Walthamstow, St Mary
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
5-2-20 cwt |
27.75" |
1564.4 Hz |
G |
1896 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
|
2 |
5-2-20 cwt |
28.58" |
1399.0 Hz |
F |
1896 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
|
3 |
5-2-19 cwt |
30.08" |
1243.2 Hz |
E♭ |
1896 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
|
4 |
5-3-4 cwt |
30.47" |
1173.8 Hz |
D |
Pack & Chapman |
1778 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
5 |
6-3-0 cwt |
32.25" |
1047.3 Hz |
C |
Pack & Chapman |
1778 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
6 |
6-3-23 cwt |
34.17" |
929.7 Hz |
B♭ |
Pack & Chapman |
1778 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
7 |
8-0-2 cwt |
36.85" |
828.5 Hz |
A♭ |
Pack & Chapman |
1778 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
8 |
9-3-1 cwt |
39.29" |
786.2 Hz |
G |
Pack & Chapman |
1778 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
9 |
12-0-23 cwt |
42.44" |
696.8 Hz |
F |
Pack & Chapman |
1778 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
10 |
17-1-1 cwt |
47.83" |
623.2 Hz |
E♭ |
Charles & George Mears |
1852 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
About the Bells
10 Bells, 17-1-1 In E♭
St Mary's Walthamstow has a ring of 10 hung in a West facing tower. It's built of Tudor brick by George Monoux who was born around 1465 and died 1544. A tower was present in 1431 build of Kentish Ragstone for Richard Feis bequested 100s in his will to get the tower restored. In 1524, Richard, Blakgrave left one twelfth of his goods toward buying a bell. This probably became the Sanctus bell.
The will of Susan Samms shows that in 1715 she put a bequest towards a cupola was erected on top of the tower and contained the Sanctus or Priest's bell. It states: "the erecting of a turret on the steeple of the Church for the hanging thereon the Saints’ bell." Unfortunately, 121 years later, the cupola fell in to urgent need of repair and the wardens decided to remove it rather than repair it. A drawing of the tower prior to the removal is shown below.
Little is known about the early bells as there are no records that survive. There may have been at least one bell in the tower in 1431 since there are references to the bell tower in wills. In 1462 Peter Carder left 6s 8d for the repair of the "Steepull" and in 1518, Symon Pynder left 11 shillings for "repairs to the stepyll".
An inventory of 1552 notes three bells; the first bell (weight unclear), the second bell weighing 16 cwt (813kgs), the third bell (weight unclear), the “saunce”, probably the “Sanctus” or “Saints” bell (weight unclear) and one small bell weighing 20 lbs (9kgs). The 1552 record also notes a handbell that was later listed as having been sold by the Churchwardens.
Later in September of 1727, the tenor was cracked and the cost of recasting was £20. It was recast by John Waylett 6 years later. “paid Mr John Waylet Bell Founder his bill for new casting ye tenor bell being cracked and for mending ye clappers of two other bells and for a new wheel to ye tenor £31-0s-0d”
Being that John Waylett was a travelling bell founder, there would have been a casting pit in or near the church yard of St Mary's but is yet to be discovered.
1753 saw approx* 1cwt of metal added to the sanctus bell and also performed as the clock bell. A similar case can be seen at Ifield, St Margaret.
1 set of bell ropes were purchased in 1715 and another set in 1724. Around this time, the bells were no doubt a ring or "peal" of 6.
Between 1761 - 1762, the bells must have been having some trouble for payments to the Whitechapel Bell foundry. During this period, cast in crown staples were the form of hanging the clapper in the bell and the bells may have cracked.
The tenor was also recast in 1727.
At one point, the ringing room was open to church in the form of a gallery for all people below to see the ringers. This was plastered and walled up in 1725 due to poor behavior of the ringers. This is probably the reason why an Ellacombe for the bells was fitted some years later by John Warner & Sons.
1778 saw a new light on the bells for they were all recast by Pack & Chapman. There were also augmented from a ring of 6 to an 8 and were presumably hung in a new timber frame, most likely of V or Z truss. Interestingly, the inscription on the tenor was filed off after this being discussed in a meeting. The previous inscription was not preserved so when it was recast in 1852 by Charles & George Mears, it could not be repeated in facsimile. They instead inscribed it:
C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON 1852. Unline Charles & George Mears' predecessor Pack & Chapman, they seem to drop the word "fecit" on their bells. Bells 3,4,5,6,7,8,9 all have this on them.
In 1896, the bells seem to have had another issue with them due to the treble being recast and all the bells being rehung in a new cast iron frame. This rehang was taken on by John Warner & Sons. They also augmented the peal from an 8 to a 10. Warners provided a new frame consisting of V.1 trusses in a frame for 10. The frame was made from 2 standard layouts: The 8.3 and the 2.X2.
