Skip to main content

Full text of "The church bells of Bedfordshire : their founders, inscriptions, traditions, and peculiar uses, with a brief history of church bells in that county, chiefly from original and contemporaneous records"

See other formats 


THE    CHURCH     BELLS 


OF 


BEDFORDSHIRE. 


THE    CHURCH    BELLS 


OF 


BEDFORDSHIRE : 

Their  Founders,  Inscriptions,  Traditions,  and  Peculiar 

Uses  ; 

WITH    A    BRIEF 

HISTORY   OF  CHURCH    BELLS    IN    THAT    COUNTY,  CHIEFLY 
FROM  ORIGINAL  AND  CONTEMPORANEOUS  RECORDS. 


BY  THOMAS    NORTH,   F.S.A., 

Honorary  Memuer  and  Honorary  Secretary  of  the  Leicestershire  Architec- 
tural AND  ArCH.LOLOGICAL  SOCIETY,   HONORARY  MEMBER  OK  THE  DERBY- 
SHIRE Arch.eological  and  Natural  History  Society,  etc. 


L     r  WITH     ILLUSTRATIONS. 


LONDON : 

ELLIOT    STOCK,    62,    PATERNOSTER    ROW 

1883. 


cc 

2.  IS. 

^5. 


Bf/Yi 


^^ 

THE  RIGHT 
fj  REVEREND  JAMES  RUSSELL  WOODFORD,  D.D., 

<I^  LORD  BISHOP  OF  ELY, 

This  Volume,  descriptivk  of  the  Church  Bells  in  a  portion  of  his 

Diocese, 
IS,  BY  his  Lordship's  special  permission, 

MOST   respectfully   DEDICATED 
BY     HIS     OBEDIENT     AND     FAITHFUL     SERVANT, 

THE  AUTHOR. 


731832 


SUBSCRIBERS. 


Addington,    II.,    Esq.,    Ilenlow    Grange, 

Biggleswade. 
Atkinson,  Rev.  EtUvanl,  D.D.,  Clare  College, 

Cambridge. 

Baker,  Charles,  Esq.,  Friar  Lane,  Leicester. 
Baker,    Rev.    W.    S.,    Eversholt    Rectory, 

Woburn. 
Bath  and  Wells,   the  Lord  Bishop  of,  The 

Palace,  Wells. 
Beedham,    B.    H.,    Esq.,    Ashfield   House, 

Kimbolton. 
Bennett,  E.  G.,  Esq.,  lo.  Woodland  Terrace, 

Plymouth. 
Berry,  Rev.  T.  M.,  Blunham  Rectory,  Sandy, 
lielhell,  W.,   Esq.,  Rise  Park,  Hull. 
Birch,   Rev.   C.  G.   R.,  Brancaster  Rectory, 

Norfolk. 
Blair,  R.,  Esq.,  South  Shields. 
Blayde.s,  F.  A.,  Esq.,  Shenstone  Lodge,  Ash- 

burnham  Road,  Bedford. 
Blundell,  J.  II.,  Esq.,  157,  Cheapside. 
Boardman,   Mr.,  Bookseller,  Bishop's  Stort- 

ford. 
Bonser,    Rev.    J.    A.,    Shillington    Vicarage, 

Ilitchin. 
Boyd,   Miss  Julia,    Moor   House,   Leamside, 

Durham. 


Briscoe,  J.  P.,  Esq.,  F.R.H.S.,  Free  Librar)-, 

Nottingham. 
Brooke,    Thos.,    Esq.,     F.S.A.,    Armytage 

Bridge,  Huddersfield.     Large  Paper. 
Brushfield,  T.  N.,  Esq.,  The  CHIT,  Budleigh, 

Salterton. 
Bull,  T.,  Esq.,  49,  High  Street,  Bedford. 

Carpenter,  Dr.  Alfred,  Croydon. 

Clarke,  Mr.  Saml.,  5,  Gallowtree  Gate,  Leices- 
ter. 

Cokayne,  G.  E.,  Esq.,  M.A.,  F..S.A.,  Col- 
lege of  Arms,  E.C. 

Cooke,  Rev.  Canon,  F.S.A.,  6,  Clifton  Place, 
Sussex  Square,  W. 

Cooper,  Thomas,  Esq.,  Mossley  House,  Con- 
gleton. 

Cox,  Cornelius,  Esq.,  58,  Fellow's  Road, 
Hampste.ad,  N.W. 

Cunninghamc,  G.  G.,  Esq.,  45,  Manor  Place, 
Edinburgh. 

Daii;ney,  Rev.  W.  IL,  Harlington  Vicarage, 
Dunstable. 

Davidson,  Hugh,  Esq.,  Braedale,  L.anark. 

Dol)cIl,  W.,  Esq.,  West  Mailing,  Kent. 

Downing,  Wm.,  Esq.,  74,  New  Street,  Bir- 
mingham. 


Vlll 


Church  Be  lis  of  ]>edfordshire. 


Duke,    Rev.   R.,   F.S.A.,  liiilingham    R.cc- 

tory,  Pcrshorc. 
Dymond,  E.  G.,  Esq.,  Asplcy  Guise,  Wohurn. 

Edmond,  G.,  Esq.,  Spring  Vale,  Niton,  Isle 

of  Wight,     Large  Paper. 
Edmonds,   J.   R.,  Esq.,   Charnwood  House, 

Sileby,  Loughborough. 
Edmondcs,  Rev.  T.,  The  Vicarage,  Cowbridge. 
Elvin,  C.  N.,  Esq.,  M.A.,  Eckling  Grange, 

East  Dereham. 
Evans,  John,  Esq.,  D.C.L.,  LL.D.,  F.R.S., 

F.S.A.,  6s,  Old  Bailey,  E.G. 
Eyre,  Rev.  W.  II.,  Stoneyhurst,  Blackburn. 

Fisher,    E,,    Esq.,    Abbotsbury,    Newton 

Abbot. 
Fisher,  S.  T.,  Esq.,  4,  Bark  Prospect,  Little 

Queen  Street,  S.W. 
Foster,  R.,  Esq.,  Llanwithan,  Lostwithiel. 
Foster,  J.  N.,  Esq.,  Sandy,  Ijedfordshire. 
Fowler,  Rev.  J.  T.,  F.S.A. ,  Bishop  Hatfield's 

Hall,  Durham. 
Fox,  Dr.  C.  II.,  The  Beeches,   Brislington, 

Bristol. 

.  GOUGH,  II.,  Esq.,  Sandcroft,  Redhill. 
Gray,   II.,   Esq.,  25,  Cathedral  Yard,  Man- 
chester.    Large  Paper. 
Grove,  Dr.  W.  R.,  St.  Ives,  Hunts. 

H.XDDOCK,  Rev.  Canon,  Bedford. 

Harris,  II.  E.  Hollis,  Esq.,  78,  Regent  Street, 

W. 
Harting,  J.  v.,   Esq.,   F.S.A.,    24,  Lincoln's 

Inn  Fields,  W.C. 


Ilaslam,  Rev.  C.  E.,  Toddington  Rectory, 
Dunstable. 

Ilayward,  T.,  Esq.,  Crescent  Foundry, 
Cripplegate.     L.argc  Paper. 

Ilebbes,  C,  Esq.,  Wootton,  Bedford. 

Hill,  James  Woodward,  Esq.,  Bedford. 

Ilockliffe,    F.,    Esq.,    Bedford.      12,   Large 
Paper, 

Do.,  Do.  (12  eopies). 

Holmes,  G.,  Esq.,  Ilarlcston,  Norfolk. 

Honeyman,  J.,  Esq.,  140,  Bath  Street,  Glas- 
gow. 

Hope,  R.  C,  Esq.,  Albion  Crescent  Villa, 
Scarborough. 

Horley,  W.,  Esq.,  Toddington,  Dunstable. 

Howard,  F.,  Esq.,  Bedford. 

Howlett,  Rev.  J.  H.,  Meppershall  Rectory, 
Beds. 

James,    Francis,    Esq.,    F.S.A.,    Edg\vorth 

Manor,  Cirencester. 
Jendwine,  Rev.  W.,  Aspley  Guise,  Wobum, 
Jepson,  G.  G.,  Esq.,  Springmount,  Leeds. 
Jerram,  Mr.  J.  R.,  The  Close,  Salisbury. 

KiRKLAND,  Walter,  Esq.,  23,  Upperton  Gar- 
dens, Eastbourne. 

Layton,  C.  Temple,  Esq.,  17,  Mincing  Lane, 
E.G. 

Layton,  Thomas,  Esq.,  F.S.A.,  Kew  Bridge, 
Middlesex.     Large  Paper. 

Lee-Warner,  Rev.  T.  II.,  Highmoor,  Henley- 
on-Thames. 

I>uck,  Richard,  Esq.,  Llanfairfechan. 

Lynam,  C,  Esq.,  Stoke-on-Trent. 


Subscribers. 


IX 


Macleur,  W.,  Esq.,  31,  Camperdown  Place, 

Great  Yarmouth. 
Mears,  J.,   Esq.,    47,    Uurgate,    Canterluiry. 

Large  Paper. 
Mercer,  Wm.  J.,   Esq.,  12,  Marine  Terrace, 

^Margate. 
Miles,  Rev.  II.  II.,  Clifton  Rectory,  IJiggles- 

wade. 
Murdoch,   Rev.   A.,   All    Saints'    Parsonage, 

Edinburgh. 

