The Church of and An Olla Podrida of Matters of General Interest

BY Rev. H. T. Ellacombe

File 01 : Preface Indices Pages 1 to 20

This document is provided for you by The Whiting Society of Ringers visit www.whitingsociety.org.uk for the full range of publications and articles about bells and : " Purchased from ebay store retromedia

THE

CHURCH BELLS OF SOMERSET.

i'l' WHICH IS ADDKD

AN OLLA PODIIIDA

OF BELT. MATTEE8 OF GENEEAL INTEREST.

THK ni:v. hkm:y tho^ias eilacombe. m.a., f.s.a.,

111-' UOYAl. AlifHAKOr.OllIC'AL IXSTITUTK OK tiUVAT liHITAIN AND IIIKLAXD, .MKMBi;H THK &C. ;

OK ()KI1:L COLLKtiE, OXFORU, UECTOU OF CLYST ST. GF.OUGE, BEVON : AXIl DOMKSTIC CHAl'LAIX TO THE KARL OK HAKRINUTON.

" Oil 1 «'liut ;i prnafliei- is tlie time-worn cower,

lieadiiij: great Scniioiis with its iron toir,'iie !

-Olil I'lieiii.

EXETER PKIXTED FOR THE AUTHOR BY WILLIAM I'OLLAED, NOKTH .STKEET,

is-.-i.

— — — — — Purchased from ebay store retromedia

iv. PEEFACE.

"Bells reconcile man with man ;ind unite divers members into one body, and tighten its cords by mutual good will and sympathy."

Tmnshttion from an Essay on the Si/iuhoUsm of the Bell, Poitiers, 1 S59."

" An old Bell by its inscriptions, its medallions, and its oiiiMments, relates the history of the past better than a mutilated stone." TruHshitioK from M. Pardiac's Notice ahont the Pells of Bordeaux, Paris, 1858.- "I don't know that one could choose any of man's inventions which has moi-e various and t(juching associations than a Bell, and certainly

Church Bells must take a leading place in the great poem that might lie

wi-itten on them." Sir Stafford H. Northeote, ith Noveiaher, V^^^^.

Therefore to quote an elegant passage from Cicero :

" Quis mihi jure succenseat, si quantum creteris ad res suas obeundas,

quantum ad festos dies ludorem celebrandos, (juantum ad alias voluptates

conceditur temporum, quantum alii tribuunt tem23estivis conviviis, cjuantum

denique alese, quantum pilfe ; tantum mihi egomet ad hasc tudia recolencla " sinnpsero ? Cicero, pro Arc/nd Pacta.

Not, however, forgetting Cicero's quotatit)n fi-om Plato : " Non nobis solum nati sumus, ortusque nostri partem patria vindicat,

partem parentes, partem amici." Cic de Off'., li. 1, c. vii, § 22.

H. T. E.

Festival of S. Lvke, 1875.

' " La Clofke approcLe I'lionime de I'lioiume, unit divers meniLres en iiu iir''iiio c-urp;-,

et en resorro les lieus, par uue bienveillance mutuelle et une touc-liante frateriiitc"— p. '2. 2 " l"no Clocke antique redit mieux qu' ime pierre mutilie I'liistoire dn passr par sow inscriptions, ses medaillons, ses ornements.'" —p. 7. Purchased from ebay store retromedia

INDEX.

INDEX

PAGE. Bell Founilors, Post Reformation ----- 2 8(;mson, Roger ------3, 8 T. G. ------4 AV. H. (William Henshawe) - . - - 4

Norton, Robert, and his six Legends - - - - 5—8, 14

Norton, Stephen - - - - - 10

Ffonuder, William - - - - - 11 Alphaliet Bells ------18 Number of Bells in Somerset - - - - 20

Ajipendix A. Inscriptions &c., on the Bells in the Churches, arranged alphabetically 21—96

Appendix B. Bells mentioned in Inventories of Church Goods, oTth Henry VIII. - 97

OlL.V PoDltlDA.

1. Index to matters about Bells, treated of in iZj'<

2. Index to matters about Bells in the Commentaries oh the Decretals of Gregory IX. 102

0. Sermon Bell - - - - - 102

4. Burmese Bell in the Museimi at Liverpool . - - 103

5. Ancient Sacring Bell at Rheims - - - - 106

6. Clocking Church BeUs - - - - - 108

7. Contract for casting two Bells for the Abbey oi Westminster- - 108

8. Triples, &c. - - - - - 110

9. Copy of a Circidar issued by the late Mr. John Holt, 1753 - - 111

10. Ivinging Rules in the tenth century by St. Dun«tan - - 113

11. Ringing Rules of Lanfranc . . - - 114

12. Earl}' Rules for ringing at Bath - - - - 114

i;>. Grant of Bell Metal to the Dean and Chapter, Christ Church, Dublin, l(i7I IIC

14. Ancient Bells at Canterbury - - - - 117

15. Ancient Bell worthy of Record - - - - 117 ; Purchased from ebay store retromedia

vi. INDEX.