The lettering they chose to use on the new trebles can not be found anywhere in Sussex and is the first time I have come across it outside the Sussex border. The former treble's / present 3rd inscription was repeated but using a standard Warner alphabet and then Recast by John Warner & Sons 1899. around the bottom of the waist in the more posh lettering.
The interesting feature of Warner's rehang is that they took the old conventional canons off of the old peal of 8, by on their trebles and recast former treble, they cast them with a Doncaster Canon.
The bells were rehung by John Taylor & Co in 2013 after £85,000 was fundraised for the restoration. The frame was repainted and a new sound control system was installed. The canons on the 3 trebles were removed and all the bells were retuned.
A rope guide by Whites of Appleton was installed in c2010.
Each of the bells have a smiley face drawn on the waist of the bell by finger.
In 1552, T.R.E mentions a s'premest (Sanctus), a second, a third and a little bell. This suggests that around the time of the build there was just a set of 3 with a sanctus
Ex. Inf. L Bent, Oct 2022: Formerly a ring of 8 from 1778; the tenor recast in 1852. (Walthamstow, Essex: Daybook 13 July 1852 – old bell 18-3-12, staple & dirt 20, 18-2-20, cartage, toll, taking down etc [no sum]; Daybook 13 Aug.1852 – bell 18-2-21 recast and hung as per estimate £40, extra time screwing up bells £1.1.0)
In 1896, the treble was recast, 2 further trebles added and all were re-hung in a new cast iron frame. The bells were re-hung on ball bearings in the existing frame by Mears & Stainbank in 1947 or 1948. John Taylor & Co. re-hung the 9th in 1961.
LJB notes on re-hang: In 2016, the bells were re-hung on new fittings in the existing Warner frame. The louvres were bricked up and new sound control shutters installed. New hatches had to be cut in the clock chamber ceiling (under tenor pit) and ringing room ceiling (above 9th guide) to allow the bells to be lowered.
The ringing room used to have a large green box in the middle of the room, approx.4ft wide x 3.5ft high, which housed the organ blower. It had a pipe with wooden boxing around it, which ran from the blower housing through the wall into the church, and one had to have one foot on this, and one foot on a box of the same height to ring the tenor. This was all removed to allow access to the hatch in the ringing room floor for the bells to be removed.
Rehanging completed Sep 2016.
St Mary's Walthamstow has a ring of 10 hung in a West facing tower. It's built of Tudor brick by George Monoux who was born around 1465 and died 1544. A tower was present in 1431 build of Kentish Ragstone for Richard Feis bequested 100s in his will to get the tower restored. In 1524, Richard, Blakgrave left one twelfth of his goods toward buying a bell. This probably became the Sanctus bell.
The will of Susan Samms shows that in 1715 she put a bequest towards a cupola was erected on top of the tower and contained the Sanctus or Priest's bell. It states: "the erecting of a turret on the steeple of the Church for the hanging thereon the Saints’ bell." Unfortunately, 121 years later, the cupola fell in to urgent need of repair and the wardens decided to remove it rather than repair it. A drawing of the tower prior to the removal is shown below.
Little is known about the early bells as there are no records that survive. There may have been at least one bell in the tower in 1431 since there are references to the bell tower in wills. In 1462 Peter Carder left 6s 8d for the repair of the "Steepull" and in 1518, Symon Pynder left 11 shillings for "repairs to the stepyll".
An inventory of 1552 notes three bells; the first bell (weight unclear), the second bell weighing 16 cwt (813kgs), the third bell (weight unclear), the “saunce”, probably the “Sanctus” or “Saints” bell (weight unclear) and one small bell weighing 20 lbs (9kgs). The 1552 record also notes a handbell that was later listed as having been sold by the Churchwardens.
Later in September of 1727, the tenor was cracked and the cost of recasting was £20. It was recast by John Waylett 6 years later. “paid Mr John Waylet Bell Founder his bill for new casting ye tenor bell being cracked and for mending ye clappers of two other bells and for a new wheel to ye tenor £31-0s-0d”
Being that John Waylett was a travelling bell founder, there would have been a casting pit in or near the church yard of St Mary's but is yet to be discovered.
1753 saw approx* 1cwt of metal added to the sanctus bell and also performed as the clock bell. A similar case can be seen at Ifield, St Margaret.
1 set of bell ropes were purchased in 1715 and another set in 1724. Around this time, the bells were no doubt a ring or "peal" of 6.
