The Church Bellsof dorset

by

W. M. Barnes&

J. J. Raven

File 02 – Monograph (end),– Pages 78 to 164

This document is provided for you by

The Whiting Society of Ringersvisit

www.whitingsociety.org.ukfor the full range of publications and articles

about bells and change ringing

. 78 THE CHURCH DELLS OF DORSET.

DEANERY OF SHAFTESDURY.

SruJUUNSl'ER NEW'l'ON PoRTION.

No. 13.

1. COMPTON ABBAS <S. Mary),

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., 36tin.; height, z7in.

!. Birmingham James Bartwell founder 1873 z. V.R. Jubilee rB97 Laus Dco R.S. K.B Rector E H;

W G. Churchwardens T. Blackburn founder Salisbury. 3· Searve God I W r6r6.

4· + (z.) mntia (r6.)

5· F{E:!UE:ffiBE.:lt GOD I D F{ <:9. 1624.

2. FARRINGDON <S. John Baptist>.

One small bell in a cote. No inscription.

3. FONTMELL MAGNA CS. Andrew),

Six bells. Tenor-Diam., 4-5in.; height, 32!in.; weight, 18cwt.

1. Cast by John Warner and Sons London 1863. St. Andrews repaired rebuilt and enlarged. Sir Richard Plumtree Glyn, Bart. Robert Salkeld Rector. C. Mayo and J. Haskell Churchwardens. G. Evans Architect.

z. Prayes the Lord I W 1618 3· Prayse God. I 6z6. I D. +• lfi THOlo>lAS G.OD REDOt;T IS WILLIAM ffig VINSON

16.p \V ~-1)

5· + (z) }.:It ~tt .Sede X~.ht )?r.o :ffi.ol1i$ )i(h'OG ,en~tilt (6s.)

~~* -~'l!i1tfi 6. +flUE: illflF{Ifi (66.)

THE CHURCH HELLS OF DORSET. 79

4• HAMMOON <Dedioatron unknown),

Two bells. Tcnor-Diam., 23}in.; lieight, 16lin.; note E.

'· + Ulfi~Ifl (68.) z. + a q .ul tt g (67.)

6. HANFORD <Dedication unknown).

One small bell of peculiar pear-shaped form in an open bell gable ; no inscription or mark of any kind.

Diam., •+!in.; height, r+iiri.; note B.

6. HINTON (5. Mary).

Two bells. Tenor-Diam., 4-4-in.; height, 3 Jin.

1. Thomas Mears Founder. London z. 1614 Anno Domini W. P.

1. IWERNE COURTNEY or SHROTON CS. Mary),

Four bells. Ter:or-Diam., 39}in.; height, z8;fin.

1, (Blank). z. Anno Domini 1631

3· Geve thanks to God r W 1590.

+· Ulnutn mnriu (zs.)

8. IWERNE MINSTER CS. Mary),

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., +Skin. ; height, 34-lin. ; note C.

· t. M~ Thomas Harvey & M~ John Applin Churchwardens 1768. My treble voice makes hearts rejoice Abra~ Bilbie Founder.

z. Feare the Lord I W. 16og.

3· * + f)·U!G> g E:@@IJE:SIE: g DE:DI?9 g ?'9€~<0Ifi g 51<9 g BOnfl g S'QB § IE:S'Q g nommfi g sonfJ 8 (69.)

A

66,-l!'OKHiELL MAGNA TE.L';OR P!in. Cross).

I I ~ . IQ

-(\ I ~- • ,\l l: . - -kk ..

00 0

THF. CHt:R.CH BELLS OF DORSF.T. St

9. MANSTON CS. Nicholas>.

Four bells. Tenor-Diam., 33t in.; height, 24--l-in.

r. Anno Domini 1639 R Q P.

2, + (z6 A.) fElE: Grtfi<9Ifi 3· God be our guyd R R. 1598. 4· Reioysc in God 1635 I D.

10. MELBURY ABBAS <S. Thomas),

Five bells. T enor- Diam., 36in. ; height, 27in. ; weight,

7CWt. zqrs. 27Jb.

t, z, 3, 4, S· C & G. Mears Founders London 185z

II. OKEFORO CHILDE <S. Nichola&).

Five bells. Tenor-Diam.,

I]Cwt. zqr. 4-lb. ; note E ; weight,

r, z, 3, 4· ::\·t ears & Stainbank Whitechapcl Foundry London

Laus De.:>. Victoria R. r83i- 1887 5· Mears & Stainbank Whitcchapel Foundry London Laus

Deo Jubilee Peal 1887. J. G. Brymer Rector H. S. Bower, J. M. Rossiter , Churchwardens.

6. Mears & Stainbank Whitechapcl Foundry London Laus

Deo. These .six bells set up by the people of Chi! de

Okeford 18!l7

The oltl bolls, three iu number, bo1·o the following illscrlptions :-

1. John Raldwin Churchwal'den Robert W ells Aldbourne fecit 1783 (or 8)

2. J. Baldwin, Ohurchwa.rden. R. Walls Aldbourne fecit 1783 (or 8)

11 VV y Y "'Y 3. G-od bless the lUng Clmrb 1&18. I E. W M. T P.

Thill boll was broken apparently by intention, but (from information received on the spot in 18.)2) not long bcforo that date. The reverl!iou of those letters o\·or " ·hich the mark v stands is notable, o.nd probably inten­

tional, the inscription bl!ing dangerous a.t that epoch.

A B

68,-HA~DlOON 1ST (Cross !tin.).

69.-IW.ER.'i'E. lHNSTER SRD (Cross l hi.).

. tHE CHt:RClt BEt.LS OF DORSE1',

12. OKEFORD FITZPAINE <S. Andrew).

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., 4-o!in. ; height, z8lin.; note G.

1, z, 3, 4· T. Mears of J.ondon fecit 18zo

S· .B . .Phillips, John Trowbridge Churchwardens John HaJI<•t overseer. T. Mears of London fecit 18zo

Before recasting th~re were four bells in the tower, inscribed as followg:-

t. 1664. R S.' W B. C.W.

z. + X five * illlttht * Gracilt 3· Illegible. 4· I often have been beate and bandge

My friends reioyce to see me handge : And when my friends doe chance to die Then I for them aloud will cry

1658. RR. TB. CW.

13. ORCHARD, EAST CS. Thomas).

"There arc no bells at East Orchard."-Rev. E. V. CHAPPEL.

14. ORCHARD, WEST (Dedication unknown).

Two small bells in a turret.

15. S. MARGARET MARSH.

Four bells. Tenor-Diam., 21)tin. ~ height, z 1·/!in.

1, z, 3, 4· Cast by Warner and C'! London iu 18 74 Previous to Ill7f there were two bells-

I. + .Snntta .GElargarit~ .or:t t,ro no bitt z. God be our guyd I W. 1586.

16. STURMINSTER NEWTON CS. Maryl,

Six bells. Tcnor-Diam., 4-6!in.; JJeight, 34-in.; note E.

r. The gift of the Rev~l Thomas H. Lane Fox, Rector 1827

. ;

THl!: CHURCH J~ J::LLS OF DORSET.

z. God save the King r625. Recast by G. Mears & C? of London Oct. rst r86z . . The Rev Richard Lowndes

Vicar, H. C. Dashwood, John Todd, Churchwardens 3· Recast at the expense of the Rev~t Thomas H. Lane Fox,

Rector 1827 4· The Rev'~ Tho~ H. Lane Fox donor, Wf!l Dobson founder

Downham Norfolk r8z7 5· The Rev~ Tho~ H. L. Fox Rector and donor Ja~ Michel>

vicar. W'!l Colborne ]'!0 Newman, c~ wardens J827

6. Serve the Lord I W. 16u. I W

17. SUTTON WALDRON <S. Bartholomew).

Two bells. Tenor-Diam., 4-Jin.; height, 29~in.; weight, acwt. oqr. z db.

1, 2, Cast at Whitcchapel Bell Foundry London by C & G Mears t8+7·

DEANERY OF BRIDPORT.

(BRIDPORT PoRTION.)

No. 2.

I. ALLINGTON <S. Swithun).

One modern light bell.

2. ASKERSWELL <S. Michael).

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., 37!tin.; height, z7in.

r. Cast by John Warner and Sons t886. Recast 1886

2. 6191· (1619) 3, 4· C. & G. Mears founders London 1852

5· Cast by John Warner & Sons 1886. Re~st A.D. 1886 )~. W. Fox Rector. E. Dawe, T. Bishop Wardens.

Old Jh>b/e-William Lock Rector T ~ P. 17rz Old :Zinor-+ Ed ward Jenkins J ohn Travers Wardens I 7 12

T ~ P.

THE CHURCH DELLS OF DORSET. ss 3. BOTHENHAMPTON <Holy Trinity).

One bell. Diam., 32in.; height, soin.

Tho. Young Io Harde C W. T P. Anno domini 1689

4. BRADPOLE <Holy Trinity),

Six bells. Tenor-Diam., 36:Jin.; height, 2.6~in.

r. The peal of five bells \vas hung 1865. Canon Broadley Vicar. This treble bell was added in his memory by his son A. M. Broadley of Yc Knapp Easter Eve 1896. A.M. :R. DG.

2, J, 4, s, 6. Cast by John \Varner & Sons London I865.

6. BRIDPORT CS. Mary),

Eight bells. Tenor-Diam., 49in. ; note E ; weight,

I9fCWt.

r. Cast by J. Warner and S()ns London I887. To the gloty of God. Two bells were added and the peal completed in the J ubilce year of Queen Victoria I 887. E. I. I.. B. Hcnslowe Rector S. Whctham & T. W. IIartgill Church­

wardens 2. Cast by John Warner and Sons London I8Sj. Jubilate

Deo. From the women of Bridport :1887. 3, 4, s, 6, 7, 8. (The inscriptions on the old bells are said to

have been reproduced on these bells with the addition)

Recast by John Warner and Sons I887.

The inscriptions on the -old bells were as follows:-I. Thomas :Mears founder London. This bdl was adidr.d

A.D. 1843· Rob~ Broadley Rector . . ln. EN R. CW. :z. RD. 1\lD. CW. TP. anno domini r68 1.

3· John Colfax Elias Pun field Churchwardens Cast hy Thomas Bayly Bridgewater J7 r64.

86 THE CHURCH BEttS OF DORSET.

4· Thomas. ~Icars founder, London. A.D. 17Z7 recast A.D.

18+3. R Tucker & E. S. Knight C.W. 5· + anno domini 1630

6. Thomas :\[ears founder London. The gift of John Grancel and Joan his wife. Sing praise to God A.D. 1784

Recast A.D. 1843· R Tucker & E. S. Knight, CW.

G. BRIDPORT, WEST BAY' <S. Andrew>.

Three small modern bells not inscribed.

7. BURTON BRADSTOCK <S. Mary),

l?ive bells. Tenor-Diam., 4oin.; height, 3oin.

r. Richard Richards Rector. S. Soper, B. Barber C.W. if Is F fi I76Z w

2. M~ Samuel Best & l.\1~ Andrew Houndsell C~ wardens ~ Q Q 3· S B. I A. C W anno domini 1651 V.P. +· Anno Dni HD r615. W P. 5· A. Anno Domini r6z6. G P.

8. CHILCOMBE <Dedication unknown).

One small bell in a western bell gable, bearing a post Reformation date, but no other inscription.

9. LODERS <S. Mary Magdalene).

Six bells. Tenor-Diam., -t-8in.; height, 35iu.

I. Thomas Mears founder London 1843 This bell was added A.D. r8+3· Rob Broadley Rector R Tucker & E. S. KnightC W.

2. W Panpell founder Cullumpton ~ (coins Geo. III., one

bearing the date r8rS) 1816 ~·

3· PT. 1461, inimod onna (anno domini r64r)

ti-h: CHURCH 1:l!!.T.f,S OF DORSJo;t •

.4· Recast by Jv[ears & Stainbank founders London r884 This bell was cracked & useless it was recast by Sir Molyeeux Nepean Bart of Lodcrs Court, and Isobel his wife for the good of the parish A D. 1884. John S. Stewart vicar. Sir Ivi H. :t\cpcan Bart Eli Russell Churchwardens.

5· Rev F. Macarthy vicar. John Major, George Chilcott Churchwardens 1846. & Cast by W. Pannell & Son & Collumptoil.

R W IAH 6. Ivi Larder Gnt E Larder RL.l\l Larder r6z6 Ay May I

sounde glory to God on hie, Thankcs to my frcnds in swetest harmonie George Reeves Vicker H Marsh T Bragg wardens H V Browne W Barret N W T. R S. N B. (coin) T ~ Pennington 0 0 (shillings of Charles I.)

10. MIL TON WEST.

A single bell in a bell turret hardly accessible.

Tho tower of tho olil church of lfilton is still st.anaing, and a story is current both here and nt Powerstoek that the fivo bells belonging to it were remo-veil to Poweratock when tbe new church of Milton wae built. ·what became of t.hem subeeqnently is not known.

11. POWERSTOCK (5, Mary),

Five be1ls. Tenor-Diam., soin.; heig4t, 34-in.; note. E; weight, zzcwt.

r. M~ Thomas Hine Thomas Bilbie of Cullumpton fecit I7i2·

z. Thomas Palmer Bernard Gale (coin) (coin) wardens T. P;

IJIZ

3· M~ Edward Lawrence & Mt: Henry Walbridge church­wardens Q g ~ Q ~ T ~ Bilbie fecit 1772

4· Recast I 897 by Mears and Stain bank London C. L. Sanctuary Vicar F Fooks S. M. Wrixon Churchwardens H B. E S. C W. T P. Anno domini x68.j..

THE CHt:RCH' BELLS OF DORSET.

5· I to the Chttrch the living call too the grave do summon aJ. M~ Edward Lawrence & M~ Henry Walbridge C~ Wardens Thomas Bilbie fecit 1772 ~ !J ~

Paal rehung as Jubilee memorial by Bl.acltbourn, Salisbury, in 1898.

12. POORTON NORTH <S . Mary Magdalene).

A single bell in a hard ly accessible bell turret.

13. RAMPISHAM (5. Michael and A. A.l.

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., 42in. ; JJCight, 27-lin.

1. ..Jc (28A) CQfl~lfl z. Anno domini 16oo

3· ~ (2) Sanda m lt ri lt 4· Anno dni W P. r615.

5· (Blank)

There is a legend at R.,mpisl"~m that the Purdue bells were intended for Cattistock, but were interc11pted on t.heir way tl1erc from Closworth and bung in the Rampisham tower.

"The persons are "William Lawrenc<l & his wife William Lawrence Willi

a judgo in 8cotland duri.ng the Civil '\Va.l'8. H e dic<l 1681-2. Trndition 111\y~ that . . . . lte left to the poor of the parish of Rampisha.m a. farm known 118 Broadwitcham.. Tradition further says tl•at he did thill because he loved the bells of Rampisham. A sort of incideJltal support is given to this tra.dition by the fact that time out of mi11d the ringel'8 of RampUham haTe TeOOived £1 f rom the rent of the farm every All Hallows eve.''-From a letter.

14- SHIPTON GORGE (S. Marti,).

Three bells. Tenor-Diam., 32~in. ; height, zsin.

1, 2. Anno domini 1655 T P. I L. P K. 3· + (z6A) Sfln€> C§f! GE: Of{ GI (cracked and a pz'cce

about 4 inches squan brollen out of the CITTt.Vn).