NlEl.D,  Wm.,  Esq.,  2,  Broad  Street,  Prist.-)]. 
Nixon,    E.,  Esq.,  Saville   House,    Mcthlej', 

Leeds. 
Norton,  Mr.  W.,  Cheltenham. 

ORLEfJAR,  Rev.  A.,  Willington  Vicarage, 
Bedford. 

Ormerod,  II.,  jun.,  Esq.,  Boothroyd,  Brig- 
house. 

Owen,  Rev.  T.  M.  N.,  Rhodes  Vicarage, 
Middleton. 

PARLANE,J.,Esq.,  Appleby  Lodge,  Rusholme, 
Manchester. 

Pietcrs,  Rev.  J.  W.,  S.  John's  College,  Cam- 
bridge. 

Pike,  (I.  II.,  Esq.,  Green  Dragon  Lane, 
\Vinchmorc  Hill. 

Pulleine,  Mrs.,  Clifton  Castle,  Bedale. 

Ram.sev,    R.,   Esq.,  27,  Grccndyke   Street, 

Glasgow.     Large  Paper. 
Raven,    Rev.  J.    J.,    D.D.,   School    House, 

Great  Yarmouth. 
Rayncs,  J.  G.,  Esq.,  14,  Great  James  Street, 

W.C. 


Reynolds,  A. ,  Esq. ,  Merchant  Taylors'  Schools, 

E.G. 
Roots,  G.,  Esq.,  2,  Ashley  Place,   Victoria 

Street,  S.W. 
Roper,    Rev.  T.   II.,  Piddlehinton  Rector)-, 

Dorchester, 
Roundell,    C.    S.,    Esq.,    M.P.,    16,  Curzon 

Street,  Mayfair,  W. 
Rowe,    R.    Reynolds,   Esq.,    F.S.A.,    Park 

House,  Cambridge. 
Royce,  Rev.  D.,  Nether  Swell  Vicarage,  Stow- 

on-Wold. 

St.    Aldyn,   J.    P.,   Esq.,    iiS,  Cambridge 

Street,  Eccleston  Square,  .S.W. 
Sidebolham,     J.,     Esq.,    F.S.A.,    Bowdon, 

Cheshire. 
Smith,  Rev.  P..  C,  Ilulcotc  Rectory,  Wolnirn. 
Snowdon,  J.  M.,  Esq.,  Old  P.ank  Chandiers, 

Leeds. 
Spiers,    E.    G.,    Esq.,    21,    Bernard     Street, 

Russell  Square,  W.C. 
Stahlschmidt,  C.  T.,  Esq.,  Fronsham  House, 

Balham,  S.W.     Large  Paper. 
Stainer,  Dr.  John,  5,  Amen  Corner,  E.G. 
Stanton,  Rev.   A.   II.,  St.  Albans,   Holborn, 

W.C. 
Stretton,  Miss,  Danes  Hill  House,  Leicester. 

L.arge  Paper. 
Sutton,    Rev.    Canon,   West  Tofls    Rectory, 

Muntford. 
Swithinbank,    d.    E.,    Esq.,    LL.  1).,   I'pper 

Norwood,  Surrey. 

Taylor,  Messrs.  John  iV  Co.,  Loughborough. 
Taylor,  Rev.  R.  F.,Gomcrsal  \'icarage,  Leeds. 
Thorpe,    G.,     Esq.,    65,    Stoke    Newinglon 
Road,  N, 


X 


Church  Bells  of  Bedfo7'dshirc, 


Timceus,  Mr.  C.  F.,  High  Street,  Kedford 
(3  copies). 

Tinkler,  Rev,  John,  Arkengarth-dale  Vicar- 
age, Richmond. 

Trethewy,  II.,  Esq.,  Silsoe,  Ampthill,  Large 
Paper. 

Tyssen,  A.  D.,  Esq.,  D.C.L.,  40,  Chancery 
Lane,  W.C. 

UssiiER,  Rev.  R.,  Grove  House,  Ventnor, 
Isle  of  Wight. 

ViALLS,  G.,  Esq.,  24,  Doughty  Street,  W. 

Walhouse,  M.  J.,  Esq.,  9,  Randolph  Cres- 
cent, W. 

Walton,  Rev.  T.  J.,  Ickleford  Rectory, 
Ilitchin. 

Warmoll,  Rev.  Provost,  Bedford. 


Warner,  Messrs.  J.  &  Sons,  Crescent  Foundry, 

Cripplegate,  E.C. 
Waterton,  Edmund,   Esq.,  F.S.A.,  Deeping 

Waterton  Hall,  Market  Deeping. 
Watkins,  Rev.  H.  G.,  The  Vicarage,  Potter's 

Bar,  N. 
Webster,  Mrs.,  Raven  Ilolt,  Scalford,  MeKon 

Mowbray. 
White,  G.  II.,  Esq.,  Glenthorne,  St.  Mary's 

Church,  Torquay. 
Whitbread,  Saml,  Esq.,  Southill, Biggleswade. 

Large  Paper. 
Whitehead,   Rev.    H.,    Brampton   Vicarage, 

Carlisle. 
Williams,  J.  H.,  Esq.,  Leicester. 
Wood,  R.  H.,  Esq.,  F.S.A.,  Penrhos House, 

Rugby. 
Worcester,  the  Very  Rev.  the  Dean  of,  Wor- 
cester. 


Corporation  Library,  Guildhall,  E.C. 

Society  of  Antiquaries  of  London,  Burlington  House,  W. 

Cathedral  Library,  Lincoln. 


The  foregoing  list  of  subscribers  has  been  made  up  to  the  date  of  going  to  press.     Any  names 
arriving  after  this  date  have  been  necessarily  omitted. 


PREFACE. 

— <. — 

On  the  completion  of  my  endeavour  to  place  upon  record  a 
careful  account  of  the  Bells  at  present  hanging  in  the  churches 
of  Bedfordshire,  I  have  to  acknowledge,  with  pleasure  and  with 
gratitude,  much  kind  help  received  from  many  friends  and 
from  many  courteous  correspondents. 

To  Mr.  Edwin  Ransom,  F.R.G.S.,  I  am  specially  indebted 
for  (without  any  solicitation  on  my  part)  placing  in  my  hands 
a  collection  of  copies  of  the  inscriptions  on,  and  the  measure- 
ments of,  many  bells  in  the  county,  carefully  made  under  his 
direction  some  years  ago. 

To  Mr.  D.  G.  Cary-Elwes,  F.S.A.,  and  to  Mr.  Charles 
Herbert,  I  am  also  very  much  indebted  for  spending  much 
time,  and  making  long  journeys^  in  order  to  procure  for  me 
rubbings  from  many  of  the  more  ancient  bells  in  the  county. 

And  further,  I  beg  to  acknowledge  the  ready  help  I  received 
from  the  other  gentlemen,  whose  names  are  in  the  following 
list,  towards  the  completion  of  this  work  by  sending  me 
rubbings,  etc.,  of  the  inscriptions  on,  and  other  particulars 
relating  to,  the  bells  in  the  different  parishes  appended  to  their 
names. 

The  Rev.  W.  G.  Dimock  Fletcher  very  kindly  gave  me 
some  assistance  in  the  Bodleian  Library,  O.xford.     The   Rev. 

d—2 


Xll 


CI  Lurch  Bells  of  Bedfordshire. 


J.  T.  Fowler,  F.S.A.,  Vice-Principal  of  Bishop  Hatfield's  Hall, 
Durham,  allowed  me,  as  upon  former  occasions,  to  appeal  to 
him  for  a  reading  of  more  than  one  difficult  inscription  ;  and 
Mr.  Vincent's  professional  services  were  very  useful  to  me  in 
the  Public  Record  Office. 

To  each  and  all  I  beg  to  offer  my  hearty  thanks. 


Baker,  Rev.  R. 

Blaydes,  F.  A.,  Esq.     ... 
Bolingbioke,  Rev.  F.    ... 
Bonser,  Rev.  J.  A. 
Bosanquet,  Rev.  E. 

Elwes,  D.  G.  Gary-,  Esq.,  F.S.A. 


Golmworth,  Eaton  Socon,  rudJington,  Staugli- 

ton  Parva,  Wyniington. 
Studham,  Whipsnade, 
Melchbourne. 
Shillington. 
Glophill. 

Bedford  (S.  Peter,  S.  Mary,  and  S.  Guthbert), 
Blunham,  Bromham,  Cardington,  Carlton, 
Chcllington,  Glapham,  Cople,  Elstow,  Gold- 
ington,  Ilarrold,  Ilawnes,  Kempston,  Mug- 
gerhanger,  Northill,  Oakley,  Odell,  Paven- 
ham,  Potton,  Sandy,  Sharnbrook,  Southill, 
Stevington,  Thurleigh,  Warden  (Old), 
Wilden,  Wilshampstead,  \Villington,  Woot- 
ton. 


FosTEK,  Rev.  A.  J. 
Herbert,  Mr.  Gharles. 


Fandisli. 

Aspky  Guise,  Baltlesden  House,  Billington, 
Gaddington,  Chalgrave,  Granfield,  Eaton 
Bray,  Egginlon,  Flitwick,  Harlington,  Heath 
and  Reach,  Ilockliffe,  Houghton  Regis, 
Hulcote,  Husborne  Grawley,  Lidlington, 
Marston  Moretaine,  Millbrooke,  Milton 
Bryant,  Salford,  Stanbridge,  Tilsworth,  Tin- 
grilh,  Tottenhoe,  \Yobuni. 


Llf,  Rev.  W.  G. 


Shelton. 


Preface. 