Olla Podrida. page

16 Bell at St. Chad's Cliui-ch, Claughton in Lonsdale - - 118

17. Bell at Sedbergh, Yorkshire - - - - 118

18. Chimes of Great St. Mary's, Cambridge - - - 118

19. Bells and Bell Einging in America - - - - 121

20. A Modern American or Ring of Bells - - - 122

21. Bell Einging in America . . _ . 123

28. Emperor Bell at Vienna - - - - 121

23. The Emi:)eror BeU at Cologne - - - - 121 24. Bells Cast in Abbey Precincts .... 127 25. A Chiu'chwarden's Apology for breaking open a Door and ordering

the Bells to be rung - - - - -128

26. BeUs of St. Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney - - 128

27. Cost of the Eing of Ten Bells at Wrexham, with particulai-s of the Bells 131

28. Ancient dated BeU - - - - - 132

29. Ancient Bell at Bex, Switzerland - - - - 132

30. Bell Expenses at Peterborough - - - - 133

31. Progress of Half PuU Changes in the West, at Leominster - - 133

32. Bell as a Thank Offering at Great Grimsby . . - 135 33. Eleemosynary Bell ...... 13,") 34. Bell at Brailes, Warwickshire - - - - 135

35. Early BeU at St. Chad's, Lichfield - - - - 138

36. Something about Church BeU Hanging, and the Vibration of Bell Towers 138

37. A BeU with a hole in her Side - - - - 142

38. Soimd of BeUs on Water - - - - 142 39. Marvels of Change Einging .... 142 40. How Bells are Eung on the Continent ... 144 41. Charter of S. Stephen's Eingers, Bristol - - - 145

liijmns to be used at Ihe Bedicatiun of Church Bells

42. Hymn by the late J. M. Neale', D.D., of East Grinsted - - 14(1

43. Hymn by the late J. S. B. MonseU, LL.D. - - - 147

44. Hymn used at Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashii'e - - - 148

45. A Hj-mn by the late F. Kilvert, M.A., of Bath - - - 148 Purchased from ebay store retromedia

INDEX TO PLATES.

INDEX TO PLATES OF WOOD L! LOCKS

PAGE. William Ffoimdor's Trade Mark. .... 96 Ancient Sacring Bell at Elieims ..... 106 Letter on Bell at Sedbergh, Yorksliii-e - - - - 118

Liberty BeU, Philadelphia, U.S. - - - - .122 Shields, Crowned Letter, and Stamps on Bell at Brailes, Warwickshire - 136

Plate I. Fig. 1. This loitial Cross is found on many Mediwval Bells.

,, 2. The abbreviation for Jesus, ditto. " " " ,, 3. Initial Cross of frequent use by i t and r n „ 4 & 7. Ditto.

,, 5. Robert Norton's Trade mark.

,, 6. Trade mark of an unknown founder.

,, 8. Supposed to be an error for pctrc. See page 0.

,, 9. Initial Cross, at Badgworth and Queen's Camel.

,, 10. Fleur-de-lis used by Roger Semson.

,, 11. Ditto, at Pitney.

,, 12. Ditto at , Badgworth, and Claptou-in-Gortlauo.

Plate n. Nineteen ornamented Capitals occurring on several Hells.

Plate III. Twelve ornamented Letters on a Bell at Chisolborough by Stephen Norton of Maidstone, Kent.

Plate IV. Fig. 13. Initial Cross on 3rd and 4th at Angersleigh.

„ 14. Royal Arms, probably of Heniy Yl, on tlic Tenor at West Monktou.

,, 15. Cross on the 1st and 2iid i:t Chi:;clboi-ough, and 2ud at Charlynch, with

Fig. 27.

,, 16. Cross on the Treble at Nettlecombe.

„ 17. Shield on a BeU at Whatley, being the initial W. H., probably William Henshaw of Gloucester.

„ 18. Initial Cross at Nettlecombe and Curry Mallet. Purchased from ebay store retromedia

viii. INDEX TO PLATES.

Plate IV., Pig. 10, 20, 21. These two Shields and elegant Cross are found at BarM i( k and East Brent. Tliey are found on bells all over . The licljiisses on the Shields have not been made out.

,, 22. Initial Cross found at Compton Paunceford.

Gilbert, of on the -Itli lull tliere ;, 23. The Arms of WiUiam Abbot Bruton, 1528,

,, 24. Initial Stamp at Combhay, date 1671.

Plate V. Pig. 2.5. Grotesque lion's face at S. Catherine's, Curry Mallet and East f liiiiuock. „ 26. This Cross is found on the same Bell. Monkton Tenor. ,, 27. Very beautiful Initial Cross on West

,, 28. Initial Cross at Charlton, Hovethorne and Horsingtou.

,, 29. ,, at East Quantox Head and Halse.

,, 30. ,, This is found in three sizes on very many oai-ly Bells,

all dedicated to some Saint, and generally in small letters, after

which the initials " t tf."

,, 31. Cross found at and Dowlish Wake. Bells dedicated to Sai.it in small ,, 32. This Initial Cross is found on many some crowned Capitals. Figs. 46, 47, 49, 50, having Pig. 46 as an Inter- vening Stop.

,, S2a. Seal of Johanna de Beauchamp at Bradford.

Plate VI. Pig. S.'i. Stephen Norton's name, &e., at length at Chiselborough. the Bell. ,, 36. Initial Cross on same Intervening Stop on the same Bell. ,, 37. at Northover. ,, 37a. Initial Cross BackweU and at Compton Paunceford, 1627. ,, 38. Cross found

,, 39. Crown Stamp found at Priston. Bampfylde second. ,, 40. Cross on Weston place. ,, 41. Intervening Stop at the same " „ 42. Crown Stamp found on Bells by t g,"

,, 43. Ditto. , „ 44. Ditto.

,, 45. Intervening Stop on the same BeUs.