THE CHURCH BEU.S OF DORSET. 89

15. SYMONDSBURY <S. John Baptist).

l~ive bells. Tenor-Diam., 44~in.; height, 31in.

r. Thomas Eilbie Cullompton Devon cast us all 1789 ~ & ~ ~ 2. T. Bilbie fecit 1789 g ~ ~ ~ iJ {J [J tJ 3· Thomas .Bilbie Cullompton Devon fecit r789 +· Thomas Eilbie Cullompton Devon fecit 1789 fJ g Q God

save the King fJ fJ 5· Rev Gregory Raymond Rector John Pitfield Gent. Robert

Fooks l\ fJ Churchwardens Bilbie Cullompton fecit 1 8o9

16-17. EYPE (S. Peter) & BROADOAK <S. Paul).

One modern light bell in each place

18. TOLLER PORCORUM (SS. Andl'ew and Peter).

Four bells. Tenor-Diam., 38iin.; height, z8iin.

1. TW. IM. CW. TP. anno domini 1665 z. Cast by T. Pyke Bridgewater J 779· 3· M~ Richard Keech Churchwarden [j T ~ Bilbie Cnllomp­

ton fecit I 707 tJ {J ~ + AB + a~ + EF + + HIM XA +

19. WALDITCH (S. Mary),

One small belL Diam., I 3iu.

J Warner and Sons London 1878

20. WALDITCH (Christ Church).

, One small bell. Diam., I zin.

J Warner and Sons London 1S7S

21. WJTHERSTONE <Dedication unknown1.

No church is now standi11g.

22, WRAXALL <Holy Trinity),

One bell in a bell gable, diam. , hearing the inscrip-

tion-<9r)O!UflS + (8z) r)E:Y * illfll\E::DE: *

70.-HATC0.111DB TREBLE (qiu.).

71.-NETHl!:R CO~ll'TON 21\D (Cross square, 1tin.).

THF. CHt:RCH .1-!ELLS OF DORSET. I) I

DEANERY OF SHAFTESBURY.

(SHERBORNE PoRTION.)

No. 12.

1. BATCOMBE (5, Mary Magdalene).

Three bells. T~nor-Diam., .pin.; height, 32~in.

z. ( Crackfd.) On the floor of the church ncar the south door SG>fl ffif!P{lfl rof!GDfluE:nE: (?o.)

z. AN (heart) NO (diamond) DO (club) MI (spade) NI. 1592. 3· Iron band round the bell concealing the inscription, a little

ornament similar to Bilbie's showing here and there.

2. BEER HACKETT CS. Michael).

Three bells. Tenor-Diam., 33in.; height, zsin.

r. 11 1." ~John Bvckland 18 C ~ W fir' An nod 19 1745 ill W ~ Knight 1f B ~ F.

z. + ( z) .Sade gabdd 3·

3. BRADFORD ABBAS (5. Maryl.

Six bells. Tenor~Diam, 43iin.; height, 3o~in.; note F,; weight, 14-cwt.

r. W & C Parmall Q founders Co!lumpton rS3z. z. 1\'ly sound is good my shape is neat twa~ Kingston cast me

so complcate r_Sos 3· Sarve the Lord 1783 4· Rev R Grant J Custard. W. Arnold wardens 183z 5· G M. IT. C W. T P arwo domini 1665. 6. Robert Grant Vicar. J. J. Newman J. Vincent Church·

wardens A D. 1859 G. :.VIcars founder London

There is a smaU bell hung above the others. Diam., 17in. ; height, 13! in.; inse~·ibecl. I:tec!lost by Gillet and Co., Croydon, 1889, with a jumhle of lettering on nil sides of it.

72. -NRTHER COMPTON 4TH (Letter 2in.) .

• • 73.- r.JJ.l.INCTOl\ 3~tD (Coin )t in. diam.).

' ~ )lt'.,.,r.i• / j ~ 7

_/.

THE CHURCH RET.LS OF J)QRSET. ' 93

4. CLIFTON MA YBANK CAll Saints).

There is now no church at Clifton May bank.

6. CASTLETON <S. Mary Magdalen).

One bell. Diam., zotin.; height,

William Burnet Esq & W '!1 Trowbridge C. W. 1806

6. COMPTON OVER CS. Michael).

Four bells. Tcnor-Diam., 41in.; height, so~in.

r. Anno domini r6r8 z. (Blank) 3· + (z) Itt Wtr~r.ae J~ht R>ro )Q.obi% )Iirgo +· Lord have mercie vpon vs. 1396 (1596) \V.C

7. COMPTON NETHER ($, Nicholas).

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., 43in.; height, 38in.

r, .3· T P. I B. C.W. T P. Anno.domyni 1658.

z. + (z) .Sit ..Sttltper .Sint :.£}11$ ~tchi ::IDiett Uc (71.)

4· GE:<9€ GOD ~I)E: * ~F{f!Y€S r,;Ss (72.) 5· Cast by Gillet & Co Croydon. This bell was recast 1886

E. W. Gooden Rector J.R.P. Gooden Patron.

8. HILLFIELD <S. Nicholas),

One bell in a stone cote. Diam., 1 9in.

T.D * * N M. C.W * * 17t.6 * * W.W.F.

94 THE CHURCH RELLS OF DORSET.

9. HERMIT AGE {$, Maryl,

One bell in a turret. Diam., 16in.

T. W. B. '795·

10. LEIGH <S. Andrew).

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., 4-o~-in,; height, :r!in.; weight, 14CWt.

1. Added to the peal by subscriptions 1897-8 as a memorial of Queen Vict9rias Diamond Jubilee Reign. M-ears & Stain­bank founders London

z. (Quondam treble) W T. C W. T P. anno domini 168r

3· Cast by John Wan\er & Sons London x889 T. F.F. J.F. C W. W A H Vicar

+· Thomas Bayne C.W. 1738 Recast by John Warner & Sons London 188g.

S· W T. C W. A.D. 1681 Recast by John Warner & Sons London r889.

II. LILLINGTON {$. Martin).

Four bells. Tenor-·Diam., 3jiti.; height, z8~ in. ; weight, 9CWt.

r. Anno domini 1 5 90. (on waist) W W.

z. Love God Anno Domini 1613.

3· + flUE: GF{fl&Ifl (on waist) * W (shield, spread eagle)

(coin) 'IE: ~ fl Q €) S I !J E: !J E: ~ fi Q <9 n Q 0 I

smrr}&noq senGfl (73.) +· William Shirring C.W. anno domini 1718. W.K.B.F.

THE CHURCH BEU.S OF DORSE'f. 95

12. MELBURY OSMOND <S. Osmond),

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., 38in; height, :z&in.

1. . Recast 18 88 Llewellins & James Bristol. z. Charles Weare C W (vine) 'i' (lion rampant) V (vine) V

W.E. B.F. 1757 + T.R. (74.)

74,-MELBURY OSMUND 2ND A~D TENOR

(Crown square, l?in.).

3· E T. I P R E anno domini 1635 4· Charles Weare C W. 1753

S· Charles Weare C.W. W.E. B.F. 175z ~.t<> •!o ·~ + i" i" "~ : (lion rampant) W (lion)+ +·

13. STOCKWOOD CS. Edwold\.

One bell put up ia 1877~ when the old bell was recast; no

inscription.

14. MELBURY SAMPFORD.

One bell. Diam., 37in.; height, :z6lin .

• * 16 w + (t.6A.) (shield) .Sit ,m.omtn :®omhxi ;:ffitnttlittum (shield) ( 75.)

15. OBORNE comd Church not used).

One bell. Diam., •s~in., with six canous and cannon straps ; seems ancient, no inscription.

75.-)t J:o;LRt:l{Y SAY PFOI<D (Letter with Crown :!!in.).

76.-SJi,gKHOl<NE SANC1'l15 BELL (Cross circle t in.).

THE CHCRCH JIELLS OF 1:>0RSET. .97

16. OBORNE CHew Church, S. Cuthbert'.

One bell. Diam, Z.fin. G. ::.Vfears & Co. founders London r86r

17. RYME INTRINSICA <S. Hypolite).

Three bells. Tcnor-Diam., 3 Sin.

1. Thomas Deere, Giles Hayward C.W. T R B F (lion) W (lion)

2, 3· (Cracked.) D N 9l.Sr D N 9l.Sr

-18. SHERB-ORNE <S. MaPyJ.

Eight bells. Tenor-Diam., 64in. ; height, 4-Slin. ; note B; weight, 46. o. 2 3, also a fire bell and an ancient sanctus bell.

I. G. Mears founder London. Lord let the folk below resound in living song Thy praise, as we do now with iron tongue August 1 Stl_t 1 8 58

z. G. !VIcars founder London. We hang here to record that the Choir was restored In the year of our Lord 1858.

3· (Round cannon) W:'l-1 · · · · ERS THO······ GAVE :VIE · (round crown) 1652: R A (Some of the letters are hidden

·by the stock.) +· Peace & plenty is the wish of Thomas Thorne & Samuel

· J etfery C~ wardens r So 3· Thomas & James Bilbie Chew­stocke Somerset fecit.

S· Bartholomew Watts : a11d : Sweet Hart : Churchwardens 1 ;Si. B~ meek & lowly to hear the word of God. William Bilbie Chewstoke Somerset fecit

6. G. Mears founder London r 8 58

i· + .. !, Campana * Domine + John Whetcomb * John Cooth 1.., wardens 1653. R.A.

!.7'~~(·~~- W © 1L [D) DB S · ll@(Q)~

77 .-Y F.TAUN STER '.rBKOR (Diam. Circle 4!-in.).

THE CHURC H_ DELLS 01<' DOR.SET. · Q9

8. By WolseY's gift I measure time for all. To mirth : To Grieffoe : To Church : I serve to call. Gustavus Hmrne, Walter Pride, Churchwardens This bell was new cast by me Thomas Purdey Oct the zot~ 167e> again recast r 865 Edward Harston Vicar, James Hoddinott Francis Stokes Church Wardens. (Ncar the sound bow) This bell was cast by John Warner & Sons Crescent Foundry London.

ER GAVE New 3rd. W. :l\-I. CAST. F.R.S. THO. GARD ME RA.

1652 Recast by John Warner & Sons Lt~l 1903 New 7th. R.A. CA:\H)A:t\A. DOl\H:t\E. IOHN WHlnCO MB

IOHN COOTH WARDENS. x653 William Hector Lyon M.A. Vicar. :\'lark Parsons Frederick Ben net, Churchwardens Recast by John Warner & Sons Lt·~l 1903

Ancien/ Sane/us B ell. Diam ., 1 qin. · + S<9f1 illfiF{Ifi OF{fi @F{O noms (7&.)

Ft're Bell. Diam., 32~in. "lt" Lord qvnch the fvrious flame aris, run, help put out the same. I W I G * 1653 R.A.

R.A. on this and other b~lls stands for Robert Austen, bell founder • . . "~ Robert Austen and his sons f(>r casting bells £4o, metal for the pan ne bell .6 1 s. 9· 6" (Chur-chwardens' acco11nts, IPS3)·

19. THORNFORD ($, Mary Magdalene).

Three bells. Tenor-Diam., 3 6in.

t. Rich Ring John Hopkines C W. anno domini 1708 T K 2. Anno domini 1593 ' 3· John Meachel C.W. Ann.o Domini I{2:t. W.K. B F 1f

For extracts relating to the bells from the Churchwarckns' Account of this parish see Appendix.

20. YETMIN STER ($. Andrews),

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., 47tin.; J1eight, 33in.; note E fiat ; weight, 19cwt.

1. W G. R R. T S. C W. T r. anno domini x61o.

2. Anno domini I59S·

. A B c D

78.-CH ETNOLE (Cap. l{ in.).

79.-CHETNOLE. 2z..-n (Cap. ltin.).

1'itE CltURClt BELLS OF DORSET. I6i

~ fl111iflfl fa 1111 ra "1!1 * • w11fl fe f9 nw 3· x o * 1~ fl * ro e n * ~ e * E' 1 * f1 * E' f{ o ** • -~~ 11 n* * ~- 11 wff ~ 11'16 w ~

U 0 * B l S * U I F{ * G 0 * ill fi * ¥{ I * fl. (43 A. n. c.)

4· Bee mindfvll of thy latter ende for thov mvst die yovth or age as hath thy freinde T.K. T.D. N.B. C. \Van no domini 1655 Recast by Gillet & C? Croydon.

5· I sovnd to bid the sick repent in hope of liefe when breathe

(bull) WOLDIS t6o8. (77-)

21. CHETNOLE <S. Peter).

Three bells. Tenor-Diam., 35-iin.

1. (shield) + (shield) ~ox Jaugu~tiui .Sonct ;{u ..Fr;t.tu.e

)fi)ei (78.) . z. (shield) + (shield) (78.) .Sande )i:aurtnte ®ra )?ro

~gbi~. ( 79·) . 3· Cast by John Warner & Sons London r 865.

DEANERY OF SHAFTESI3URY.

(STALBRIDGE PoRTION.)

No. 11. I. BURTON LONG (S. Jamesl.

Four bells. Tcnor-Diam., 36tin.

1. Sir Geoargc Stroad Anno Domini 1701 T.K. z. The Reverend M~ William Sharpe .1\:I: Thomas Collins

M! William Sweetman Ch. wardens T. Bilbic fecit '764 3· The Reverend l\1~ William Sharpe M~ Thomas Collins

M~ William Sweetman Churchwardens T. Bilbie founder

1764-4· + (2) .Sit :m._omttt )t)omue :Scnm.

2.. CAUNDLE BISHOP (Dedication ~:nknown). Four bells. Tenor-Diam., 36in.

1. John Durley C.W. T R r750 X * '1\' <Jt... (8o.)

80.-HI~HOPS CAUNIH..~: TRERI.E (Fleur-de-Jis 1-ftin. ).

A B c

X t17 :"/1) Tlo1Hl !.1\llQ Gil Q~ 1\<~

Sl.-STOt:Krox CAU.XDLE 2~m (Cross square, llin.).

0 N

Tl·JE C:H:l'RCH nELLS OF DORSET. 103

z. Christopher Drcppe r Anno domini IJI3· T K. 3· + ,(\nno domini 16z 7 R iJ P 4- G. Mean; & Company founders Lonuon J 86:;

3. CAUNDLE MARSH lSS. Pete~ and Paull.

One bell in a small turret. " John Herbert Taunton 1856"

4. CAUNDLE PURSE ($. Pete,.).

Three bells. T enor-Diam., 38lin.; height, 3oin.; note A fiat; weight, 1 ocwt.

1, 2. Anno domini 1602. (cracked) 3· AS. N R. C \"V. T P. anuo domini 1667.

lnsctiption on tl\e clock in the tower-Johanne<~ llio.ldl~wmho fec-it rumo Domi 17;;1 Hid. Co:t.: c-.h wr.rdou.

"I !l.lll not welcome to come hcl'c :By ~orne that kve the worl1l ~o do!l.r Yot 1 wiU tell how time doth fl.y, Bocau~o in time we all wust die."

5. CAUNOLE STOURTON ($. Pete!"·.

Four bc:Js. Tenor- Diam., 39in.; height, :z7in. ; note G sharp; weight, 1 tcwt.

1. I W. C \V. T P. Anno Domini 1685

" " fi18 '1.irll 2. + 1 n * l)O * no * F{ <::. * ~~ 1!/R f./K'11 11 i9fi * illfl * I'{ I * fl (S1.)

3· M~ Iolm Loader C~ Warden 1743 T. 13ilbic ca:;t mce. +· Prayseu be thy name 0 Lord I W I 588.

Rehuug l(l0:2l.ty l3luukboUJ'Il, Snli!lbury.

