Richard Eldridge was a bell founder who initially cast bells alongside his father, Thomas, in Wokingham. Around 1610, he moved to Horsham and began founding in the Nomandy, a small street east of St Mary's Church.
Looking at the churchwardens accounts for Seale in Surrey, we are able to prove that he was still casting bells in Wokingham in 1606-1607.
1606 "Pd to the Bell founder for new castinge of the bells & all charges belonginge thereunto as smyth's work & carpinters & such like . . . vli js ixd"
1607 "Laide out at Okengam when wee caried the bells ixs vjd"
" "At Okengam when the bell was cast xjs"
" "for carrying & recarrying the bells xs"
" "Pd to the bellfounder for metall yt he put into the bell xiijli at vjd a pound vjs vjd"
The foundry was known as the bell house and rent was 10/- per year.
Looking at the churchwardens accounts for Seale in Surrey, we are able to prove that he was still casting bells in Wokingham in 1606-1607.
1606 "Pd to the Bell founder for new castinge of the bells & all charges belonginge thereunto as smyth's work & carpinters & such like . . . vli js ixd"
1607 "Laide out at Okengam when wee caried the bells ixs vjd"
" "At Okengam when the bell was cast xjs"
" "for carrying & recarrying the bells xs"
" "Pd to the bellfounder for metall yt he put into the bell xiijli at vjd a pound vjs vjd"
The foundry was known as the bell house and rent was 10/- per year.
The Normany
His earliest known work is as Newington dated 1592 as was inscribed in blackletter smalls like the rest of his bells.
The Horsham churchwardens accounts commence in 1610 and show that Richard paid some of his rent through labour:
"It of Richerd Eldridge for the Bell Howse, the casting of a pare of brasses . . . vjs viijd"
"It Eldridge oweth to the pish [parish] more . . . iijs iiijd"
In 1615, the Bell house was repaired and named the New bell house. 2 years later, he fell behind on his rent as the foundry was in a poor state again. It was extensively repaired in 1619 after Richard appears in the arrearages again. The restoration proved to be satisfactory as he was charged 19/- instead of 20 for 2 years worth of rent.
Richard's inscriptions are fairly similar. The majority of them reading his favoured
Our hope is in the lord
followed by the date and his initials. All were inscribed in blackletter smalls except his initials that were in block roman capitals on the waist.
2 interesting examples of his can be found at Tillington and Mapledurwell as they feature his name in full.
Block roman capitals where used instead of blackletter showing a change of hand?
He introduced the used of Fig. RIE,1, a heart shaped stop that continued to be used by his son Bryan I Eldridge.
The Horsham churchwardens accounts commence in 1610 and show that Richard paid some of his rent through labour:
"It of Richerd Eldridge for the Bell Howse, the casting of a pare of brasses . . . vjs viijd"
"It Eldridge oweth to the pish [parish] more . . . iijs iiijd"
In 1615, the Bell house was repaired and named the New bell house. 2 years later, he fell behind on his rent as the foundry was in a poor state again. It was extensively repaired in 1619 after Richard appears in the arrearages again. The restoration proved to be satisfactory as he was charged 19/- instead of 20 for 2 years worth of rent.
Richard's inscriptions are fairly similar. The majority of them reading his favoured
Our hope is in the lord
followed by the date and his initials. All were inscribed in blackletter smalls except his initials that were in block roman capitals on the waist.
2 interesting examples of his can be found at Tillington and Mapledurwell as they feature his name in full.
Block roman capitals where used instead of blackletter showing a change of hand?
He introduced the used of Fig. RIE,1, a heart shaped stop that continued to be used by his son Bryan I Eldridge.
Fig. RIE,1
None of his Sussex examples feature it, but it was used at Chobham 1597, Yateley 1617, Fulmer 1617.
His latest known bell was dated 1624 at Burnham, Buckinghamshire. This was presumable the date of his death. It was 35" in diameter and has since been recast by John Taylor & Co.
The treble at Ifield is our county's earliest example, featuring an initial cross to resemble old time traditions. This was dropped afterwards.
His moulding wires were usually quite heavy except on the Ifield bell and a interesting feature on some of his bells is using a smaller figure where a 0 on the date was required.
His latest known bell was dated 1624 at Burnham, Buckinghamshire. This was presumable the date of his death. It was 35" in diameter and has since been recast by John Taylor & Co.
The treble at Ifield is our county's earliest example, featuring an initial cross to resemble old time traditions. This was dropped afterwards.
