The Church Bells of the City of London

ST BARTHOLOMEW THE LESS,
SMITHFIELD
3 bells and Sanctus in B
Tenor: 6¾ cwt approx.
Frame: 17th Century for 5 bells.
Formerly a ring of 5.

DETAILS OF THE BELLS

Bell

Weight

Diameter

Note

Cast

 Founder

1

 3-2-12 26"

1869

 Mears & Stainbank

2

 5 cwt approx. 29¼"

1379 - 1406

 John Langhorne

3

 6¾ cwt approx. 33½" B

c.1420

 Richard Crouch

Sanctus

 1¾ cwt approx. 197/16" 1825 Thomas Mears II

INSCRIPTIONS

tba

HISTORY

15th Cent.

Date of tower (10¼ feet square). 2 of the present bells date from this period.

Late 16th Cent.

Probably the age of the frame. It has pits for 5 bells (4 parallel and 1 transverse), all of which have been occupied at some point.

1789

Interior of church entirely remodelled by the younger Dance.

1823

Church practically rebuilt.

1825

Sanctus bell cast.

1869

24th Sept

Whitechapel Daybook records "W.H.Cross, St.Bartholomew's Hospital. To a Bell 3-2-12 @ £70/0/0 £25.5.0 taking down old bell, fitting stock & Clapper, hanging new bell, inscription & all charges £5. Total £30.5.0"

1869

24th Sept

Whitechapel Daybook records "W.H.Cross, St.Bartholomew's Hospital. By old bell 3-1-20, Draft for waste dirt &c 10,3-1-10 @ £4/18/0 £16.7.3."

1869

The treble of 3 was recast by Whitechapel.

WWII

The 2 larger bells were taken to Cleeve Abbey for safety.

PHOTOGRAPHS
Photo DrL

Above are the treble and second and right, the tenor, hanging in the frame.

 Photo DrL
Photo DrL The sanctus bell. Given the way it is hung, some might like to suggest that this should be counted as a derelict ring of 4.

All 3 of these photographs were taken in the late 1960s.