Plate VII. Fig. 46, 47, 48, 49, 50. Specimens of small crowned Capitals and Stop found on many BeUs. AU dedicated to some Saint.

,, 51, 52, 53. Specimen of double lined Letters on a Bell at liatli Ivistcn and Pitney.

,, 50. Stamp on a Bell at Weston Bampfylde, date 1599. Purchased from ebay store retromedia

INDEX TO PLATES. >''•

three sizes on nine Bells :— riate Til., Fig. 57. t^bip Stamp foimcl iu Croweombe, Litton,

Bac-kwoll, Northover, Montis, J21i;i, iSutton , Weston Bampfykle. Limington, N«-tliover. 58. Stop (rediicod in tlie engTaving) at

59. Eagle Stamp found at Nether Ham.

60. Tudor Eose at Langridge.

61. Initial Cross often used by " t g." the Letters, Figs. 52, 53, 54. 02. ., this xirocedes Bell, some of the Somson ; on the Bradford fi,",. The letter N, used by Eoger

letters are crowned as shewn.

at Eimpton. riute YIII. Fig. ti3-\^- Initial Cross It is found on two Bells at 61. Trade Mark of an unknown Founder.

S. Catherine's and many other places in England.

„ Co. Cross found on two Bells at Bawdi-ip. mistake. ,, 66. Inserted by Musgrave, and Laverton. 67. Ditto, at Clapton-in-Gordano, Cliarlton

,. 68. Ditto. Yeoviltou, the bearings of 69. Anus on a Bell at Corfe, EadcUngton, and Guille. Prior. 70. Initial Stamp used by Eoger Semson of Aish

„ 71. A Founder's Eebus at Angerslcigh. Brewers. 72. Citherine Wheel Stamp at He Abbots and He Piu-due, 1011 „ 73. Initial Cross at Combo Hay by Eoger mediroval Bells. ,, 71. Ditto on several

an ancient Bell at Tluuloxton. See Plate IX. Fii?. 7">, 7G. 77, 78. Four words on page 18.

Thomas Purdue of Closworth. I'late X. Fig. 7'J. Initial and Ornament used by used by Purdue. ,, 80. Vine Ornament Wellington. „ 81. Initials and Stamp of Thomas AVroth of used Purdue. ,, 82. Fleur-de-lis, by „ 83. Stamp fovmd on BeUs, dated after ICOO. on several Bells. 84. Mark used by Thomas Wiseman of Montacute, found Purchased from ebay store retromedia

X. INDEX TO PLATES

Plate XL Fig 80, Sfi, 87, 88, 89, 90. Niuety-fouv Floral Stamps loimd on Bells at P>nitoii, &c. witli the Initials I. E. E. B. Dated 1649. Pitney. ,, 91. Initial Cross at 92. Intoi'veniug Stop at Cliiselbovougli—tlie stop at (Juvry Jlallet. ,,

., 93. Cross on the 2nd at Charlton Musgrove.

,, 95. ,, the Sancte Bell at Clapton-in-Grordano.

Plate XII. Fig. 9G. Trade Mark of A. Eudhall of Gloucester. Common.

,, 97. Trade Mark of John Lott, date 1624.

,, 98. ,, George Purdue, 16....

„ 99. ,, Eifhard Purdue, 1627.

,, 102. ,, John Pennington of Exeter.

Plate XTII. „ 100. Trade Mark of Evans of Chepstow, 17

,, 101. Initial Cross on the second at Poyntington.

,, 103. Intervening Stop on the second at Poj-ntiugton.

., 104, 100. Two of Stephen Norton's Lettei's at Chiselborough.

lO.J. ,, Intervening Stop which accompanies Fig. 14 at West Monkton. The same at Angersleigh.

,, 107. Intervening Stop on Charlton Musgrove Treble. „ 108. Initial Cross on Bell at Compton Paunceford.

Plate XIV. Fig. 1. Ai-ms of Luttrell at East Quantoxhead

,, 2. ,, at Fitzhead, date 1724,

,, 3. ,, not known, at the same place.

,, 4. ,, Farthing at Crowcombe, date 1712.

,, 5. ,, Borough of Bridgwater, date 1868.

,, 6. ,, not known, at Combe Flory, date 1710.

„ 7. ,, Stawley impaling Hext at Cothelston, date 1632.

„ 8. „ (?) Grey at Norton-sub-Hamdon, date 1608. The quarterings hare not been identified. Purchased from ebay store retromedia

(iHrilCH BELLS OF SOMERSET. X Purchased from ebay store retromedia

THE CHURCH BELLS IN THE TOWERS AND TURRETS OF ALL THE PARISH CHURCHES OF SOMERSETSHIRE,

A PAPEU READ BEFORE THE EXETER DIOCESAN ARCHITECTURAL SOCIETY,

JUKE -iTH, 1874,

BY THE REV. H. T. ELLACOMBE, M.A., F. S. A.

RECTOR or CLYST ST. GEORGE, DEVOX.

Having personally visited every old tower in Devonsliii-e (475), and examined e\'ery bell, excepting in one parish, ' where the keys of the

tower, on two visits, had been carried off hj the j^arson ; and by a cu-cvdar to the clergy in Cornwall, having obtained a return of the bells in that county, the whole account of which, with many illustrations, was published m the Transactions of the Exeter Diocesan Architectm'al

Society in 18G7 ; it occurred to me that the County of Somerset shoidd be taken in hand—other Counties having been done wholly or partially by other beU himters : I made up my mind to attempt the inquhy myself, by a chcular, addressed to all the clergy, and though personally a stranger, and perhaps unknown even by name to the great majority of my Reverend brethren, I doubted not that a letter, courteously worded, woidd be received in a good tempered brotherly way, and that, at their convenience, answers w^ould be returned to my mnocent inquiiies.

