The Church Bells of Leicestershire BY Thomas North, F.S.A. File 07 : Pages 286 to 317 Plates, Index, Advert for Chronicle of St. Martin’s 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 Purchased from ebay store retromedia 286 The Inscriptions on the STOCKERSTONE. S. PETER. 3 BELLS. 1. THOMAS BURTON MILES ET BARONETTA DOMINUS MANERII 1630. 2. JOHN TAYLOR FOUNDER LOUGHBOROUGH 1842. 3. IH'8- : NAZARENVS [9] REX I IVDEORVM [9] FILI I DEI I * [ 9 ] MISERERE MEI [ 9 ] 1634 [ U ] STOKE GOLDING. S. MARGARET. 4 BELLS. 1. BRYANVS ELDRIDGE ME FECIT 1656. 28 in. ( Diam. ) 2. i. GOD [9] SAVE [9] THE [9] kING [9] 1634 [9] [ rj ] in. ( Diam. 29 ) 3- c + 34 ] y^fjgrEFjg? PS" <>i3Oir ^^^ftD^r are letters Under which two ornate Gothic jjgj J) [ a 37 and 38 ] the C being placed upside down to make a D. Diam. in. ( 33 ) 4. JOHN RUDHALL GLOUCESTER FECT 1825 -.-.- in. ( Diam. 36! ) The Charity Commissioners in their Report (1837), p. 178, mention " a parcel of land, called Eight o'clock Bell Land," in the parish of Higham-on-the-Hill, the rent of which was stated to them to have been formerly paid to the parish of Stoke for ringing the eight o'clock bell. It was comprised in certain bequests made by Thomas Daville, Esq., in 1714. The Commissioners say no Curfew had been rung for forty years or more, neither could they trace any account of such bequest. STONESBY. S. PETER. 3 BELLS. i. [ + 21 ] OMNIA FIANT AD GLORIAM DEI 1626. Purchased from ebay store retromedia Church Bells of Leicestershire. 287 2. J6ec CiTampatta ^Scaia ^atra ^EMrataie 3. JOHN SMITH CHURCHWARDEN. THOMAS HEDDERLY FOUNDER NOTTM 1761. " In 6 Edward VI. there were iij bells of a corde." " The 3rd was previously inscribed Tobie Norris cast me 1671." STONEY STANTON. S. MICHAEL. 6 BELLS. 1. JOHN SANKEY RECTOR HENRY TOWNSHEND ESQR. C. W. JOHN ORTON W ORTON JAMES ORTON C ORTON G ORTON J. PEGG T. HIGGINSON. 2. OMNIA FIANT AD GLORIAM DEI 1842. J. TAYLOR FECIT. 3. OMNIA FIANT AD GLORIAM DEI 1842. 4. J. TAYLOR FECIT 1842. 5. J. TAYLOR (PILGRIM) BELLFOUNDER 1842. 6. J. TAYLOR BELLFOUNDER 1842. JEHOVAL JIREH. 8 cwt. ( Weight Key G sharp. ) Previous to the year 1842 the ring consisted of three bells inscribed : n ist. "Omnia fiant ad gloriam Dei. Tho. Eayre Kett. fecit Benj . Everard C. W. 1744." " 2nd. Be yt knowne to all that doth me see that Newcombe of Leicester made mee 1609." The 3rd. "IH'2 NazarenvsRex Judeorvm Fili Dei miserere mei 1625." Nichols says that John Orton of Kidderminster, Innholder, on 26 May 1790, assigned to the minister churchwardens and overseers of the poor of Stoney Stanton for the time being, for ever, the sum of ^"25, upon trust other to a certain of the ( among things ) pay portion [ proceeds thereof] equally to and amongst four poor boys, belonging to the parish, and being between the ages of nine and seventeen years, who do not receive any parish pay, and who can and shall ring