6 . FOLKE ($. Lawrence:.

*

Five bells. Tenor-Djam., 39; note A, aat.

1. VICtoria regina, et, I l\fperatriX. Anno I Vb1Lael perfecto, grate;;, aglt, gLoria, Dco, reglnae, SaLVs. (On the other side of the bell) Llcwcllin:; ami James Bristol 1887.

Tho above dn·onogra.m was composed by tho He"r. 'l'he<!clore Mayo, M.A., !or a. bell o.t Ryton, Salop.

104- 'tHE CHt:RCJ.t l\"RU.S Ol' nORSF.t.

z. XPC. MIA. IOHES. MDCCCLXXV. 3· Benedictum Nomen Domini MDCCCLXXV. 4· Matthew Vincent. & Henry Abbott C~ Wardens W11_1 Bilbie

Chewstoke fecit I777· 5· This bell was given by William Hurd Gent, who died in the

yeare r6JI. 1638. Inscriptions on old bells­Treble. 1638

z. + tlttnt mea ~tre~ llii tt'el xpc ntltt'iu ioflttl 3· Anno domini 1638

Founder's bill for No.4-

" Decemr ye 1st 177i :l:lr. Matthew Vincent & 1\fr. Humphry Abbot Churchwarden.~ Dr. to 'Vm. Bilbio for casting their 4th boll and ns~isting to hang her in her place weight 85·1lhs, auil for adding 49lbs, of new metal £17 ls. IOd. new hell 908lbe. :Received tho samo time the contents of the above bill in full William Bilbic."

7. HAYDON tS. Catherine).

One bell only in a west gable. I B. T P. C W. r669

8. HOLNEST <S. Maryl.

Three bells. Tcnor-Diam., s8tin.

1. {>ABCD·~EFG<Jt,HIK'lf<>lVW (8z.) z. The gift of I S. W. S. E Drax Esq and his daughters r867

Cast by John Warner and Sons l-ondon (royal arms)

3· flS ro m ro 1\I m H <9 1t * (Cracked).

9. HOLWELL CS. Lawrence).

Five bells. Tcnor-Diam., 43in.; height, 37in.; weight, . I jCWt.

1, z, 3· (Blank.) 4· Drawc ncare to God anno domini t6o+ W.P.J?.R 5· Be mek~ and lowly to hear the word of God A': domini r6o9

THJo; CHURCH JlELLS OF DORSET. 105

10. L YDLINCH <S. Thomas-a'-Becket'.

Five bells. Tcnor-Diam., -t6in.; height, 3zin.

I, 2. c D. N R. c W. T P. anno comini J68t

3· R l\L 0 W. T P. nnno domini 1668 (broken)

+· Three bells were caste and hey made fowrc, they all here hangs now in this tower C B. N R. C W anno domini J68I T p

S· First second fowrth and tcnnur bells they were the fowre made of three bells CB. NR. CW. TP anno domini 1681.

C B probably stll.nde :for Charles Drnne, X lt lor Nicholas Roma:vne, R M for Ricba.rd Mitchell.

11. STALBRIDGE <S. Mary).

Six bells. Tenor-Diam., 48in.; height, 37in.; note E flat; weight, zocwt.

I. Presented by the Marquis of W cstminstcr cast by John Warner & Sons London 1868

2. W D. R G. T P. anno domini J 649 3· 1626. N L. 0 P. W D. Cast by John Warner & Sons

London r868 4· Rev T. T. Perownc B D. Rector. W Tayler, R. A. Ba~row

Churchwarden 1874 cast by John Warner & Sons London 5· . M~ Robert lames Gen~ Tho~ Rartlctt & Ia~ Dober CJ.l

wardens Cod save the King & prosper this town to keep democrats down To effect it ye Britons be firm in the cause In supporting our King Constitution and laws. Tho~ & Ia~ Bilbie Chcwstoke Som~ fecit 1791

6. Stephen James .& John Lewis Churchwardens I to the church the living call & to te grave doth summon all William Bilbie Chcwstoke founder •779·

A ll

82,-HOL.XI!.~T TR~RLe (LeltN I ~in.).

83.-s·rocK GAYLARD (Cross squar<.>, Hin.).

.. 0 0\·

..,) ..... ;; () P: q >1 ()

P: ::.:! l"' t"f t"' (/1

0 '=1

~ 0 ~ (fl l"' :-i

I.

z.

THE CHURCH RET.I.S OF DORSET. 107

12. STOCK GAYLARD <Dedication unknown'.

Two small bells in a double cote.

A bell of peculiar narrow pem·~slraped form. Diam., I rin.; height. I z~in. (Blank.)

Diam., 14-in.; height, to!in. ++ Jt.UE: GF{Jt.&If! + Gl:t.BBF{f!L<f! * * flUE: * * * * * (83.)

13. WOOTTON NORTH.

Only the tower of the old church remains. In it hang two small bells with no marks or inscriptions on them.

DEANERY OF BRIDPORT.

(LYME PORTION.)

No. 3.

I. BETTJSCOMBE (5. Stephen).

A very small bell, recast in 1867 ; no inscription.

2. CATHERSTON LEWESTON <S. Mary).

One bell. Diam., 17i11.

Cast from a piece of brass cannon taken from the Russians at Sebastopol.

3. CHARDSTOCK <S. Andt'ew).

Six bells. New tcnor-Diam., +-z!itl. ; height, 33in. ; weight, 15cwt.

r, z, 3, ·h S· :\fears & Stain bank founders London 1868 6. I to the funeral knell, I ring the festal day. I mark the

fleeting hour. And chime the church to pray. Mears & Stainbank founders London 1868.

108 THE CHURCH JlELLS OF DORSET.

The old peal of .five bells-r, :L (Fig. 4) (Fig. 6) (Fig. s) Sii nomen D.omin~ Bene4ictum 3. Anno Domini 1~4-9 S. K. T. P 4· Drawe neare to God 1618 George Purdy ~ G S T P I H 5· I to the church the living call and to the grave do summon

all. M! William Pryer and John Bragg chwardens Thomas Bilbie fecit r766

This bell, the 11 rem.anet" of the old peu.l, is fixed without a wheel above the new peal. Its no-te is D a.ud diameter. 49iin. '

4 • .CHARDSTOCK <All Saints'l.

One small bell. New about so years ago.

5. CHARMOUTH <S. Matthew),

Three bells. Tcnor-Diam., 45~in.; note E flat.

1, z, 3· Thomas Ivlears of London Founder 1836.

o6. CHIDEOCK ($. Giles>.

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., .pin.; height, z8in.

1. Cast by John \Varner and Sons London 1887. The Victoria Jubilee bell the gift of James Foss. For the shepherd and his flock I ring That God's praises all may sing. Thomas Law 1\'Iontifiore M.A. Vicar Oliver Pitt, James Bartlett churchwardens.

z. M~ John 'Fitzhoerbcrt churchwarden g Q ~ Q tJ Thomas Bilbie Cullompton Devon fecit 1795·

3· Cast by John Warner and Sons London 1887. Recast t887. Thomas Law Montifiore M.A. vicar. 'Oliver Pitt, James Bartlett churchwardens.

4· M~ Henry Roper and M~ John Hutchings Churchwardens Q g (j 1J ~ T Q Bilbic fecit .1768

5· Anno domini 1603 Love God IH IB IA WW. Tho third (old :second) was a medireval bell with an inscrip­

tion commencing + li.O.t:e me.a.

THE CHURCH HELLS OF DORSET. 109

7. HAWKCHURCH (S, John Baptiat),

Five bells. Tcnor- Diam., 44in.; height, 3oin. ; note G; weight, about r4cwt .

1. Thomas Bilbic CuUompton Devon t 8oz. 2. M! J. Shephard & M! S. Gorge C~ W. T. Bi!Qic f. 18oz 3· JS&S G OW T .B.f.18oz 4· M~ J. Shephard & M~ S. Gorge Church Wardens T. Bilbie

fecit 1 Soz 5· We were four cast into five in the year 1802 by Tho~ Bilbie

Colluropton M~ Joseph Shephard & M~ Samuel Gordge Church Wardens

8 . LYME REGIS IS. Michael A. A. A.>.

Six bells. T cnor-Diam., 39in. ; height, 3oin. ; note G • weight, 1ocwt.

r. 0 Fair Britaina Hail T B· r77o 1 . Harmony in sound and sentim~nt T B. 1770.

3· 0 be joyful in the Lord all yc lands T B. F. r77o. 4-· T homas Mears founder London 1843 Fred~ Parry Hodges

Vicar. Robert H illman Mayor John Church George Roberts Churchwardens

5· T his peal of bells was created partly by rate, and part by subscription in the year rn o.

6. Pro rcligionc, pro patria, pro libertate, M~ A Tucker & :.0'1~

]. Tuff C. W. Thomas Bilbie fecit 177 o.

9. MARSHWOOD <S. Mary).

A small bell new last year.

10 . MON KTO N WYLD ($, A"drewl.

One bell, camparatively small aud of the same date as the · church, 1848. ·

II. PILSDON {$. Mary),

A small bell, no inscription, placed in the church in 1870.

84.-FOK D& ARRRY CIIAI'RL BELL (Cross Fig. 9) .

-:r s,:;naG : Rft'Oll6\v: •t. an . n.,mEl 85.-w.u~.atwoK 4-ru (Cross tin.).

• .

' .

THE CHURCH BELLS OF DORSET. I J t

12. STANTON GABRIEL.

One modern bell, of no interest, new :z 5 years ago.

13. THORNCOMBE <S. Mary).

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., -+7in.; height, 38in. ; weight, :zocwt.

J. Anno Domini 1637 2. Geve thanks to God 1631 3· !VI~ Thomas Follet and M~ Thomas Farnham Church­

wardens Thomas Bilbie Cullompton fecit 1 Soo 4· l\'1~ Jobn Battis::omb and M~ Thomas Follet Church­

wardens Thomas Bilbie Cullompton fecit 1782 S· I to the church the living call and to the grave I summon

all. 1\1: Elias Forsey and M1: George Trenchard C~wardens. Thomas Bilbie fecit 1772.

14. THORNCOMBE <Ford Abbey).

One bell. Diam., 28in. ; note C.

(S, s, 8) Ftac margartta (9) nollil l)tt roullltra I.ttia (84.)

15. WAMBR:OOK (S. Mary>.

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., 36in.: height, 27lin.; note A; weight, Scwt.

, 1. Sine intermissione orate Rev W. E. Newton M A Rector. J Thomas & E. Eames churchwardens. Two treble bells added A.D. 1891. (011 shoulder) Cast by John Warner & Sons London I 892.

z. In omnibus gratias agite. (On crown) Cast by John Warner & Sons London r 872.

3· (Former treble)+ (Ss.) !nfH~Ifi ~uE:nfi GF{f[Gif[. ffi. 4· (Fonner 211d) + Sfln<9<9 : trnDI~E:U: IS : illi : nfl!OE:

(s s.) S· (Former 3rd) saurta nuttia * (Somerset 6i.) .ora p\'0' nolrb'

t.o • . • The old tenor, which was recast in 1891 into the two new

bells, r.st and znd, bore this inscription-+ (cross flory) ,@totege Uit'llo pia .I}Ul\$ Q eouuoco sanda maria The diameter was 36in., the note A flat ; the peal was in tune.

A B c

86.-AJ.l',IER 3RD (Cross l~in.).

A B c

87.-BLOXWORTH T.kEBT.E (Cross l~in.).

THB CHURCH BELLS OF DORSET. I 13

16. WHITCHURCH CANONICORUM (5, Candida and

Holy Cross),

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., 49in.; height, 37in.

1. +Plebs omnis plaudit ut me tam sepius audit recast by Iohn Warner & Sons L~d London 1893

z. Give thankes to God x 6sn ( 16.p) I. L. I. G (I. L. =

John Lett) 3· Anno domini 1603 R. P. 4· Drawe neare to God anno domini 16o3. R P R NI P . 5· Harke when I call. Come to con:h (church) all come to

sarvc God or come not at all Anno Domini 1669 W.L : HG:CW:T.P.

17. WOOTTON F'ITZPAINE (Dedication unknownl.

One bell. Diam., 31~in.; height, 24-in.

Timothy Wakely John Philps CW. TR. BF. 1755

DEANERY OF WHITCHURCH.

(PooLE PoRTION.)

No. 15.

I. ALMER <S. Mary}.

Four bells. Tcnor-Diam., 40in.; height, 3oin.: note F.

r. Cast by John Warner and Sons London r87z.

z. + (z6A.) flUE: WfiJ.1fll 3· + {z6A.) flU€ GF{Glfl E?l.tE:I1fi * W. (86.) 4· + (6IA.) qE:@@E: GflBF{IE:lLS.

An oltl ring€r states that the a.ucient treble boro tho inscription­

" .A.nthol.l)' Bond made mu 1G33"

I 14 THE CHURCH BELLS OF DORSET.

2. BLOXWORTH <S. Andrew'.

Two bells. Tenor-Diam., 3zin. ; height, 24-!in.; weight, 6lcwt.

r. or illfl + nU'a + l'{I + nll'n + fi llll'n. (87.) z. * * c; David : Abbot W Robert : Alne fr C V W fi

an no domini 18 I i £7 18 8 c; ~ * W ~ K 1fl B W F*

3. BRANKSOME <All Saints>. '

The church, built in r877, possesses one modern bell.

4. BRANKSOME <S. Aldhelmst

One modern bell tempotarily hung.

6. CANFORD (Dedication unknown>.

Six bells. Tenor-Diam., 39in.; height, z8in.; note G; weight, IOCWt.

1. Bell added to Canford Peal by the parishioners to com­memorate Her Majesty Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee 1897· Mears and Stainbank founders London

:z. Riilg me steady in my place x; 39 And I will answer with the base

3· Lett love and friendship still abound Whilst we do make a joyful sound 17'39·

4· We are all cast and tuned tight By our founder William Knight W Matt Wasc Vier 1739 9 T. Corben W. Wilies C.W.

5· Let all well wishers rest in peace That did our number first increase W.K. BF. 1739.

6. I sound to bid the sick repent In hopes of life w1}(m breath is spent. T. Corben, W. Wilies C.W. Matt Wase Vicar

1739· 6. CHARBOROUGH CS. Mary).

There are now no bells at Charborough.

THE CHURCH BELLS OF DORSET. t 15

7. CORFE MULLEN CS. Nicholas).

Four bells. Tenor-Diam., 4oin.; height, 3oin.; note G; weight, 1 1 cwt.

I • . Love the Lord I W z&oz

2. Feare the Lord I W J 6o2

3· Prayes the Lord I W 1605 4· G. !\'!ears Founders London 1859··

8. HAMWORTHY <S. Michael).

Possesses no bells.

9. HEATHERLANDS <S. John Ev~ngelist),

One smaU modern bell.

10. KINSON <S. Andl'ew), .

One bell. Diam., :Bin. ; height, Z+in.

Wm Henry Hookey & M! W'}1 Bramble Cl?- Wd~ 1750

11. KINSON <S. Clements), NEW TOWN.

One small modern belL

12. KINSON, TALBOT VILLAGE.

Eight small chiming bells.

13. LONGFLEET <S. Mary) .

. One bell. Diam., zzin. T. Mears London fecit 183%

Five tubular bells.

1 l 6 Tift tiUJ'RClt fiELtS 01<' ))ORSE!.

14. L YTCHET MATRAVERS <S. Mary).

Three bells. Tenor-Diam., 36~in.; height, z6in.