From all the Rrn-al Deans, I at first obtained their kmd co-operation and good will, in supplying me with the names of the Clergy—for there is no Diocesan Calendar—after that my cuxular was committed to the tender mercies of Her Majesty's ministers of the Post Office. VOL. III. N.s. — Purchased from ebay store retromedia

2 THE CHUECH BELLS IN THE

From the majority, full answers were returned, accompanied with thanks from many for the inquiry I had begim, and kind offers of assistance I afraid, and hospitahty if I should visit the locality ; but some, am on the receipt of my lithographed request, looked upon it as a begging-

" i'ov such letter, and thought no more of it ; or Galho like, caring not

;" things it was treated as waste paper ; the consequence of which was,

that I Avas put to the expense of posting a second letter—after the lapse of many weeks—and those silent gentlemen were troubled with the receipt of a " refresher," which resulted in apologies from some, but " others never favoured me with any reply ! I then tipt " the Parish

Clerk or Sexton of the tower which remained silent ; and when, in

very few instances, even that failed, I appealed to the Churchwardens, and from them, the desired information was invariably obtamed. The

result of which is, that after posting more than 1000 letters, a return

has been obtained of in the beautifid old towers of

Somei'set. More than 240 of these, Avhich have been reported to me as at this tune remaining, are mediaeval or consecrated bells, the very bells,

whicli in days gone by,_ daily sounded at Mane, Meridie, and Vespere,

and still call the parishioners to worship. Some, I fear, are in a sad condition as to the appurtenances wliich belong to the gear of bell

hangmg. These ancient bells, beautiful m their design and lettering, may well be considered to be fully in keeping with the object of such

Associations as this : nuich more so than the legends wliich appear on the bells

after the Reformation, wliich, historically, should not be omitted in any

printed account, though they may be of little interest to the Archfeologist. But, we must not pass to the legends before I say a few words of respect

to the Bell Founders of Somerset, and I have the pleasure to congratulate

that County on possessing three veiy celebrated ^j>osi reformation founders—one at Chewstock, carried on by the Bilbies from before 1700 to 1815, and another at Closworth by the Purdues, though the Rev. W. Lukis

in his Church Bellff claims the latter as a Sahsbury Founder, but Closworth

was then- home quarters and then' biuying place : another at Wellington,

by T. Wroth. There were also founders at Bridgwater, , and Martock,

but I shall be going off my rail to say more of these now, intending, at present, to confine my remarks to mediaeval times. Purchased from ebay store retromedia

PAEISH CHURCHES OF SOMEESET.

There was a noted bell foundry at Aisli Priors, earned on by Roger Semson. He rejoiced in dedicating most of his bells to the Blessed Virgin, legend: for there are several bells with fleiu--de-lis stop (fig. 10) and the

t Mw t f^la^ia t ^I'acia t Ifena B-f •

lo 70 That these two last letters are the initials of the said Roger is proved from a bell bearing the same legend and the same character or type,

which I found at Luppit in Devon, with his name at full length set up hackwards, m a very different type, of which we shall liave more to

say by and by. That he hved at Aish Priors is proved l)y entries in the Churchwarden's accounts of Woodbury, Devon, in 1548-9, in which appear

45 42

the journey expenses of the Churchwarden on horseback, with seven men

and nine oxen, going to and from Woodbmy to Aish Priors with laells

to be recast, and the payment to Roger Semson bellauter.'

' See Devon Bells, p. 282. Purchased from ebay store retromedia

THE CHUECH BELLS IN THE

Then, there was an earlier founder whose initials are t. g. These are the stamps which he used (figs. 30, 45, and 67), and as for his characters, they were all small and set very open or wide apart, as on a bell at Holford, in- scribed S a n C t a a n U a . At Dowlish Wake and at Ditcheat (Fig. 67) is foimd as a sto23 on a Sancta Maria bell by t IJ, He also used a crown stamp (fig. 42). I have found from twelve to twenty with the crown stamp. there are three early bells by with his At Whatley t (J crown (42) dedicated to S. Thomas, S. Leo, and S. Clement. The tenor is inscribed

Sancte ffiregori ©ra ^ro i&abi's with this shield (17) and the initials C23. 11). This shield and initials are found in other counties. WiUiam Henshawe was a bell-founder at Glouces- ter; he died about 1500, and the bell is probably one of his.'

