolted a stee o t l framewor tierso ke seve tw whic th ;n i n s hi lighte r bells being below. A keyboard or clavier is connected to the tongue of each bell. All excep eleventfifthe e eighte th th t th cloce ,d useth e han r hk ar dfo chimes , the hour being struck on the tenor. In 1886 Messrs Llewellins & James cast a chime of ten bells for this tower, and on recasting in 1946 the present fifth and eighth were added. The author is much obliged to the Secretary of the Orphan Homes of Scotland for permission to see these bells.

24. LOCHWINNOCH. The Auld Kirk. The e Aulruinth df o s Kirk stan John'n do s Hill. Onl westere yth n end now remains, but this possesses a bell turret and clock. The bell weighs less than a hundredweight and, with the aid of a telescope, it is seen that there are no moulding wires, though the canons are of the normal loop type. No inscription is visible. The west doorwa dates yi dbele 172th l d probabl9an y dates from this time, though the present iron fittings are certainly later. The design for weather-vane th worths ei noticef yo .

25. LOCHWINNOCH. St John's. A single bell, 40-| inches diameter, inscribed:

THE GIFT OF ROBERT ARTHUR, ESQ-./TO THE PARISH OF LOCHWINNOCH, 1810./RECAST 1849./RECAS ENLARGED TAN D 1908./BY THE FAMILY OF M»? MARY PATRICK,/GREAT- GRAN DE DONOR/JOH TH NIEC F O E . WILSOC N C& N° FOUNDERSD LT . GLASGOW.

This bell has canons, and is fitted with a wooden headstock and wheel which belong to the earlier bell of 1849. This earlier bell was cast by C. & G. Mears at the Whitechapel Bellfoundry, London. It weighed 11 cwt., and though the inscription reads to the contrary, the present bell is also of about this weight. CHURCH BELL RENFREWSHIRF SO DUNBARTONSHIRED EAN 5 16 .

churce Th thin ho s buils sit replaceo wa t t Aule eth d Kirk mentioned above octagonas i t i ; plann li , wit towee hth r alon ease gth t side.

26. MEARNS. Old Kirk. In a small southern tower there hangs one bell, 25f inches diameter, which bears no inscription. The bell has no moulding wires and has the handbell-type argen liethereforn e i f tcanons uo ag s It e. canno vere b t y great, probably dating fro firse m th nineteente t halth f o f h century.

27. NEILSTON Churchd Ol . . A single bell, 23^ inches diameter, inscribed:

G. HEARS & CO. FOUNDERS LONDON 1863.

This bell comes from the Whitechapel Bellfoundry, London, and is hung with wooden fittings which date from 1863. The present previouchurce th s buils a h 1763d 1n swa i t churcan , d hha no steepl hunbels e larga e th l wa gn i e ash-tree nea gatee rth . Unfortunately nothing further seemknowe b o st n abou. it t Another Whitechapel bell e Soute turrehangth th f n ho i st Church, Neilston. It is inaccessible, but with the aid of a telescope the words "Thomas Mears Founder London" can be made out. Unfortunately the date is obscured by the masonry, but Thomas Mears, junior, was founding from 1810 to 1844.

28. PAISLEY. The Abbey dedicated to SS. James and Mirrin. A single bell, 15f inches diameter, reputed 2 to be inscribed:

JOHANNES SPECHT ROTTERDAM A.D. 1730.

This bell hangs in a small turret between the north transept and the nave. Unfortunately the bell is cracked and so is disused. The in- scription is very much corroded by the action of sulphur on the copper in bele th l metal firse th ;t three wordinscriptioe th f so discerniblee nar t bu , date gones th eha . Ther alss ei obordea r abov inscriptione eth . Abbee foundes Th ywa 1163n i d t ver,bu y littl s knowei n abouy an t buildings erecte t thada t Englistimee burnts 130n th I d y wa . b 7ht an i was later repaired. Abbot Shaw (1459-1498) built a lofty tower over the principal gate, and his successor' John Hamilton, later Archbishop of St History of Neilston, Dr Pride, p. 78. Paisley Abbey, A. B. Howell, p. 82. 1 2 166 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1947-48.

AndrewsAbbos wa o t frowh , m 152 o 15475t , "built towera x , secono dt countryn ow r nont immensou ,a n ei e expense, which fro firse mth t resten do an insecure foundation and when hardly finished fell by its own weight." From its instability it would appear that it was a central tower supported foue onth r pillarcrossinge th t t presens a a reconstructee s a ,th n i t d church. doubtfus i t towee I eves th f i lrwa rebuilt after thisd collapseol e th s a , wall that was built at the east end of the nave was probably of pre-Refor- mation choie datethes Th wa nr. allowe falo dt l int nave o th ruin ed an s wa sparise useth thi f s o dh a seas e therp d churchwalth to en tt en a l O . was a bellcote, which housed this small bell, and due to the proximity of dwelling-housee th coae sth l fumes, which contain sulphurd ba , a hav d eha inscriptione effecth n o t . A large bell 2 is said to have hung in one of the earlier towers and to have been carried off by the English soldiers under Cromwell to Durham Cathedral. Unfortunately all the eight bells in this Cathedral were recast in 1693 and none of the inscriptions now relate to Paisley. It is however doubtful if ther anywhers e wa Abbe e th n ehousi o y t largea e bel Cromwell'n i l s time; centrao thern bellcotd s rooe ol e wa lth e ftower n th wouleo d t holan ,d no d a larger bell than the present one, so it is highly improbable that any bell was removed at that time. Shortly after the First Great War a move was made to restore the Abbey. The dividing wall betwee e navremoves e th e choi th ewa d n th d an r dan central towe d choian r r were rebuilt e towerTh . , however s emptyi , ; originally it was proposed to have a in it, but the architect decided that the tower would not be strong enough to stand the swinging of the bells.

29. PAISLEY. High Kirk. A single bell inche9 4 , s diameter, weighing abou tone on t, inscribed:

JAMES DUFF & SONS/MAKERS/GREENOCK/1872

This bell is fitted with a wooden wheel and headstock and is heavily counterbalanced. The steeple ,Hige thougth ho buils t i Kirk n t erectehs i o s t i wa ,d dan still owned by the municipal authorities, who provide a ringer for the church services. The steepl ewas built just prior to 1776, for in that year a bell was

bought weighin3 g 9 cwt. 1 qr. 14 Ib. and costing £75, the founder being unknown. This bell lasted for forty-four years, and when being rung at 1 Lees' Paisley Abbey, p. 189. 2 Ibid., p. 215. 3 The History of the High Kirk, Robert Brown. CHURCH BELL RENFREWSHIRF SO DUNBARTONSHIRED EAN 7 16 .

e Accessioth f Kinno crackeds g wa metae Georg t i Th .l Y I eroun e dth crack was cut out but to no avail, and a public subscription was started for s recastingit e Whitechape.th t s Thicarriea t wa s ou d l Bell Foundry, London and the bell was inscribed:

. MEART F LONDOO S N FECIT 1823. nicknames wa t I more th df e o Roarin afteactivJollr e o m on yrm To e gTo collectors of subscriptions. This bell's tone was better than its predecessor, anweighe d th 18 s ^wa t cwt. This bell was cracked in 1865 while being tolled for the funeral of Lord Palmerston, and on returning to London it was recast by Messrs Mears & Stainbank weighe increases Th . wa tcwt 2 2 . o dt In six years' time the bell was again cracked and was recast in its present form. While the bell was away in Greenock being recast the Whitechapel Paislen i belltowere w th yno ,n i Museum. t pu s wa ,

30. PAISLEY. Lylesland Parish Church. A single bell, 30 inches diameter, weighing about 6 cwt., with the note E.

SOLI • DEO • GLORIA - COBNELIS • OVDEROGGE • FEGIT • EN • D • I • 01 • 0 • ROTTERDAM - ANNO DOMINI 1648/PO • TOWN PASLAY• E F TH O R E• • / RECAST BY/J. MILLER REID/GLASGOW/1897.