1. + (z6A.) Sf111@<9E: Gif.IBF{IE:fl 2. Save me 0 God I W. 1616 ·

3· William Formage Thomas Rittler Chvrch wardens Cast by me Iohn Toesser the son of C.T. 1 684.

15. LYTCHET MINSTER <Dedication unknown).

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., 4-oin.; height, 3 •lin.

1. Rex vocor Ed\vardus ne sis ad lumina tardus Cast by the Friary Works Lt~l Salisbury 1903. Thomas Blackbourne HF. EL. HGT. MCMIII

z. (This bell is said to have been recast with the original inscription, which was as follows:-) T C : I * B * R ~ L. * r6pp.

3· Love th~ trvth 1793 I W •

4· · * (z) .. l;;Lvc ,Gflatht 6tntit ~ltiUt :ElltU~ Wttum 5· Praise ye the Lord I W. r6ot

16. MORDEN EAST <S. Mary),

Five bells. 'fenor-Diam., 3i~in.; height, zsin.; note C; weight, gcwt.

1. Cast by J olm Warner and Sons London 1890 Sarah Ernlc Erle Drax 18 90

2. James Simpsoa Ch. Warden James Wells Aldbourn Wilts fecit 1807.

3. + ( J 6) ltt tltll\'i.lt ••n• W1fiii' •• "* 4· + (4-3 A.) s flunG * (43 c.) (9 \1 s * ~ € * ('§ ~ fl (coin)

5· I H. T B. C W. T P anno donimi 1663

h. goqd ordex ; rehung by John ·w a:rner a.nd Co. 1800.

't.HE CHURCH I:!ELLS Oli' DORSET. 117

17. PARKSTONE <S. Osmund),

Eight tubular bells.

18. PARKSTOf\E <Holy Angels).

One small modern bell.

19. PARKSTONE <S. luke).

One small modern bell.

20. POOLE <S. James>.

Eight bells. Tenor-Diam., 4-8in.; weight, r9~cwt.

J. Long live King George the Fourth r8zr z. Lau:; Deo J 8 ZI. Praise be to God 3· Deo adjuvantc non timendum J 8z 1 God assisting there is

nothing to be feared +· Deum cole, regem serva 182 r Worship God, preserve the

King 5· Nisi Dominus frustra 182.1 Unless the Lord be with us

our efforts arc in vain 6. Prosperity to the town of Poole r8z1. 7· These eight bells were cast at the foundry of William

Dobson of Downham Norfolk Jil'ZJ. 8. The Reverend Peter William Jolliffe Minister Jo~eph Barter

Blomficld and Robert Slade Jun~ Churchwardens I8ZI.

21. POOLE <S. Paul).

One small modern bell.

22. STURMINSTER MARSHALL (S, Mary).

Four bells. Tcnor-Diam., 48tin.; height, 35~iu.; note 1:: flat.

1. -t< (z6A.) fiA\€ GF{fiG>Ifl z. (Coin) Call (coin) vpon (coin) the (coin) Lord (coin) I W

(coin) 16zz

3• 4· + (6rA.) sum F{OSfl 12UI1 Sfl~fi munDI Olfll~Ifl UO@fli9fl

1 J 8 tH:I! CHURCH BELLS OF bORSltT.

23, WARE HAM (Lady S. Mary).

Eight bells. Tcnor-Dimn., 4-5in. ; height, 38in. ; uotc E : weight, I9CWt.

'· 3, 4, 5, 6, 7· W~ :Mears of London 1785 l. C Mears & C<! founders London x864 8. Mcssr~ Cole & Swayne Churchwardens WT!! Mears of

London fecit ' 785.

24- WAREHAM (Holy Trinity>.

One bell. Diam., 23in.; no inscription.

25. WAREHAM <S. Martin).

One bell. Diam., zzin.; height, r7in.

Clcmant Tosiear cast rnee in the year 1698

26. WINTERBORNE ANDERSON <S. Micha.e ll.

Two bells. Tenor-Diam., zoFn.; height, 14-Fn.

1. + (ss.) ro * '* * * * m z. of< (88.) flffiE: GF{fi&Ifl

88.-W. ANDERSON (Square lin.).

27 . WINTERBORNE T HOMPSON <S. Andrew>.

One bell in a wooden turret, boarded up, and therefore not accessible. The church is not now used.

TH~ CHURCH BELLS OF DORSET. ll~

28· WINTERBORNE ZELSTONE CS. Maryl.

Four bells. Tenor-Diam., 37in. ; height, t6Mn.; note G; weight, qcwt.

1. I M. I R. W P. anno domini 1640

z. + lJ James Wells Aldbourne Wilts fecit 1815

3· + {z6A.) flU€. Olf11'{10fll0Q' 4· Robert Honibome Christopher Billis Churchwardens Cast

by me John Toesscr in 1684 son of C.T.

DEANERY OF PI:iVIPERNE.

(Wn.moRNE PoRTION.)

No.9.

I. ALDERHOL T <S.S. James and Clementl.

One small modern bell in a cote.

2. CHALBURY (Dedication unknown).

One bell. Diam., z rin.; note F.

F. Goldimg C warden R Wells fecit

3. CRANBORNE <S. Bartholomew).

Seven bells. Tenor--Diam., 45in.; height, z8tin. ; note F.

r, z. Cast by John Warner & Sons London t8go

3• 5, 6; Thomas Mears founder London 184-r

+· -1- (zbA.) flUE: G.F{f{G>Ifl JQI..tBnfl 7· These bells were recast in the reign of Queen Victoria

A.D. 1841, James Stanford Henry Hayter Church­wardens.

8. • . pes this day p. Iohn Floyd ivn. Richard Rook Chvrchwardens. Clement Tosier cast me in the 12 ycre of Q. Ann rain 1713.

It~ THE CHtrRCH RELLS OF DORS!!:r.

4-. CRANBORNE BOVERIDGE.

One small modern bell.

5. ~RICHELL LONG (5. Mary>.

Six bells. Tenor-Diam., 4r!-in.; height, 3dn.; note F sharp j Weight, I fCWt.

1, ~, 3, 4· Cast by John Warner & Sons London 1863

(Royal arms and 1' patent" Oll body of belL)

S· Cast by John Warner & Sons London 1863 Sanctc Petre. 6. 0 pryes the Lord I W. 1621.

6. ~RICHELL MORE <S. Mary).

One. very small bell, brought from Venice by the late Lord Alington. There is no inscription upon it.

7. EDMONSHAM ($, Nicholas).

Three bells. 'Jlenor-Diam., 33~in. ; height, 25in.; note B flat.

I. Praysc God r6z6 (?)D. F B. :z. Timothy Dodg Chvrchwarden I 6i+ (J R P ~ 3· Samvell F.born g William Sims ~ Chvrchwardens Clcmant

Tosiear cast Q me in the year g of I]OZ

8. GUSSAGE (AU Saints>.

Five bells. · Tenor~Diam. 37in, ; height, z6in. ; note G; weight, 9CWt.

I. Mears & Stain bank founders London 1895. + Sancte

Jesu intercede pro nobis %. FeareGod IvV. t6u.

3· + (:z6A.) .SltUdlt Ja.ttua (f)ra )?a )ftobi~ 4· + (2.) Sane ~e x~etn ®ta )?>ta :m,obi% 5· -+ (26A.) ;I:u ~er .Sede ::r?in ~ra :mo·bi~ ~trgo

.tJQ.aril

I.

:. 3· +·

THE CHURCH BELLS Ot bOk.'>Et. 111

9. GUSSAGE CS. Michael),

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., 39in.; height, 3oin.; note G; weight, IICWt.

Prayes God RH. DW. 1663. FF. Praycs God PH. DF. FF. 1063. Hope well IW. 16o8

Fcat'c God IW. r6o8

S· Mears & Stainbank Whitechapel foundry Lm:idon To the

Glory of God this bell was recast and the belfry restored AD. 1898 William Brewer Churchwarden R. Wells of Aldbourne fecit MDCCLXVII.

10. HAMPRESTON CAll Saints),

Five bells. Tcnor-Diam., 38in.; height, 27in.; note A flat; weight, I ocwt.

1. Tho I am but little & small, my voice is heard before you all WK. BF 1738 (Crown and lion rampant.)

2. H. Kelloway I Pitman CW: W. Foster Rector ~ ".ft> (coin)

3· John Gaffe & Christopher Warland C.W. Thomas Mears of London fecit 18oo.

+· W. Foster Rect. 1738 WK. BF. H. Kelloway I Pitman C.W. (Ornament as on treble.)

5· W. Foster Rec 1738 W.K. BF. At thy departure I will sound, ring, and rin thee to the ground H. Kelloway. 1 Pitman. James Wheeler Rector C. M. Churchill. W. P. Seymour Churchwardens. T. Blackbournc founder

Salisbury 1 90 I

11. HINTON MARTEL.

Five bells. Tcnor-Diam., 36iin.; height, :tjin.

1, z, 3, 4, 5· John Warner & Sons (address) 1870

l U THE CHURCH BELLS OF DORSET.

12. HINTON PARVA or STANBRIDGE (S. Kenelmt

Four bells. Tenor-Diam., z8in.; height, zzin.

1. Founded by Taylor since 1840

2., 3, 4· Founded by Stainbank Whitechapel 184-o

Before lSHJ this chut'ch possessed only one sma.ll bell.

13. HOLT <S. Jameal.

One small bell in a double bell cage.

14. HORTON (S, Wolftidal.

One bell. Diam., Z9iin.; height, ZJin.

There were fol'!Xlerly four bells; three were sold in li22. and the treble ouJy left.

F.D. FE. W F. 'lOVE GOD 1634·

15. HORTON WOODLANDS.

One modern bel l in a new church.

16. KNOWLTON <HORTON PARISH!,

This church is in ruins, and no services have been held in it for years. There were three bells in the tower ptior to 1740, but after the roof had fallen in, and the furniture of the church taken out, the bells disappeared. Tradition says they were removed by some of the in.habitants of Sturminster :\Iarshall and thrown into the riv-et.

The old church of Knowlton is within a circular entrench­ment with barrows around it.

17. PARLEY WEST (All Saintsl.

One small bell i.n a turret.

THE CHURCH BELLS OF PORS:£T. l%J

18. PENTRIDGE <S. Rumbold),

Four bells. Tenor-Diam ., 3oiin. ; height, 24-in.; note C; weight, 6cwt.

r, :z, J. S. Rumbold Pentridge the gift of William Day 1857· J Warner & Son Crescent foundry London 1857

+· .S. Rumbold Pentridge 1857 Duncan Campbell Clerk Rector James Scott and H enq• H errington C. W: J Warner & Sons Crescent Foundry London.

19. VERWOOD IS. Michael & A.A.>

One small bell in a stone cote, formerly the dressing bell at Boveridge House (blank).

20. VERWOOD lAII Saints).

One small modem bell it1 a wooden cote inscribed with the name of Taylor l.oughborough. I<ormerly in S. Mark's )fission Church, Salisbury.

21. WEST MOORS {5. M•ryl ,

One small modern bell in a stone cote, formerly in S. Peter's, Bourncmouth, given to West Moors (then in \Vest Parley parish), and placed in t11c old brick mission church in use before the present permanent church was built.

22. WIMBORNE MINSTER <S. Cuthbergal.

Eight bells. Tenor-Diam., ssiu. ; weight (reputed), 36cwt.

r. C & G. Mears fo11ndcrs London These bells were raised by subscription 185o Henry Frampton William Holland Churchwardens Charles Webb Charles B. Rowe Edward Henry Henning Secretary Alfred· E llis junior Frederick C. Lewen, \Yilliam G. Webb, J. W. Bailey

z. (Same inscription as on treble, omitting J. W. Bailey)

124 THE CHlTRCH DELLS OF DORSET.

3· Sum minima hie Campana at inest sua gratia parvis S.K. r68b T.B.-:\I R T P C W. This bell added to ye

five in 1686. +· S.M.V. Pulsata Rosamundi :\faria Vocata Samuel Knight

Fee Set 1686 Mathew' Raindal, Thomas Pottell Church­wardens. T.B.

5· Praise thov the Lord 0 L. A D 1598. I. W. 6, (S) onnde out the belles in God regoyce I W. x6oo 7· Robert & James Wells Aldbournc fecit 1798 George Oakley

and Samuel Bartlett Churchwardens 8. !VI~ Wilhelmvs Loringe me prima fecit in honorem stre

Cutberge Renovabar svmptu parochiali per AB. anno domiue 1629 H Bradstocke C.S. WR. WB. Lewell Gardiani (Following this is a shield beari:ng arms and painted on the waist is the name John Benis,ter.)

Outside the North Belfry window is a small bell. A woo~en effigy of Napoleon the Great strikes the quarters on it with a hammer.

It is said tlw.t se~teral of these bells came from Kingston Lacy, the seat of the :Bankes' famil.Y, ll.CO.r Wimborne. The initials T.B. on tho 3rd and 4th belli are those of Sir Thomas Bankes, the remaining letters on the 3ru being the initials of Matthew Raindlc and Thomas Portell oom· memo1-ated on the 4th.

23. WIMBORNE lS. John),

Two small modern bells in a bell gable.

24. WIMBOR~E IS. Margaret's Chapel).

One small bell, ancient, but wi"t:h no inscription.

25. WIMBORNE !Fern Down).

One modern bell.

26. WIMBORNE (Cole Hill},

Eight tubular beils by HarringLon Latham and Co., Coventry, given Easter, 1897, by J. f. Hatchard, Esq.

THE CHURCH DELLS OF DORSET. 125

2.7. WIMBORNE ~S. Giles).

Six bells. Tenor-Diam., 38in.; height, 27-!in.; note A.

1. When you us ring well sweetly sing A~ R. 1737 z. May the Church of England(?) and for ever flourish '737 3· Peace & good neighbourhood A Q R 1737 4· We were all cast at Glocester by Abel Rudhall 1737

5· Prosperity to our noble benefactor A ~ R. 1737 6. I to the church the living call and to the grave do summon

all '737 Sir Anthony Ashley Coopu's Eell-Diam., I s~in.

SIR ANTHONY ASSHELY COOEPERS BELL There is a 1qin. clock hour bell on the top of the tower

bearing the date 1732 (? 1724).

28. WITCHAMPTON <SS. Mary, CuthbePga, All Saints),

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., 39in.-; height, z4in. ; note A flat

r, 5· W Topp, D. Kent, C wardens. R Wells of Aldbourne fecit MDCCLXXVI

z. W. Topp, D Kent, C wardens R Wells fecit i\'IDCCLXXVI 3· R. Wells of Aldbourne fecit MDCCLXXVI 4· W. Topp, D Kent Churchwardens R Wells fecit

.MDCCLXXVII

DEANERY OF WHITCHURCH.

(1.\hL·roN PoRTION.)

No. 17.

I. BELCHALWELL (Dedication unknown),

One small bell with no inscription.

126 THE CHURCH BELLS OF DORSET.

2. BLANDFORD S. MARY.

Three bells. Tcnor-Diam., 35~in.; height, z7~iu.

r. Robert Caynes Chvrch1vardcn 1660 W Q P (;;A.~ J.R

• z. + ( z6 A.) fl'UE: !Dfll'{Ifl • 3· + ( z) ,.F,J .. :C @"llnt ).B>.ana .,Sl\ttC: ;fn ;I:""ilOilOf ::m_e ,(;filtdR

3. BRYANSTON lS. Martin).

Six bells. Tenor-Diam., 48in.; height, 34in.; weight,

19!cwt.

Each of the six bears the inscription- BRYANSTON.