Xlll 


Miles,  Rev.  II.  II. 
Moxon,  Rev.  G.  II. 

ObiiORN,  Rev.  G.  M. 

Ransom,  E.,  Esq. 


Raven,  Rev.  J.  J.,  D.D. 
Rayncs,  J.  G.,  Esq. 


W.\KNER  &  So.NS,  Messrs. 


Llanfairfechan,  North  Wales. 
October,  1883. 


Clifton. 
Streallcy,  Sundon. 

Camptoii,  ShcfTord. 

Ampthill,  BarforJ  Great,  BarforJ  Little,  I5ar- 
ton-le-Clay,  Battlesden,  Bedford  (S.  Paul, 
S.  John  Baptist,  and  Holy  Trinity),  Bidden- 
ham,  Biggleswade,  Bletsoc,  Bolnhurst,  Card- 
ington,  Clapham,  Dean,  Dunstable,  Evers- 
holt,  Felmersham,  Flitton,  Gravenhurst 
(Upper  and  Lower).  Ilatlcy  Cockayne,  Hig- 
ham  Gobion,  Houghton  Conquest,  Kcysoe, 
Knotting,  Leighton  Buzzard,  Luton,  Mep- 
pershall,  Milton  Ernest,  Pertcnhall,  Pollux- 
hill,  Pottesgrove,  Ravensden,  RenfoUl, 
Ridgmount,  Riseley,  Roxton,  Silsoe,  Soul- 
drop,  Stagsden,  Steppingley,  Stondon,  Sutton, 
Tempsford,  Tilbrook,  Toddington,  Turvey, 
Westoning,  Wrestlingworth,  Vielden. 

Holwcll,  Maulden. 

Dunton,  Edworth,  Eyeworlh,  Ilenlow,  Lang- 
ford,  Stotfold. 

Arlesey. 

T.  N. 


CONTENTS. 

Church  Bells  (with  special  reference  to  those  in  Bedfordshire)   . 

The  Church  Bells  of  Bedfordshire         .... 

The  Bedfordshire  Bellfounders  {Illustrated) 

Other  Founders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells  {Illustrated) 

Peculiar  Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells 

Latin  Inscriptions  on  Bedfordshire  Bells  {j(.iith  Tratislations) 

A  Table  of  Diameters  of  Bells,  with  the  approximate  Weights  . 

The  Inscriptions  on  the  Church  Bells  of  Bedfordshire,  with  the  Diameter 
at  the  mouth  of  each  Bell,  from  which  its  approximate  Weight  may 
be  ascertained.  To  which  are  added  extracts,  where  procurable, 
from  the  Commissioners'  Returns  temp.  Edward  VI.,  and  from 
Parochial  and  other  Records,  together  with  Local  Traditions, 
Notices  of  Donors,  etc.,  etc.  .  .  .  .  .121 

Index     .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  213 


PAGE 
I 

37 

43 

85 

117 


CHURCH    BELLS. 


ALTHOUGH  we  know  that  the  Christian  Church  in  the 
first  years  of  its  infancy  met  in  a  large  upper  room,  the 
festival  apartment,  the  best  room  in  the  house,  and  one,  no 
doubt,  decently,  if  not  handsomely,  furnished ;  and  that 
afterwards,  in  the  early  centuries  of  its  existence,  its  members 
assembled  for  prayer  and  praise  in  handsome  edifices,  or  in 
caves  and  catacombs,  according  to  the  peace  it  occasionally 
enjoyed,  or  the  persecution  it  not  unfrequently  suffered,  still 
we  know  little  of  the  means — public  or  private,  according  to 
these  circumstances — adopted  for  calling  the  faithful  together. 
Even  after  its  vicissitudes  of  outward  peace  and  unrest  were 
over,  and  it  enjoyed,  under  Constantine,  encouragement  and 
protection,  when  some  of  the  ancient  basilicas  of  Rome  were 
placed  by  the  Emperor  in  the  hands  of  the  Church,  and 
magnificent  temples  were  erected  by  him,  in  other  places  of 
his  wide  dominions,  for  the  worship  of  God,  the  mode  of 
summoning  the  worshippers  is  still  uncertain,  and  our 
knowledge  of  it  obscure.  Bingham's  opinion  is  probably 
correct,  that  for  the  first  three  hundred  years  the  primitive 
Christians  did  not  meet  in  their  assemblies  by  the  notice  of 
any  public  signal.      The  hours  of  prayer  being  well   known, 

B 


2  Church   Bells. 

and  a  desire,  perhaps,  existing  not  to  unduly  call  the  attention 
of  their  heathen  or  Jewish  neighbours  to  the  celebration  of 
their  more  solemn  rites,  might  induce  them  to  assemble,  even 
during  periods  of  peace  and  quiet,  without  the  use  of  any 
public  summons.  In  the  times  of  persecution  a  secret 
message  passed  from  one  to  another  would  be  the  safest  and 
only  prudent  method  of  calling  the  Christians  together. 
Later,  when  the  Church  had  little  to  fear  from  outward 
persecution,  the  Christians  in  Egypt  and  in  Palestine  appear 
to  have  used  trumpets,  like  the  Jews  of  old,  and  In  other  parts 
they  used  an  instrument  of  wood,  called  a  sigmcm.  In  the 
monasteries  the  monks  or  nuns  were  summoned  to  church 
by  a  blow  from  a  mallet  at  the  door  of  each  cell,  or  by  one 
going  round  crying  "  Halleluja."'" 

It  Is  not  until  the  fifth  century  that  we  find  bells  used  in 
the  Christian  Church  In  the  way  with  which  we  are  so  familiar. 
Small  bells,  or  "  metallic  ratdes,"  had  been  long  known 
and  used  in  various  ways  by  the  nations  of  antiquity.  The 
Jews  knew  them  well ;  the  Greeks  and  the  Romans  were 
familiar  with  them  ;  the  Persians  wore  them  on  their  royal 
robes  ;  they  have  been  found  In  the  ruins  of  Nineveh  ;  the 
Hindoos  used  them  in  their  temples,  and  the  Chinese  have 
probably  for  ages  known  them  as  common  things ;  but  even 
tradition  does  not  claim  the  Campana,  or  large  bell,  as  an 
ornament  of  the  church,  used  as  a  public  signal,  prior  to  the 
fifth  century. 

S.  Jerome,  who  is  thought  to  be  the  first  Christian  writer 

*  See  Bingham's  CArisL  A /tiii/.  Book  viii.       oi  FeWiccisLS  Fo/i/f  o///tc  CAn's/ian  C/iu/r/i, 
c,  vii.  s.  XV.,  and  see  also  Bellett's  translation       Book  ii.  s.  ii.  c.  i.,  p.  192. 


CJmrch    Bells.  3 

who  refers  to  large  bells — Campancr,  or  Sigjia,  as  they  are 
frequently  called — mentions  them  in  his  Rcgitla  Illoimc/ionnu, 
written  about  a.d.  422,  as  being  then  used  as  a  call  to  Matins 
and  to  the  other  canonical  hours.'"  Two  centuries  later 
(a.d.  604)  Pope  Sabinian  ordered  the  canonical  hours  to  be 
sounded  on  the  bells  ;  and  they  are  mentioned  in  the  Ordo 
Romanus  of  that  date,  as  well  as  in  other  writin^rs  of  the  close 
of  that  century.t  Half  a  century  later  we  find  a  bell  in 
England.  Bede  mentions  the  existence  of  one  at  Whitby  in 
the  year  680,  which  was  used  to  awake  and  to  call  the  nuns  to 
prayer.  I  The  second  Excerption  of  Egbert,  issued  about  the 
year  750,  commands  every  priest,  at  the  proper  hours,  to 
sound  the  bells  of  his  church,  and  then  to  go  through  the 
sacred  Offices  of  God.  Ingulph  tells  of  a  ring  of  seven  bells — 
and  gives  their  names — as  being  at  Croyland  Abbey  at  the 
close  of  the  tenth  century.§  Bells  were  cast,  for  the  great 
Religious  House  at  Abingdon,  under  the  direction  of  S. 
.^thelwold  ;  and  S.  Dunstan  (who  died  a.d.  977),  not  only 
cast  bells  for  the  same  House  and  for  Canterbury  Cathedral, || 
but  drew  up  a  set  of  rules  for  their  use.  Lancfranc  (who 
died  a  century  later)  also  drew  up  rules  for  the  ringing  of  the 
bells  for  the  canonical  hours.  Indeed,  there  is  every  reason 
for  believing  that  at  the  Norman  Conquest  bells  were  plentiful 
in  England,  and  that  then,  or  shortly  afterwards,  the  art  of 
bellfounding   was    not   only  well    understood,   hut    carried    to 

*  Quoted  by  Rocca  De  Canifanis,  Opera,  \  Ingulph's  Chron.  (Bohn's  Ed.),  p.  107. 

Romcc   1719,  vol.  i.,  p.  156.  ||   Rock's  Church  0/  our  fathers,  iii.  I'art 

\  Walcott's  Sac.  Arch.,  p.  66.  2,  p.  57. 

X  Eccl.  Hiit.,  Book  iv.  c.  xxiv.      (Gidley"s 
translation.) 


4  Church  Bells. 

great  perfection  in  this  country.  The  grand  old  Norman 
towers  of  our  churches  clearly  point  to  the  large  and  heavy 
bells  which  they  were  erected  to  contain,  and  the  law  of 
Curfew,  enforced  by  the  Conqueror,  proves  the  general 
distribution  of  bells  throughout  the  country. 