The fittings are all metal, the frame being of wood. The bell has loop canons of the modern type. This bell has had an interesting career.1 In 1647 the Town Council cloc builcoso w a t £40 f t ne kd o ta d "ne a a resolve0an y w bu prick o dt " Tolboote inth bella r h.fo This building Crose stooth Paislen t si da d yan was used bot Towa s ha n firss Hal it gaol d td casbellan s ,an Rotter n i tlwa - dam in 1648 by Dirk Ouderogge. This beU lasted till 1863, when on 10th s crackeMarcwa t hi d while being run celebrato gt e marriageth e th f eo Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII. thebels e nlwa Th removed fro Crose mth s Steepl completela d ean w yne boughs onewa t fro Whitechapee mth l Bellfoundry, London, inscribed:

FOUNDERMEAR. CO S& S LONDON.

This bell, 33f inche s Steeplee sth wa diameter n t i bu p , u the s t nwa ,pu removed when the Steeple was declared unsafe and taken down in 1870. Whil Hige eth h Kirk beinbels lwa g recas Greenocn i t 187n ki 2 this bels lwa Paisley Daily Express, 27th December 1945. 1 168 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1947-48.

for a time used in that church's steeple. It is now to be seen in the Paisley Museum. The broken Dutch boughs bel locaa wa l y b lt t inhabitanti d ha o wh , recas Messry b t s Llewellin Jame& s f Bristolo s inscriptiod , ol wit e hth n reproduced. In 1886 this bell was presented to Lylesland Church, which was then about to be opened for public worship. However, in 1893 the bell was cracked and was again recast, this time by J. Miller Reid of Glasgow. The reproduced lettering on this present bell is the same size and similar originafoun n e thaa o b t n o dt o l bel Corneliuy lb s Ouderogg churce th n ei h Hole oth f y Rude, Stirling. This latter bel inscribeds li : + SOLI • DEO • GLORIA + COENELIS • OVDEROGGE • FECIT • ROTTERDAM • ANNO • DOMINI - 1657/TO • STERLING TOW• •E NBELONG •I •DO .

. PAISLEY31 t JamesS . . Ring of eight bells; tenor 50f inches diameter, in Eb. Weight. Bell. Inscription. Cwt. Qrs. Lb. Treble. +JOHN TAYLOR & CO+LOUGH- 5 1 27 BOROUGH+LEICESTERSHIRE +1909/ RECAST/BY/PETER COATS, ESQ.,/ GARTHLAND PLACE, PAISLEY,/SON PETER OFSI R COATS/OF AUCHEN- DRANE, AYR.

Second. [Same s Treble.]a 5 3 4 Third. [Same s Treble.]a 6 3 3 Fourth. [Same as Treble.] 7 3 10 : J FifthTAYLO. & CR? FOUNDERS 10 0 27 LOUGHBOROUGH 1882. : J TAYLOSixth. R & C° BELLFOUNDERS 12 0 8 LOUGHBOROUGH 1882. Seventh. [Same as Sixth.]

Tenor. J: TAYLOR & C° BELLFOUNDERS 22 1 17 LOUGHBOROUGH 1882./THIS PEAL OF EIGHT BELLS/WAS PRESENTED BY/SIR PETER COATS. KNIGHT/OF AUCHENDRANE. AYR,

A complete rin f bellgo s fro e Loughborougmth h foundr f Messro y s Joh 1882n I n Taylo. , wheCo churce & r nth firss htwa opened, a ther s ewa CHURCH BELLS OF RENFREWSHIRE AND DUNBARTONSHIRE. 169

ring of eight bells, and in 1909 the four lighter bells were recast and the remaining bells were returne Simpsoe th n do n principle. foue Th r lighter bells hav e croseth thein so (fig) r5 .inscriptions e Th . hunl bell al chang r e gfo sar e ringin frama gn i woof eo irod dnan dating from 1882, with plain bearings. The complete church, wit hlofta y tower with spire risin heigha o gt f o t 180 feet, was the gift of Sir Peter Coats. The first tower gave way due to 1 its having a defective foundation, and it had to be taken down entirely and then rebuilt. Englise Th h syste changf mo e ringin s beegha n practised her somr efo e time past, but up to 1947 only four of over 5000 changes have been rung. The first was one of 5040 changes of Grandsire Triples in 3 hours 28 minutes on llth March 1922, rung by a band mostly of Englishmen. The next peal on 2nd March 1929 was rung by a local band. It was 5040 change Majob hour3 Bo n i f r so s 17 minutes. Jus visitina r t beforwa ge baneth d from England ran gpeaa Camf o l - bridge Surprise recenMajorn i d tan , time locasa l ban runs dha gpeaa f o l Kent Treble Bob Major.

32. PAISLEY. George A. Clark Town Hall. A chime often bells; tenor note Eb. TVeiqht. Bell. Note. Inscription. , __, ' Cwt. Qrs.Lb. Additional Treble. F CAST BY GILLETT BLAND & 433 C° CROYDON 1882 Treble. E * [Same as Additional Treble.] 537 1 Second. D CAST BY GILLETT BLAND & 6 1 11 C° CROYDON 1881 Flab D [Samet secondAdditionals a . Treble.] 705 Third. C [Same as Second.] 7 Oil Fourth. Bb [Same as Second.] 7 3 20 b 4 A 2 [Same 2 Additionals a 9 Fifth .Treble.] G 5 1 [Same 0 Additionals a 1 Sixth1 . Treble.] Seventh. F [Same as Second.] 13 3 1 b E CAS Y GILLETB T8 Tenor 2 T . 9 BLAN1 & D C° FOUNDER & CLOCS K MAKERS CROYDON +1881 + A complete chim f belleo s fro e Croydomth n Bell Foundr f Messryo s

Gillett, Blan Messrw Co.d& no , s Gillet Johnston& t , Ltd. Brown1 , History of Paisley, vol. ii. p. 355. 170 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1947-48.

The design of the tower necessitates that two bells be hung in each of foue th r wall opening eacn so htowee sidth f ero wit tenoe treblhd th an r e inside. All are hung stationary or dead and are struck with hammers. The positioning of the bells, half out in the open, gives rise to an unequal distributio e sounth f f eacno o d h bell. e oppositBellth n o s e th sid f eo tower fro listenee mth hardle rar y hear t allda . Therkeyboaro n s ei r manuadfo l playinge chimth s operated i e an , d entirely by the clock. The Cambridge Quarters, sometimes erroneously called the Westminster Chimes, are struck on the second, third, fourth and seventh bells, with the tenor as the hour bell. The chime plays tunes at noo everd nan y third hour after tune eacr on e,fo h mechanisdaye Th . r mfo this consist f severao s l metal cylinders abou fooe on t diametere th n O . outside of these cylinders are positioned metal pegs, which engage in trip levers that release the hammers on the bells, when the cylinders are rotated. There are in all seven cylinders or barrels, six being pegged with seven tune remainine s th eac d hwitan e gon h change ringin joyour gfo s occasions. presene Ath t t time (1947 barrele th ) pegd san s have become wornd an , as a result the timing of the tunes is not all that could be wished.

33. PAISLEY Museume Th . . A e sWhitechape th wel s a l l bell mentioned under Lylesland Church, Museue th m possesse bellsa , 12|- inches diameter, inscribed:

SNEDON HOSPITA• L17d• 7

This bell has canons and an old wooden headstock. The Snedon Hospital or Poorhous governes 1752y openes wa numbea ewa Ma t I .y n ddi b f o r Directors, and in their committee minutes it is recorded 1 that: "2d December 1767 They have also ordere de Hospita thath e bel th n ti l e b l cast anew aboud Iban ,2 s1 t weight addesene b Bristo o t o t d s theretoi lt i d an , for said purpose. The present weight of the bell is 49 Ib 12 ozs."