1899 All the bells were founded by Warner, of Cripplegate.

4. CHARLTON MARSHALL (S. Mal'yl.

Four bells. Tenor-Diam., 39in. ; height, z9in.; note G ; weight, Ij-l8cwt.

fl I. , . 1804

• z. + (67 A.) flUE: Gl'{fi~lfl (89.) • 3. + lure marin ( 16)

• 4. + (z6 A.) 5Ii9 no men DO rur ne BE: ne Dl<0 <§Uffi

89.-CHARLTON MARSHALL TREDLE.

THE CHURCH BELLS OF DORS"ET. 127

5. DURWESTON <S. Nicholas>.

Five bdls. Tenor-Dia.m., 39in. ; height, 30in. ; weight, 1 Icwt.

1. Victoria R et I Jubilee A.D. 1889 Llewellins & James :Bristol

'· + ( z 6A.) Sf1J1<9?9fi ffif.IF{If1 3· 1\'I~ John Pro\ver & M~ Edward Hunt Churchwardens 1765 4· Prays to the Lord 1 6oz. I.W. 5· Fear God Honour the King T.B. 167o. Stephen

Frampton William Haytor.

6. FIFEHEAD NEVILLE <All Saints).

One small modern bell in a cote.

Olrl Peai-t. Prayse God I W. r 595 z. Anno Domini r683 EG, TH. CW. TP.

3· + .ut:.e nuui.u (16.)

7. HILTON (All Saints).

Four bells. Tenor-Diam., 33in.; height, z7tiu.

r. :m.ou uoli'i[; (lomillt u.ou uobi5 z. NH. CW. TP. Anno domini 1684 3· R ~ P. 1637 Anno domini +· 0 singe praysc vnto God 16z6. ID. R T.

8. IBBERTON (S. Eustachius),

Four bells. Tenor-Diam., 37in.; height, z6in.

z. William Applin Churchwarden James Wells Aldboume Wilts fecit MDCCCXIII.

z. Joseph Daubeny Esqr~ 1799. Thomas Mears of London fecit

3· RR. TA. CW Anno domini 1656 T.P.

4. Richard Rogens, Allen Hayne Chvrchwarc.lens t6fl. W@ P

I 28 THE CHUl{CH RELLS OF DORSET.

9, MIL TON ABBAS CS. Jamea the Greatl,

Two bells, Tcnor-Diam., 38in.; height, 33in.

.. ~ (ss ·A.) SflnGH9fl If?O r?fmnes :t. + A DN 1576 (set backward) * + qf(o + + +

10. MIL TON ABBEY.

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., 38in.; height, 3oin.

r, .z, 3, 4, 5· Cast by Jo1m Warner & Sons J;.ondort 186t (Royal arms and patent underneath).

There are also three clock bells in the belfry with the inscription on each-" James Wells Aldbourn Witts fecit r8o4.'' The largest bell is zsin. in diameter.

II. SHILLINGSTONE <Holy Roodl.

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., 46iin.; height, 32in.; note F; weight, 21cwt.

r. Geve thankes to God 1622. z. Cast 163+ Recast 1892 by Llewellin & James Bristol in

memory of Rev Edward Arthur Dayman 48 years Rector of Shillingstone C. J. Marshall Rector. L. Forbes W. Cox Churchwardens

3· Cast 1622 Recast 1892 (Remainder of inscription as on No. z.)

f· Thomas Melmoth, Thomas Ford C W. anno 1736 W. Knight B.F.

5· Thomas Melmoth Thomas Ford anno 1736 C. W. W K B F. Old znd. Geve thankes to God 163+ I D.

Old 3rd. + fiUE: GF{fi&Ifl.

12.. SPETTISBURY IS. John the Baptist'.

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., 44-in.; height, 33in.; note E.

1. Feare God I W. 1616

z. William Meech C W. John Stroud WE B F A no dom 17 s 1

THF: CHUkCFf HELLS OF OORS ET. 12 q

3· Give thankes to God I W. 1615 Recast in 1895 by .1\'!ears & Stainbank Whitechapcl

+· Prayes the Lord with your hart I W. 1615 Recast in 1895 by Mears & Stainbank. S. A. Waiker Rector A Brendon J Lanning Churchwardens.

5· Ringe out the Bells in G<>d rCioyce I.D 1626

13. STOKE WAKE fAll Saln·u>.

The belfry was pulled down some years ago when the church was rebuilt; the bells were then disp()sed of.

1·4· TURNWORTH tS, Mary).

Three bells. Tenor-Diam., ~33in.; height, 2:7in.

r, 3· (Blank.) 2. aue marin (16.)

IS. WINTERBORNE CLENSTON ($, Nicholas),

One small modern bell in the turret of a modern church.

16. WINTERBORNE HOUGHTON <S. Andrew}.

Three bells. Tenor-Diam., 37in.

r. Hen. Framton * C W * anno domini W 1717 11 'fi' W

i-K. BF"~" z. + (z6 A.) Sfll1!?><9fl !Ilfll'{l 3· anno domini 1596.

17. WINTERBORNE STICKLAND <S. Mal'y).

Three bells. Tenor-Di.am., 34-tin.; ·note G sharp; weight, 7§cwt.

z. Henry Wolfreyes, John Stevens wardens R A. T B 1 67o 2. Serve the Lord I W. .E6zt 3· Give than kes to God I ·o. R T. 162ci

130 TffR CHURCH RELLS OF DORSET.

18. WINTERBORNE WHITCHURCH <S. Mary).

Fi'(_e bells. Tenor-Diam., 40in.; height, 3 t-§in.; note G; weight, 1 6cwt.

' • 5· ~ccast by Messr~ Warner & Sons London t 868 G. H. Wynne Vicar H Fookcs T. Keynes ~·Fowler Parish Officers

z. E. A. Smith gent. was at the cxpcncc of re-casting this bell ~ W. Tosier fecit ~ Anno Dom. 1730 Q 0 0 l}

3· + (z) IE: ; S U ; FI ; I.d : DE: ; 1 : illl ; SE: : F{E: ; F{E:.

4-· anno domini 16o8 S H.

Inscription on old treble-"E. dono La.ureutii Squibb anno domini 167"2"

On old Tenor-" The Rev Ricl1tu"d Cobbe nector, Mr. Wmiam Snell &: Mr. Willia.m liolloway Churchwn.rdens Abra.m. Bilbie fecit 1768."

19· WOOLLAND <Dedication unknown).

One bell. Diam., t 6in.; height, uin.

J. Warner & Sons London 1868

·DEANERY OF DORCHESTER.

(PoiWECK PoRTION).

No.7.

I. ARNE CS. Nicholu>.

One bell in the west gable. Diam., 3.Iin.; height, zzin.

Chapman & Mears fecerunt 178z Former bell-Love God I. D. R R T. r6:s.

'l'HE CtiURCH nELLS OF bORSEt. I 3 I

2. BRANKSEA CS. Maryl.

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., 33in.; height, z6in.

1, z, 3· J. Warner & Sons. 1855. +· J. Warner & Sons Crescent Foundry London 1856

3. CHALDON HERRING CS. Nicholas>.

Three bells. Tcnor-Diam., 33m. ; height, z+in.; note B flat; weight, s!cwt.

r. Anno dni W P. 1618

z. Charles Carr remade me JC)OO Fcarc God I D. R I. 16z5.

3· + (z) .lUit mnrin (r6.)

4. CHURCH KNOWLE (S. Peter),

Three bells. Tenor-Diam., 3oin.; height, ioin. ; weight, .f.Cwt.

1. James Wells Aldbourn Wilts fecit J8o+

z. R T. I P. C W. T P. anno domini 1677 (FJrokm.) 3· Robert '\Yells Aldboum Wilts fecit 1790 (Cmcked badly.)

5. COOMBE KEYNES (Holy Rood),

Three bells. Tenor

r. + (82.) f1llGE:l1U5 * ffiiGf,)fl€11 * GfiBF{IE:Lt * ffif!F{lfl *

2. Anthony Bond made me 1636 3· Love God I W 1 59q.

6. CORFE CASTLE CS. Edward>.

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., 41~in.; height, 27in.; note E; weight, 13cwt.

1. Although you see I am but small, I shall be heard among you all R. Wells. 1790

A D c D

90.- LANGTON l!ATRAVl!RS 3RD (Cross lin. ) .

A B c

91.-EAS1' LULWOXTR 2ND (Cross square, l#in.).

THF- CtiURClt llELLS Ot DORSET. 133

2. M. William Croomes Churchwarden 1739, Joshua Kip£ing fecit.

3· Richard Taylor Churchwarden Robert and James Wells Aldbourn Wilts fecit 1 804

f· Robert Taylor, Joseph Willis, & Thomas l<ent Churchwarden William Dobson Downham Market Norfolk founder 1 828

5· Robert & James Wells Aldbourn fecit 1795

7. HOLME EAST ($. John Evangelist',

One modern bell.

8. KIMMERIDGE (l'lot dedioated l.

One bell. D iam., 17in. ; height, 13in. ; note B.

9. KINGSTON (S. Jamesl .

Eight bells. Tenor-D:iam., 53}in.; weight, 28cwt. zqr. r8lb.

I, :z, 3, f• 5, 6, 7, 8. Blank. (Cast by Taylor, .of Lou,gh­

borough.)

10. LANGTON MATRAVERS CS. George}.

Three bells. Tenor-Diam· .• 33in.; height, 24-in.; note A;

weight; s~cwt.

1. (Four farthings) Thomas Janaway of London fecit lj68

(penny) z. Thomas Lester of London fecit 1750 (r and z on the floor

broker1.)

3. (Ship) snG><0E: + nonf[s o + Rfl E>RO nm:srs 1i (90.)

A B c

92.-STEE"PLE Isr (Cross diagonal, l!in., Shield No.7, Coin as :M:elbury Eubb).

A B c

93.-SHAPWICK 3RD (Lettering iin.). " ,

THE CHURCH llE.lr.S Ok' DORS!.'f.

II. LULWORTH EAST <S. Andrew).

Three bells. Tenor-Diam., 37-!in. ; height, zSin. ; note F sharp; weight, 9kcwt.

z. God be ovr gvyd I W. rs89.

1i 1118 ~ 11 z. + + (shield, 37) Sit nomcu Domini Bcuctli.dum (91.) 3· Thomas Beaker Churchwardens WK. B I<'. anno domini

1718

12. LULWORTH WEST <Holy Trinity).

Six bell~. Tenor-Diam., 4oJ}in. ; height, 38in. ; note G; weight, I ICWt.

r. 0 be joyful in the Lord. z. Gloria in cxcclsis Deo. 3· When sweetly chimes this bell, oer sea and hill and dell,

May Jesus Christ be praised. +· Lift up your hearts .

. S· 0 ye spirits and souls of the righteous llless yc the Lord 6. TJuough all the changing scenes of life In trouble and in

joy. Vicar William Percy Schuster. Churchwardens Thomas Bull, William Burt.

On each bell "Me:trs & Stain bank Whitcclaapcl founilry London." No.2 was cast out of two ama.ll bella in 1889, the only bolls the church at tha.t time possessed. No.s. 3, ·1, 5, 6 wcro cast in 189:2, and tho treble bell

. inl903.

The old. troble bell bore the inscription ".Jonathan Larn.ces C W. '18 W : K : B : F : a:11o 1718."

The old second was nn alphabet bell in black letter smalls.

13. STEEPLE (S. Michaell.

Three bells. Tenor-Diam., 36in. ; height zvin.; note E flat; weight 8cwt.

r. Snntt.e + f1tt1Ul (coin) Otlt (coin) E?to nobi$1 (founder's stamp) (92.)

2. Anthony Bond made mee 1633

3· Anthony Bond made mce 1634

I 36 THR CRCR.CR RELtS OF DOR!;E1.

14. STEEPLE·GRANGE CHAPEL <S. John Evangelist>.

One small modern bell of no interest.

15. TYNEHAM <S. Mary'.

Two bells. Tenor-Diam., r 7in.; height, 14-in.; note A.

r. ltomtut I in I uotnint z. S. Symonds1 C. warden. R. We lls Aldborne fecit 1784

'l'reblc .Bell.-11 I could not take rul>b-ings and squce~es, as the bell is in a turret and most difficult to reach, hut the lett<lriug is quit-e plain and the stops are straight upright lines." -F.aou: A LE'I'l'Elt ..

16. STOKE EAST CS. Mary),

Two bells. Te11or-Diam., 24iu.; l1eight, · r8i11.; note A; weight, 3cwt. (about).

1. 'William Dobson, Downham Norfolk founder A D. r8t9 z. William Lockier churchwarden Clemant Tosiear cast me in

the year of 1 GqS.

17. STIJDLAND (Dedication unknown).

Four bells. Te.nor-Diam . ., 3Zin.; note B; weight, 6!cwt.

I. Fear God and honor the King

2. Anno 1736 W K B F .3· Will. Knight B.F. 1736 4· Drawe neare to God C.P. xo65.

These bells were recast in 18\JS by Messl'l!. Mears &: StA.inbank, whose :names are on ench bell. Tiley are said t~ bear the old iuscrir>tions.

18. SWANAGE CS. Mary),

Eight bells. Tenor-Diam., 49:lin.; height, 38in.; 110te E flat; weight, 22cwt.

r, z, ,3, 8. In memory of M:~ Elizabeth Burt of Purbeck House who died January 6, 1886. John Taylor Longhborough.

4· Thiukc on God. •594· I W.

'lHI> CHURCH m:t.I.S Or' l>ORSF.f. I 37

5· are Godfe (Fearc God). r6:tr. I.W. 6. 1764 Recast 1888. 7· Honor the King r62.1 I.W.

19. SWANAGE HERSTON ($. MarJe).

One small modern bell in a turret.

20. SWANAGE (S. Aldhelm).

One small· modern bell.

21. WINFRITH NEWBURGH <S. Christopher) •

. Six bells. Tenor-Diam., 36in.; note G; weight, zoicwt.

r, z, 3• 4, s, 6. Recast in z888 by Warner & Sons London No other inscription upon them.

22. WINFRITH-EAST BURTON.

One small modern bell ; no inscription.

23. WORTH MATRAVERS (5. Nicholas of Myra).

Three bells. Tcnor-Diam., 3 Iin.; height, t+in. ; note B fiat; weight, scwt.

1. Cast by John Warner & Sons London 1868 · "Royal arms, Patent" on the body.

z. John Brown C.W. ~ anno domini I/l9 WK. B F. 3· (Two coius.) Richard Smith wfi Joseph 1f Romesey CW.

r736. W.K.

24. WOOL <Dedication unknown).

Four bells. Tenor-Diam., 3(,in.; height, 3oiu.

r. Love God I W. 16o6

2, John Hayte CW. fi' anno 173R. WK BF * (coin). 3· Searve God 1 W. r6o6.

4· HI. C W. T P. anno do~ini 1659·

J 38 Tllll. CHURCll BELtS. Of bORStt.

DEANERY OF PIMPERNE.

(BLANDFORD PORTIO!:\.)

No. 8.

I. ASHMORE <S. Nicholas>.

One small bell of no antiquity and with no inscription.

2. BLANDFORD FORUM <SS. Peter and Paul).

Eight bells. Tenor-Diam., 49io. ; height, 36in. ; note E flat; weight, 1 qicwt.

1. The children's bell. 2, 3• +• 5, 6. (Blank.) 7· This peal of bells was recast m88z C. H. Fynes-Clinton

Rector Robert Eyers, Frederick Davis Churchwardens 8. J Taylor & Cc;> .Bell founders Loughborough Leiccstershire

This bell was recast at the expense of John lies Barnes and Philip Abraham Barnes Blandford I88L.