At Weston Bampfylde, besides two bells bearing the ship (57) and other stamps the third bell dated 1599 has this bird stamp used by t (J, bell. There (56) ; it is known in the parish by the name of the cock is no legend, only initials. elegant Another founder of early date was more artistic ; he used this initial cross (fig. 32) wnth this intervening stop (fig. 48). The whole

ys 67 48

' Tliere is a brass to Lis memory in St. Michaers Churcli, Gloucester. : Purchased from ebay store retromedia

PAEISH CHITECHES OF SOMEESET. legend was composed of small early gothic capitals, aU crowned, and not

at aU crowded (fig. 46, 47, 49, 50) : there are only two of his bells in

Devon ; but in Somerset as many as fourteen have been reported to me viz., at Durleigh, Farington, Litton, Tollard, Kingston, Weare, lie Abbotts,

47 49 50 Fivehead, S. Brent, Inglishcombe, Laverton, and Loxton, therefore, the probabUity is, that his habitat was in that Comity or Bristol. The above cuts are specimens of his initial cross, letters, and intervening stop. There are a few bells in this Coimty by Robert Norton, who flourished m Exeter in the time of Henry the Sixth. The following were his usual Latin legends, namely,

1. est micljt roUatum tUc istuti namen amatum Ipiotege Inrgo pta quos con\)ora saucta maria Cloce mra btlm Hfprllo runta noriua piebs ois plauDit ut me tarn sepius aiiHit 0[z melior 'one non est rampana sub ere iHistertis sacris repleat nos Hea iobannis. end, his trade AU these are preceded by a cross {1, 3, 4, or 7) ; at the mark Purchased from ebay store retromedia

THE CHURCH BELLS IN THE with the initals r^U, or another trade mark i^t who was either his predecessor or successor in the business—for each used the same style of letter and initial cross. The legend (5) "me melior" is certamly m a

later and different type, but it has been found with Kobert Norton's

initials, and the stamp of i ^t. In the year 1431-2 John Stafford, Bishop of Bath, was made Chancellor,

at which time the parishioners of Plymtree, Devon, petitioned his lordship against the said Robert Norton of Exeter, bellfounder, with whom they had agreed for three bells of a certain weight, but that he had not supphed the quantity of metal for which they contracted, and that Robert had cheated them. In this record from the early Chancery proceedings,

he does not appear to have been a very honest tradesman ; but as a

workman there is nothing for bun to be ashamed of We will now return to the above six legends.

No. 1. —The beUs on which the name of Jesus or i\)t (fig. 2)

is introduced, are very properly called by that name. In Somerset

there are only 16 ; viz., at Angersleigh, Bradford, Bicknoller, Dowlish Wake,

Staple-F.itzpaine (mici)i upside down). East and West Quantoxhead, Purchased from ebay store retromedia

PAEISH CHUECHES OF SOMERSET. 7

Nether Stowey (with PvtP, tig. 8), Otterford, Stawley (two), Thurloxton,

S. Decuman 's, Halse, Kittisford (two), Over Stowey, Thurlbeer. In Devon,

I fonnd 46.

It may be well to obsei've here, that occasionally it is found, that a word

or letter may be set in upside down, which makes it more difficult to de-

cipher. For instance in the fii-st Volume of the Transactions of the Som-

erset Archaeological Association (p. 31), there is an engraving of a word

on one of the bells at Staple Fitzpaiae, wliich is nothing more than

the word intrl)t in this legend upside down ; iCpiUl : and sometimes a wi'ong word has been redundantly stamped in the mould, and so been

produced in the casting. Such is the case at Over Stowey, where

IPCtt (fig. 8,) precedes the Est michi, &c. I have found the very same blunder on two bells in Devon, and one m Dorset—nothinsf but a

blunder, I believe, intended for Pet re.

No. 2 is an invocation to the Virgin, of which there are only

two in Somerset, viz., at Otterford and Thurlbeer (in Devon 19), but the total number bearing the name* of the Blessed Virgin in different

forms is 57.'

No. 3 legend is a visible and lasting proof of the behef of the

Roman Cathohcs of that period, that demons, stoi'ms, and tempests were frightened away and dissipated by the sound of beUs.

Only five of these have been been reported to me, viz., at Hatch Beauchamp, Over Stowey, Thiu'lbeer, Upton, Wembdon, and one of them

(at Over Stowey) is bhmderingly mixed up with the next legend. In Devon there are twenty-two remaining.

Of the next. No. 4, Plebs dis, there are only four,^ whereas in Devon it seems to have been a great favourite, for I found as many as twenty- two. The capital P is sometimes omitted, as at Thiu-lbeer and Wilton.

I Abbas Combe, Holton, Puxton. Bp. HuU E.S., Horsington, , Bradford E.S., Hol- combe. Queen Charlton, Inglisbcombe, Eodney Stoke, Charlcombe, lie Brewers, Sandford

Orcas, Cliedzoy E.S., Kilve, Stoke sub Hamdon E.S., CburchiU, Kingsbury Epis., Stoiu-ton, Corfe, Litton, Tburloxton, Donnington E.S., Nether Ham, Trent, Dowlish Wake, Northover Weston Bampfield, Ditcheat, Norton, West Hatch, Farington, , Weare, Fivehead,

Pitcombe, Woolavington E. S., Pojmtington.

= Corfe, Thurlbeer, Wilton, West Quantoxhead. Purchased from ebay store retromedia

g THE CHUECH BELLS IN THE

The next, No. 5, Me melior, &c., is found at East Quantox Head, Luttrell, Fig. with cross (29), and l^t stamp, &c., with the arms of 1, Plate xiv, also at Crowcombe, with Figs. 4 and 5. — Purchased from ebay store retromedia

PAEISH CHUECHES OF SOMEESET. 9

of Bellocampo Earl of Warwick, held lands in the reign Henry VI. ; lie died 1410. His widow, whose seid tliis is, died 1435-6, possessed of the same lands. She is supposed to have built the fine tower of that parish Church, and to have given the beU : the letters are the same as many found in this County, viz., those used by Roger Semson of Aish Priors, on his Ave Maiia bells. I have not succeeded in finding in what way tliis lady was connected with Bradford. Neither the Earl of Abergavenny, nor Lord Beauchamp, can throw any hght upon this subject from the arcliives in then possession. The lady was

33 the daughter of Richard Fitz Alan Earl of Arundel. The bearings are gules, on a fess between six cross crosslets or, with a crescent for difference, for Beauclmmp. Impaling quarterly, 1 and 4, gu. a lion rampant

or, for Arundel. 2 and 4, Cheeky, or, and az, for Warren. The whole surrounded by this legend

t : btc^ : tgu S. 3o]fne : tit : bcaud^amp : liuc : iC. ttrgcucng : gromuntit : Icon :

: custotit : tic : glomgan : t : morgmk.

