Untitled Document
      Love's Guide to

 The Bells of the City of London
 

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Details of the Bells
Bell Weight
(most recent)		Diameter Note Date FounderRetuned
® 1 5-2-828¼" F♯ 1939 Gillett & Johnston, CroydonNever
® 2 5-3-2629½" E 1939 Gillett & Johnston, CroydonNever
® 3 6-2-831¹⁄₁₆" D 1939 Gillett & Johnston, CroydonNever
® 4 6-3-1832" C♯ 1939 Gillett & Johnston, CroydonNever
® 5 7-3-2434" B 1739 Samuel Knight, Southwark1939 Gillett & Johnston
® 6 9-1-8½36⅝" A 1939 Gillett & Johnston, CroydonNever
® 7 11-1-1339½" G 1739 Robert Catlin, Holborn1939 Gillett & Johnston
® 8 12-0-2741¾" F♯ 1773 Thomas Janaway, Chelsea1939 Gillett & Johnston
® 9 14-1-1945⅜" E 1834 Thomas Mears II1939 Gillett & Johnston
® 10 26-0-2651¹⁵⁄₁₆" D 1939 Gillett & Johnston, CroydonNever

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes
Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
1 All bells 1739 Robert Catlin, Holborn Timber
6.D

The 1739 Ring of Eight
Bell Weight Diameter Note Date Founder Retuned Fate
Treble (of 8)D1739Samuel KnightNeverRecast 1939 by Gillett & Johnston
2 (of 8)C♯1739Samuel KnightNeverRecast 1939 by Gillett & Johnston
3 (of 8)B1739Samuel Knight1939 Gillett & JohnstonStill there
4 (of 8)A1739Samuel KnightNeverRecast 1939 by Gillett & Johnston
5 (of 8)G1739Robert Catlin1939 Gillett & JohnstonStill there (part of the SK set despite the inscription)
6 (of 8)F♯1739Samuel KnightNeverRecast 1773 by Thomas Janaway
7 (of 8)E1739Samuel KnightNeverRecast 1834 by Thomas Mears II
Tenor (of 8)D1739Samuel KnightNeverRecast 1761 by Lester & Pack

Augmentation and recasting in 1761
Bell Weight Diameter Note Date Founder Retuned Fate
Treble (of 10)F♯1761Lester & PackNeverRecast 1939 by Gillett & Johnston
2 (of 10)E1761Lester & PackNeverRecast 1939 by Gillett & Johnston
Tenor (of 10)D1761Lester & PackNeverRecast 1939 by Gillett & Johnston

History
1516 In the reign of Edward I, the church was rebuilt. The tower was at the west end and is said to have contained 3 bells. The foundation stone of a new tower was laid, which was also to be a porch. The three bells were augmented to five. One was given by Master Pomfrey, and for the second, gifts of money and metal were collected in the parish. The old metal collected was "by the Commandment of the worshipful of the parish, delivered to Williams Smith, founder, in part payment of the new bell, two brasses and a clapper)."
1527 Record of 5 bells in the Churchwardens' Account giving their weights: 500 lbs, 621 lbs, 906 lbs, 1010 lbs, and 1613 lbs (total 4702 lbs). There was also a saunce bell.
1565 The 2nd (of 5) was recast at the expense of Mr Fisher, the Churchwarden.
1592 A new ring was made by Valentine Trevor, but the bells were "very falsely and deceitfully made" [CW's accounts].
1593 The bells were replaced by Robert Mot. The Accounts state that the tenor was 2100˝ cwt.
1597 The 4th (of 5) was recast by Robert Mot. Some time in the next decade or so the ring was augmented to six.
1670 Two new bells were cast by Mr Darbie, costing Ł47.10.0. Trollope thinks this would have been John Darbie from Ipswich. He also believes that this represents an augmentation to 8, although in 1714, only 6 bells are noted.
1714 Record of "six large bells" [Paterson].
1739 A ring of 8 was cast by Samuel Knight just before his death. The job was completed by his foreman and successor, Robert Catlin (the 5th bearing his name).
1761 The tenor was recast and two trebles were added by Lester & Pack.
1773 The 8th (of 10) was recast by Thomas Janaway.
1834 The 9th (of 10) was recast by Thomas Mears.
1939 Six of the bells were recast and rehung in the old frame by Gillett & Johnston.

Articles

  • "The St Margaret's Society celebrates its centenary", Unattributed (The Ringing World) 22 July 1994
    		•
    Recent Peals
    The most recent performances, according to BellBoard.
    2023-09-235012 Blanchland Alliance Major
    2023-09-235043 Stedman Caters
    2023-09-235007 Stedman Cinques
    2023-09-235088 Sibsey Surprise Major
    2023-09-235040 Stedman Triples
    2023-09-235042 Yorkshire Surprise Maximus
    2023-09-235045 Stedman Caters
    2023-09-235079 Stedman Cinques
    2023-09-235152 Spliced Surprise Major (23m)
    2023-09-235040 London No. 3 Surprise Royal
    2023-09-235056 Cambridge Surprise Major
    2023-09-235040 Yorkshire Surprise Royal
    2023-09-235088 Spliced Major (12m)
    2023-09-235001 Stedman Cinques
    2023-09-225056 Cambridge Surprise Major
    2023-09-225000 Bristol Surprise Royal
    2023-09-225040 Lincolnshire Surprise Royal
    2023-09-225040 Spliced Surprise Minor (10m)
    2023-09-225040 Maltby Surprise Royal
    2023-09-225040 Minor (7m)
    2023-09-225040 Cambridge Surprise Royal
    2023-09-225040 Yorkshire Surprise Royal
    2023-09-225040 Spliced Surprise Maximus (4m)
    2023-09-215152 Spliced Surprise Major (23m)
    2023-09-215056 Wicken Major
    Recent Quarter Peals
    The most recent performances, according to BellBoard.
    2023-09-241296 Cambridge Surprise Minor
    2023-09-241320 Surprise Minor (2m)
    2023-09-241260 Plain Bob Doubles
    2023-09-241288 Grandsire Triples
    2023-09-231280 Cambridge Surprise Major
    2023-09-231260 Grandsire Triples
    2023-09-231272 Berrynarbor Surprise Minor
    2023-09-231260 Plain Bob Doubles
    2023-09-231260 Grandsire Triples
    2023-09-231260 Doubles (4m/v)
    2023-09-231260 Doubles (3m)
    2023-09-231260 Doubles (7p/m/v)
    2023-09-231344 Spliced Surprise Major (4m)
    2023-09-231260 Plain Bob Doubles
    2023-09-231260 Doubles (9m/v)
    2023-09-231280 Plain Bob Major
    2023-09-231320 London Scholars' Pleasure Treble Bob Minor
    2023-09-231280 Minor (2m)
    2023-09-231260 Doubles (2m)
    2023-09-231260 Plain Bob Doubles
    2023-09-231250 Lincolnshire Surprise Major
    2023-09-231296 Cambridge Surprise Minor
    2023-09-231280 Superlative Surprise Major
    2023-09-231272 Rossendale Surprise Minor
    2023-09-231260 Grandsire Triples
    Full list of peals on Bellboard here
    		 Full list of quarters on Bellboard here

    Love's Guide to the Church Bells of the City of London Page updated: 24 September 2023