The Church Bells of Leicestershire
BY Thomas North, F.S.A. File 04 : Pages 133 to 182
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THE INSCRIPTIONS
ON THE
CHURCH BELLS OF LEICESTERSHIRE,
WITH, in many cases, the Diameter at the mouth of the Bell from which its approximate weight may be ascertained
(see page 131). To which are added Extracts, where pro-
curable, from the Commissioners Returns temp. Edward VI.,
and from Parochial and other Records, together with Local
Traditions, and Notes on the Uses of Church Bells peculiar
to different parishes.
to the on the Plates. It Note. The numbers between [ ] refer woodcuts being
impossible to reproduce here the various forms of medieval Gothic letters used on
the ancient bells, one form of letter is here used to indicate where Gothic capitals are one small Gothic or "black letter" is used [ Jj_ ^IB ^T] and form where
used [a b t]. For the various forms of Roman letters found on modern bells one form [A B C] will suffice.
Errors of spelling, misplacement of letters, &>c., &>c., in the following inscrip-
tions, are copied literally from the Bells. They are therefore Founders' blunders and not Printers' mistakes. Purchased from ebay store retromedia
134 The Inscriptions on the
AB-KETTLEBY. S. JAMES. 3 BELLS.
1. IO GOD SAVE HIS CHVRCH 1653 [ -J 2. 6. [ + 3 ] J M-'M ~WM. [ U ]
3. THOMAS CROSS C. W. THOMAS HEDDERLY FOUNDER NOTTM 1765. " This bell was previously inscribed Jhesus be our speede 1662." In 6 Ed. VI. there were "iij bells and a sanctus bell."
ALLEXTON. S. PETER. 4 BELLS.
1. ^Tbirrarbt J^Litbrahxes araur botnxni 1597- 2. ROBERT BLACKWELL CHVRCHWARDEN 1715.
3. THOMAS NORRIS MADE MEE 1662 T.H.
4. JOHES BIDDLE RECTOR DE ALASTON 1640 VIVAT CAROLVS REX.
Edward Andrews was lord of the manor : he was a further benefactor to the church, having given a Porch in the year 1594. John Biddulph, the loyal rector, was buried 9 Jan. 1641-2. Nichols.
ANSTY. 5. MARY. 5 BELLS.
1. GOD REWARD MY BENEFACTORS.
in. ( Diam. 29 )
2. J. M. HALTON CAST US ALL ANNO MDCCXXlII. Diam. in. ( 30 )
3. Blank. in. (Diam. 32 )
4. Blank. in. ( Diam. 35 ) Purchased from ebay store retromedia
Church Bells of Leicestershire. 135
5. WILLIAM HARSTAFF JOSEPH LEWIN C. W. in. (Diam. 38 )
In 6 Ed. VI. there were " Three bells."
APPLEBY MAGNA. S. MICHAEL. 6 BELLS.
1. THIS BELL RAISED BY SUBSCRIPTION 1774. THE SECOND GAVE BY MR. MOORE'S FAMILY 1769. THE 3rd AND 4th RECAST BY SUBSCRIPTION. THE 5th RECAST BY THE PARISH TO THE OLD TENNOR. LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN LONDON FECIT.
2. LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON
3. LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN FECIT 1769.
4. LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1769.
5. LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN LONDON FECIT 1769.
6. IH'8 : NAZARENVS [9] REX I IVDEORVM [9] FILI I DEI
[9] MISERERE *. MEI [9] 1619 [\J i.]
ARNESBY.
S. PETER. 4 BELLS.
1. i. GOD [ 9 ] SAVE [ 9 ] THE [ 9 ] kING [ 9 ] 1624 [ 17 ] 2. CELORVM [9] CHRSTE [9] PLATIAT TIBI REX [9] SONVS ISTE [9] 1624 [rji.]
3. IH'8 : NAZARENVS [9] REX : IVDEORVM [9] FILI I
I i. DEI [9] MISERERE MEI [9] 1624 [ rj ] SI 4. CVM SONO NON VIS [ 9 ] VENIRE [ 9 ] NVNQVAM i. AD PRECES [9] CVPIES IRE [9] 1624 [ y ]
On Sundays the ist bell is rung at 8 a.m. : the ist and 2nd at 9 a.m. Purchased from ebay store retromedia
136 The Inscriptions on the
ASFORDBY.
ALL SAINTS. 5 BELLS. i. GOD : SAVE [9] THE I kING [9] ANTHONY HILL
1631 [9] [ U i. ]
2 and \ \ 3. IH'2 NAZARENVS [ 9 ] REX IVDEORVM [ 9 ]
FILI i DEI MISERERE I MEI [9] 1630 [9] [171.] 4. CELORVM CHRSTE [9] PLATIAT TIBI REX [9] SONVS
ISTE 1630 [ ^r i.] 5. CVM SONO SI NON VIS [9] VENIRE [9] NVNQVAM i. AD PRECES [9] CVPIES IRE 1630 [ 17 ] (Nine coins near the mouth.)