Including those by Roger Semson which have—Ave Maria, &c., there are fifty-seven beUs dedicated to the Blessed Vii-gin, in the amiexed form:

Sfa iiHana ora pro nobis, ... at Abbas-Combe.

9i)e fHaria gratia pUna, ... at Combe 8. Nicholas. —— Purchased from ebay store retromedia

10 THE OHUECH BELLS EST THE

JStgina €t\i letate 'Ma 'S.llu, ... at Charlton Musgrave.

Firgo fHatta, ...... at Farington.

Stella JHaria, ...... at Holcombe.

ffiarfa faocatur, ...... at He Brewers.

Besides those wliich I have abeady mentioned, m which the monogi-am t^C is introduced, there are four dedicated to the Holy Saviour as King of the Jews, viz., 4" S^csug najatenus 3Rei Jutieornm at Cossington, East Harptree, , Compton Dando, and one at

Inghshcombe. At Charlynch is foimd

•i- dfjttate pte flos |Harte

On one at Inghshcombe, in crowned capitals, is

-}• Ebtstt file 0" ^iserctc inEi'

Besides the Archangels Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel, which are found at Angersleigh, Kingston by Taunton, Langridge, Litton, Norton Malrewrad, Badgworth, and Martock, there are many of the goodly company of holy- men and women called to be Saints, whose names occur with the usual invocation " ora pro nobis," viz., Augustinus, Anna, Andi'ew, Barbara, Katarma, Margareta, Gregory, Clement, Peter, Paid, Johanna Baptista, Georgius, Stephanus, Thomas, Luca. At Chiselborough the thnd bears this legend

36 37 8 Purchased from ebay store retromedia

PAEISH CHUECHES OF SOMERSET. 11

The whole lettering is singulai'ly beautifiil, being all ornamented capitals

and crowned {Plate III). The initial cross is quite elaborate (36), and so

is the stop (37) between each word. The beU was fovinded by Stephen

Norton, of Kent, his name is on the waist of the beU (sic). pmisimmmwermMiii:M(msi!i*ai^*Msstteim

My friend Mr. Tyssen has lately found proof that the said Stephen

Norton lived at Maidstone in Kent ; certainly he was buried there ; for m the wUl of Jolin Maplesden of Maidstone, proved 9 November, 1528,

he requests Iris " body to be biuied in the Church of Alllialowes in Maidstone, next unto the grave of Stex'yn Norton, Belfo under, while he lyved."

There are some bells by William Foundor, a mediasval craftsman, well

known to all beU lumters, though his name has not been found liis

crosses have been, they are these, at Nettlecombe, Fig. 16 and 18, with

•J" Sancte ^aule ora pro nobis

i6 los 1

On some early bells, bearing the Cross (13), there are found a monster

with a lolhng tongue (25), there is such at East Chinnock : inscribed

-J- SanctE Pctrc ora pro nobis

Edwardian coins also are impressed.

is fomid on a beU at Angersleigli, in crowned capitals, with the cross (13)

and the rebus shield (71) and stop (105), and the royal Tudor amis, (fig. 14). : Purchased from ebay store retromedia

12 THE CHUECH BELLS IN THE

13

•J* WSiax Suguatint sonat in anre Wti is the legend on the treble at Barwick, with the most elegant cross of any (Fig. 20) 3f!)U mcrtl, HaUi IjClp, encircling it. There are also

two shields (19 and 21), which appear to be trade marks : they are

19 20 21 a rebus of some sort which have not been made out. The other beU at Bai-wick, the second, has the same stamps, with the legend

•fi Sancta Itatcrfna ©ra pro nobis.

They are also found at East Brent, with the same legend. Bells by this

founder ai-e not common, but specimens are fovmd nearly in every county ; he has not yet been identified—probably a Londoner.

This cross (20) is found in a reduced size on a bell at Michaelstow, Cornwall. ;; Purchased from ebay store retromedia

PAEISH CHUECHES OF SOMEESET. 15

4* Sit nomtn ©omint tenttitctum with the cross (13), the stop (105), and the royal Tudor arms (14) with a crown over, is fonnd on a bell at Ashford, the capital letters are crowned, and the others are well formed.

26 28 64

The same legend occurs at Bawdiip, in a different type with the cross (28 and coins), and this foimder's shield, R L W (64,) which is foimd in Sussex accompanied with the arms of the See of Winchester.

This shield is also foimd on two bells at S. Catharine's with cross (26) also at Curiy MaUet, with cross (18) ; at Rimpton and Shepton Mon- tague, with cross (63). 4- fH]i&«Eiasc©Ki3ias ©©ffliNi m eEew^iimm cii^a:ais © occiu-s only at Yatton, with cross (30).

This cross (28), composed of foiu- fleur-de-hs, is found in three sizes fi'om the letters which accompany it, and the simphcity of the legend, bells which have it are probably of the 14th century.