four peals upon Purchased from ebay store retromedia 288 The Inscriptions on the Stoney Stanton bells upon the 5th day of January (being old Christmas the same to be to them the said of Day) ; paid upon 5th day January for ever. This payment has not been made within memory. Mr. John Orton was the great promoter of the present ring. He, his brothers and the other gentlemen whose names appear on the ist bell, subscribed 10 each towards the cost. The Ortons were all skilful ringers. STONTON WYVILLE. S. DENYS. i BELL. i. JONATHAN WADE CHURCHWARDEN 1768. In 6 Edward VI. there was "j bell" which was recast by Joseph Eayre of St. Neots as above. There is a tradition that bells were sent from this parish to Deene in Northamptonshire. A morning bell is rung on Sundays at 8 a.m. STOUGHTON. B. V. MARY. 4 BELLS. 2. - . RICE CHAPMAN CHURCHWARDEN ; 1739 j OMNIA FIANT AD GLORIAM DEI : T : EAYRE .:. amfo awon krmiro 1612 3- ^EReare goto obtg % prince (?) [ij i.] 4. CELORVM CHRSTE PLATIAT TIBI REX SONVS ISTE This Sir Thomas Beaumont, Knight (second surviving son of Sir Nicholas Beaumont of Coleorton), became possessed of Stoughton Grange and Manor with its members in right of his wife Catharine, daughter and heir of Sir Thomas Farnham of that place, Knight. Nichols, Purchased from ebay store retromedia Church Bells of Leicestershire. 289 STRETTON MAGNA. S. GILES. i BELL. i. WILLIAM HOBSON CHURCHWARDEN EDWD. ARNOLD LEICESTER FECIT 1791. STRETTON PARVA. S i BELL. i. EDWD. ARNOLD ST. NEOTS FECIT 1781. BUTTON CHENEY. 4 BELLS. 1. GOD [12] SAVE HIS [12] CHVRCH [12] 1724. in. ( Diam. 27 ) 2. ^llLMM-^tf& mCD^ESWE^ ^LK. ^-WI^KE:^ 1593 ui- in. ( Diam. 30 ) 3. GOD [9] SAVE [9] THE [9] kING [9] 1635 [rji.] (Diam. 33 in.) 4. IH'8 ! NAZARENVS REX IVDEORVM FILI DEI MISE- RERE W MATHEW C WARDEN 1678. [14] TMES [14] r close to the mouth of the bell W N ( ) [ + 25 ] Diam. in. ( 36 Cracked and unhung. ) See Pedigree of Robertes in Visitation of Leicestershire 1619 (issued by Harleian Society) p. 117. The tenor bell, with ancient cross, is from the Nottingham foundry. The first part of inscription is in letters formerly used by Hugh Watts of Leicester. 2 O Purchased from ebay store retromedia 2 go The Inscriptions on the SWEPSTONE. S. PETER. 4 BELLS. 1. GOD [14] SAVE [14] THE [14] kING [14] 1664. 2. GOD SAVE HIS CHVRCH 1711. 3. IH'S : [12] NAZARENVS [12] REX : IVDEORVM [12] FILI [12] DEI [12] MISERERE [12] J D WARDEN 1696. 4- <in^m [9] <in^-m [9] M.MZ& m WMM.JM [9] 1634 [u 1 -] In 6 Edward VI. there were "foore belles one of them a saunce bell." A morning-bell is rung on Sunday at 8 a,m. SWINFORD. ALL SAINTS. 4 BELLS. i. [ + 44] mj. 1598 [UL] in. ( Diam. 30^ ) 2. IH'S : NAZARENVS [9] REX ! IVDEORVM [9] FILI : : i. DEI [9] MISERERE MEI [9] 1631 [ U ] in. (Diam. 32^ ) 3. ^<g>;e> &M.~WM <@>T^e in. (Diam. 35 ) a * 4- ^.