34. PAISLEY. Municipal Buildings. Kept in the Municipal Building are the famous Silver Bells. These were the prize for the Paisley Races which were instituted in 1620. The bells are made of silver and are conical, one 1 inch diameter and the other 2|- inches diameter. The ends are closed by perforated hemispheres. The soun produces di bala y ldb insid comed et an throug sou slie hth t in the round end. Both are of the same date, the smaller bearing the date 1620 and a coat 1 Brown, History of Paisley,. 21 . volp . ii . CHURCH BELL RENFREWSHIRF SO DUNBARTONSHIRED EAN 1 17 .

of arms with the initials HC, probably standing for Hew Crawford of e prizth Cloberhillen largee firstwo Th o .r wh bear, a differens t coaf o t arms, three roses with a border of Stewart check between, and the initials O.P. These are thought to be the old Arms of the Burgh.

. PORT-GLASGOW35 Churchd Ol . . In a closed turret in the Old Parish Church there hangs a single bell, 27^ inches diameter, inscribed:

J DUFF MAKER GREENOCK 1839 The letterin placee s soundbogi th n do tha o we foundes th t r coule dus a solid pattern instead of a strickle or sweep. The crown is cast with a handbell-type e shapargentth s somewhad i e an , t lik a eflower-po t with almost straight sides. This shape was used in England in the thirteenth century t soobu , n became obsolet soune th s ed a suc y giveb hbelt s a nou lwa far from being satisfactory. This can, unfortunately, be said of the present bell. The parish of Port-Glasgow was formed out of the parish of Kilmacolm in 1694, and a church was built here soon after. On 4th October 1729 a representation 1 was made by the Bailie of Port-Glasgow to the Town Council of Glasgow, in the name of the Port, showing that the church bell "having weaa t kt bu full soundno y s e inhabitanthearth wa , y db e Port. th f o s" The Glasgow Town Council decided tha bela t l thabeed ha tn lef gifter o t d to them by Mr Alexander Mclnzie, one of the clerks of session, should be takee on Glasgowo nt d senol e t dowth . d Thinan inscription sa beld lha n upon it :e proprieto th sol"Sols Gloria. o o t dwa a Clyd De i f t I o r" e steamer when the church was demolished in 1823. What subsequently t knownno s becami .t i f Froo e e Latimth n inscriptio t ni woul d seem probable tha Dutchs bele th twa l , either fro Burgerhuyse mth ' foundrt ya Middelburg Ouderogge'. C r o , t Rotterdamsa t RoseneathA . , just ovee rth Clyde, is a bell from Middelburg, dated 1610, bearing the same words.

36. PORT-GLASGOW Towe Th n. Hall. In the steeple hangs one bell, 44 inches diameter, inscribed:

JAMES DUFF & SONS. MAKERS GREENOCK 1879./ TOW F PORNO T GLASGOW.

The bell is hung for ringing and has metal fittings.

The present Town Hall was built in 1815 and a bell was then put in the History1 of Port-Glasgow, W. F. Macarthur, p. 213. 172 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1947-48.

tower. Later, however bailiee th f , o slegen t tha i e though s on t dha t that bele th l woul improvee db coaa greef y do tb n paint; t givei this d swa n an was then found completels thabele tone th wa lth tf eo y altered. Thue sth paint had to come off to make the bell usable. It was removed first by scraping and then by boiling in oil. Unfortunately the bell did not survive this last ordeal and was cracked. Presumably the present bell in the towe resulrecaste e th th f s ri to ; however cloce presentes ,th kwa 187dn i d 8an mora e likely explanatio 187e th 9f n o recastin t no s beld ol thawa ls g i e tth large enough to proclaim the hours to the whole town. Towe Alsth n no i Towe Halth s ni l Crier's bell f inche5 , s diameted ran crowne th f o ,followin e 4p whic^th to inches e hha th go st inscription incised on it with a sharp punch:

TEE •:• TOWN •:• OF •:• PORTGLASGOWS •:• BF •:• ANNO •:• 1707

On the crown there is a cast loop, about 1 inch diameter, through which is riveted a larger iron handle of contemporary date. The material is brass. The author's thanks are due to Mr John Kerr, lately Town Treasurer, for confirmatio above th f no e story.

37. RENFREW Churchd Ol . . A single bell, 50 inches diameter, weighing 22 cwt. 2 qrs. 11 Ib. The inscription reads: Jljflms <& jpiainbmk, J[0:imir.ers, jLotiimit 1885. The first letter in each word is of ah ornamental set with a floral design, and the remaining part of the inscription band is filled with a border. There is also another border abov belod einscriptionan e wth . The bel cass i l t wit hDoncastea r Whitee typ casth s t ea t wa hea- d dan chapel Bell Foundry, London. This firm recently rehung the bell in ball bearings and with a modern type cast-iron headstock. It is one of the few single bells in the county that are fitted with a stay and slider so that they can be left inverted. This bell is the largest church bell in the county, bein Ib2 g.2 heavier tha tenot Jamese nS th t ra , Paisley. Howevert no s i t i , counterbalanced as a whole, but there is a weight on the clapper above the pivot point whic somhs i inchee8 s belo inside wth e crowbelle th f ,n o formin g wha knows i t balancea s na d clapper. In the possession of the Kirk Session is a small bell, If- inches diameter, If- inche crownf o s2|p d hig -rinto e an ,inche o th hg t f handleo sp higto o h.t It was shown at the Glasgow Exhibition of 1911 and a description is given in the Catalogue.1 The bell is uninscribed and without ornament other than 1 Catalogue of Glasgow Exhibition of 1911, vol. ii. . 1098p , . CHURCH BELLS OF RENFREWSHIRE AND DUNBARTONSHIRE. 173

a faint line just above the soundbow: rounded shoulders and a little ring- shaped handle at the top. It was found underneath the Parish Church during alterations and is almost undoubtedly a sacring bell, perhaps of fifteenth century date. The sacring bell was rung to draw the people's attention to certain more important parts of the old Latin service. This is the oldest church bell in countye th similaA . r bell from Paisle preserveys i Nationae th n di l Museum of Antiquitie Edinburghn si .

38. RENFREW Towe Th n. Hall. A single bell inche5 4 , s diameter, abou cwt.5 1 t , inscribed:

JOHN MORRISON & SONS FOUNDERS RENFREW 1878.

This bell is used for the clock and is hung for ringing with metal fittings. The canono crown s t founsha bu r vertical webs exten dcirculaa froo t mt i r flange whic boltes hmetae i th o dt l headstock. This obviate neee r sth dfo drilling bolt-holes through the crown of the bell, but it makes the centre of gravity further from the axis of rotation and so makes the bell more out of balance. To counteract this effect weights have been bolted to the headstock. presene Th t building dates from 1872, replacin f 1660earlien go a e .on r

39. WEMYSS BAY. Private Episcopal Chapee Righth f o tl Hon. Lord Inverclyde. A western tower with spire containing a chime of eight bells; tenor 42^- inches diameter naturalG n i , , inscribed: Approx. Bell. Inscription. Weight. Cwt. Qrs.Lb. Treble. JOHN C. WILSON & C?, FOUNDERS, 320 GLASGOW. A.D. 1878. Second. [The same.] 330 Third. [The same.] 430 Fourth. [The same.] 520 Fifth. [The same.] 620 Sixth. [The same.] 730 Seventh. [The same.] 930 Tenor. THIS CHURCH WAS ERECTED BY 14 2 0 GEORGE BURNS, OF WEMYSS BAY. A.D. 1878./JOHN C. WILSON & C?, FOUNDERS, GLASGOW. 174 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1947-48.

tenoe Th s huni r r ringingfo g with metal fittings e remaininth , g bells hune ar g dea thren di struce ear tierd k san wit h hammers e bellth l s Al . are cast with canons hammere Th . connectee sar wire y keyboarda b o st d below.