After the ringing of the Death-knell each bell is tolled thrice for a male, twice for a female.
ASHBY-DE-LA-ZOUCH. S. HELEN. 8 BELLS.
1. THE TWO TREBLE BELLS WERE GIVEN BY VOLUN- TARY SUBSCRIPTION IN COMMEMORATION OF THE PEACE OF 1814. JOHN BRIANT HERTFORD FECIT 1814. 2. The Same.
3. GLORIA DEO SOLI T. EAYRE. THE GIFT OF THE INHABITANTS OF ASHBY 1741.
4. J. BRIANT HERTFORD FECIT 1817. 5. GOD [12] SAVE [12] HIS [12] CHVRCH [12] JOHN DICKINSON [12] WARDEN [12] 1698.
6- 1 n a [ + 42 $M<& [ 43 1 MM&JIZ&M'M'WS [ 43 ] a mK^ [ 43 ] ^FTODECim^m 7. THE REV. WM. MAC DOUALL VICAR : J. TOMPSON
AND WM. DEVENPORT C. W. J. BRIANT HERTFORD FECIT 1822. Purchased from ebay store retromedia
Church Bells of Leicestershire. 137
JO TAYLOR AND SON BELLFOUNDERS LOUGHBO IN THE YEAR OF OUR SALVATION 1849.
In 6 Ed. VI. there were "fyve belles and a hande belle." The ancient tenor bell dated 1571 and recast in 1849 weighed cwt. 2 ft. the one cwt. o Ib. 14 3 qrs. ; present weighs 17 3 qrs. Tradition says a former inhabitant of this place having lost his way was, after wandering about nearly the whole night, and when nearly exhausted, enabled to find his way home by hearing the sound of the clock of S. Helen's Church. To mark his gratitude for this deliverance he conveyed to the trustees of the Grammar School certain property, " since called the Day-Bell Houses," upon trust, among other things, that they should cause one of the church bells to be rung for a quarter of an hour at four o'clock every morning. This direction was carried out, and the "four o'clock bell" was regularly heard every morning until the year 1807, when upon the authority of a Decree of the Court of Chancery, this custom, "useless and annoying" to the inhabitants, was discontinued. Instead of this early bell, one is now rung daily at 9 a.m. and at 2 p.m. for the purpose of assembling the boys in the Grammar School. The Pancake-bell is rung on Shrove-Tuesday. On Sundays one bell is rung at 7 a.m., two bells at 8 a.m. ASHBY-DE-LA-ZOUCH. HOLY TRINITY. i BELL.
No inscription. ASHBY FOLVILLE.
S. MARY THE VIRGIN. 5 BELLS. i. GOD SAVE THE CHVRCH [ n 10 ] 1652.
(Diam. 29 in.) T Purchased from ebay store retromedia
138 The Inscriptions on the
2. GOD SAVE THE CHVRCH [ n 10 ] 1653. (Diam. 30^ in.)
I FILI : 3. IH'3 I NAZARENVS [9] REX IVDEORVM [9]
: 1626 i. DEI [9] MISERERE MEI [9] [ 1J ] in. (Diam. 32 )
4. GOD [9] SAVE [9] THE [9] kING [9] RALPH PICK [9] i. HENRY MOORE [9] CW [9] 1637 [ y ] in. (Diam. 36 )
5. OMNIA FIANT AD GLORIAM DEI. THO. EAYRE KETT. JOHN BLACK AND JOSEPH STEVENSON C.
- WARDENS : 1739 : in. (Diam. 40^ )
that about two hundred The Rev. J. Godson informs me years ago a lady having lost her way, and regained it by the sound of the Ashby bells, left the proceeds of a piece of land to the poor of the parish. The boundaries of the land were marked by three large stones, and the produce brought to the church to strew it with hay to keep the people's feet warm : afterwards the corn produced was for many years brought to the church and divided amongst the poor. It is said that from time to time the ancient landmarks have been removed further in, till now the once fair piece of land is but a small piece yielding to the Church- wardens about six shillings a year. At the death-knell three tolls are given for a male, two for a female, both before and after the knell. ASHBY MAGNA.
S. MARY. 3 BELLS.
I. 1. I< SOLI DEO GLORIA PAX HOMINIBVS 1655 M. 2. JOHN BRIANT HERTFORD FECIT 1817 t t t t t
j - 3. JF&M3L&&L gE^EiS ^>SH 1613 [ u 1 of bell the letters H. B. ( On top ) " The 2nd bell was previously inscribed : Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judeorvm." Purchased from ebay store retromedia
Church Bells of Leicestershire. 139
ASHBY PARVA.
S. PETER. 3 BELLS.