Our voice will tell when joy or grief betide. '.Mourn '>lith the mourner welcome home the Dridc.

"In this tower are eight bells, but, as there are large iron hoops round the crown rims of all of them, it is impossible to make out the inscriptions. From the appearance of some of them it is pr-obable that they were cast at Wells' foundry at Aldbourn. The treble's crown and cannons have been eutirely broken away, and the tongue is fastened into the stock. Some of these bells are said to have been brought from Milton Abbas." J. J. RAVEN.

Oct. 3rd, rSso. There was at that time a small bell for the quarter chimes

inscribed W. K. B. F. Anno 172.7. Now Crotch's Cambridge chimes are in use.

3. CHETTLE <S. Mary),

Three bells. Tenor-Diam., 36in. ; height, 19in.; note A; weight, Scwt.

1, 2. 4 (zo A.) nut grllfi.a 3· + (t6 A.) (Founder's stamp.) .S.nU£ Wt ~ .Wt't

THE CHURCH BELLS OF DORSET. I 39

4. FARNHAM <S. Lawrence>.

Two bells. Tenor-Diam., z6in.: height, zoin.

I. M~ Clvttcrbock w~ Tosier ~ 1722 t.l z. + (z.) ®rn .uiD.ente :F>i.a.

6. GUSSAGE <S. Andrew).

One small modem bell.

6, HANDLEY <S. Mary).

Three bells. Tenor-Diam., 34in.; hc:ight, z6in. ; note B

flat; weight, 7cwt.

I. Recast by John Warner & Sons London 1881. God by our

guyde 158+· :z. Recast by John Warner & Sons London r88r. I D.

0 love the Lorde I 6 3 6. 3· Recast by John Warner & Sons London 1881 + S. Maria

7. LANGTON LONG BLANDFORD <All Saints).

Three bells. Tcuor~Diam., zrin.; height, zo!in.; note B.

1. (Blank.) z. + (z6 A.) S S S 3· W.W anna domini r674 T P.

8. PIMPERNE (S. Peter>.

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., 36in.; note A.

1, z, 3· James Hussey Rector E. A. Smith. T. Taylor church· wardens. Llewellin & James Bristol 1891.

+· William : Pitt : George : Scl by : R Jj L : t 70 3 S· Glory be to God on high W. Taylor Oxford fecit ana Dni

MDCCCXLVI. The old peal consisted of three bells, of which two, the

znd and tenor, remain as the present 4th and tenor. The old tenor was dated 1415 and bore the inscription-,S.lUldU ,G!Qlttht ®r.ll :Prg )f.!obi$, as I was informed on ~ct. z6th, •8so, by the Rev. W. Ewart, curate.-]. J. RAVEN.

A B c

-t

94,-SHAPWlCK CLOCK llELL (Cross square, 1-ijin.),

A B C

95,__:TARRANT KEYNSTON (full size).

l'HE CHURCH nELLS OF DORSET. I4I

9. SHAPWICK (S. Bartholomew).

Four bells and a clock bell. Tenor-Diam., 36in.; height, :z9in.

I, :z. R Wdls Aldbourn fecit MDCCLXVIII John Barrat & William Harding Churchwardens

• 3· + * l!JliO * nE:O:H~E: * DIE.: 1f: m1I..t!JO * L<flnGOF{€ * GF{f.IUE:eQF{ * &F{ISeOFtOF{l * Sf.ln&(0t * <9flill@fU~flm * gurGmrogue * ~ue~m<t * (gs.) ·

• 4· + l * 1\f.I~E:l'{YE: * GODDE:Cfl 1f: DE:F{l1ynG * <90 * <9qE: * ffiflF{I * Sf?flJI * I S'gG3 (Frontispiece)~ -~ .. ·, ·

• Clock Bell.-+ : tre!J : xpe ; matilt : iohet~ ; (94.)

10. STEEPLETON IWERN£ <S. Mary:.

One bell. Thomas ;\!ears & Son of London fecit 1809

11. STOURPAIN£ (Holy Trinity).

Five bells. Tenor-Diam., 4-1 zin.; height, :zgtin.

I. Laus Deo. Auctore Carolo H. Flower, Roberto Lewis, Henrico Barratt Ecclcsire Custodibus ~!DCCCLXXI.

· Mean; and Stainbank .Founders London .a :z. E ~I. R 1\I Anno domu. 1654 TP.

3· This bell replaces one cast in 1594 R R W vicar Mears founder 187r. Pray to God.

+· Richard Gould Als Courage Chvrd1warden William Tosiear recast mee in the year of our Lord 1721

.. 5· + (zu A.) :I:n ~cr .Stde X..>iu Xl>.r(J )Qobi~ ~lrgo­~l.lltlu

12. TARRANT CRAWFORD (S. Mal'y).

Three bells. Tenor-Diam., 34in.; height, zsin.

1. + (9+·) rtntua * .rtli * tdurt. ( 94·) 2. God be ovr gvyd I W. 1589

3· + ( z6 A.) Sfii1<9wE: ~€.(91\E:

I.f.Z THE CHURCH "BELLS OF DORSET.

13. TARRANT OUNVILLE (5. Mal'y).

Three bells. Tenor-Diam., 3gin. ; height, zsin.; note B flat.

1. John Tvrncr, Thomas Savndcrs, Churchwardens Clement Tosier recast me in the year 1 714

%. In God reioicc ever 1 W. I6z3. 3· Thomas Mears founder London 1843

14. TARRANT HINTON (Dedication unknown>.

Three bells. Tenor-Diam., 4oiin.; height, zS!in.; note G.

r. * + (Q.f..) * .Stutt mea 5pe5 hii frt6 xp' mari.a johtl z. I shall sound and ring to bring thee into the ground at thy

departure W. R. H. 1646. (58.) 3· T. Mears of London fecit r8Jt.

15. TARRANT KEYNSTON <All Saint•>·

One bell. Diam., 34-in.; hci!}ht, zsin . .. " . +. ~t-- m fi •1<- rt 1 + fi ·~ (qs.)

16. TARRANT MONKTON <All Saints>.

Three bells. Tenor-Dinm., 39in.; height, rzin.

x. 0 prayse the Lord 16zs J.D. z. Thomas Isaack John Isaack churchwardens of the parish of

Tarrant M vncktou C T cast me in lhe year of r69+ 3· Feare the Lorde I W z6ro

17. TARRANT LAUNCESTON <Dedicati on unknown).

There are no remains at all of the church or chapel which once existed at Tarrant Launceston.

18. TARRANT RUSHTON <S. Maryl .

One bell. Diam., 30~in.; height, 2 3!in.

William Barns Richard Aroer Chvrchwardens. 1675 R.F.

19. TARRANT RAWSTON lS. Mary'.

One bell. Diam., ~t§in.; height, 16in.

G L. 8851 (for 1588)

- - .

• • !(- Jll IIIJ(( Jl ~ - ~ .· ·~~-' Cl)

•• 11)1)(((- Il>llll .. ~~ ,' .•• we~ IJJiliiUIIIJII ·• .

'11~ m ,. v; ~ Y ~~ '\fit (t~ .ffi'&\ . ~-m ~ • ~~YJ JJJ ~ !.IU ...

9 6 .-SliArWICK TENOR (Lettering 1in.).

l 'HE CHURCH HELLS OF DORSET.

The labours of our friends having resulted in the completion

of the record of inscriptions on the Dorset bells, some attempt

at classification must be made. The earlies~ bells arc generally

without inscription, mark, or ornament. The converse, however,

does not hold good, as uninscribed bells, especially smaller

ones, wer~ made quite in late.r times. Of some twenty*five bells

in Dorset which are of this unadorned type, and presumably of

older date, the smaller of the two which hang in the double cote

at Stock Gaylard is most notable. Long and narrow it is, the

diameter only I 1 inches, whereas the height is tzl inches, the

former being thus only ·88 of the latter. The dimensions of the me dire val tenor at Nether Cerne give rather more than 1 ·z8, and at Powerstock and Silton the diameters of tenors mount to nearly one and a-half of the heights. These instances have been taken at random. The dates of the two bells are 1772 and 1702 respectively.

We are in the misty iand of conjecture, and the presentation of new problems, rather than the solution of old oues, is our Jot as we examine the large group in Longobardic lettering.

Comparing Dorset with other counties, there are three points to be remarked with regard to these bells-the variety in the crosses, stops and lettering, the frequent appearance of graceful and elegant decoration, and the late survival of the lettering. Everywhere, indeed, it exists for a while side by side with its successor, the black letter, the same foundry stamps standing in line with either type; but here the later iorm seems to have supplanted its predecessor by unusually slow degrees.

Simplicity of lettering and ornamentation gives a hint, but only a hint, of comparative antiquity. Thus, Alton Pancras third, with its plain cross and lettering, seems to demand early notice, but we cannot identify either in other counties. But this is not the case with the Osmington treble and the smaller bell at .Milton Abbas. In this pair under the initial cross is R (F]g. 55), which appears in a similar position on five Sussex bell!l, two of them being at Washington, two at Beeding, and one

THE CHiiRCH BELLS OF DORSET. 145

at Yapton. AU bear simple dedications-S. lltfichael, the Virgin Mary, S. Kathe~ine, and S. Margaret. The last takes the form of the Salutation, which brings it uear the Osmington S. Gabriel. At Appledram, in the same county, are two bells with the same lettering, but with P. W. under the cross, and. these initials are also on the second bell at Stowting, Kent. It may be that they indicate the name of the successor to R, whom Stahlschmidt • wa.s inclined to identify with John de Romenaye or William de Raughton, Metropolitan founders. But the R is probably the initial of the founder's Christian name, a.nd the blundered S_fiUG> <§p. eJF)O"QfmU€5 points rather to an illiterate founder than to monastic operations, such as we sometimes find elsewhere.

The larger bell at Stock Gaylard and the bell at Wraxall have the same lettering. The former presents a strange contrast in shape to its fellow just mentioned, the diameter being four­thirds of the lheight. The A's are all placed sideways. The reference to Wraxall should be 83, not 8z. As Thomas Hey "makede" the latter, no doubt he also "makede" the former. The verb is a delightful survival, just as we read in an Old English Homily not earlier than the thirteenth century, that "makede Moyses" the sour water of Egypt to be sweet to the folk of Israel. t This lettering is not identical with those on

t~e Haselbury Bryan second (Fig. 34) or third (Fig. 35). The latter has moderately floriated letters, and the initial cross has. a

. crowned P at its foot. Tarrant Keynston seems to have unique lettering, with signs of taste.

Thus gradually ornament makes its way in the foundry, and we chronicle :some with crowned capitals, of which one seems unique-the bell ~n Bingham's .J.felcombe tower-inscribed 0 BE:fii'gfi ~F{Ini<§fiS, with a cross much expanded at the ends, engraved No. zi. I can. find its counterpart no\Vhere, and

• Surrey Bells and London 'Bell Foundere, p. !!0.

tOld English Homilies, E.E.T.S., 1., 129.

~46 THE CHGRCH JJELLS OF DORSET.

must leave it, remarking the elegance of the lettering. Letters of unusual form in the inscription + SfJUG<9fi : illfH'{lfl : Ol.'{fl : li?F{O : nOBIS, formerly on the Haselbury Bryan tenor, fortunately, have been preserved. They are engra"ed (No. 36), and, as I cannot find them as yet either in the west or in more distant counties, I can only look wistfully to Hampshire or Wiltshire for enlightenment in this dilemma, as well as in the case of the Nether Ccrnc tenor.

On the strength of the inscription on the tenor at Wimbom e Minster one fine bell at any rate may be assigned to Dorset in the Plantagcnet period. When Anthony Bond in 16z9 recast this grand tenor, placing on it his monogram, the inscription, which still remains, was " :'\IIR WILHE:\'IVS LORINGE ME PRIMO FECIT IN HONOREM ST .IE CVTBERG.IE RE~OVABAR SV.l\'IPTV PAROCHIAL! PER iB ANNO DOMINI 16z9," and after the names of the Churchwardens, and initials, probably those of the three priests of the Minster, is a shield ,bearing a chevron and three mullets. It is remarkable that this bell appears to have been cast with a flat crown. ~tr.

William Loringc was one of the Canons of Wimhorne Minster in the early part of the reign of Richard II. The care of the parish authorities in the reign of Charles L preserved the name of the foundress of the Nunnery, the sil't.er of Ina King of Wessex, married to and divorced from Osred King of Nortbumbria, Saint Cuthberga.

Little Bredy fifth and East Morden fourth have the $arne initial cross (43A), which appears to be No. 66 in Ellacombe's, Somerset; but I have not succeeded in finding its location in the list of inscriptions in that county. The cross (8 IA) at Caundle Stottrton was probably engraved from an inferior cast of the same cross, and possibly :\Iaiden :Kewton fifth (HA) is anolher case. These have a certain affinity which connects them with the treble at Chittern, Wiltshire, the only bell as yet discovered which bears the name of John Barbur, doubtless the J ohn Barb or, of Salisbul')·, lVhosc will has been most kindly placed in our hands by Dr. Amherst D. Tysscn, the veteran

tHE CHURCit BELLS OF DORSEt. i4'

campanologist, and author of The Chu1·ch .Bells of Susso.:. This important document will be printed at length by the Wil tshire Society, and it suffices to give a few points iu the last testam.ent of this Brasier, citizen of Franc Sarum. After a beautiful exordium, in which he says that "nichil morte ccrtius and ni-chil incertius," he directs that his body be buried in the Church of S. Edmund, in. Nordhile, and leaves many legacies in money and chattcll!;-a pair of " biluwes" and the weight of too (lb.?) of o//(E amew to John Peccham, to Humphrey, the founder, ::~os,

worth of the same, to Peter Tirasicr (perhaps the P of whom we arc in search) his gear and hjs best gown. The local detail is of great interest to the good folk of Salisbury, especially :fifty "pari a de blanketts " to the bedridden and si:xty "paria socularu m " to tramps (vagrantibus) in the city. The probate of this will was made Otb August z7th, 1403.

The hexameters from the hymn to S. Christopher and the English rhyme to S. Katherine, found on the third and fourth bells at Shapwick, were given on p. f, as well as in the list of inscriptions.

That the two have the same origin is rendered probable by a connecting link at Little Hormead, to be mentioned directly. I cannot identify the stops, which seem to belong to S. Katherine. Possibly a guild of S. Katherine may be discovered at Bristol or Salisbury.

The wh0e.l, appropriately placed on the S. Katherine's bell, is No. 96, eng.~raved on p. 143 and on p. 7 (Fig. 8) of North and Stahlschmidt:'s Church Bells of Herlfordshire. from l-ittle Hormead second, which bears a cross not engraved before (Fig. 7), and a dedication fro S. Margaret in the small elegant letters on Shapwick third. The fifth at Deophan, Norfolk, has the same wheel stop, except at the r'hyme, where it is supplanted by a larger one of the same type. The inscription is (in appare11tly different type)

+ DU11@IS. SIS<90. !QE:l1IS * @flffi ~f.!nfi. QO@O~. ~f1Ff.!E:l1IS

148 ni:.E. cliuRcn nELLS oF noRs:i!:i.

Here the initial cross is formed by very rectilineal fleur-de-lis. The fourth at Wissett, Suffolk (QI~GO. illf.lF{Ifi), has the Shapwick fourth lettering and stop, but the initial cross is Glouc. 10. Surlin.gham third (Norfolk) resembles Deopham, not Shapwick, in lettering, and has the Deopham rhyme stop for an ordinary word stop. The inscription is + UIF{GfmS. E:GF{€.G.I€. U0<90f{. @fiffi@fi'Rfi illflf{IE::. The bell at East Ham, Essex, without initial cross. and with a stop unknown to me, has the Sl:apwick fourth letter.