^Ji) [ ] EK^K^E [at] Diam. in. ( 38 ) * its the [ A Portcullis with chains, ensigned by Tudor crown. t A Tudor Rose ensigned in the same way. This bell I believe to be from the Nottingham foundry.] At the Death-knell thrice three tolls are given for a male, and thrice two for a female, both before and after the knell. A morning-bell is rung on Sundays at 7 a.m. Purchased from ebay store retromedia Church Bells of Leicestershire. 291 SWITHLAND. 5. LEONARD. 6 BELLS. i & 2. THE GIFT OF SIR JOHN DANVERS BART. 1760. 3. THE GIFT OF SIR JOHN DANVERS BART. EDWARD ARNOLD LEICESTER FE.CIT 1793. 4 & 5. THE GIFT OF SIR JOHN DANVERS BART. 1760. 6. THE GIFT OF SIR JOHN DANVERS BART. 1760. LET EVERYTHING THAT HATH BREATH PRAISE THE LORD. JOSEPH EAYRE ST. NEOTS. 8 cwt. ( Weight ) Sir John Danvers died 21 September, 1796. For an account of him, his family, and a magnificent monument erected to his memory during his lifetime, see Nichols' Leicestershire under Swithland. SYSONBY. i BELL. : 20.] j;nfc K <D ; MM^>M,M.M^>^ (Diam. 18 in.) SYSTON. S. PETER. 6 BELLS. 1. GOD [12] SAVE [12] QUEEN [12] ANNE [12] 1704 [12] in. (Diam. 32 ) 2. GOD [ 12 ] SAVE [ 12 ] HIS [ 12 ] CHVRCH 1704. W NORTH [12] J WHATTOFF CH. WARDENS. in. (Diam. 34 ) ~ 3. [9] [U 1 -] Diam. in. ( 35^ ) Purchased from ebay store retromedia 292 The Inscriptions on the 4- [ + 42 ] [ a 43 ] [ a 1 M.~WM tmM-^U-M- 4_3 n [ a 43 1 H>J&KMM- [ 43 ] mOSi' [ a 43 1 Diam. in. ( 37 ) 5. IH'S I NAZARENVS [9] REX : IVDEORVM [9] FILI ! I i. DEI [ 9 ] MISERERE MEI [ 9 ] 1628 [ ^r ] Diam. in. ( 40! ) 6. The same dated 1619. in. ( Diam. 45! ) The Pancake-bell is rung on Shrove- Tuesday at noon. On Sundays one bell is at a.m. bells at a.m. the Death-knell three rung 7 ; two 9 At tolls are given for a male, two for a female, on all the bells, beginning with the treble. THEDDINGWORTH. ALL SAINTS. 5 BELLS. " 1. PRAISE THE LORD 1595. in. ( Diam. 33 ) 2. CELORVM CHRSTE PLATIAT TIBI REX SONVS ISTE i- 1615 [ U 1 in. ( Diam. 34 ) . D n 6 - 3 [ + 42 j j@? [ 43 ] ;^<gr [ 43 ] gs^r [ 43 ] [ u 1 Diam. in. ( 37 ) 4. NOS SUMUS CONSTRUCTI AD LAUDEM DOMINI : LAUDATE ILLUM CYMBALIS SONORIS f A D 1757. Diam. in. ( 40 ) 5. + J. TAYLOR & Co LOUGHBOROUGH 1873 + LAUS DEO in. ( Diam. 48 ) Until 1873, when the present fine tenor bell was purchased by sub- scription, there were only four bells. The Pancake-bell is rung on Shrove- Tuesday. Purchased from ebay store retromedia Church Bells of Leicestershire. 293 THORNTON. S. PETER. 3 BELLS. 1. : IH'8 NAZARENVS [9] REX ! IVDEORVM [9] FILI : ! i. DEI [ 9 ] MISERERE MEI [ 9 ] 1626 [ ij ] in. (Diam. 32 ) 2. SERVE GOD HONOVR THE KING 1663. (Diam. 35 in.) 3. FOR CHVRCH AND KING WE ALLWAYS RING 1757 M. PAYNE C. WARD : THOMAS HEDDERLEY FOUNDER. in. ( Diam. 39 ) THORPE ACRE. No DEDICATION. i BELL. A new church with a small bell in an external turret. THORPE ARNOLD. S. MARY. 3 BELLS. i- 1597 [ u ] 2. IH'2 [12] NAZARENVS [12] REX [12] IVDEORVM [12] FILI [12] DEI [12] MISERERE 1685.