His moulding wires were usually quite heavy except on the Ifield bell and a interesting feature on some of his bells is using a smaller figure where a 0 on the date was required.
Inscriptions
NEWINGTON: Ovre hope is in the lorde 1592 R E
CAPEL: Omnia habent finem R E 1593
CHOBHAM: Ovre ♡ hope ♡ is ♡ in ♡ the ♡ Lorde ♡ 1597 ♡ / R E
CHIPSTEAD: OVRE HELP IS IN THE LORD R E 1595
IFIELD: + Our hope is in the Lord 1600 / R E
HOLYBOURNE: Our hope is in the Lord R E 1600
WOTTON: Our hope is in the Lord 1602 R E
WEST CHILTINGTON: Our hope is in the Lord R E 1602
CAPEL: Our hope is in the Lord R E 1605
WALTON-ON-THAMES: Our hope is in the Lord 1606 R E
LODSWORTH: Our hope is in the Lord 1606 R E
CHIPSTEAD: Our hope is in the Lord 1607 R E
KIRDFORD: Our hope is in the Lord 1607 R E
ROGATE: Our hope is in the Lord 1607 R E
WASHINGTON: Our hope is in the Lord Jb 1608 R E
CHOBHAM: In trouble and adverfitie the Lord god heare thee lt dl 1610 R E
YATELEY: Reprove ♡ mee ♡ not ♡ Lord ♡ in ♡ thy ♡ wrath ♡ R E ♡ 1617 ♡
FULMER: Lord ♡ plead ♡ my ♡ caufe ♡ 1617 ♡ / R ♡ E
FULMER: Our ♡ hope ♡ is ♡ in ♡ the ♡ lord ♡ 1617 ♡ / R ♡ E
YATELEY: Our hope is in the Lord R E 1617
MAPLEDURWELL: Richard Eldridg made me 1620
TILLINGTON: Richard Eldridg made me 1622
YATELEY: R E 1623
BURNHAM: RE WI IB 1624
CAPEL: Omnia habent finem R E 1593
CHOBHAM: Ovre ♡ hope ♡ is ♡ in ♡ the ♡ Lorde ♡ 1597 ♡ / R E
CHIPSTEAD: OVRE HELP IS IN THE LORD R E 1595
IFIELD: + Our hope is in the Lord 1600 / R E
HOLYBOURNE: Our hope is in the Lord R E 1600
WOTTON: Our hope is in the Lord 1602 R E
WEST CHILTINGTON: Our hope is in the Lord R E 1602
CAPEL: Our hope is in the Lord R E 1605
WALTON-ON-THAMES: Our hope is in the Lord 1606 R E
LODSWORTH: Our hope is in the Lord 1606 R E
CHIPSTEAD: Our hope is in the Lord 1607 R E
KIRDFORD: Our hope is in the Lord 1607 R E
ROGATE: Our hope is in the Lord 1607 R E
WASHINGTON: Our hope is in the Lord Jb 1608 R E
CHOBHAM: In trouble and adverfitie the Lord god heare thee lt dl 1610 R E
YATELEY: Reprove ♡ mee ♡ not ♡ Lord ♡ in ♡ thy ♡ wrath ♡ R E ♡ 1617 ♡
FULMER: Lord ♡ plead ♡ my ♡ caufe ♡ 1617 ♡ / R ♡ E
FULMER: Our ♡ hope ♡ is ♡ in ♡ the ♡ lord ♡ 1617 ♡ / R ♡ E
YATELEY: Our hope is in the Lord R E 1617
MAPLEDURWELL: Richard Eldridg made me 1620
TILLINGTON: Richard Eldridg made me 1622
YATELEY: R E 1623
BURNHAM: RE WI IB 1624
Sussex bells by Richard Eldridge in chronological order |
.Ifield, St Margaret 1 1600 .Kirdford, St John the Baptist 5 1607 .Washington, St Mary Old tenor 1608 .Horsham, St Mary Old tenor 1616 .Horsham, St Mary Old 4th 1621 |
Sources:
.Sussex Bells & Belfries by George P Elphick - p.169 - 170.
.Surrey Bells & London Bellfounders by J. Stahlschmidt.
.Sussex Archaeological Society Vol* 31.
.Sussex Bells & Belfries by George P Elphick - p.169 - 170.
.Surrey Bells & London Bellfounders by J. Stahlschmidt.
.Sussex Archaeological Society Vol* 31.