43 63 44 VOL. in. N.S.- : Purchased from ebay store retromedia

14 THE CHUECH BELLS IN THE

One or other of the crown stamps (42, 43, 44) will be found intermixed as stops, and sometimes a medieval ship (57) which is found in Somerset,

in three sizes. All are dedicated to some Saint : they are to be seen

39 57 at Great Elm, Crowcombe, Limington, Litton, Blackford, Northover, Sutton Montis, Weston Bampfield. I found two such beUs in Devon, and they occur in Co. Gloucester, but are not known in other counties.

At Priston, the legend is very uncommon, being composed in English

+ I^IEEP t ©HS t nm^^^SSr t OT32 t 13IM9IE f 2E?^giE f CEFEl f

BiJ)F©EIE t i3E t ilEl&IM^riiE

The invocation of the Saint is evident, and, therefore, may be dated before the Reformation : from the sharpness of the letters, which are clear- ly Robert Norton's, as is the initial cross, (fig. 3) ; the stamps appear to have been very little used speaking from personal examiuation three or four years ago, see Plate II. : a crown (fig. 39,) is the intervening stop.

14 27

A^ ji^vtV^-liu l\^J^ — — — — — Purchased from ebay store retromedia

PAEISH CHITRCHES OF SOMEESET. 15

The bell at West Moiikton, which bears the royal arms (14), and

the very beautiful cross (27) wliich is not known elsewhere, may be

considered to be dedicated to All Saints. The lesrend is

•I" i^tc Sit Sanctorum (Tampana Eautii ISonornm

I wish to call special attention to the fourth bell at Bath Easton bearing this legend

The letters are elegantly formed in this way, preceded by this cross

\dPo/'

62 52 53 54

The double hned letters are also foimd at Pitney and at Charlton Musgi-ave.

This imusual but pretty cross (108) is only found on the second beU

at Compton Paunceford, with this circle (22) as the intervening stop.

The legend is

38 108 22

On another bell at the same place is the following legend

Snnt rata spts f)tt tres Ipe JHarfa 3of)E8

•with this cross (38). Two bells with the same legend have been found at Farrant Hinton, Dorset, — Purchased from ebay store retromedia

16 THE CHUECH BELLS IN THE

The eao-le stamp (59) is found on a bell at Closworth, at Netherham, and at Charlton Musgrave, at the latter place it accompanies the cross

(93). The eagle is found also in Wilts and Dorset.

There is a small Sancte beU at Clapton in Gordano, of which

Somerset may well be proud, as it is probably unique ; I have noticed it in my Bells of the Church, p. 263, No. 70, from which I reproduce the following accoimt

Preceded by this cross (95), for casts of which and the whole legend

I am indebted to the kindness of my friend the Rev. J. S. Shaw of Bath. "This bell hangs in a beU-cot between the nave and Chancel, where the rope woidd fall down within the reach of the minister, who

95 93 59 or would soiuid it, and as a signal for the signa— great bells—to stop, and also for the people to come to receive spiritual food. There is a curious passage in the Rites of Durham, pubhshed by the Surtees Society,

: — which will assist us in understanding the legend on the bell " Every Sonnday in the yere there was a sermon preached in the GaUeley at

till iij and at xij of clocke aftemoone from one of the clocke ; the the

great bell of the GaUeley was touEed every Sonnedaie iij quarters of an houre, and during the forth quarter till one of the clock, that all the people of the towne might have warnyinge to come and here the worde

of God preched." (p. 33)

I am reminded by the Rev. Dr. Rock that the high mass, or parochial

mass, for Sunday was celebrated immediately after undern or tierce, which canonical hour beran at our nine a.m., and, as it took not more than ten

minutes or so, the parochial mass may be said to have begun at nine

o'clock, and would be over a little after ten o'clock. From Chiu-ch, — : Purchased from ebay store retromedia

PAMSH CHUECHES OF SOMEESET. 17

people went home to theii' meals ; axid, as mid-day was then a somewhat late hovu- for dining, we may be sm-e that almost every one had by that time done his diimer, and his servants had cleared the things away. Dr.

Rock is of opinion that " what used to be the practice at Dm-ham, used to be followed in most paiish Churches, and some kind or other of in- struction was every Sunday given in the afternoon. To w;ixn the parish of the sermon time a bell was rung, perhaps in the country at twelve o'clock, perhaps in the town at one o'clock. The first ringing was on the Signa, or large beUs ; the last quai'ter of an hoiu's ringing was on the smaller bell, the sancte bell ; and as the instruction was calculated to be for the poor, for servants, for those particulaily set at liberty from their household duties, after their master's meal of the day was over, very properly was the instniction called ghostly food, with which these poor servants were to be fed. Hence of what is called the ting-tang was it said, 'servis clamo cibandis.'"—See N. (& Q. vol. xL, p. 150, 1855.

There are some beautiful beUs at St. Andrew's, Trent

This legend shews the W used for oiu present V, and explains the use of that letter in the legend WOX AUGUSTINI.

The second in small capitals is inscribed

The fom-th is Saittta mauta, by t g bearmg his crown (fig. 44).

The most perfect ring of ancient bells is at Thurlbeer, in the original cage. There ai'e four, the

1st bears legend 3, "YJazt mca, &c. 3rd beai's legend 1, CSt miCiji, &c.

2nd „ „ 4, picbs ois, &c. 4th „ „ 2, Protefff, &c.