Between 1761 - 1762, the bells must have been having some trouble for payments to the Whitechapel Bell foundry. During this period, cast in crown staples were the form of hanging the clapper in the bell and the bells may have cracked.
The tenor was also recast in 1727.
At one point, the ringing room was open to church in the form of a gallery for all people below to see the ringers. This was plastered and walled up in 1725 due to poor behavior of the ringers. This is probably the reason why an Ellacombe for the bells was fitted some years later by John Warner & Sons.
1778 saw a new light on the bells for they were all recast by Pack & Chapman. There were also augmented from a ring of 6 to an 8 and were presumably hung in a new timber frame, most likely of V or Z truss. Interestingly, the inscription on the tenor was filed off after this being discussed in a meeting. The previous inscription was not preserved so when it was recast in 1852 by Charles & George Mears, it could not be repeated in facsimile. They instead inscribed it:
C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON 1852. Unline Charles & George Mears' predecessor Pack & Chapman, they seem to drop the word "fecit" on their bells. Bells 3,4,5,6,7,8,9 all have this on them.
In 1896, the bells seem to have had another issue with them due to the treble being recast and all the bells being rehung in a new cast iron frame. This rehang was taken on by John Warner & Sons. They also augmented the peal from an 8 to a 10. Warners provided a new frame consisting of V.1 trusses in a frame for 10. The frame was made from 2 standard layouts: The 8.3 and the 2.X2.
The lettering they chose to use on the new trebles can not be found anywhere in Sussex and is the first time I have come across it outside the Sussex border. The former treble's / present 3rd inscription was repeated but using a standard Warner alphabet and then Recast by John Warner & Sons 1899. around the bottom of the waist in the more posh lettering.
The interesting feature of Warner's rehang is that they took the old conventional canons off of the old peal of 8, by on their trebles and recast former treble, they cast them with a Doncaster Canon.
The bells were rehung by John Taylor & Co in 2013 after £85,000 was fundraised for the restoration. The frame was repainted and a new sound control system was installed. The canons on the 3 trebles were removed and all the bells were retuned.
A rope guide by Whites of Appleton was installed in c2010.
Each of the bells have a smiley face drawn on the waist of the bell by finger.
In 1552, T.R.E mentions a s'premest (Sanctus), a second, a third and a little bell. This suggests that around the time of the build there was just a set of 3 with a sanctus
Ex. Inf. L Bent, Oct 2022: Formerly a ring of 8 from 1778; the tenor recast in 1852. (Walthamstow, Essex: Daybook 13 July 1852 – old bell 18-3-12, staple & dirt 20, 18-2-20, cartage, toll, taking down etc [no sum]; Daybook 13 Aug.1852 – bell 18-2-21 recast and hung as per estimate £40, extra time screwing up bells £1.1.0)
In 1896, the treble was recast, 2 further trebles added and all were re-hung in a new cast iron frame. The bells were re-hung on ball bearings in the existing frame by Mears & Stainbank in 1947 or 1948. John Taylor & Co. re-hung the 9th in 1961.
LJB notes on re-hang: In 2016, the bells were re-hung on new fittings in the existing Warner frame. The louvres were bricked up and new sound control shutters installed. New hatches had to be cut in the clock chamber ceiling (under tenor pit) and ringing room ceiling (above 9th guide) to allow the bells to be lowered.
The ringing room used to have a large green box in the middle of the room, approx.4ft wide x 3.5ft high, which housed the organ blower. It had a pipe with wooden boxing around it, which ran from the blower housing through the wall into the church, and one had to have one foot on this, and one foot on a box of the same height to ring the tenor. This was all removed to allow access to the hatch in the ringing room floor for the bells to be removed.
Rehanging completed Sep 2016.