In  the  thirteenth  century  Campano'  Magnet  are  mentioned 
in  the  necessary  furniture  of  an  English  church,*  and  every 
such  church  would  appear  to  have  then  possessed  one  bell  or 
more ;  the  chroniclers,  too,  constantly  refer  to  the  ringing  of 
bells  amongst  the  usual  marks  of  rejoicing  and  of  welcome.t 
It  is  in  that  century  that  we  meet  with  a  regular  bellfounder 
by  trade,  Roger  de  Ropeford,  who,  in  the  year  1284,  was 
employed  to  cast  four  bells  for  the  north  tower  of  Exeter 
Cathedral.  I 

In  the  Middle  Ages,  and,  indeed,  in  much  more  recent 
times,  when  the  roads- were  bad  and  the  movement  of  heavy 
material  difficult,  bells  were  often  cast  within  the  precincts  of 
Religious  Houses,  in  churchyards,  and  even,  occasionally, 
within  the  church  itself.  Bellfounders,  too,  itinerated,  setting 
up  their  furnaces  in  central  situations,  doing  all  the  work  they 
could  obtain  from  the  neighbourhood  around,  and  then 
moving  on. 

After  the  bell  was  cast,  and  before  raising  it  to  its  final 
place  in  the  bell-chamber,  it  was  set  apart  for  its  future  use  by 
a  solemn  ceremonial,  and  by  the  recitation  of  an  Office  which 
has  been  variously  termed  the  Blessing,  the  Consecration,  and 


*  See   Peacock's   Church   Funiittire,   pp.  J  Ellacombe's  Bells  of  Exeter  Cathedral 

177-9-  P-  3- 

t  See  especially  Matthew  of  Paris. 


Church   Bells.  5 

the  Baptism  of  the  bell.  The  use  of  this  Office,  if  not  coeval 
with  the  introduction  of  the  church  bell,  is  certainly  of  great 
antiquity.  This  we  gather  from  the  fact  that  Charlemagne 
issued,  in  the  year  789,  an  express  order  against  the  baptism 
of  bells.  The  De  Benedictione  Signi  vel  Campancc  of  the 
Roman  Pontifical  follows  the  ceremonies  enjoined  in  the  more 
ancient  Offices.  The  bell  having  been  first  washed  by  the 
Bishop  with  water  into  which  salt  had  been  cast,  was  anointed 
by  him  with  holy  oil  and  chrism,  he  saying  : — 

"  Saudi  -{-Jicctiir,  et  consc  -\-  cretiir  Domi/ie  Signum  istud : 
in  nomine  Pa -V  iris  ei  Fi-\-lii,  et  Spiritus  +  Sancti  in  honorem 
Sancii  N.     Pax  tibi:' 

After  which  the  inside  of  the  bell  was  censed.  This  Office, 
which  had  many  characteristics  of  Holy  Baptism,  was  made 
even  more  conspicuously  similar  by  the  introduction  of 
other — apparently  unauthorized — ceremonies,  so  that,  at  least 
in  the  eyes  of  the  vulgar,  it  assumed  a  too  close  and  irreverent 
resemblance  to  that  holy  Sacrament.  These  additions  were 
the  giving  of  a  name — not  the  simple  dedication  of  the  bell  in 
honour  of  a  certain  saint — and  the  use  of  sponsors.  These 
customs  prevailed  in  France,  and  also  in  England,  where  the 
chief  duty  of  the  sponsors  appears  to  have  been  to  pay  the 
costs  attending  the  consecration.  Thus  in  1499,  when  the 
great  bell,  named  Harry,  was  hallowed  at  Reading,  we  are  told 
that  certain  persons  were  "  godfaders  and  godmother  at  the 
consecracyon  of  the  same  bell,  and  bcryng  all  o'"  costs  to  the 
suffrygan.""'     There   is   a   tradition  attaching   to  the   ancient 

*  Notes  and  Queries,  3rd  s.,  vii.,  p.  90. 


6  CJmixJi   Bells. 

Sanctus-bell  now  hanging  in  Dunstable,  in  this  county, 
illustrative  of  this  custom  :  it  is  to  the  effect  that  at  its 
consecration  "  there  was  a  gorgeous  ceremonial,  at  which 
Matilda,  daughter  of  Malcolm,  King  of  Scotland,  acted  as 
godmother." 

To  the  ancient  and — when  not  accompanied  with  undue 
ceremonial  calculated  to  mislead — laudable  custom  of  blessing 
or  setting  apart  of  bells  for  holy  uses  we  owe  the  origin  of  bell 
inscriptions.  The  earliest  form  of  inscription  is  simply  the 
name  of  the  saint  in  whose  honour  the  bell  was  cast,  placed 
upon  it  by  the  founder,  and  which  name  was  ratified  at  its 
consecration.  Upon  the  largest,  or  tenor  bell,  was  frequently 
placed  the  name  of  the  patron  saint  of  the  church,  and  upon 
the  smaller  ones,  perhaps,  the  names  of  saints  whose  altars 
were  formerly  in  the  church  below,  or  who  were  patrons 
of  ancient  Guilds  or  Confraternities  in  the  parish.  Of  bells  of 
this  class  (though  not  necessarily  of  this  early  date)  may  be 
mentioned  one  in  this  county — the  3rd  at  Carlton,  inscribed  : — 


Though  the  earliest  bells  do  not  generally  tell  us  anything 
as  to  their  date,  or  the  foundry  where  they  were  cast,  a  few 
early  dated  English  bells  have  been  found  :  one  at  S.  Chad's, 
Claughton,  Lancashire,  is  dated  1296  ;  another  at  Cold  Ashby 
Northamptonshire,  is  dated  131 7  ;  two  at  South  Somercotes, 
Lincolnshire,  bear  the  date  1423  ;  and  two  others  at  Sowerby, 
in  the  same  county,  tell  us  they  were  cast  in  the  year  1431. 

The  early  inscriptions  are  usually  in  stately,  and  frequently 


Church   Bells.  7 

richly  ornamented   Gothic  capital   letters,  and   in   Latin — the 
language  of  the  mediaeval  church. 

We  soon  meet  with  slight  extensions  of  the  inscriptions, 
such  as — to  quote  Bedfordshire  examples  : — 

at  Cople,  and 

at  Hawnes. 

Although  bells  cast  in  pre-Reformation  times  are,  as  a  rule, 
undated,  they  generally  bear  founders'  marks,  initial  crosses, 
and  other  means  of  recognition  by  which  they  can  be  classified, 
and,  in  many  cases,  assigned  to  their  respective  dates  and 
foundries.  Care  must,  however,  be  taken  in  so  using  these 
bell  stamps,  for  as  foundries  often  went  on  for  generations, 
and  even  centuries,  so  the  stamps  were  sometimes  handed 
down  from  one  founder  to  another,  and  so  were  used  for  a 
long  period. 

On  bells  from  the  fourteenth  century  to  the  period  of  the 
Reformation  we  very  frequently  find  the  invocation  Ora  pro 
nobis  added  to  the  name  of  the  saint,  thus  : — 

^ancta  XH'^i^i^   Ora  Ipro   ,IFlol)is 
at  Edworth,  and 

at  Eyeworth. 

These  invocations  were  taken  from  the  Litanv,  and  nianv  of 


8  Chmxh   Bells. 

the  other  inscriptions  found  on  ancient  bells,  doubtless  owe 
their  origin  to  the  various  Offices  of  the  mediaeval  church  : 
the  4th  bell  at  Kempston  has  an  inscription  of  that  character, 
although  its  actual  source  is  unknown  : — 

and  the  5th  at  Willington  : — 

(*>  ^t^xWx  ^poforc  ^ro   )[^obtg  jgcmpcr   (Diate. 

The  angelic  salutation — in  part  or  in  whole — appears  upon 
many  pre- Reformation  bells,  as,  to  confine  ourselves  to 
this  county  : — 

at  Sundon  and  Thurleigh. 

Occasionally  we  find  figures  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  and 
Child,  of  men  and  of  angels,  on  bells  of  this  date.  At 
Impington,  Cambridgeshire,  the  Evangelistic  symbols  appear  ; 
but  Bedfordshire  gives  us  no  example  of  such,  neither  are 
there,  as  is  sometimes,  though  very  rarely,  the  case  in  other 
counties,  any  earlier  inscriptions  in  English  than  some  found 
on  bells  cast  at  the  close  of  the  sixteenth  century. 

At  the  date  of  which  we  are  now  speaking  there  was  no 
such  thing  known  as  change-ringing,  and,  indeed,  it  would 
appear  that  neither  ringing  "  rounds  "  nor  chiming  in  "  tune  " 
was  possible  in  the  great  majority  of  our  churches.  The 
returns  from  the  different  parishes,  obtained  in  the  reign  of 
Edward   the   Sixth,  speak   of  each   as    possessing  a  certain 


Church   Bells.  9 

number  of  bells  apparently  unfit  for  musical  chiming;  or 
ringing,  but  quite  adequate  to  the  customs  of  the  time. 
Towards  the  close  of  the  sixteenth  century,  however,  care  was 
sometimes  taken,  when  bells  were  re-cast,  to  have  them  "  in 
tune."* 

The  decay  of  Gothic  art,  followed  by  the  Reformation, 
produced  many  changes  in  connection  with  bells,  as  with 
other  ornaments  of  the  church.  The  stately  Gothic  capital 
and  the  quaint  small  "  black  letter,"  grradually  gave  place  to 
clumsy  Roman  letters  for  the  inscriptions.  The  beautiful 
initial  cross  also  gradually  disappeared.  Figures  of  saint 
or  angel  were  discarded.  English,  although  it  did  not 
altogether  supplant  Latin,  gained  a  full  share  of  use  on  the 
bells.  Ancient  inscriptions  were  sometimes  erased,  and  the 
old  forms  dropped,  at  first  to  give  place  to  mottoes  of 
a  reverent  character,  which  soon,  however,  drifted,  in 
many  instances,  into  doggrel  rhyme — stupid,  frivolous,  and 
thoroughly  out  of  place,  or  into  a  bare  list  of  names  of  vicar 
and  churchwardens.  Dates,  in  Arabic  numerals,  now  appear 
on  every  bell,  and  founders'  names  abound.  Specimens  of 
all  these  will  be  found  in  the  bells  of  this  county  hereinafter 
described. 