THE CHURCH BELLS OF DUNBARTONSHIRE. Dunbartonshire, though only a small county, is divided into two separate portions. At the Reformation the western or larger part consisted of seven e singlparishes th e othe s th e wa parisd r an , f Lenzieho , whic s latehwa r divided into Kirkintilloch and Cumbernauld. Sinc e Reformatioeth e parishenth f Rhuo s , KilArrocharw -Ne d an , patrick have been formed in the main part of the county. The older bells in the county may be classified thus:

mediaeva1 (I.) l Unknown founder. (II. seventeent2 ) h centur Dutch2 y . (III.) 2 eighteenth century 2 Scottish.

The single mediaeva e countl e Skellath bel th n i ls yi t bell preserven di the Municipal Building at Dumbarton. This bell, a photograph of which is shown on PI. XXXIV, 1, is of great age and in all probability belonged to some early Celtic saint. The very early bells of this type were made of riveted iron plates, which when bent were dipped in molten bronze to give a corrosion-resisting surface and also to improve the tone. As this handbell is made of cast bronze it is evident that the age is less than those of the riveted construction. Bells of this type are very rare in Scotland, probably due to the ease by which they could be destroyed and the length of time that has elapsed since they wer ee Glasgomadeth n I w. Exhibitio f 191o n 1 there were eight such bells exhibited, including the Skellat bell of Dumbarton, all dating from about A.D. 600 to A.D. 1000. The Catalogue of the Exhibition gives a full description of all of them, together with a photograph of'each and an introductory article on the use of bells by Dr. F. C. Eeles.1 So far knows i s a n this numbe l thaal s ti r remain e Scottisth f so h Celtic quad- rangular . The history of this bell is far from clear and, as there is no inscription, e belth l itsel teln s littlu ca lf e abou s ownersit t r FerguM . s Roberts, F.S.A.Scot., who was until recently Town Clerk of Dumbarton, has collected 1 Catalogue of the Glasgow Exhibition, 1911, vol. ii. . 1095p , . CHURCH BELLS OF RENFREWSHIRE AND DUNBARTONSHIRE. 175

some information about its history from the Burgh Records, and it is to be hoped that this information may soon be published. The bell has been in possessioe th Burge th f no h sinc earle eth yseventeente parth f o t h century and was latterly used as the . The earliest post-Reformation bell in the county is at Roseneath, being inscribe PId .an XXXIV) d(a (fig5 1 . , 2):

SOLGLORI• BURGERHVY• O IN DE • IA A • SE • FECI•M T 161• 0

Though only a small bell the tone is good and, like most of the bells from this foundry, the surface of the, casting is smooth and well defined. The bell now hangs in a porch, preserved as an object of antiquarian interest. Though not cracked, it was thought desirable to replace it by a new bell whe soundboe nth founs w havwa o dt e been worn rathe impace r thith y nb t clappee oth f r ove centuriese rth . Burgerhuyn Ja firse thif th o t s familwa sI founderf yo worked san t da Middelbur Hollandn gArtn i Ja . s tell M authoe . sth probabls r thawa e h t y initially in service with the city bellfounder of Middelburg, Hendrick van Trier, with becomd whoha e mh e acquainte t Aix-la-Chapelleda Art. M s. know thref so e bell thiy sb s founder being dated 1607, 161 1614d 3n an I . Scotland there are at least six others apart from this Roseneath bell. They are at Melrose Abbey, 1608; Edinburgh (Canongate Tolbooth), 1608; Earlston, Dougla d Fyviean s , 1609; Crossmichael, Wigtownshire, 1611. I die Middelburn n di Ja burie s Oude-Kere i 161n g i th d n 7dan i k there. Michaen succeedes so wa s e hi l H y Burgerhuysdb bors wa n o beforwh , e 1585 at Aix-la-Chapelle, and died at Middelburg in 1651 and was buried Aprilh therArt. bells 5t hi M n sf se.o o knowrangin 2 2 f so g from 1617o t n Scotlan1645I l remainin. al e autho, recora dth 23 s f ha thio rdo gt s day, coverin perioe gth d 1611647o t 7 . This Dutch founder cast more bells for Scotland than any of his countrymen. dieo Middelburn di wh , II n Michaen Ja gi n succeedes so wa s l hi y db 1679. His work in Holland so far discovered numbers 17 bells covering the years 1636 to 1676, though in Scotland the range is only 1642 to 1671 represented by the bells at Glass, Aberdeenshire, 1642; Hutton, Berwick- shire, 1661; FarneU, 1662; Panbride, 1664; and Abdie, 1671. It will therefore be seen that this foundry had a flourishing trade with Scotland amountin t leasa bells 4 o gt 3 . The bell in the old church at Kirkintilloch is also Dutch, being inscribed:

[Fig. 4] GERARD • KOSTER • ME FECIT • AMSTELREDAMI • ANNO • 1663/ [fig. 16}

Though this belexposehuns n a ha l n gi d position eve rcasts sincwa , t ei 176 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1947-48.

the surface is remarkably free from corrosion. On the waist there is the large medallio Cite Arme th th f Glasgow y o f f reasoe no s o it th r t nfo bu , presence is obscure. Kirkintilloch has been a Burgh of Barony since 1184 and has never had any administrative agreement with Glasgow. In the People's Palace Museum, Glasgow, is preserved a bell which bears almost exactly the same inscription as this bell. The wording is identical but heae th d (fig doe) t appear4 . sno . This bell bear medallioe sth Arme th f nso e Cit oth f Glasgofy o aboves thin wi a st s correctcasbu i , e bel t ei th ls a , was cas e Glasgoordey th b t f o r w Town Counci r municipafo l ls i use t I . illustrate PIn di . XXXV. 1 , There were three founder name th Kosterf f eso o . Gerri Gerarr to s wa dI appointed master founder to the city of Amsterdam on 27th November 1606 afte deate th r Cornellf ho s Amoroy cascannoe o H ttw . Vlissenger nfo n (Flushing) in 1617, and M. Arts knows of four bells cast by him in the years 1608, 1611 (two), 1615. None of his work has been so far found in Scotland. He was succeeded by his son Assuerus Koster, who was born in Amsterdam 1604n i , \vas marrie Augush 5t n do t 1626 died Septembean ,n d i r 1661, being buried in the Nieuwe-Kerk in Amsterdam. In Holland nine bells have been noted ranging in date from 1633 to 1649. His sole work in Scotland is a cannon preserved at Dunstaffnage Castle, near Oban, which is inscribed:

ASUERUS KOSTER AMSTELREDAMI ME FECIT Ward Lock's Guide Scotlando t give legene sth d tha cannoe th t n formed armamene parth f o t galleoa Spanisf e o t th f no h recovereArmads wa d aan d fro bottoe mth Tobermorf mo y Baylattee Th .r par probabls i t y correct, t couli t t havdno bu e forme darmamene parth f o t f suco ts hshiit a s pa founder was not born till 1604, some sixteen years after the sailing of the Armada. s succeedewa e s eldesH d Gerriy hi db 3r bors , n tII wa nto son o ,wh October 1627. He was elevated to the position of "City gunfounder" on e occasio th s marriaghi f no 30tn eo h November 164 5o Marit a Gorssius. M. Arts knows of three of his bells in Holland cast in 1659 (two) and 1669. Scotlann I have de Kirkintillocw eth e Glasgoth d hwan examples already mentioned, and Stoneykirk, Wigtownshire, 1663. The disused bel t Bonhila l l next r noticecomeou e inscriptioo t th s, n reads (fig. 15, 6): FURNISHE HERITOR• E TH • Y S MINISTEB D• • R KIR• K - SESSION ./AND • PARISHONERS • OF • BONNILL . IN • THE - YEAR • 1712 • R • M ./FECIT . EDR:

Though the bell itself is a smooth casting, the lettering is rough and well raised from the surface of the bell. CHURCH BELL RENFREWSHIRF SO DUNBARTONSHIRED EAN . 177