Among the later Longobards is the Broadwinsor tenor, which introducc:s us by its foundry stamp (5H.) to Robert :Korton, of Exeter. His inscriptions arc generally in black letter, and are found· in Somerset and Devon, each of which counties contains several of his bells. He seems to have been succeeded by a man whose initials were i t, placed like Korton's on each side of a bell iu the stamp. We were inclined to assign to this foundry the large group of bells bearing the cross z6A ; but the locality of that cross seems to indicate a more eastward position, probably Salisbury • . We obtain a glimpse, not a very pleasant one, of Norton in

the reign of Henry VI., for l::Ilacombe ~ quotes the record of his dishonest dealing from a Chancery Roll, c. tf,p, when the "pore parishenes of Plymptrc in Devenshere meekly besought John Stafford, Bisbop of Bath and Wells, Lord Chancellor, that where as they hy John Forde one of the same parisshe, bought of one Robert Korton of Exeter, Bellemaker, iij I3ellys to paye for evry c1' of the wight of the metal ther of x1evij' there the sayd John and Robert by ontrewe ymagynacion concyn and desseit enformyd the said paryshcnes that the said bellys were of

the wight of ij mill. ccc :":~. ij li wher as in dede thay wcyyd but lllJ

xviij c 1i" &c. Reverting to z6A, it certainly oc-curs with Exeter lettering, but

Mr. Walters points out that a curious double-cusped ~ross

~ Chureh Bell~ of Devon, p. ·i6.

THE CHURCH DELLS OF DORSET. I+9

(Glouc. 63) used by Norton is also used by Robert Handley, of_ Gloucester. We cannot unravel this knot.

We need be in no doubt about Bristol when we consider the largest of the three bells at Langton Matravers, bearing the Ship stamp (90A), the main charge in the arms of that city from ancient days. Mr. Walters has collected some .25 examples from Devonshire, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Brccknockshire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. The last county alone contains seven of them. The crown ( 900) appears on several of these bells. Sometimes a smaller one (Somerset 4:z) is used. The Langton :VIatravers inscription does not indicate erudition in the craftsman. rr is left in SfH~&i0E:. 11011~5 appears unknown to hagiology, and 0 is split from ~f.l by what is meant for an initial cross. This type of bell seems to belong to the last days of the Longobards, for the diameter and height are 33 inches and z+ respectively, the former I· 3 7 5 of the latter.

Among the London founders of the black . letter period we mentioned H~nry Jurden (p. g). The two smaller bells at Chetnole are by him. The melancholy history of his son Dan Henry may be read in my Church Bells of Suffolk, and much later information about the Metropolis and its craftsmen is in 1\:rr. Cocks's Church Bt!ls of Bucki'nghamshi'r~.

The presence of the Norwich bells at Ford Abbey, in Thorn­combe Parish, is still quite a mystery.

There is little enough to record during the first half of Elizabeth's reign. The bell at Hook is dated 1563, and bears eight letters, which may be the initials of four benefactors. Ryme Intrinsica second and third are seven years later, with initials N.D., not those of any known founder; but the other contemporaneous bell, the larger one at Milton Abbas, enables us to hazard a guess, the inscription being A DN r 576. As the figures arc placed backwards at Ryme, KD may be taken for DN. To this small contribution the doings o( the end of the sixteenth century stand in strong contrast. The star of John .Wallis, of Salisbury, rises at Buckland Newton (pardon the .mixed metaphor I) in rsSr, very soon after the beginning of his

t 50 THE CHt:RCH :f!Ei.LS OF DORSEt.

work. We know him as at Handley in J 584, though the bell has been recast, at S. Margaret Marsh in 1586, at Caundlc Stourton in 1588, at East Lulworth and Tarrant Crawford in '589, at h·erne Courtney (Shroton) in I sgo, at Osmington in '593· at Bin com be, Swanage, Stourpaine (old third), and Owermoigne in 1594, at West Stafford, Fifehead ~lagdalen, a11d Fifehcad Neville in I 595, at Alton Pancras in 1596. at Shaftesbury in r 597, at Affpuddle and 1\'Iarnhull in 1598, at Piddletown in 159Cl, and there are many more with his initials as far down as 1636, which length of period suggests that there may have been two founders of the same name, perhaps father and son. Great as his business was, he had not a complete monopoly. At Manston the third, dated 1598, bears the initials R.B., which may be those of the well-known Richard Bowler, of Colchester, prede­cessor of the great )tiles Graye. At Lillington we find a 1590 bell with the initials W. W.

Three others remain for identification~Nether Compton fourth, 15 B s, with Longobardic lettering, also Thornford second and Yetminster second, marked Anno Domini 1593 and Anno Domini 1.595·

Contemporaneous with Wallis in his later days was another founder, whom Lukis places at Salisbury-John Danton, with whose initials R.T. are often associated. We find him at Chaldon Herring, Arne, and Tarrant Monkton in 1625; in the

next year at Spettisbury, 'Winterborue Stickland, and Hilton ; at Shillingstonc in 1634 and at Handley in r636. The location plainly points in the direction of Salisbury, and the accounts of S. Thomas's parish in that city for 1630 contain an agreement with hiJll. The Purdue family now claims attention. The first bellfoundcr of the name on record is George, who .seems to have been born c. 158o, and who in 1613 is described as of Taunton in the churchwardens' accounts at Nettlecombe, Somersd. His earliest bell in Dorset is Fordington tenor, 16o:z. Very likely C. P. on the old tenor at Studland (roos) is a

mistake for G. P. He will be found at Compton Valence, Stratton, Halstock, Upwey, Burton Bradstock, and Chardstock.

THE CIII.JRCJI BELLS OF DORSET. I$1

Here on the fourth bell his name appears in full-GEORGE PVRDY. Three of his sO>ns, William, Roger, and Thomas, followed their father's calling. William's ir~itials first appea:r at Holwell, t6o4, which seems a very early da.te for him, then at Hinton S. Mary, I 61 +; at .Burton Bradstock and Ram pi sham, 16 I 5 ; and at Chaldon Herring in I 6 I 8. Then, after a break of more than twenty years, W. P. turns up at Winterborne Zelstone, I64o, and finally at Shaftesbury Holy Trinity, Fontmell, and

lbberton in r6.p. The range from these earlier bells to Io67J, the date on the stone to the memory of William Purdue in Limerick Cathedral, is apparently too long for one craftsman,

'though just possible, but the inscription

HERE A BELLFOUNDER, HONEST AND TRUE UNTIL THE RESURRECTION LIES PURDUE

clearly identifies him with tho Salisbury family, for at Closworth, Somerset, lies Thomas, the third brother, who died in 1 71 I,

aged 90 yeaTS, under a slab inscribed:-

HERE LIES A BELL FOUNDER, HONEST & TRUE TILL YE RESURRECTION, NA:.V1ED PURDUE

The connection of the family with Salisbuiy is of very old standing. A bequest of John Purdye, tlo new thing, is recorded in 1562-156 3, iF t and our William was employed at S. Edmund's in 1656 and at S. Thomas's in 1661. t

From Roger, the second brother, described as "of the cyttie of Bristoll, bell founder" in records at \Veils,§ came Stratton fourth and Caundle Bishop's third in t 6z 7, Piddlehinton tenor and the bell said to have been once at Radipolc, now in the Old

• Swa.yneo'a C. W.'a aecounU! S. Edm. and 8. Tho. Suum, I>P• 106, 334:. · t Luki~, p. 101.

! Swa.yneo's C. W.'s accoun~ S. Edm. a.nd S. Tho. Sarum, pp. 106. 334, § Ella')ombt's C.B. of !mtm, p. {)6,

152 THE CHURCH DELLS OF DORSET.

Town Hall, Weymouth, in 1633, Hilton third in 1637, and 1\'Ianston treble in 1639. I dare not attribute the 1603 Whit­church Cauonicorum bells to him, in spite of initials.

Of Thomas, the third brother, we shall speak in his period. Loders third, 16 .. p, and Chardstock third, r64q, are pretty sure to ibe Thomas Pennington's, who cast the tenor at the latter place in 16z6, when he was also busy at Trent, Somerset. Ellacombe says that Thomas and John Pennington "lived at Lezant and Stoke Climsland," and were itinerant foanders,• but in another place he calls them "of Exon." t

I think that the historic bell, now recast, from which I copied in 18 5 ~ in Child Okeford tower the inscription

DOD BLESS THE KIND ::>HA~LS. 1648

IE WM Td'

is doubtless Thomas Pennington's. It is worth enquiring who I. E. and W. M. were.

" To see in what estate they live And not.biug to tha poore they give"

is an indication of the ever-painful social problem just before the Parliamentary war. We get it at Preston, 1629, and Abbots-. bury, r636. Some local magnate is the butt, as it would seem.

The date suggests Anthony Bond, a founder about whom

information is earnestly desired. Four bells of his remain in Dorset, all closely connected in locality and time-Wimborne Minster tenor, t6z9; Steeple second and third, 163 3 and 16 34-; and Coombe Keynes second, 1636. Mr. R. C. Hope, t probably following Lukis, § speaks of him as' found in Norfolk and Suffolk ; but East Anglia knows him not. The mistake

probably arose from the {~mark from Norwich, before we knew

• Ell.acombe's C. B. of .IJcvon, p. 56, t :Ellacombe's C. B. of .Devon, p. 18.

t JoUl'llal of the :Roylll Arehmological Instituto, I., 152. § ..dti ..dc~u11t of Clmt·ch Belh, p. 16.

THE CHURCH BELLS OF DORSI!:T. 153

the importance of Alice, the wife of William Brend, bell founder, of Norwich. at the ·same time. Some day it may come to pass that Wimborne Minster records may reveal the man, who could have had no mean reputation to have been entrusted with the recasting of their tenor, the Cuthberga bell, made by Mr. Wilhemus Loringe, one of the canons of the church; in the eighth year of King Richard Il. Hutchins* notes its "repair" with the Morrow .Mass bell and a bell in the spire in 15 H·

At Puncknowle the initials R. N. are somewhat distracting. On the treble and tenor ( t 68z) they stand for the squire, and perhaps for his progenitor in t6zQ on the third, though they may denote the foundeJ:. The verse

" He that will purchase honol'8 gayne

Mvst ancient lathers stilt rna {yntagne) ''

presents us with a word which I cannot find in Dialect Glossaries. Perhaps "lathers" may be allied to "lath," used elsewhere for a county sub-division, and mean local customs.

We find the Commonwealth days not altogether destitute of bell casting. The parallelism in 'time of Thomas Purdue and Thomas Pennington prevents me from dogmatizing on the initials T. P. The poetic gift, however, shows itself, a:s may be seen by reference to Bere Regis, Shaftesbury S. Peter's, and Sherborne .fire bell, and most conspicuously mignt it have been seen on the old tenor (dated 1658) at Okeford Fitzpaine :-

" I ofren have been beate a.nd bandge My friends reioyce to see me ha.ndge : And when my friends doe chance to die Then I lor them aloud will cry."

Not long ago, in conversation with a friend, I was asked for an interpretation of

• H.D.,ll., Hi,

I 54 THE CHURCH HELLS OF DORSET.

which is on the Ford Abbey bell. I replied that the duties of a bell were unpleasant , chiefly to be knocked about, and that the bell prayed S. Margaret to make these duties pleasant. The parallel of the Okeford Fitzpaine inscription at once occurred to me.

The later T. P. bells must be Purdue's, and those bearing poetry link themseh·es to him by the old Sherborne tenor, recast by him in 167o, inscribed:-

"By Wollley'e gut I mea&ure timo for all To mirth : to griell'e : to Church I serve to call.'

John Toesser, whose year in Dorset was 1684, when he was at work for Lytchett Matravers and Winter borne Zelstone, describes himself as "son of C. T." As Clement Tosiear appears in the same business soon afterwards, the~e comes an inference that John's father's name was also Clement. Towards the end of the reign of George I. comes William. This family belongs to Salisbury.

Dorset may have some earlier bells from Reading, or even from its predecessor, Wokingham.

We arc on sure ground, however, with Samuel Knight, who in 1686 "Fee Set" two bclis for \Vim borne Minster. Of these the larger seems to be a recast, as he spnaks of the former as "added toy" five." Mr. Cocks • notes his earliest known bell as dated z684 at Stanford Dingley, Berks, and considers the Wimborne pair as probably cast by T. B., possibly an earlier Bilbie, whose initials they bear, for Samuel Knight. From the same source we read of Samuel's migration in the latter years of Queen Anne's reign from Reading to S. Andrew's, Holbom, ,..·here he died in 17 39·

\Villiam Knight, whoever he may be, looks, from his surname, to have some connection with Reading. There are more William Knights than one, bell founders, there in earlier days.

• CJmrcA BellB of Buck•, p. 187,

His works remain at Mappowder, r735; Hampreston, 1738; Canford, 1739 ; Stoke Abbot, '755 ; and the old bells at Studland were his make.

Another William, surnamed Cockey, of Frome, is found in a knot of neighbouring churches-Gillingham, Shaftesburr S. Peter, West Stower, Todbere-in the days of George II.

Considering the importance of the Rudhalls' foundry at Gloucester, it seems strange that there is so little of their skill

to be shown. The six at Wimborne S. Giles proclaim Abel Rudhall, son of Abraham II., who made them in '7 37.

Now appears the great house of Bilbie, of which a few words were said on p. 23. One of the name, without an initial for a Christian name, made the bell for Dorchester Holy Triniiy in 17 32 and three for Caundle Stourton in '743· He seems identical with the Thomas Biibie, from whom came the old six at S. Peter's in that town in 1734, and who cast the indifferent octave for Cullompton at Chewstoke in 1746. Some years ago I was told at Lyme Regis that he committed suicide in despair: of getting this Cullompton peal into tune. However this may have been, a Thomas Bilbie cast a treble for S. Peter's, Dorchester, at Cullompton in 1750, three for Cerne Abbas in 1762, and a treble for Stoke Abbot in 1764. Next year we find him at Beaminstcr in a complicated record. There is an octave, of which T. Bilbie by himself makes the second, third, fourth, sixth, and seventh, butT. Bilbie, sen., and T. Bilbic, jun., made the treble and tenor, while the fifth required the joint efforts of T. Bilbie and sons. I think we may assume that the son Thomas was the maker of Chardstock tenor in 1766 and of others bearing his name later on, assisting with a brother James for Stalbridge fifth in 1791, while brother William, returning to the ancestral Chewstoke, cast the Folkc fourth in '7i7 and the Stalbridge sixth in 1779. Abraham Bilbie is found at Winter­borne Whitchurch in 1768. The latest date of the Bilbies in Dorset is 18o6, at Rroadwinsor, from Cullompton, without a Christian name. From the same place in later days came several bells made by the Pannclls.

I 56 THE CHURCH REHS OF DORSEt.