Sometimes  eighteenth  century  bells  bear  the  names  of  their 
donors,  or  commemorate  some  event  of  national  interest,  but 
bell  inscriptions  (with  some  praiseworthy  exceptions),  after  the 
middle  of  the  seventeenth  century,  afford  little  interest. 

In    the    second    year    of    Edward    the    Sixth's    reign,  a 


Several  instances  are  quoted  in  North's  Church  Bells  of  Limolmhin;  p.  19, 
C 


10  Church   Bells. 

Commission  was  issued  to  inquire  into  the  quantity  and  value 
of  church  furniture  and  ornaments  throughout  England,  and 
to  forbid  their  sale  or  misappropriation.  Unfortunately  for 
our  present  purpose,  the  results  of  that  Commission,  so  far  as 
regards  Bedfordshire,  are  unknown  to  us.  The  Certificate  of 
the  Local  Commissioners,  which  would  have  shown  the 
number  of  bells  then  hanging  in  its  steeples,  cannot  now  be 
found.  That  of  the  gentlemen  appointed  as  Commissioners 
for  the  survey  of  all  Colleges,  Chantries,  etc.,  is,  however, 
extant,  but  from  it  we  learn  little  beyond  their  names  and  the 
Returns  from  two  Chantries.     It  is  as  follows  : — 

The  Countye      The    certyfycat   of  Syr  John   Saynt   John    Knyght    S"" 

of  bedforde.        Thomas    Rotheram   Knyght   and    Wyttm  Smyth   Gent' 

Comyssyons'  wythin  y^  countye  of  Bedf . 

Amonges  other  authorised  by  the  Kyngf  Mayesties  letters  patent^  of 
comyssyon  beryng  date  the  xiiij  day  of  ffebruary  in  the  second  yere  of  the 
raign  of  o''  sovayn  lord  Edward  the  syxt  by  the  grace  of  God  Kyng 
of  Ingland  ffraunce  and  Ireland  defendo*"  of  the  ffayth  and  in  Erth  of  the 
churche  of  Ingland  and  Ireland  the  supreme  hed  To  S""  John  Saynt  John 
S"^  Antony  Lee  S""  Robert  Drury  S""  Thomas  Rotheram  knyghts  Henr 
Bradshawe  Esquyer  George  Gyfford  &  Wyttm  Smyth  Gent'  directed  ffor 
the  survey  of  all  Colledges  fifrechapells  Chauntries  ffraternyties  Brotheddf 
Guyldf  Stypendaries  Obytes  Anniv'saries  Hghtes  and  other  like  w'^'in  the 
countyes  of  Bedf  and  Buck'  havj^ng  or  beyng  at  any  tyme  w^^in  v  yeres 
next  before  the  fourth  day  of  November  last  past  viz  Touchyng  as  well 
the  yerely  value  of  all  the  manors  landf  possessyons  &  heredytamentf 
stockf  of  money  stocky  of  Cattell  Juells  plate  ornamentf  and  other  goodf 
to  theym  or  any  of  theym  W7thin  the  said  Countye  of  Bedf  or  els  where 
belongyng  or  appteignyng  w*  the  yerely  repris'  &  deduccons  goyng  out  of 
the  same  And  also  thaunswering  procedyng  in  that  behalf  as  here 
after  folowyth 


Church   Bells.  1 1 

The  College  of  Northewelle 

The  Chauntry  of  Bydenham  bridge 
in  y^  pishe  of  Bromham 

\Omitting  the  particulars  up  td\ 

Goodes  and  Ornament^  belonging  to  the  sayd  Chauntry  as  I  .....    .    ....  , 

aperith  by  Inventory  remaynyng  w^'^  ij  belles  valued  at       .  J 

The  Chauntry  of  Wyboston  in  the  pyshe  of  Eton 

\Omitting  Lands,  etc] 

Goodes  and  Ornamentf  belonging  to  the  said  Chauntry  as 
aperith  by  Inventory  remaynyng  w''^  one  belle  valued  at 


xxxviji.  vj^.' 


The  Commission  of  1549  failing  to  complete  its  object, 
about  four  years  afterwards — in  1552 — another  was  issued, 
which  carried  out  its  purpose  more  effectually.  A  copy  of  the 
one  for  this  county  is  here  given  : — 

Edward  the  Svxt,  etc.  To  our  deare  Cousyn  and  Counsaillour 
William  Marques  of  Northampton,  Great  Chamberleyn  of  England,  and 
to  our  trustie  and  right  welbeloved  John  Lord  Braye,  and  to  our  trustie 
and  welbeloved  John  Seynt  John,  and  Uryan  Brereton,  Knights,  and  to 
our  welbeloved  Lewes  Dyve  and  Richard  Snowe,  Esquyers,  greting 
\\'hercas  We  have  at  sondry  tymes  heretofore  by  our  speciall  Commyssion, 
and  otherwyse  commaunded  that  ther  shuld  be  takyn  and  made  a  just 
veu,  survey,  and  inventory  of  all  manner  goodes,  plate,  juells,  vestyments> 
bells,  and  other  ornaments  within  every  paryshe,  belongyng  or  in  any 
wyse  apperteynyng  to  any  Churche,  Chapell,  Brothered,  Gylde,  or 
Fraternyty,  within  this  our  Realme  of  England,  and  uppon  the  same 
Inventory  so  taken,  had,  or  made,  our  commaundemcnt  was  and  hathe 
ben,  that  all  the  same  goodes,  plate,  juells,  vestments,  bells,  and  other 
ornaments,  shuld  be  safely  kept  and  appoyncted  to  the  charge  of  such 
persons  as  shuld  kepe  the  same  safely,  and  be  ready  to  aunswere  to  the 
same  at  all  tymes  according  to  the  whiche  our  Commyssyons  and  sundry 

*  Augmentation  OJ)ici :  C/iaiitiy  Certificate  No.  I,  pp.  9,  10,  iS. 


1 2  Church   Bells, 

Commaundements.  We  were  advertysed  by  our  said  Commyssioners 
then  appoyncted  and  by  other  meanes  also,  that  the  said  goodes,  plate, 
juells,  vestyments,  belles,  and  other  ornaments  of  the  said  Churches, 
Chapells,  Brotherhedds,  Gylds,  Fraternytyes,  and  Companyes,  were  not 
only  vieued  and  duly  survcyd,  but  also  that  the  Inventories  therof  were 
made  by  Indenture,  and  thon  part  of  the  same  remayned  with  our  Gustos 
Rotulorum  of  that  Countye,  or  hys  Deputye  or  Gierke  of  the  peax  at  that 
tymc  being,  and  the  other  part  with  the  Ghurchewardens  and  such  men 
as  had  the  charge  of  the  same  goodes  and  other  Inventories  also  made 
by  our  commaundement  by  our  Busshoppes  and  their  Ecclesiasticall 
Officers,  were  lykewyse  by  them  retorned  hyther  to  our  Gounsaill :  yet 
nevertheless  for  that  we  be  informed  that  somme  part  of  the  said  goodes, 
plate,  juelles,  belles,  and  ornaments  of  Ghurches  be  in  somme  places 
embeselled  or  removed  contrarye  to  our  former  expresse  commaundements, 
and  manyfestlye  to  the  contempt  and  derogacion  of  our  honar  in  that 
behalfe.  We  have  thought  mete  to  have  the  very  truthe  herin  justly  and 
duly  knowen,  to  thintent  the  same  may  be  as  ys  most  necessarye 
redressed  and  furthwith  reformed.  And  for  that  purpose  for  the  good 
knowledge  and  experyence  had  in  your  trustynes,  faithfulnes,  wisdome, 
and  uprightnes,  we  have  appoyncted  you  to  be  our  special  Gommyssioners, 
and  by  auctoryty  hereof  do  name,  appoynct,  and  actoryse  you  four,  or 
three  of  you,  to  take  and  receave  a  due,  full,  and  just  vieu  of  all  goodes, 
plate,  jeuells,  bells,  and  ornaments  of  every  Ghurche  and  Ghapell  in 
whose  hands  soever  the  same  be  belonging,  or  in  any  wyse  apperteynyng 
to  any  the  said  Ghurches,  Chapells,  Gylds,  Brotherhedds,  or  Fraternyties 
within  that  our  Countie  of  Bedford.  And  upon  the  said  vieu  so  taken 
to  cause  a  true,  just,  and  full,  perfect  Inventory  to  be  made  of  the  same, 
and  to  compare  the  same  with  the  best  of  the  former  Inventories 
heretofore  made  and  remaynyng  with  the  said  Churchwardens,  or  suche 
other  as  then  hadd  the  same  in  charge.  And  for  the  defaults  and  wants 
yf  any  shalbe,  eyther  of  the  said  plate,  juelles,  belles,  vestyments,  or  any 
other  ornaments,  or  any  part  of  theym  any  manner  of  wyse,  to  make 
diligent  inquyrye  and  serche  as  well  by  the  othes  of  suche  honest  men  as 
ye  shall  thinke  mete  to  sweare  therfore  as  any  other  convenyent  meanes 
to  knowe  and  understond  by  whose  default  the  same  hath  been  removed, 
embesiled,  aliened,  or  dimynyshed.  And  also  in  whose  possession  the 
same   things   or   any   part  therof  so  spoiled,  removed,  embeselled,   or 