At Corstorphine there is a bell which bears the initials R.M. and the dat likels ei t 1728i y d tha,an t thes bello etw s wer Robere e on cas y tb t Maxwell of Edinburgh. The Edinburgh foundr flourishins ywa recorde t thiga th sn i time sd an , e Incorporatiooth f f Hammermeno Edinburgf no h ther mentios ei e th f no names of several bellfounders. John Meikl membea s yeare th ewa n sri 166 1693d 2 an t ther o ,n bu s ei mention of him in the roll of 1682. He cast the bell at Kirkliston in 1687, and was probably succeeded by Robert Maxwell, who on a bell at Dunblane writes his name as ROBERTUS MAXUELL and uses the shield illustrated in fig. 7. The date of this beU is 1723. He cast a bell for Peebles in 1714, and the second and third of the old rings of bells in St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh, in 1706 and 1728. Maxwell obviousl somf o s e yimportancwa e Incorporationth n ei e h s a , was Deacon Convener in 1638 and 1639 and was also made a Freeman in the latter year. Another founder who was Deacon Convener of the Trades was John Milne, in 1766. He cast the bells at Duddingston in 1755 and Kilbirnie in 1753. The records of the Incorporation of Hammermen of Edinburgh, as opposed to those of Canongate, are preserved in Huntly House, Edinburgh. Before 168 recorde 0th hardle ar s y legiblaverage th o et e studentd an , t beeauthoe no th nr s oablfa r ha fint abouo et dou t Charle Georgd san e Hog, who were founding in Edinburgh in the early years of the seventeenth century. Of the modern bells in the county, the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, London, establishe 1567dn i , cast bell Dumbartonr sfo , 1855; Rhu, 1858 Bonhilld an ; ; 1837, thoug lattee hbees th rha n recast. Messrs Gillet Johnston& t , Ltd. f Croydon,o , Surrey, case carilloth t n at Dumbarton, and the chimes at Clydebank Town Hall and Old Kilpatrick, both octaves. Messrs John Taylor & Co. cast the two chimes at Helensburgh. It is hope hano dt e octavgth e therframa n ei e suitabl r scientifiefo c change ringing when circumstances permit. This firm cas numbea t ringe th f so r of bells hun r changgfo e ringin n Scotlandgi , thos t Paisleyea ; Glasgow, St Mary's Cathedral; Edinburgh, St Cuthbert's and St Mary's Cathedral; Inveraray and Alloa, all of which have added to their reputation. They also cast the 57-cwt. hour bell in Glasgow University. The Glasgow foundry of John C. Wilson is well represented in the county, chiefly by single bells, but also by part of the chime of six bells t Cardrossa histore Th e .f sectiothi e founyo th b s n o n i dt firno s mi Renfrewshire bells.

2 1 VOL. LXXXII. 8 17 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F O S , 1947-48.

LISA BELLF TO S ARRANGED ACCORDIN PARISHESO GT . In the following list particulars are given of bells in all the older parish churches modere somn i th f d eo an ,n churches with chimey bellr an so f so magnitude. Municipal bell alse sar o noted. diametere Th l accessiblal f so e bells have been obtaine frod dan m them an appropriate weight has been computed. In certain cases the exact weight is known, and where the actual and approximate weights appear same th en i lattelise marketh te rar d thus ££. Unless otherwise state inscriptione dth sbane begith dn no jus t below the shoulder angle, and the end of each line is denoted by an oblique stroke. All crosses, stops and borders are indicated, and are illustrated when interestf letterine theo th e l yar Al g. Roma e founcounte th th f o n d i ns yi type. The following abbreviation usede sar : / Denotes the end of a line. (J) The crest of Messrs Gillett & Johnston, Ltd. crese (T Messrf Th )o t s John TayloLtd. Co . & r ^ Denotes that the weight is only approximate.

1. ARROCHAR. Tighness Church. In a western tower there hangs one bell, 20 inches diameter, which is devoid of any inscription. Judging from the roughness of the casting, and from the fact that the canons and argent are of the older type, it is probable tha casbels e th tlt wa whe parise nformeth s hwa 1733n di . The clapper is attached to the .crown staple by a leather baldrick, or strap. This method of suspension is very unusual at the present time; Englann i sixteent e becom d datf th o ha y t edt b i eou h century. Ther wheewrought-iroo a n t s ei lbu n leve complicatef ro d design, which is coeval with the bell.

2. BONHILL. Old Church. A tower containing one bell, 42-j inches diameter, inscribed:

BONHILL PARISH CHURCH BELL CAS Y HEARB T F O S LONDO 1837./RECASN NI JOHY TB . WILSONNC . FOUNDER. GLASGOW N 1863I . . N? 783./REV: JOHN ALISON. M.A. MINISTER.

bele Th l cas 183n i t 7 came fro e Whitechapemth l Foundry, London, CHURCH BELLS OF RENFREWSHIRE AND DUNBARTONSHIRE. 179 gives i d thein i an r list weighins sa woodee cwt2 g1 Th . n fitting thir sfo s bell were used again for the present bell. The bell thauses dwa t prio 183o t rpreserves i 7 Entrance th n di e Hall. It is badly cracked, and is inscribed: FURNISHED . BY. THE • HERITORS • MINISTER • KIRK • SESSION -/AND • PARISHONER •F BONNIL O YEA S• • E R 171•• TH N •I LR • M2• -/FECIT • EDR:

Th einche6 bel1 s diameteri ln si photographa r Fo scala . d ean repro - ductio inscriptioe parf nth o f to PIe n.se . XXXVb , figd 15 an . , 2 , probablbels e lwa Th y cas Robery b t t Maxwel Edinburghf o l . SOLI 'DEO» GLORIA I AN • BVRCERHV YS ME-FECIT'I^IO-

[KIEIK-S £55IQ

(i)5 1 . g Pi (a) Inscriptio disusen no d bel t Boseneathla , 1610. (b) Par inscriptiof to disusen no d bel t Bonhillla , 1712.

3. CARDROSS. Old Church. Thparisd ol e h churc s burnhwa t air-raidown a n ni d durin e latgth e war. The single bell, which the western tower contained, fell down, but does not seem to have been cracked. It is 20 inches diameter and without inscription, but is obviously the product of a brass foundry as a full-sized pattern was used instead of the normal strickle. There are no canons, only a handbell-type argent. The bell probably dates from the first half of the nineteenth century. The pre-Reformation church stood at the eastern end of the present parish, opposite the Burgh of Dumbarton, and the ruins still remain. 180 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1947-48.

churc 164presenw n e rebuil I s buils th ne 4n wa ha wa o t t n i i t sitd ean 1826. It is recorded1 of the old church of 1644 that "There was a small from which the bell was suspended, which summoned the inhabitants to worship."

4. CARDROSS. New Church. A tower with a short spire containing a chime of six bells; tenor inches diameter. Approx. Bell. Inscription. Weight. Cwt. Treble. 2| JOHN C. WILSON. FOUNDER GLASGOW. A.D. 1871 Second. 2| [The same.] Third. 3 [The same.] Fourth. 4 [The same.] Fifth. 5 [The same.] Tenor. 6 JOHN WARNER & SONS, FOUNDERS, LONDON. 1914.

Belo inscriptioe wth tenoe trefoia th s n ri n o l border. The bells are all hung dead in two tiers in a wooden frame, none of them has canons or clappers. They are struck by hammers operated by the clock or from an independent keyboard. five eTh lighter bells came fro Gorbale mth s Foundry, Glasgowe th d an , Cripplegate teno casth s t a trwa e Foundry, London.

