Untitled Document
      Love's Guide to

The Bells of the City of London
 

,


  • Grid Ref:

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.
    2023-06-035136 Avon Delight Maximus
    2023-06-035040 Surprise Minor (7m)
    2023-06-035088 Spliced Surprise Major (7m)
    2023-06-035040 Doubles (42m/v)
    2023-06-035019 Stedman Cinques
    2023-06-035088 Gibside Delight Major
    2023-06-035088 Bristol Surprise Major
    2023-06-035760 Spliced Treble Dodging Minor (147m)
    2023-06-035040 Cambridge Surprise Royal
    2023-06-035000 Bristol Surprise Royal
    2023-06-025040 Spliced Surprise Minor (41m)
    2023-06-025040 Surprise Minor (7m)
    2023-06-025040 Surprise Minor (7m)
    2023-06-025040 Jenner Delight Royal
    2023-06-015040 Stedman Triples
    2023-06-015076 Bristol Surprise Major
    2023-06-015184 Yorkshire Surprise Major
    2023-05-315056 Bristol Surprise Major
    2023-05-315024 May Surprise Major
    2023-05-315040 Spliced Surprise Minor (24m)
    2023-05-315152 Deeping St James Delight Major
    2023-05-315040 Surprise Minor (11m)
    2023-05-305024 Yorkshire Surprise Major
    2023-05-305040 Stedman Septuples
    2023-05-305080 Cambridge Surprise Royal
    Recent Quarter Peals
    The most recent performances, according to BellBoard.
    2023-06-041280 Doubles (2m)
    2023-06-031260 4m Doubles
    2023-06-031320 Reverse Canterbury Pleasure Place Doubles
    2023-06-031280 Spliced Surprise Major (5m)
    2023-06-031272 Norwich Surprise Minor
    2023-06-031260 Plain Bob Doubles
    2023-06-031260 Stedman Triples
    2023-06-031260 Grandsire Doubles
    2023-06-031260 Grandsire Triples
    2023-06-031260 Plain Bob Minor
    2023-06-031282 Cambridge Surprise Royal
    2023-06-031440 London No 3 Surprise Royal
    2023-06-031282 Malvern Link Surprise Royal
    2023-06-031296 Grandsire Caters
    2023-06-031260 Grandsire Doubles
    2023-06-031260 Doubles (3m)
    2023-06-031260 Grandsire Triples
    2023-06-031250 Moonlight Treble Place Minimus
    2023-06-031260 Plain Bob Doubles
    2023-06-031260 1p/5m Doubles
    2023-06-031376 Plain Bob Major
    2023-06-031260 Doubles (2p/3m/6v)
    2023-06-031260 Plain Bob Minor
    2023-06-031260 London Surprise Minor
    2023-06-031320 St Clement's College Bob Minor
    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: 4 June 2023