Church   Bells.  13 

demynysshed,  do  remayne,  or  to  whose  use  the  money  and  profett  therof  ys 
made  oris  comme,  according  to  the  further  meanyng  of  certen  in- 
struccions  sent  to  you  herewith,  and  of  your  hole  doyngs  in  this  behalf,  to 
retorne  unto  us  and  our  Pryvey  Counsaill  in  wryting  your  answere 
accordingly.  And  yf  ye  shall  fynde  any  person  or  persons  that  wilfully 
or  stubburnlye  will  refuse  to  obey  any  precept  or  commaundement  which 
you,  our  said  Commyssioners,  foure  or  three  of  you,  shall  geve  unto 
theym  in  or  about  thexecucion  of  the  premisses,  that  then  we  gyve  unto  you 
full  power,  auctorytie  to  commytt  suche  person  or  persons  to  warde  and 
pryson,  ther  to  remayne  without  baill  or  maynprice,  untyll  suche  tyme  as 
you  shall  think  the  same  ymprisonment  to  be  condigne  for  his  or  their 
offences.  Wherfore  Wee  will  and  commaunde  you  and  every  of  you  to 
attende  and  execute  the  premysses  accordinglye,  and  moreover  Wee  will 
and  commaund  all  and  singuler  Mayours,  Shereffes,  Bayllyffes,  Constables, 
Hedboroughes,  all  Curates,  Parsons,  Vicars,  Churchwardens,  and  all 
other  our  Offecers,  Minysters,  and  faithfuU  Subjects,  that  they  and  every 
of  them  be  ayding,  helping,  counsailling,  assisting,  and  furthering  you  in 
and  aboute  the  due  execucion  herof  as  they  tender  our  pleasure  and  will 
aunswer  to  the  contrarye  at  ther  extreme  perells.  In  Witnes  wherof, 
etc.     T.  R.  apud  \sic\* 

Under  this  Commission,  as  will  be  observed,  inquiry  was 
made,  upon  oath,  as  to  any  loss  which  had  accrued  by  the 
removal  or  misappropriation  of  church  goods,  to  the  different 
churches,  since  the  Inventories  of  1549  were  made.  A  new, 
and  in  many  cases,  an  appraised  list  was  drawn  up,  and  the 
goods  therein  mentioned  were  committed  to  the  safe-keeping 
of  the  Curate  and  Churchwardens  of  the  parish.  A  few  of 
these  Inventories,  dated  in  August  and  September,  1552,  for 
parishes  in  this  County,  arc  preserved  amongst  the  Land 
Rcvemce  Records  in  the  Public  Record  Office,  and  will  be 
quoted  hereafter  when  the  bells  in  those  parishes  are  described. 

•  Printed  in  Seventh  Report  of  the  Deputy-Keeper  of  the  Public  Records,  p.  307.     Allhoujjli 
not  dated,  there  is  little  doubt  it  was  issued  in  May,  1552. 


14  Church  Bells. 

One — that  relating  to  Harllngton — may  be  quoted  in  full  as  a 
specimen  of  the  whole  : — 

The  Invytorie  indented  of  all  man'  of  plate,  Jewell C,  vestimentf, 
Ornamentf  and  belle  belonginge  to  the  pysshe  Churche  of  Harlyngdon 
in  y^  com  of  Bed'  made  y^  second  daye  of  September  in  y<=  vj'^ 
yere  of  y«  Rayne  of  o''  Sov'aigne  lord  Edward  the  sixt  by  y^  grace  of  god 
of  England  Fraunce  «S:  of  lerland  Kynge  DefendC  of  the  faithe  &  in  erth 
y^  sup''me  head  of  the  churche  of  England  &  lerland  Exebyted  &  delyv^ed 
to  y^  King(>  his  maiestie  Comyssyoners  by  Wittm  Alyson  vycar  Richard 
Hawkyns  John  Nasshe  churchewardens  John  Spyc'  z\.^  Helder  Richard 
Mathew  townesmen. 

Imp'mis  one  chalice  of  siluer  f)cell  gylte  waying  ix  oncf 

ItiTi  to  crossys  of  coper  &  gylte 

Itm  a  corpus  clothe  w'  a  case  of  syke  \sic\ 

\\.'m.  one  payer  of  sensers  of  copC 

ItiB  sixse  vestmentc  v  of  them  of  sylke  &  one  of  them  of  whight 

bustyan 
Itm  ij  copes  one  of  damaske  whyght  &  the  other  of  blew  damaske 
Itm  iij  pillovves  olde  of  silke 

Itmin  y^  Stepull  of  y^  said  churche  v  belles  &  a  saunce  bell — The  first 
bell  in  wydenes  ij  foote  &  vij  ynches  in  Depthe  ij  foote  &  one 
ynche  the  second  bell  ij  foote  &  viij  ynches  in  depthe  ij  foote  the 
thurde  bell  ij  fote  wyde  &  ij  foote  depth  y«  fowerth  bell  iij  foote 
wyde  &  ij  fote  depth  &  a  di  y^  vth  bell  iij  foote  &  di  wyde  ij 
foote  &  di  depe  the  saunce  bell  wyde  xj  ynches  &  ix  ynche  depe 
Itin   all   the  said  churche  &  porche  leaded  &  the  chaunsell  tyled 
&  the  stepull  tyled 
Comitted  to  the  custodie  and  safe  kepynge  of  Wittm  Alyson  Vicar  there, 
John  helder  &  Richard  Mathewe 

I  Seynt  John     Vryan  Brereton 
Lewys  Dyve 

Richard  Snowe 
Endorsed  : — Imp'mis   one  chalyce  sold  to  John  Spyce'  iij//.   iiji".   iiij^. 
which  was  bestowed  vpon  the  hye  waye  * 

*  Land  Revenue  Records.     Bundle  1392,  File  2,  No.  2.     P.  R.  Oft. 


Church  Bells.  1 5 

Again,  in  January,  1553,  a  third  Commission  was  issued, 
under  which  the  Commissioners  had  power  and  authority 
to  "  collect  and  bring  together  all  and  singuler  redye  money 
plate  and  Juelles  certyfyed  by  our  Commyssioners  aforesaid  \i.e.y 
under  the  previous  Commission]  to  remayne  in  any  church, 
chapell.  Guild,  Brothered,  Fraternitye  or  Company  in  any 
shire  Countye  or  place  within  this  our  Realme  of  England." 
This  Commission,  which  is  a  long  one,  directed  one  or  two 
chalices  to  be  left  out  of  the  confiscated  plate  for  use  in  every 
cathedral  or  collegiate  church,  and  one  chalice  for  every  small 
parish  church  or  chapel  where  chalices  were  remaining.  It 
next  provided  for  the  sale  or  distribution  of  the  other 
"  ornaments  and  ymplements  "  of  the  churches,  and,  with  regard 
to  the  bells,  directed  : — 

And  also  to  sell  or  cause  to  be  sold  to  our  use  by  weight  all  parcels  or 
peces  of  metall  except  the  metall  of  greatt  bell,  saunse  bells,  in  every  of 
tTie  said  churches  or  chapells.* 

This  order  as  to  the  bells  has  generally  been  understood  to 
direct  the  sale  of  all  the  large  bells  with  the  exception  of  the 
largest,  or  tenor,  bell  in  each  ring.  What  was  meant,  I  think, 
was  not  the  confiscation  of  all  excepting  one  bell,  but  that  all 
broken  bells — "peces  of  metall" — and  bells  other  than  the 
parish  bells  proper,  were  to  be  sold,  and  the  proceeds  remitted 
to  the  King's  exchequer.  This  view  is  borne  out  by  the  fact, 
abundantly  proved,  that  the  church  bells  were  not  sold,  and 
also   by   the   express  injunction   charged    later   in    this    same 


*  Seventh  Report  of  the  Diputy-Kecpcr  of  the  Public  Records,  p.  312. 


1 6  Church   Bells. 

Commission  upon  all  Deans,  Provosts,  Churchwardens,  Minis- 
ters, and  parishioners  of  the  said  churches  and  chapels  : — 

That  they  and  cverye  of  them  do  safely  kepe  unspoiled,  unembesiled, 
and  unsold  all  suche  bells  as  do  remayne  in  everye  of  the  said  Churches 
and  chapells  and  the  same  to  conserve  untill  our  pleasur  be  therein  further 
knowne. 

.When  the  clean  sweep  intended  under  this  Commission  was 
effected,  an  Indented  Inventory  of  the  few  goods  left  behind 
in  each  parish  was  drawn  up,  and  a  duplicate  copy  left  with  the 
Vicar  and  Churchwardens.  Some  of  these  Inventories  are 
preserved  in  the  Public  Record  Office,  but  none  from 
Bedfordshire  have  at  present  been  found. 