5. CLYDEBANK. Town Hall. A tower containin gchima f eigheo t bells; tenor 42^ inches diameter, in the key of G. 1 Annals of Oarelochside, W Maughan. C . . 245pp , , 251. CHURCH BELLS OF RENFREWSHIRE AND DUNBARTONSHIRE. 181

, . Weight. Bell. Inscription. , _ _, ^ Cwt. Qrs. Lb. Treble. GILLET JOHNSTON& T 2 , 2 CROYDON 1 2 , 1929/1 Second. 239 Same foundry data /2 Third. 3 2 18 Same foundry data /3 Fourth. 437 Same foundry data /4 7 1 3 5 Fifth. Same foundry data /5 Sixth. 735 Same foundry data /Q Seventh. 9 3 26 Same foundry data J7 Tenor. 14 1 8 Same foundry data J8 numbee Th f eaco r he chim th bel n i el appear e soundbowth n so e Th . l hunal bell e g sar dea d from steel girdertierso five tw th ,en s i lighter ones being above. The clock chimes the Cambridge Quarters by means of external hammers. There is a keyboard provided, the wires being connected speciaa o t l for clappef mo r whic belle th pulles hi .o t belln None do th f seo have canons and all are cast with a flat crown. The cloc belld kan s were erecte publiy db c subscriptio Memoriar Wa a s na l to those who fell in the 1914-18 War.

6. CUMBERNAULD t NinianS . . In a western turret hangs one bell, weighing about 2 cwt., which bears the inscription: JOHN C. WILSON/FOUNDER/GLASGOW/1854 The bell is cast with canons and has metal fittings. This parish was formed in 16491 when the old parish of St Ninian, Kirkintilloch divideds presene wa , Th . t fabric dates from about this date.

7. CUMBERNAULD t AndrewS . . towea n I r hang belle inche0 son 4 , s diameter, whic inscribeds hi : ERECTED AT CUMBERNAULD FREE CHURCH A.D. 1887/ JOHN C. WILSON & C?, FOUNDERS. GLASGOW. Statistical1New Account of Scotland. 182 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1947-48.

The bell is cast with canons and has metal fittings. The bearings are of the non-lubricated type, the gudgeon pin running on two rollers. The churc buils hwa t originall rebuils wa 174n y i 1825 n d i t 3an .

8. DUMBARTON Churchd Ol . . A tower with spire containin belle gon , 39^ inches diameter, weighing abou cwt.0 1 t , whic inscribeds hi :

C & G HEARS FOUNDERS LONDON 1855.

The bel huns li ringinr gfo g inverted, being fitted wit h staa slider d yan . fitting e woof o Th e d sar mounte cast-metaa n di l frame counterbalancA . e weight is provided, as is a chiming hammer for the clock. The bell is, unfortunately, cracked in the crown, but its tone is un- impaired . a churc Thi d r somha sfo h s site ha econsiderabl e timeA . church s destroyewa Lory db d Fleming, Governo Castle th f Queen o rei n

Mary' rebuils s 1 timewa t tI wesaboue . spira th d tt eta end ha 159 d . 0an The present church dates from 1811.

9. DUMBARTON. High Kirk. A tower with spire containing one bell, 42-| inches diameter, inscribed:

JOHN C. WILSON . POUNDER . GLASGOW N? 888/PRESENTED TO THE CONGREGATION OF THE FREE CHURCH OF DUMBARTON/BY JAMES WHITE. OVERTOUN. A.D. 1866./ G

The bel cass li t with woode s canonha d nsan fittings wit hmetaa l counter- balance weight. The present church2 was built in 1864.

. DUMBARTON10 . Roman Catholic Churc t PatrickS f ho . A tower containin gcarilloa twenty-thref no e bells; tenor 44^r inches diameter, in F sharp, and an Angelus bell. The Angelus bell weigh e notsth naturalF e19s fe ha cwtTh d . an . inscription reads:

GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON, 1927. (J)/1849/D.O.M./AD HONOREM S. PATRICII, HIBERNLE APOST. TIT. HUJUS ECCLESLS3/QUI IN HAG REGIONE PRIMO LUCEM VIDEBAT/ FELICITER REGNANTE PIO PP. XI./PROCURANTE REVMO.

Castle and Town of Dumbarton, D. Macleod, p. 96. Ibid., p. 96. 1 2 CHURCH BELL RENFREWSHIRF SO DUNBARTONSHIRED EAN 3 18 .

DOM. HUGONB CANONICO KELLY,/HANC CAMPANAM,/ ILLMUS. BT RBVMUS. DOM. DOM. DONALDUS MACKINTOSH,/ ARCHIEPISCOPUS GLASGUENSIS,/BENEDIXI T CONSEE T - CRAVIT,/DIE 17 MENSIS MARTII M.C.M. XXVII./ET VERBUM CARO FACTUM EST./LAUDO DEUM VERUM PLEBEM VOCO, NUBEM PUGO, FBSTA DECORO./CONGREGO CLERUM, DEPUNCTOS PLORO./l

This bell is hung for ringing inverted arid is mounted on ball bearings in a steel frame. Apart fro letterine mth g ther alss ei obordea r beloe wth inscriptio waise th nn tband o appea d Papaan ,e rth Bishop'e l Armth d san s Arms. Angelu e runs i th t s gI a s a.m.bel 7 p.m. noo6 t 2 la d 1 , ,n an bein g operated by a chiming hammer controlled by the clock. It is also used as the dead bell. Above this bell hangs the in a steel frame in three tiers. Each bell bear e founder'th s addition i e dates d th nam an ,d n ean eac h bels i l dedicate particulaa o dt r saint, together wit churchname e hth e th f eo Th . tenolongea s rha r inscriptio similan no r lineAngeluse thath o st n o t . e Croydo l carilloe th cas al t Th a ts nnwa Foundr f Messryo s Gillet& t Johnston, Ltd., during the years 1927 and 1928. Originally, in 1927, there was installed a chime of eight bells and the Angelus bell. In the next year the chime was augmented to its present size. carilloe Albelle th th l n hunse i n ar cas e g ar dea t d witdan h flat heads. The fittee yar d wit hspeciaa l for clappef mo r whic bele th draws lh i o t n no keyboare fro th insid e mn th o ey depresseds di whe ke e nth . The cloc ke quarter useth bello r sstriketw d sfo san e e hourth sth n o s tenor. The particulars of the carillon are:

r. 77 *r .« Weight. D „ AT Weight. Bell. Note. Cwt.„ , „Qrs. TLb., Bell. Note. Cwt.* Qrs. Lb. 2 l£ 0 ' Pf Treble#P 13 . 306 2 P 027 14 E# 3 2 17 0 2 1 4 E 5 1 1 2 2 0 E 3 0 2 4 f D 6 1 8 3 0 f D 4 5 D 0 3 18| 17 D 4 3 25 6 Cf 0 3 23 18 C# 5 0 16 7 C 105 19 C 609 8 1 0 7 B 0 2 3 11 B 8 9 A# 1 1 Yl\ 21 A| 80 10 10 A 1 2 25 22 G# 12 0 12 3 2 3 4 1 2 Tenor 3 . f 6 G 1 F# 1 1 G 2112 0 9 3 9 1 Angelus P . 184 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1947-48.

. DUMBARTON11 . Municipal Buildings. In the Municipal Buildings is preserved a bell called locally the Skellat bell. Thi sf ver o bel s yi l great age, probably belongin o somt g e Celtic sectiosaint e bele rectangulaTh th s li f .n o soundboe th edge e t ra th t swbu have been somewhat flattened. The material is cast bronze and the dimensions1 are:

At mouth, 8 inches one way and 9 inches the other. e crownth f o Heigh , p 9-to j incheso t . . Height to top of the metal handle, 11^ inches. Width of crown along line of handle, 4^ inches.

The bell seems to have come into the possession of the Burgh Authorities during the early years of the seventeenth century. In John Glenn's History of Dumbarton it is reported that "It was customary then, on the death of 2 frieny an near do r relation seno t ,publie dth c crier throug towe hth n with whas calle e skellawa t th d t bell r deao , d bell o wart , e friendnth d an s acquaintance funeral.r he deceasee r o th s f "so hi o dt This bell is illustrated on PI. XXXIV,. 1.