All by Robert Norton, as they have his crosses and letters.

There is an original ring of tlu'ee ancients at Holton, and also at Pitcombe.

I now wish to say something about A B C, or alphabet bells. They are a puzzle to aU companists. They are found in all parts of England,

in France too, and in Scanduiavia ; at Severn- Stoke, Worcestersliire, the : Purchased from ebay store retromedia

18 THE CHUECH BELLS EST THE

whole alphabet is inscribed on the flat top margm of an ancient font, and at Rushton, All Saints, Northants.

Four instances occur in Somerset, one on the second at Stoke S. Mary near Taunton, from A to N, set backwards—not imcommon on bells, in Roger Semson's queer types—for he used two sets of letters with initials R.S.

One at Closworth A to X. The other, on the fourth at Creech S. Michael, in a larger type than was used by Semson, but evidently copied very roughly from his Ave Bells, with the date 1590 (after Semson's time), miless it can be shewn that the family survived at Aish Priors to that

date. One at Walton all in confusion.

On the fourth bell at Donnington, Semson has used his tnie types, adding to Ave t Maria f Gratia f Roger f Walron t Gentleman.

With the exception of the alphabets, all the legends are inteUigible

enough ; but one has been found at Thurloxton similar to one at ChaUacombe in Devon, which has puzzled all who have seen it. The letters at

Thurloxton are those used by Roger Semson (see Plate IX) with his initials, AMCI AGIPE ANE AOPB R.S. at ChaUacombe, the version is slightly different

AaECO ANCEO AMCEO AIPCEO RS.

It is difiicidt to say what some of the characters are, but a clue may be found by comparing them with those on his alphabet bell at

Stoke S. Mary.

On a beU at Old Cleeve is an instance of these queer chai'acters, with SANTE t PETER t PAVLE, divided by Semson's usual fleiu-- de-Us (10). The Priory at Tamiton was dedicated to S. Peter and S. Paul, and the Chvurches where these beUs are found might, in some way, have been connected with that estabhshment.

AU these mediseval legends will follow under each parish, in a tabulated alphabetical order in the Appendix, with the post reformation inscriptions as they have been reported to me. Some of the stops used by the foimders of that period are on Plate XI. The mediaeval legends are likely to be more correct, as they are copied from actual nibbings.

The Armorial bearings which are foimd on bells are given in the engravings at the end. — — — — Purchased from ebay store retromedia

PARISH CHURCHES OF SOMERSET. 19

I annex a few specimens of the ungodly style of inscriptions found on some of the bells. Here is a post refonnation legend by the noted Bilbie of Chewstoke, which is found on the tenor at Shepton Beauchamp : "hajs'g me right, and ring me well, theyll hear me sound at hambdon hill."

That was in 1738.

In keeping with which the same style of low wit is on the fifth at

BackweU :

" BILBY AND BOOSH MAY COME & SEE WHAT EVANS & NOTT HAVE DONE BY ME. 1758."

In similar style is on the tenor at Somerton, dated 1714 :

" FRIND WROTH AND NIGHT, FOR ALL YOUR SPITE OULD EDW. BILBIE ME RUND. PULL ME ROUND AND HEARE ME SOUND FRIND SUCH WORK YOU NEVER DON."

Another at Dunkerton

" BE : FOR : I WAS A BROKE, I. WAS, AS : GOOD : AS ANEY :

BUT, WHEN THAT COKEY CASTED I NEAR, WAS, WORTH, A PENNY."

Other legends will be fovmd in the tabular list in the Appendix.

Of the above beUs, many ai'e cracked or broken, 242 are mediaeval or pre-reformation bells.

It may be here remarked, that much interesting matter relating to the liistory of the bells, and the foimders of the Coimty might be fomid by searching for old Chiurchwardeus' accoiuits in the parish coffers, and also by looking up the wills of bell-foimders in the Registry at Wells. I take occasion to mention tliis in the hope that some waiTQ hearted archaeologist may be induced to enter upon such searches, con amore. And now, in conclusion, I very gladly record my sincere thanks to the Gentlemen of the Covmty, by whose kind assistance I have been enabled to bring together the contents of this Paper.

I had wished to give the diameter of aU the beUs, and the note of the tenor, but it is hardly possible without personal examination. — Purchased from ebay store retromedia

20 THE CHUECH BELLS EST THE

As to the munber of bells in Somersetshire, presuming the statistics sent to me are correct

- There are in rings of three - -68x3 = 204 of four - - - 72 X 4 = 288

of five - - - 150 X 5 = 750

of six - - - 85 X 6 = 510

of eight - - - 18 X 8 = 144 of ten - - - 1 =10 Forty-three Claurches have two bells - - 86 New and old Chui-ches with single bells in towers or bell cots 72

2064

As for other bell-fonnders not mentioned in this paper I beg to refer my readers to all I know about them as given in my account of the Bells of Devonsliire.

It is worthy of note, that in Somerset no bells are fotmd with royal heads, nor with the well known shields, the one a chevron between 3

trefoils—the arms of UnderhiU; the other, a chevron between 3 laver pots, the arms of some Giiild of BeU-founders, all which are found ia other counties, as shewn ia the annexed cuts. This document is provided for you by The Whiting Society of Ringers visit www.whitingsociety.org.uk for the full range of publications and articles about bells and change ringing

For more sections of this book, and for more digitised old ringing books, from the home page, scroll down and navigate via the link to “Old Ringing Books”