From  a  letter,  dated  the  8th  of  May,  1556,  concerning  an 
inquiry  as  to  certain  plate,  said  on  one  side  to  belong  to  the 
church,  and  on  the  other  to  have  been  the  property  of  the  late 
Sir  John  Gostwyke,  who  used  to  lend  it  to  the  church  for 
divine  service,  it  appears  that  the  Commissioners  in  the 
County  of  Bedford  at  that  time  were  : — "  S'  John  Seint  John 
Knight,  John  Gascoigne  K.,  Vrian  Brereton  Knight,  Nich. 
Luke  esquier,  John  Seint  John  esquier,  Lewes  Dyve,  Ric' 
Snowe  &  John  Colbeke  "  * 

About  that  time — 1556 — certain  inquiries  were  instituted 
as  to  the  apparent  misappropriation  of  lead  and  bells  then 
recently  belonging  to  some  of  the  former  Religious  Houses  of 
the  county.  A  document  showing  this  is  preserved  among 
the  Land  Revenue  Records  in  the  Public  Record  Office,  and 
which  is  worth  quoting  here  : — 

*  Land  Revtmie  Record.     Bundle  1392,  File  3.     P.  R.  Off. 


Church   Bells.  17 

Leade  iH:  Bellys  to  be  answeryd   by  dyvse  psones    vnder   wrytten 
ageynst  whom  it  is  mete  to  make  owt  pcesse 


The  Cyrcuyte  of  S"" 
ffrauncf  Jobson,  K. 
late    Resceyvor    of 

the  Countye  of 


Bedf. 


C  The    Lorde    Wyllyams   for  v  bellys  of   the   late 
Monasterye   of    Woborne   solde 
reporte  of  W.  Smythe  Surveyor. 


The    L.    Will^ms    \  Monasterye   of    Woborne   solde    by   hym   by   the 


j  '^o  speke  w^  S""  ffrauncc  Jobson    Resceyvor  for  v 
^   ^  \  Bellys  of  the  late  Monasterye  of  Warden. 

f  To  calle  S''  James  Ratclyffe  ffermer  of  Elstowe  for 
•' '      ■  ^     (  iiij  bell  ('there  to  hym  dely\^ed  as  Mi'Smyth  informeth. 

[  To  speke  w'  S"'  Leon'de  Chamb'leyn  of  Wodestok 

S'-  Leon'de  Chamb-3  ^'  ^o^  ^^^  "^^^^  o^  Dunstable  amountynge  to  xlviij^ 

'leyn  ]  or  there  abought^  which  he  claymeth  by  the  qwenes 

V  graunte  ij  yeres  past.* 

C  To  speke  with  s''  ff.  Jobson  for  to  knowe  of  hym 
3  ^^^■'^t  Bell('  &  howe  manye  in  nombre  dyd  appteign 
^  ^  to  the  late  prioryes  of  Chyksande  M'gate,  Caldcwell, 

\  Busshemede  &  Harrowe  and  who  hadde  them. 

(  To  callc  uppon  thcxec.  &  admynystrators  of  s""  John 
Thexec  &:  admynyst' J  Gostwyke  K.  for  \\]ff.  of  lede  of  the  late  ffryers  of 
of  s""  John  Gostwyke"]  Bedd.    by    hym.      taken      towardc     byldyng^  att 

V  Wyllyngeton  as  Mr  Stepneth  informeth.t 

There  are  also  other  documents  of  the  same  date  giving  some 
information  as  to  lead  and  bells  :  one  says  : — 


*  Site  granted  12  June,  1554   {Fat.  R.  +  Land  Revenue  Records.     Church  Goods 

I  Mary,  part  6).  447 

1)  y 


The  Belles 


The  leade 


'  clix^  ixr.  \\]lil>. 


C/mrck   Bells. 

Thofifice  of  Gregory  Richardson  Auditor  of  the  Prestes 
Com.  Bedf. 

Chykesaunt [blank] 

M'gate    iij 

Caldewelle  vj 

Elstowe  iij 

Newnehame  vj 

Harrolde  ij 

Busshemeade [  blank] 

'  The  leade  of  the  Monastery^  ['  s '  struck ' 
through  with  peii\  of  Chykesand  \^'-  M^gate 
Caldewell  Busshemeade  o^  Harrolde  dothe  " 
struck  through  with  pe?i\  amounte  as 
apperithe  in  Mr  Jobson's  accompte  de 
Anno  xxxij^°  where  he  tooke  the  allow- 
aunce  for  caryage  of  the  said  leade  ffrome 

^  Chykesand  to  Amptill 

Wherof  delyvered  to  Auncelyne  Salvage  by 
warraunte  lxxj_^  v^.  j  q^rter  iij//^.  And  so 
wantithe — ^_  viij^ 

The  warrant  under  which  this  portion  of  the  lead  of  Chyke- 
sand was  delivered  was  dated  London,  the  22nd  of  December, 
1 55 1,  and  was  addressed  by  Sir  Richard  Sakeville  and  Sir 
Walter  IVTyldemay  to  Mr.  Smyth,  Surveyor  of  Bedfordshire  ; 
it  was  an  order  to  deliver  the  metal  to  "  Acelyne  [Anceleine] 
Salvage,  Marchaunte  of  Jeane  [?  Genoa].* 

There  is  also  preserved  another  document,  substantially  the 
same  as  the  one  just  quoted,  but  it  has  the  addition  of  the 
weight  of  bell-metal  at  the  left-hand  corner  at  top,  thus  : — 
"  xv".  di  iiij/z<^." 


*  Land  Ecv^nuc  Records,     Church  Goods,  447 


Church  Bells.  1 9 

Notwithstanding  the  Commissions  issued  in  the  reign  of 
Edward  VI.,  and  the  measures  taken  to  prevent  it,  the 
occasional  robbery  of  churches  still  went  on.  Queen  Elizabeth, 
soon  after  her  accession,  tried  to  stop  the  mischief  by  issuing 
a  Proclamation,  in  which  it  was  said  : — 

That  some  patrons  of  churches  and  others  who  were  possessed  of 
impropriations,  had  prevailed  with  the  parson  &  parishioners  to  take  or 
throw  down  the  bells  of  churches  or  chapels  &  the  lead  of  the  same,  & 
to  convert  the  same  to  their  private  gain,  by  which  ensued  not  only  the 
spoil  of  the  said  churches,  but  even  a  slanderous  desolation  of  the  houses 
of  prayer. 

Therefore  it  was  commanded  : — 

That  no  manner  of  person  should  from  thenceforth  take  away  any  bells 
or  lead  off  any  church  or  chapel  under  pain  of  imprisonment  during  Her 
Majesty's  pleasure,  &  such  further  fine  for  the  contempt  as  shall  be 
thought  meet.* 

As  is  the  case  with  the  inquiry  of  1549,  so  it  is  with  that  of 
1552,  so  far  as  regards  Bcdfoixlshire  ;  neither  the  Certificate 
of  the  local  Commissioners,  nor  a  complete  set  of  the  Returns 
from  the  different  parishes  can  be  found,  and  so  the  number  of 
Church  Bells  in  this  county  at  that  time  cannot  be  ascertained. 
Judging  from  the  existing  Returns  from  thirteen  parishes  then 
sent  in,  and  which  I  have  recently  found  in  the  Public  Record 
Office,  the  Church  Bells  of  Bedfordshire  have  suffered  very 
little  loss  in  numbers  since  that  time.  In  the  thirteen  parish 
churches  to  which  I  refer,  there  were  in  the  year  1552 
forty-nine  large  bells  and  five  sanctus  bells  ;  in  the  same 
churches  now  there  hang   sixty  large  bells  and  two  Priests' 


Quoted  in  Htylyii's  Hist,  of  Reformation,  ii.  p.  339. 


20  Church   Bells. 

bells.  These  existing  Returns  are,  most  of  them,  very  explicit 
in  the  description  of  the  bells,  some  giving  the  estimated 
weight,  as  at  Tingrith,  and  others  giving  the  exact  measure- 
ment of  each  bell,  as  at  Salford.  It  must  not  be  supposed 
from  this  praiseworthy  state  of  things  that  the  people  of 
Bedfordshire  were  altogether  proof  against  the  temptations  of 
the  times.  There  is  extant  a  letter,  dated  from  Westminster, 
1 6th  May,  1556,  signed  by  William  Berners,  Thomas  Mildmay, 
and  John  Wyseman,  and  addressed  to  Thomas  Strynger,  of 
M  eppershall,  in  this  county,  yeoman,  by  which  he  is  ordered 
to  appear  in  person  before  the  writers  at  Westminster  on  the 
first  day  of  Trinity  Term  then  next,  to  answer  concerning  the 
detention  of  church  goods  formerly  belonging  to  the  parish 
church  of  Meppershall.  There  is  also  another  letter  from 
Thomas  Hemmynge,  of  Arlesey,  touching  the  order  so  given 
to  Stringer,  in  which  he  excuses  his  (Stringer  s)  attendance  at 
Westminster  on  the  plea  that  "my  neyghbour  ys  an  olde 
man  and  not  used  to  iorney,"  and  enclosing  his  answer 
"  concerninge  the  premises,"  which  closes  with  a  retort  upon 
one  of  his  supposed  accusers — John  Leventhorpe  the  elder, 
gentleman,  of  Meppershall — and  says  that  he  must  needs 
speak  of  the  "  ymbeaselynge  "  of  certain  goods  by  the  said 
Leventhorpe,  which  were  not  put  in  the  Inventory  : — 

"Imprimis  he  had  a  saunce  belle  hangynge  yn  the  belfrey  &  converted 
the  same  to  his  owne  use  &  never  payd  one  peny  therfore  and  by 
estymacon  to  be  sold  iiij  markes  or  thereaboughtes."  * 

The  inhabitants  of  Sandy,  too,  were  at  the  same  time  called 


-■'  Land  Revenue  Recorsd.     Church  Goods,  442,  P.R.  off. 