Alphabet on the Warner bells:
Recordings of the bells:
Bell 1
| cut_walth1.mp3 |
Bell 2
| cut_walth2.mp3 |
Bell 3
| cut_walth3.mp3 |
Bell 4
| cut_walth4.mp3 |
Bell 5
| cut_walth5.mp3 |
Bell 6
| cut_walth6.mp3 |
Bell 7
| cut_cut_walth7.mp3 |
Bell 8
| cut_walth8.mp3 |
Bell 9
| cut_walth9.mp3 |
Bell 10
| cut_walth0.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is inscriptions within the inscription band*
1 |
𝕮𝖆𝖘𝖙 𝖇𝖞 𝕵𝖔𝖍𝖓 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖓𝖊𝖗 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖘 𝕷𝖙𝖉 𝕷𝖔𝖓𝖉𝖔𝖓. 𝕯𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖊𝖉 𝖙𝖔 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖘𝖊𝖗𝖛𝖎𝖈𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝕲𝖔𝖉, 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖈𝖍𝖚𝖗𝖈𝖍 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖔 𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖒𝖊𝖒𝖔𝖗𝖆𝖙𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕴𝖑𝖑𝖚𝖘𝖙𝖗𝖎𝖔𝖚𝖘 𝕽𝖊𝖎𝖌𝖓 𝖔𝖋 𝕳𝖊𝖗 𝕸𝖆𝖏𝖊𝖘𝖙𝖞 "𝕼𝖚𝖊𝖊𝖓 𝖁𝖎𝖈𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖎𝖆" 1896. 𝖂𝖒 𝕷. 𝕷𝖆𝖓𝖌𝖍𝖔𝖗𝖓𝖊 - 𝖁𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖗 𝖂𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖎𝖆𝖒 𝕾𝖍𝖚𝖗𝖒𝖚𝖗 } 𝖂𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖎𝖆𝖒 𝕸. 𝕭𝖊𝖈𝖐 } 𝕮𝖍𝖚𝖗𝖈𝖍𝖜𝖆𝖗𝖉𝖊𝖓𝖘 |
2 |
𝕮𝖆𝖘𝖙 𝖇𝖞 𝕵𝖔𝖍𝖓 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖓𝖊𝖗 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖘 𝕷𝖙𝖉 𝕷𝖔𝖓𝖉𝖔𝖓. 𝕯𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖊𝖉 𝖙𝖔 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖘𝖊𝖗𝖛𝖎𝖈𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝕲𝖔𝖉, 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖈𝖍𝖚𝖗𝖈𝖍 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖔 𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖒𝖊𝖒𝖔𝖗𝖆𝖙𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕴𝖑𝖑𝖚𝖘𝖙𝖗𝖎𝖔𝖚𝖘 𝕽𝖊𝖎𝖌𝖓 𝖔𝖋 𝕳𝖊𝖗 𝕸𝖆𝖏𝖊𝖘𝖙𝖞 "𝕼𝖚𝖊𝖊𝖓 𝖁𝖎𝖈𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖎𝖆" 1896. 𝖂𝖒 𝕷. 𝕷𝖆𝖓𝖌𝖍𝖔𝖗𝖓𝖊 - 𝖁𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖗 𝖂𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖎𝖆𝖒 𝕾𝖍𝖚𝖗𝖒𝖚𝖗 } 𝖂𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖎𝖆𝖒 𝕸. 𝕭𝖊𝖈𝖐 } 𝕮𝖍𝖚𝖗𝖈𝖍𝖜𝖆𝖗𝖉𝖊𝖓𝖘 |
3 |
ALL THOUGH I AM BOTH LIGHT AND SMALL I WILL BE HEARD ABOVE YOU ALL PACK & CHAPMAN FECIT 1778 𝕽𝖊𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙 𝖇𝖞 𝕵𝖔𝖍𝖓 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖓𝖊𝖗 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖘 𝕷𝖙𝖉 𝕷𝖔𝖓𝖉𝖔𝖓 1896 |
4 |
⚛PEACE AND GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD ≍≍≍≍ PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1778 |
5 |
≍≍ AT PROPER TIMES OUR VOICES WE SHALL RAISE IN SOUNDING TO OUR BENEFACTORS PRAISE ≍≍ PACK AND CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1778 |
6 |
OUR VOICES SHALL WITH JOYFUL SOUND MAKE HILLS AND VALLEYS ECCHO ROUND PACK AND CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1778 |
7 |
≍≍ WHILST THUS WE JOIN IN CHEERFUL SOUND MAY LOVE AND LOYALTY ABOUND ≍≍ ≍≍≍≍ PACK AND CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1778 ≍≍≍≍ |
8 |
YE RINGERS ALL THAT PRIZE YOUR HEALTH & HAPPINESS BE SOBER MERRY WISE & YOU'LL THE SAME POSSESS PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1778 ≍≍≍≍ |
9 |
IN WEDLOCK BANDS ALL YE WHO JOIN WITH HANDS YOUR HEARTS UNITE SO SHALL OUR TONGUES COMBINE TO LAUD THE ↂ NUPTIAL RITE PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1778 |
10 |
C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON 1852 |
Latin Translation:
3-9: FECIT - to make
3-9: FECIT - to make
ↂ = Cherub above a keyhole
≍≍ = Fig. XLVIII, a
⚛ = Fig. P&C, a
*Click on images to enlarge them*
≍≍ = Fig. XLVIII, a
⚛ = Fig. P&C, a
*Click on images to enlarge them*
Photographs:
Wednesday: 19:30 - 21:00
Sunday: Currently By Arrangement.
Sunday: Currently By Arrangement.
Church Hill Walthamstow, E17 9RL