. HELENSBURGH.12 Churchd Ol 3 . A tower containin gchima f fiveo e clocktenoe th bell Th r r.sfo 40§ inches diameter Gtn i , . Weight. Bell. Inscription. Cwt. Qrs. Lb. Treble. 1 0 11 Border/19(T)29 Second. 1 2 13 Border/19(T)29 Third. 2 6 1 0 Border/19(T)29 Fourth. 9 1 3 3 Border/19(T)29 Hour bell. 12 2 9 OMNIA FIAN D A GLORIAT M DEI:::::::: . FLEMING/ANA . :/J S DHI WIFE WILHELMINA/GAVE THESE BELLS/1929/(T)

1 Catalogue Glasgowe oth f Exhibition, 1911, vol. ii. . 1098p , . 2 Castle and Town of Dumbarton, D. Macleod, p. 119. 3 A division of the old parish of Rhu. CHURCH BELL RENFREWSHIRF SO DUNBARTONSHIRED EAN 5 18 .

All the bells were cast by Messrs John Taylor & Co., Loughborough. e threOnth e lighter bell trade-mare th s k wittakeT s e fora hit sth f m o lower end opened out into the form of a bell. On the fourth appears the crest of this foundry, as illustrated in the Church Bells of Berkshire, PL iv. On the tenor is a larger medallion bearing the lettering TAYLOB LOUGH- BOROUGH round the rim with the same crest inside. The quarter bells are hung dead but the hour bell is hung for ringing, in bal belle l bearingsth sf o hav l Al e .fla t heads.

. HELENSBUBGH13 Episcopae Th . l Churc Michaet Angelsl S f hAl o d l.an A bold western tower containing a chime of eight bells; tenor note F$ : Weight. Bell. Inscription. Cwt.Qrs. Lb. Treble. 2 1 10 + TAYLORS + FOUNDERS + LOUGH- BOROUGH+1930 Second. 2 2 25 [As above.] Third. 3 3 15 above.][As Fourth. 5 2 12 [As above.] Fifth. 7 0 23 above.][As Sixth. 7 3 3 [As above.] Seventh. 10 2 4 [As above.] Tenor. 15 1 23 ::::::::: 1930 :::::::/ THESE CHIMES ARE THE GIFT TO/ST. L MICHAEL'AL D AN S ANGELS HELENSBURGH./O: ' R SI F WILLIAM H. RAEBURN, BT./TO E GLORTH F O GOD/AND/IY N LOVING MEMORY OF/HIS WIFE, ELLINOR MARTHA DIEO DN I WH , S 1915/ANCHILDRENHI F O D / DOROTHY (1900)/SAISIE (1917)/ ERNEST (1922)/AND OF ALFRED, WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR, 186 . PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1947-48.

The tenor bear e largth s e medallioChurchd Ol e s foun,th a n t a d Helensburgh, on the hour bell. This medallion bears the inscription TAYLOR LOUGHBOROUGH. The whole chime was cast at the foundry of Messrs John Taylor & Co., Loughborough, Leicestershire. Albelle th l s have fla boltete headar d dsan o steet l girders. The e struc a speciayar y kb l for f clappermo , whics hi connected by a wire to a keyboard below. The tenor has a separate chiming mechanis tollinr mfo . gin

14. KILMARONOCK t MarnockS . . In a closed western turret there hangs one bell, 16^ inches diameter, mouldinwhico n s hha g wire inscriptionr so casbels e ltwa Th wit. h canons, but these are recessed into the wooden headstock and their shape is not visible. Thoug e sit hth ancients ei presene th , t church x only dates from 1813, probabls ani t di e tha thif bele o stth s l i date .

KILPATRICKW NE . 15 Churchd Ol . . A north-western tower containin belle gon , 37^- inches diameter, hunr gfo ringing and inscribed:

IACOBUS WATERS KING A.M./^EDIS NOV^B S. PATRICII MINISTER, A.D. 1885./JOHN 0. WILSO CN& ° FOUNDERS, GLASGOW./VOCO, "VENITI TEMPLUM.DE D A E "

The bel cass li t with canons huns i d g ,an wit h metal fitting countera d san - balance weight. The parishes of New and Old Kilpatrick were formed out of the larger paris f Kilpatricho 164n ki 9 2 whe na churc firss hwa t buil thin o t s site. Alterations to the building have been made in the years 1807, 1885 and 1909.

KILPATRICKD 16OL . t PatrickS . . A western tower containin gchima eighf eo t bells; tenor not naturaleF , smala d lan disused bell. Th ee chim bellth case n si ear t with fla hunte headar gd deasan a n di steel frame. The disused bell has a handbell-type argent and a metal headstoc wheeld kan t wa i churc;e sth h bell befor chime presentedeth s ewa , and probably dates from 1812 when the present church was built. Statisticalw 1Ne Account of Scotland, vol. vii. . 217,p . 2 Ibid., vol. viii. CHURCH BELL RENFREWSHIRF SO DUNBARTONSHIRED EAN 7 18 .

Weight. Bell. Inscription. Cwt. Qrs. Lb. Treble. GILLET JOHNSTOT& N FOUNDERS 4 2 13 CROYDON 1897 Second. [The same.] 4 21 Third. [The same.] 5 0 Fourth. [ The same.] 6 21 Fifth. [The same.] 7 16 Sixth. [The same.] 14 Seventh. [The same.] 10 Tenor. GILLET JOHNSTOT& N FOUNDERS 14 23 CROYDON ENGLAND./TE TH O GLOR F GOD/THIO Y S PEAF O L BELL S PRESENTEI S E TH O T D PARISH D KILCHURCOL - F O H PATRICK BY/WILLIAM DUNN BLAC F O AUCHENTOSHAN/IK N MEMOR FATHES HI F YO R ROBERT BLACK OF KELVINHAUGH/AND S BROTHEHI F O R JAMES BLACK OF AUCHENTOSHEN./1897. inscription.]o Disused[N . 18 inches diameter.

The chime is operated by a mechanical playing apparatus consisting of a barrel with pegs screwe rounn di circumferencee dth barree th s lA rotates. , the pegs come in contact with trip mechanisms which operate a hammer on each bell. There are three barrels provided, which play both hymn tunes changesd an .

. KIRKINTILLOCH17 t MaryS Churchd . Ol , . A western bellcote containin belle gon , 22^ inches diameter, inscribed:

[Fig. GEEAR] 4 D • KOSTE FECIRE •M T . AMSTELREDAM ANNI• O 1663• / [Fig.] 16

Abov belod ean e inscriptio wth n appear e bordesth r (fige th . 12)n O . waist is a large medallion of the Arms of the City of Glasgow. The bell has canons of the usual type, but the outside surface bears the angen heaa f eacdn o i l h case with beadin edgese th t ga . The excellen n bela s i l t casting vers i d y an simila,preservee on o t r n di People'e th s Palace Museum, Glasgow. This latte Tolboothune e th ron gn i h or town steepl Glasgown ei beard an , s exactl same yth e inscriptioe th d nan 188 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1947-48.

Arms of the City of Glasgow, the only difference being that the head (fig. 4) does not appear. This casbels Towordee y ltwa b th f nro Counci Glasgof lo thereford wan e it was appropriate that it should bear the City Arms. The founder may have t confusedgo assumed an , d tha s Kirkintilloca t neao s s r Glasgohwa t wi would do no harm to have the medallion on both bells.

R.C«ovsto-r.

Fig (|)6 1 .. Arms of City of Glasgow, from bell in Old Church of St Mary, Kirkintilloch, cast in 1663.

The church is disused and the bell's fittings are very much decayed; the whee s almosha l t disappeared, only fragment e leftd thar esan , gudgeon pins are rusted in. The bell, however, is in no danger of falling. The churc buils h164wa n i t 4 afte divisioe th largere th f no r parish into Kirkintilloch and Cumbernauld, or Wester and Easter Lenzie as they used to be called. It became disused when the New Church of St Mary was complete 1913n di . The author' o ex-Provost se thankdu e tar s James Fletcher, J.P., F.S.A.Scot., for his assistance in reaching this bell. The ascent was only achieved with the greatest difficulty. CHURCH BELL RENFREWSHIRF SO DUNBARTONSHIRED EAN 9 18 .