One William Elery, B.F., shows up on the Winterbome Kingston tenor, dated '749· It is, to the best of my belief, the sole instance of the name. Thomas Janaway, whose foundry at Chelsea (1763-•785) began and ended "'ith him­self, cast the treble at Langton Matravers in 1768. Local work falls off as time goes on, the Metropolis swallowing up more and more of the casting and recasting. From the days of George III. to the present time Whitechapel and Cripplegate are far ahead of the total of other foundries far and near. Of the latter, Aldboume, though conspicuous by its absen.:e under the Corrs, does something in Dorset under Robert Wells and James Wells, the largest and earliest instance being the lh·e at Witchampton in I777· Bayley, Pyke, and Kingston, iu SUCCCSSlOD in business at Bridgwater, are found in five towers. Joshua Kipling, of Portsmouth, is only known in our bounds at Corfe Castle. I can find out no more about the Blandford foundry. Salisbury has revived in the beginning of the new century, and appears at Stower Provost and Lytchctt :\Hnster; and Bristol in the Jubilee year at Folke and (I feel sure) at Durweston also, and in a few other towers afterwards.

Loughborough foundry is the descendant of the grand old Leicester business, which migrated to Kettering and S. Neot's, under the Eayres and Robert Taylor. In the next generation there was another migration of two Taylor brothers to Oxford. The elder, William, from whom we have the Pimperne tenor ( 1846) remained there, while John went to Lough borough, where his descendants need no notice from me. Their works speak for themselves.

In the S. Neot's foundry there was a foreman, named Thomas Osborn, who, on the death of Joseph Eayre, earried on the work in conjunction with Edward Arnold, a cousin of Eayre's. The partnership lasted some six years. In ' 779 Osborn removed to Downham ).farket, in Norfolk, his native place, where he did well, took his grandson, William Dobson, into

- partnership, and died in r 8o6. The grandson quite maintained the reputation of Downham Market. Many years ago au old

"i'Hi>. CHURCH BF.Li.S OF DORSEt. I 57

list of his peals fell into my hand!;. Dublin, the lslanq of S. Vincent, and Carnarvoushire know h~m; and, above all, Liverpool, where his grand twelve, ten.or flCwt., hang in S. Nicholas tower.

In Dorset his chief work. was at Poole, for which he cas.t the eight .in 1 82 1. In 182 7 he cast five out of the six for Sturminster Newton, and tbere are single bells of his at Corfe Castle and East Stoke. He died in London in 1842, aged 62, a brother of the Charterhouse, where he is buried.

The Whi techapel foundry (removed from Phelps's old site to the Arli~·huke) enters Dorset in 1750, when Thomas Lester made the Langton Matravers treble. Afterwar<ls he took Thomas

Pack into pal"tnership, and died early in 1769, his nephew, William Chapman (whose granddaughter, an old lady, named Skinner, was kind to me at Cambridge), joining Pac.k as junior partner. Their bells are at Portiland S. George and Moreton. In 1781 Pack died. Mrs. Skinner told me that a few years before this time her grandfather was engaged in .some work for a parish in Kent,. and noticed th~ intelligent interest taken by a young man from the place. This led to the young man, whose name was William Mears, entering the foundry as a worker, an.cJ, after doing a little business on his own account, becoming Chapman's partner. Chapman died of consumption

in 1 iS4, and the whole business rested on William Mears, who brought his brother Thomas, a brewer at Canterbury, to help him. The only Dorset wolik by Chapman .and }fears is the bell at Arne, cast in 178z.t'- Thomas Mears in ri89 took the foundry by himself, and in 1 804 co-opted his son Thomas, whose name we find alone from I 809 to 1844-· Thomas II. was succeeded by his sons Charles and George. Soon after the death of the former Robert Stain bank became partner t-o the latter . . The Whitechapel bells are too many to recapitulate­

altogether about 1zo - some by Mr. Lawson, who died

.., The eight at Warelwn are by Willill.lll Mears, 1785.

THE CHURCH nEtLS OF bo&sF.t.

suddenly last year. Those at Hinton Parva are stated on p. 1 :n

to have been Stainbank's, which is impossible. Bells from Cripplegate run into three figures. The story of

the Warner family, too long to give here, is well told by Stahl schmidt in his Church Bells of Kent; • but one remark of his on modern additions is worth recording. It does not apply to Kent alone, or to Cripplegatc alone. When bells arc added •· to an existing peal, or recast, they are almost always shorter in form than the older ones. Thus, though the! new bells may be quite true in note, the variation in shape produces variation in harmonics, which does not improve the general effect of the whole ring. We have two from the Croydon toundry at Nether Compton and Yetminster, and two from Birmingham at Compton Abbas and Chaldon Herring.

Lastly, there is the carillon at Cattistock, of which Dorset may be justifiably proud. The earliest English record of a carillon known t0 me comes from the will of John Baret, of .Bury S. Edmund's, 1463, in which he directs that "the Sexteyn of Seynt Marie chirche do the chymes Smythe Requiem etemam " in connection with his Trental and "yeerday." As may be seen in Plate VII. in my Churdt .Bells of Su.f!o/1.:, the music only extended over five notes. In later days my native Boston set the example of machine music, when in 1867 Lom-aiu supplied a set of 36 bells to extend upwards the old octave of the steeple bells. We have notable instances now at Eaton Hall and Aberdeen, as well as at Cattistock, '"·here the same Louvain foundry, under Severin van Acrschodt, placed the tuneful ring, of which the detail of inscriptions may be found in its place. They are arranged in upward orde r,. aftl!r the manner of musicians rather than ringers. The lowest four arc in miljor diatonic scale in the key of E; all the upper bells are in chromatic sequence.

They owe their existence to a former Rector, the Rev. H. Keith Barnes, who, assisted by many friends, notably his

• PP· H4, &c.

'CHH CHL'RCH BELLS OF DORSET. 159

successor, the Rev. R . . P. Stickland, has given a lasting memorial of that love for bell music which is dear to so many hearts by association as well as from its inherent melody.

In closing this imperfect appendix to the inscriptions in the county, I desire to return my best thanks to the members of the Dorset Field Club and other fellow-labourers, and especially to the Rev. W. Miles Barnes, the Hon. E<litor of the Club's "Proceedings," and the Rev. C. W. Dicker, from whose drawings the blocks of eng·ravings were prepared. Had it not been for the cordial co-operation of gentlemen who, with much trouble and inconvenience, climbed the towers and rubbed the inscriptions, this work could never have been carried through.

Our history must end wilh a notice of the Cattistock carillon, necessary rather for those outside the county than for Dorset readers. The munificence of the late Rev. H. Keith Barnes, Rector of the parish from 186 3 to 187 5, not only provided the fine tO\ver in which the bells hang, but also, with the help of members of his family and other kind. friends, the bells them­selves. The idea seems due to Mr. Barnes's admiration of the celebrated carillon at Mechlin :md other Belgian towns. The example, set first by Boston in I867, was due to the impression ptoduccd in like manner on :\[r. William Simonds, Mayor of Boston in 186s. Here there are 44 bells. Aberdeen, Eaton Hall, Worcester Cathedral, Shoreditch, and Bra.ctford Town Hall have followed suit, and now this retired village is charmed with the music of its 35 bells. The inscriptions will be found in their place, arranged in order contrary to the campano­logical system, which always begins from the smallest. In 1901 a change was made, the bell in G being exchanged for one in A sharp, cast by Felix van Aerschodt, of Louvain, son of the noted Severin van Aerschodt, the original founder of the peal. This change was made on account of tune exigencies. A correction, the~efore, is necessary on p. 49, reading in the peal 3 and 4 for 4 and s, and among the other bells 5 tor 3· For years after their arrival at Cattistock the only voices from the Louvain foundry which were heard were those of the peal, till,

160 THE CHURCH BELLS OF DORSET.

through the energy and perseverance .-G)f the present Rector, the' Rev. R. P. Stickland, the work 'vas completed, and a joyful service of dedicatic:m held on June t st, I 899, when the Bishop of Salisbury preached to a large assembly, comprising many representatives of families connected with the parish in past days, and two representatives at least from every inhabited house.

Appended is a t<l!ble giving the weights and notes~-

WEIGHT. , NOTE. WEIGHT. NOTE •.

cwt.lb. lb. oz. 1 19 8i E 19 7l c 2 12 5~··~ F sharp ~0 1!2 Calul.rp 3 9 17 G sharp 21 66 D ·'l 8 4'9 A 22 46 Deshaql 5 7 8~~ A sharp :2:i 50! E 6 5 11~ B 24 40 F 7 5 2.3 c 2 .'i 36} F sharp 8 -J. 28 C sha.rp 26 351 H 9 3 36 D 27 a:3. G!!hurp

10 3 20 D sharp :!!! :l:l A 11 2 4•11 E 29 22~ A eha..rp 12 2 11 I F :~o 2·l B I ~ 1 !l.3 ! F sha.l'p 31 2;\i c 14 1 61 I G ! 3 2 2:~} c e~bu.rp 15 1 Ml G ehn.rp 33 :.l.Jq D 16 1 l.S

I A

I 3t 23 H D sharp

17 1 :,.'} A sharp 35 23 1 E 18 82 B

t.UNTERNE l\fAGNA T.REHLE.

THE CHURCH DELLS OF DORSET. 161

Returns of bells as of other church, furniture were required in 15+7 and 155z, and it has been assumed by some who have never investigated the contems of our towers that such orders as were given respecting the disposal of the bells in the latter year were effectual. l\'lr. Dunkin's. list of Cornwall inscriptions shows that in eleven churches in that county there yet :remain two or more of the bells that hung in the towers at the time of this proclama­

tion, though. of course, since 1 5+9 a vast number have passed through the foundries.

The same result is found in other counties, or rather a more strikillg result, as may be seen from Mr. :Ellacombe's labours in Devon, Somerset, and Gloucester, or nly own in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Near me are two small parish churches, at Athelington and Svuth Elmham S. Peter's, in which hang the same three bells which arc named in the 155 3 inventories. Indeed, these inventories show most conclu:;ively that the command was inoperative. It would seem that a suggestion was made that the removal of clappers would serve the same purpose as the removal of bells, and cause less disturbance. At any rate, according to Strype, two Devonshire gentlemen, Champion and Chichester, were allowed on request a grant of clappers, and, according to :\:h •. Ellacombe's suggestion, this may have been done by them to keep the bells in the

towers. In Dorset there are at least 34 churches in which more than

one ante-Reformation may be seen, and there are a few more in which blank bells may be regarded as of equal antiquity. I append a list of the 34 :-

Little Bredy. Litton Cheney. Swyre. Broad windsor. F ordington. Winterborne Came. Chesilborne.

Puddlehinton. Tolpuddle. Alton Pancras. Hazelbury Bryan. Nether Cerne. Sydling S. Nicholas. Osmington.

16z THE CHURCH BET.LS OF DORSET.

Stower Provost. Fontmell Magna. Hammoon. Rampisham. Nether Compton. Chctnole. Holncst. Wambrook. Almer.

Blo~\rorth. East Morden.

Sturminster Marshall. Winterbourue Anderson. Gussage All. Saints. Blandford S. Mary. Charlton :Marshall. Shapwick.

With regard to the Knowlton tradition (p. tz:z), I venture to insert the following:-

" In walking from Blandford to Damerham in September, t852, I shaped my course by Horton, with a \'iew to seeing Monmouth's ash on Horton Heath. Having reached the road­side inn, I found that the ash was four miles distant, and, not having time to proceed thither, I waited at the inn. Whilst waiting I saw a small ruined tower at the distance of half-a-mile or so, and, on asking a man, found it was the ruin of Knowlton Church. He also told me that at a very distant period there was a very valuable bell in that tower, so much so that it excited the cupidity of some fellows, who planned to steal it, take it to the coast, and, having crossed the Channel. sell it in France. This, considering the loneliness of the church, could be no very difficult matter; but somehow, after they had got the bell out of the tower, they were discovered, pursued, and overtaken at the bridge of Sturminster Marshall, and, being unable to proceed further with it, they threw it into the Stour and made off. The Knowlton people let down ropes and pulled it up nearly within reach of hand, when down it wc::nt, without there being any apparent reason for the ropes breaking. A second and a third attempt were attended with the same result till, weary and dispirited, they gave it up. The old man said ihat there was a verse to the effect that

• All the devils iu holl Comd never pull up Knowlton belt.' "

THE CHU}{CH "HELLS O'F DORSET.

Thill is in my Ilell MS. A., :ff. 75; 76 verso, ·and ·dated by mo "D~~mbcr 27th, l!\1>2, Worlington, Suft'olk," the parish of which my fttther, who died in the :Previous year, had been rector.

1 added: "The tale seems to me Tf!rY pointle~ and incomplete, but see Hutchins!"

"There is a tradition current among some of the old people in the village that many years ago the bellringers (or a party) of this village went secretly and removed one of the bells from the old ruined church at Knowlton, which is distant from this village about nine miles, across Kingdown by the right of Badbury Rings, and about three miles from the ancient old town of Cranborne.

They were successful so far, but, as there came a fali of snow during the expedition, they were afraid of being discovered by their tracks, aud to baffic pursuit in case of discovery they reversed the shoes of 'the horses on their return. Arriving at the old bridge of White Mill, which is distant from Sturminstcr Church about half-a-mile, they !';ent on two of their party in advance to the viliage to see that the course was clear. As they were so long gone the remaining party thought that something was amiss and that they were discovered, and, suspect­ing that the people of Knowlton were on their track, they, to dispose of the bell and put it out of sight, threw it into the River Stour, in a deep hole (now called Bdl Hole or White l\lill Hole). Hence the following doggerel;-

'Knowlton bell is a-stole And tlarown into White ];fill Hole.' "

From ftfr. A. Reez•es.

What became of this bell subsequently it is difficult to say. Some say it was left in the river, and others that it was got out and put in Shapwick Church, and some think it was put in this church; but in Hutchins' History of Dorset (rev. edt.) it states that it was recovered, and was for some years in the possession

164 THE CHURCH BELLS OF DORSET.

of a Mr. Compton a t H orton. I paid a visit to thi s old church at Knowlton a few years ago; it is now a complete ruin, tower a nd church being rooUcss, but the greater part of the walls are standing (and from what I can remember there is a massive wall between nave of church and chancel, with a small Norman arch, round-headed, also remains of mullions and doorways, the tower being perfect, excep ting that it is roofless and fioorless). The whole is enclosed within a rampart, and near by are some fine yew trees and barrows, no houses bciug anywhere near, except~ ing a farmstead , which apparently is not very ancient. An old man was working in a field near by (a nalive of the neighbour­hood), and he related the same story with reference to the bell, saying that some people from Sturminster came and took them a way. I have been told by some of the old inhabitan ts of 25 years ago that the names of two of the ringers at t he tillle were Hurdle and Barfoot, two well-known names in this parjsh.

In the case o f the treble at Lyme Regis the spelling in my

MS. is the usual mistaken form, " Rrittania." The words are a quotation from Akcnsidc (Odes, Book I., No. 8, lines 79, &c.).

" 0 f!Ur 1Jritamt.ia: h.'\il ! wit.h part.ia.l love Tho t1i.bes of men thoir na.tive sell.ta ap:provo,

Uujust a.ud hostilo to eacb foreign fame; Dut, w hen for geu'roua mind~ u.ud ma.oly laws A nll.t !on hoi& her prime 11.ppla.uae,

There public zeal sha.ll aJl reproof di!sdain."

On this Mr. Thomas Hollis (Memoirs, p. sz) observed : "For want of information at what period Dr. Akenside wrote his verses it is best to say nothing about the application of them."

The whereabouts of Anthony Bc:-nd's foundry still eludes us, for the work at Wimborne Minster in x6z9 was evidently done on the spot. Pe rhaps t ht! accounts of other parishes where hh bells rema~n may throw a light on the subject.

This document is provided for you by

The Whiting Society of Ringersvisit

www.whitingsociety.org.ukfor the full range of publications and articles

about bells and change ringing