Untitled Document
      Love's Guide to

The Bells of the City of London
St Bartholomew the Less
 

St Bartholomew the Less, Smithfield


  • 3 bells hung dead in old ringing frame and rung with Ellacombe hammers
  • Tenor: 6¾ cwt approx. in B.
  • Grid Ref: TQ318816
  • Frame: Late 15th century. Long-headed with king posts, curved braces from post to sill, end-posts, and curved braces from braces to end-posts.
  • Diocese: London
  • Building Listed Grade: II*. Click for Heritage details.

Details of the Bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)
Diameter Note Date FounderRetuned
Treble 3-2-1226" D♯ 1869 Mears & Stainbank, WhitechapelNever
2 5 cwt approx.29¼" C♯ c.1380 John LanghorneNever
Tenor 6¾ cwt approx.33½" B c.1420 Richard CrouchNever
҂ Sanctus 1¾ cwt approx.19⁷⁄₁₆" B♭ 1825 Thomas Mears II, WhitechapelNever

҂  - Hung for swing chiming
 - Hung dead

Bellframes

Position
Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
Single level 1 All bells >1480 Oak
5.F
5.3

Inscriptions

How the bells are tuned

5 cwt approx.

Bell Weight* Diameter Note Date Founder Retuned Fate
1 of 33-1-20c.1380John LanghorneNeverRecast 1869

* Source of weight figures: Whitechapel Daybook, 24 Sept, 1869

History

c 1123 The Hospital and Priory of St Bartholomew was founded.
c 1380 2 bells are known to have been cast by John Langhorne: the current middle bell and a bell that was the predecessor of the current treble (according to Walters).
c 1420 The tower was built in the 15th Century, derived from the former hospital chapel. It is 10¼ feet square. The current tenor dates from this period. It bears a shield with the letters r and c which led Walters to ascribe the bell to Robert Crouch (he spelt it Crowtch) although most other commentators give him the name Richard Crouch.
c 1480 The current frame was installed in the tower in the late 15th Century. Dendrochronological research concluded that the timbers could date to as early as 1480, which makes it the earliest surviving bellframe in the City. It is a frame for 5 bells, 4 parallel and 1 transverse, and all the pits appear to have been occupied at some time in their history, although Churchwarden Accounts going back to 1575 seem to suggest payments have only ever been for 3 ringers, hence just 3 bells. [1] [2] [3]
1546 The parish was constituted. It consists of the precincts of the Hospital of St Bartholomew.
1734 There is a record of the "Rambling Club of Ringers" ringing a 1260 changes upon the 3 bells. They recorded it as 'the longest peal that e-er was rung on three bells’, which if correct, makes it the first 3 bell quarter peal ever rung (albeit an unlikely claim). William Laughton was a College Youth, Steward in 1731. [4]
1789 The interior of the church was entirely remodelled by the younger Dance.
1823 The church was practically rebuilt.
1825 The sanctus bell was cast by Thomas Mears.
1869 The treble of the 3 bells was recast by Mears & Stainbank. [5]
1941 The 2 larger bells were taken to Cleeve Abbey for safety. They were returned and hung dead in the frame. Some years later (1970s-2000s, not known) the Sanctus bell was removed from its pit between the main frame and the louvre centre post and hung in one of the empty pits for swinging. [6]
1951 The bells were returned to the belfry and hung stationary with chiming hammers. [7]
[1] (The Tree-Ring Analysis of the Bellframe at the Church of St Bartholomew the Less, London EC1, Ian Tyers, Aug 2003)
[2] Item to three ringers at the Quenes coming to white hall when Cass... came in by the space of one afternoone ... (Churchwardens Account 1578-80)
[3] Bells hung in an early seventeenth century frame with pits for five bells (four parallel and one transverse). All the pits have been occupied; Frame probably slightly earlier, late C16th [date since refined by dendrology]. Long-headed with king posts, curved braces from post to sill, end-posts, and curved braces from braces to end-posts. Nicely chamfered. Head of transverse pit replaced but otherwise largely unaltered. Sanctus now in original tenor pit with post-War Mears & Stainbank fittings, but originally hung at a slightly higher level in a flimsy wooden framework in the south belfry window. Treble still on old oak stock. Others rehung with deadstocks but old fittings remain in the tower. Chimed from a manual with Ellacombe hammers. (Notes by Chris Dalton and Chris Pickford, visit 2000)
[4] On Thursday, November 21st [1734], Joseph Bennett, James Benson and William Laughton diverted themselves by ringing 1,260 changes on the three bells at St.Bartholomew-the-Less, ‘the longest peal that e-er was rung on three bells’. This was their second attempt there; the Thursday before they had gone to St.Bartholomew’s, but the tenor rope had slipped wheel after 468 changes. The Ramblers ‘met both times at the Cock and Crown in Little Britain which is a noted house for Birds, and Bird fancyers’. (Remarks on a Rambling Club of Ringers in a manuscript written by William Laughton of Holborn, Guildhall Library, ref: Ms 254)
[5] 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" "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. (Whitechapel Daybook, 24 Sept, 1869)
[6] To lowering the two 14th century bells & storing in courtyard, £11.12.0. (Whitechapel Daybook, 14 August 1941)
[7] 3, tenor 6 cwt. Treble 1869. Bells hoisted into belfry and hung stationary with chiming hammers & chime bracket & all necessary fittings for stationary use, Oct. 1951. (Whitechapel Card Index)

Articles

  • "The Tree-Ring Analysis of the Bellframe at the Church of St Bartholomew the Less, London EC1", Ian Tyers (Sheffield University ARCUS Dendrochronology Laboratory) 1 August 2003
  • Old church engravings


    Old engraving
    Photo:

    Old photographs of the bells


    The treble and second and right, the tenor, hanging in the frame.
    Photo: David L Cawley, 1960s

    The tenor.
    Photo: David L Cawley, 1960s

    The Sanctus bell hung for ringing between the bellframe and the centre post of the louvre.
    Photo: David L Cawley, 1960s

    Photographs of the belfry


    Middle bell.
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 16 Dec 2009

    Middle bell.
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 16 Dec 2009

    Treble bell
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 16 Dec 2009

    The sanctus bell.
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 16 Dec 2009

    The old sanctus pit. You can just about make out the bearing slots and the slider runner board on the louvre.
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 16 Dec 2009


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 16 Dec 2009

    The tenor.
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 16 Dec 2009

    The frame is the oldest in London.
    Photo: Dickon R Love, 16 Dec 2009


    Photo: Dickon R Love, 16 Dec 2009


    Love's Guide to the Church Bells of the City of London Page updated: 1 October 2023