18. KIRKINTILLOCH. St Mary, New Church. This church possesses a fine tower of large proportions, which contains a chime of thirteen . These and their fittings bear no maker's name.

19. KIRKINTILLOCH. St David's Memorial. A tower with spire containin e bell inche0 gon 4 , s diameter, hunr gfo ringing, and inscribed:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD/AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF HIS WIFE ELIZABET . GOODWINHL . THIS BELL WAS/PRESENTED BY ARCHIBALD WATSON J.P. CLERK OF SESSION, WITH HUMBLE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF GOD'S MERCY DURING A LONG LIFE./1926./JOHN C. WILSON & C°, L™ FOUNDERS. GLASGOW.

The bell is hung in ball bearings with metal fittings. It is one of the last bells to be cast by this foundry before it closed down.

20. KIRKINTILLOCH Towe Th n. Steeple. In the tower with spire hangs one bell, 39^ inches diameter, inscribed:

DAVID SURGES FOUNDER GLASGOW. N° 258 KIRKINTILLOCH TOWN BELL 1849 1247 Lbs

The bel cass i l t with canons therd bordea an , s ei r abov belod ean e wth inscription. The wooden fittings are much dilapidated, the rim of the wheel has entirely gone, and the clapper lies on the clock floor. The bell is thus useless simila a cloc e n i Th s ki r. state. The foundry number of the bell and its weight are both incised on the inscription band. The remaining part of the inscription was stamped in the mould prior to casting and is therefore raised from the surface of the bell. In 1814 the Town Council1 appointed a committee to raise funds by public subscriptio gaol steeplea 182 w n r I accountne ne .fo 0th a bel,a d lan s for the erection of the steeple were presented, but at this stage it does not appear that there was a bell, as in 1825 a Clock and Bell Committee was appointed. In 1829 it was reported that a bell had been placed in the steeple, but unfortunately in 1835 it was cracked and was recast by a Greenock fir f ironfoundersmo , probably James Duf Sons a & cosf f t o a t, 1 Old KirTcintilloch, Bt. Hon. Thomas Johnston, P.O., M.P. . 171p , . 190 PROCEEDING S E SOCIETYOFTH , 1947-48.

£22. Thi2s , s bel reportes li havo t d e weighe cwt4 d1 . whil predecessos eit r

weighe cwt9 d 1 184 n agaibels e I . th 9wa l n crackedpresene 1 th d an t, bell, weighing just oveGtorbale cwt. 1 casth s 1 r t a twa , s Foundry, Glasgow.

21. LUSS t MackessogS . . This churc smala s hha l central turret perche roofe ridge th th f .en o do It is near no gable, and as a result the bell rope is brought down along the roof over pulleys. The single bell is almost inaccessible without the aid of long ladders, but when viewed through a telescope it was found to be of the brass foundry type with a handbell-type argent and no moulding wires. There appeared to be no inscription. The church was rebuilt2 in 1771, but the bell is not. as old as this, being nineteenth century weighind an , t morgno e tha cwtn2 .

22. BENTON.3 Old Church. A western tower containin gchimbellsa x si f , eo l inscribed whical e har : 1-6) JOHN WARNER & SONS LTD LONDON 1892./PRESENTED TO RENTON CHURCH/BY JAMES AIKE JOHD NAN N BELCH AlKEN/1892.

The approximate weights are:

Bell. Civt. Qrs. Lb. Bell. Civt. Qrs.Lb. Treble. 310 Fourth. 500 Second. 330 Fifth. 600 Third. 420 Tenor. 730

The bells are cast with Doncaster-type heads, and are hung dead in a wooden frame. They are chimed by Ellacombe hammers, the bells being struck internally. This church was built in 1892 and is the first on the site.

23. BHU. Old Church. A lofty tower containing four quarter bells and an hour bell for the clock. These are inscribed:

Statisticalw 1Ne Account of Scotland, vol. . viii.93 . p , 2 Ibid., vol. vii., p. 166. ?. Part,of the Old Parish oJ Dumbarton. CHURCH BELL RENFREWSHIRF SO DUNBARTONSHIRED EAN . 191

Weight. Inscription. Bell. Cwt. Qrs.Lb.

Treble. JOH . WILSONC . FOUNDERCo N& S 2 1 +4- GLASGOW. A.D. 1881. Second. 2 2 oj:j: [The same.] Third. 3 2 0^ [The same.] Fourth. 5 1 Ot+ E TOWETH R CLOC QUARTEK& R BELLS WERE IN AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANC F MRSO E : ANNE LEADBETTER/B CHILDRER YHE N —DURING THE MINISTRY OF THE REV: JOHN LAWRIE FOGO. ROW. A.D. 1881./JOH . WILSONC ? C & N FOUNDERS. GLASGOW. Hour bell. 14 C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON /PRESENTED BY ROBERT NAPIER OF WEST SHANDON ENGINEER GLASGOW/FOR THE USE OF THE NEW PARISH CHURCH ERECTED AT ROW/ANNO DOMINI 1850/ REV? JOHN LAURIE FOGO MINISTER,

AH the bells are cast with canons and are fitted with clappers. The quarter bells, however hune ar , g deaflooa n do r abov houe eth r bell. This latter bel s huni l r ringingfo g with metal fittings. Large counterbalance wheele weightth f o bolte .e boto sm t ar headstoc e ri n h dth o e th d kan Robert Napie r(1791-1876) gav o e houth ewh , ra famou s bellwa ,s

marine engineer. 1 He made his first marine engine in 1823, and in 1841 he started building metal ships. He was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1863—65. The parish of Rhu2 was formed in 1648 out of parts of the parishes of Cardros Roseneathd san firse tTh churc. h buil t thita s time was demolished churcw erecteds ne a hwa 176n i d 3.an This possesse dvera y small bell turret complete wit hbella n 185I e presen. 1th t churc builts d hwa an , doubtless the old bell was sold on the donation of the present hour bell.

Dictionary of National Biography. Annals of Garelochside, W. C. Maughan. 192 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1947-48.

24. ROSENEATH Churchd Ol . . In the turret of the present church hangs a bell, about 17 inches diameter, telescopa whic f o founinscribed hs e b ai wit waiste e wa o e dt th h th n do :

MDE/1892

The belnormas lha l loop canon mouldind san g wire botn sinscripo e hth - tion band and soundbow. This bell replaces an older one which is now preserved in the south porch. This bell is 16|- inches diameter, and is inscribed:

SOLI $ DEO 4- GLORIA * IAN * BVRGERHVYS * ME $ FECIT * 1610 *

Abov e inscriptioth e n appear n ornamentaa s l border (fig. 11)e Th . inscription is reproduced in fig. 15, a, and PL XXXIV, 1, shows a photograph e belloth f . Ther a fals s i ee crown staple wit ha clappe f eighteento r h century date. There has been a church1 in this village at least since 1199, as in this yea e livin s th grante re monkgwa th f o Paislet do s y Abbey e preTh -. Reformation church was rebuilt about 1760, but parts of the older building were incorporate churchw ne e , th notabl bellcoted n di ol e yth . This church is now in ruins, and a new church was built on a site nearby ibelnd 161f ol 1853 o l transferre s e 0wa Th . buildingthio dw s t sne wa t bu , replaced later as it was -wearing thin in the soundbow. It is not, however, cracked. The author' Ministere th o t s e thank, du Rev e sar . Cameron Dinwoodie, . WJ r . BM .Ph.D. o Hendersont d an , photographinr fo , belle gth .

25. SHANDON.2 A western tower containing one bell, 32 inches diameter^ inscribed:

CAST BY JOHN WARNEE & SONS L™ LONDON 1888.

This church was founded at the Disruption of the Established Church in rebuils wa 1841885n d i tbele canons 3an rectangulae ha lTh th . f so r type and is hung for ringing in metal fittings.

1 Annals of Garelocfiside, W. C. Maughan. 2 Part of Rhu parish.