Church   Bells.  2  i 

upon  to  account  for  two  large  bells,  and  made  their  defence  in 

a    letter    addressed    to    the    Commissioners,    which    is    now 

preserved  in  the   Public  Record  Office,  and   will   be  quoted 

hereafter. 

In   later  times,  too,  a  few  parishes  in  Bedfordshire,  as  in 

other    counties,  lost   their  bells   to    save  the   pockets   of  the 

ratepayers.      In  1S09,  when  the  tower  of  their  ancient  church 

was   taken  down,   the  people   of  Lidlington   sold   four  bells  ; 

about  sixty  years  ago  Millbrooke  lost  a  bell,  and  at  the  same 

time  the  Ridgmount  folk  sold  three  bells  to  raise  money  for 

the  repairs  of  their  church.     Streatley  had  a  bell  broken  by 

accident,  never  had   it  re-cast,  and  so  wasted  the  metal.      In 

1799    Souldrop    lost  two  bells,  sold  to   raise  money  towards 

building  a   new  and   ugly  church,  which   has,   happily,  been 

replaced    by  a  more    suitable  building,   in  which  hang  three 

new  bells.     The  Wilshampstead  people  sold,  by  license  of  the 

Bishop,  three  bells,  in  the  year   1742,  to  keep  to   meet  the 

expense  of  "  repairing  the  steeple  to  its  ancient  dimensions," 

which,   however,   they   failed    to   do.      The  good    people   of 

Arlesey  having  recently  placed  a  new  ring  of  six  bells  in  their 

steeple,  it  is,  perhaps,  hardly  fair  to  repeat  against  them  the 

old  distich  current  in  the  neighbourhood  : — 

'  Arlesey,  Arlesey,  naughty  people. 
Sold  their  bells  to  mend  the  steeple  !' 

and  Sundon  is  traditionally  believed   to  have  sold  four  bells, 
and  to  have,  very  properly,  never  prospered  since. 

Two  other  causes  operated  to  lessen,  if  not  the  number  of 
bells,  certainly  the  number  of  ancient  ones,  and  to  necessitate 
the  substitution  of  modern  ones  in  their  place — ordinary  (and  in 


2  2  Church   Dells. 

some,  not  all,  cases)  unavoidable  wear  and  tear  is  the  cause  of 
the  gradual  loss  of  a  goodly  nuniber  of  ancient  bells  ;  but  the 
introduction  of  change-ringing  in  the  seventeenth  century 
produced  a  still  greater  havoc  among  them.  Early  in  that 
century  ringing  increased  in  popularity,  and  Fabian  Stedman,  a 
printer,  resident  in  Cambridge, who  published  his  Tintinnalogia 
in  1668,  is  said  to  have  reduced  change-ringing  to  an  art.  To 
meet  this  new  mode  of  ringing,  important  changes  in  the  bells 
became  necessary.  The  old  rings  consisted,  usually,  of  few 
bells  and  heavy  ones,  dignity  and  grandeur  of  tone  being  the 
chief  thing  sought ;  now,  however,  a  larger  number  of  bells, 
and  those  in  musical  sequence,  was  required  by  Stedman  and 
his  disciples.  This  want  was  usually  met  by  re-casting  the 
ring  of,  say,  four  heavy  bells,  into  six  or  eight  lighter  ones,  and 
so  increasing  the  number  without  buying  more  metal.  By 
this  means  a  large  number  of  our  ancient  bells  disappeared 
from  the  larger  town  churches — Dunstable,  S.  Paul's,  Bedford, 
and  other  churches  in  this  county  are  examples — and  it 
consequently  ceases  to  be  a  matter  of  surprise  that  it  is  chiefly 
in  small  rural  churches,  with  few  bells,  where  the  temptation 
to  change-ringing  could  not  exist,  that  we  chiefly  expect,  and 
usually  find,  ancient  bells. 

Since  Stedman's  time  the  English  have  continued  to  be 
most  enthusiastic  lovers  of  the  melody  produced  by  a  ring  of 
bells  ;  indeed,  so  popular  did  the  art  of  ringing  become  after 
the  invention  of  "  changes,"  that  England  became  known  as 
the  "  ringing  island." 

Bedfordshire  was  foremost  in  this  national  taste,  as  is 
shown  by  a  manuscript  preserved  in  the   Bodleian  Library, 


CJmrch  Bells.  23 

Oxford.  ■'•"  This  manuscript  is  a  curious  compound  of  prose, 
poetry,  and  music,  in  which  English,  Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew 
are  used.  Although  the  separate  portions  were  written  at 
different  dates — the  earliest  is  dated  in  1655,  ^'^'^  ^s,  before 
Stedman  published  his  book  on  change-ringing — the  whole  of 
the  manuscript  is  in  one  hand-writing,  excepting  the  last  page, 
which  treats  of  the  different  modes  of  worship,  which  is  in 
another,  and  a  later,  hand.  Without  attempting  a  full  de- 
scription of  the  contents  of  this  manuscript,  which  would  be 
tedious — many  of  the  verses  are  mere  doggrel — enough  may 
be  quoted  to  show  that  change-ringing  was  then  in  vogue  in 
this  county,  and  that  Mr.  Palmer,  of  Bedford,  and  his  team — 
called  in  the  verses  "his  sons" — were  noted  rineers. 

After  a  long  title,  and  ten  lines  in  Latin  and  English  from 
the  Apocalypse,  the  Psalms,  and  the  Prophet  Isaiah,  we  have 

An  Epigraiiie 
To  Bedford  Ringers,  especially  to  M''  Palmer,  Principle 
in  y'  noble  Consort 

What  is't  I  heare  ?  is  some  ca^lestiall  Quire 
Of  Angels  now  descended  ;  from  their  higher 
Sacred  Mansions  Here  to  ring  a  Peale 
In  th'  eares  of  Mortalls  :  Thus  thinking  to  steale 
Uy  these  diuiner  Ayres,  each  mortalls  heart 
Into  a  sublime  Rapture ;  Quite  a  part 
From  sublunary  things  ;  Or  doe  I  heare 
Th'  effect  of  I'hansy  ringing  in  mine  eare  ? 
No,  no,  such  Musicke  Phansy  doth  exceede, 
And  'tis  too  meane  from  Angels  to  proceede  : 
But,  'tis  brave  Palmer's  Art,  which  now  doth  raise 
Such  Harmony  :  Too  great  for  mortall  praise, 

*  Kawlinsoii,  D.  886. 


24  Church  Dells. 

Which  must  confesse  'tis  farr  beneath  ye  worth 
Of  Palmer  and  his  Sonnes  ;*  whose  happy  Births, 
Are  celebrated  in  these  quick'ning  Straines, 
Which  far  exceede  y<=  Ayres  of  Vulgar  braines, 
Who  only  can  admire,  not  understand 
How  you  should  have  your  bells  so  at  coniand 


As  we  with  musick  meet 

Between  ech  witty  Act  in  Cornicke-Playes ; 

So  all  Thy  Acts  present  farr  better  Layes  : 

But  yet  these  Praises  to  Thy  merit  due 

Thy  sons  must  by  y'  right  inherit  too ; 

For  t  Faldo,^  Eston,^  Cobbe,^  and  Spencer"^  are 

All  Roy-all-Consorts  in  ye  same  Affaire 

And  claime  all  equall  Portions,  for  none  can 

In  Ringing  well,  say  Hee's  y^  elder  man. 

To  praise  your  musique  Poetry  affords 

Too  little  witt,  and  is  too  poore  in  words. 

But  (though  not  speake  it  fully)  I  will  try 

In  meeter,  to  lispe  out  your  melody  : 

Yet  there's  no  neede  y'  I  should  set  it  forth, 

When  e'vy  Bell  that's  rung,  sounds  its  owne  worth. 

Musick's  a  noble  Science  ;  will  revive 

A  drooping  spirit,  and  preserve  alive 

A  melancholly  Soul :  nay  this  doth  give 

Our  Bodies  Action,  and  by  this  we  live 

For  all  our  life,  as  seu'rall  Lessons,  is 

By  our  Souls,  on  ;  th'  Organs,  of  our  bodies 

Play'd  into  seu'rall  Actions  :  But  as 

Some  Instruments  we  know,  doe  farr  surpasse 

Others  for  Musicke ;  So  y=  Wide-mouth'd  Bell 

None  other  Musique  'ere  could  paralell. 


*'"  P'ellow  Ringers  Because  He  was  ye  most        f    "Viz.     aMathse,'    ^  Andreas,    cEdm', 
ancient  and  best  of  them."  d  Nicola'  Gen'.  " 


Church    Bells.  25 

As  some  One  will  better  musique  make, 
Than  He  that  to  doe  best  doth  under  take, 
So,  you  and  your  Societie  excell 
All  other  yt  could  ever  ring  a  Bell : 
Then  go  you  on,  as  you  have  well  begun 
That  all  may  grieved  be,  when  yee  have  done. 

Et  paulb  post 

They  only  now  who  with  the  Times  can  change 
Are  men  of  great  esteeme  :  methinks  'tis  strange  ; 
That  noble — Bedford — Ringers  should  be  then 
(When  they  so  well  can  change)  no  greater  men. 

From  these  lines  (to  which  is  appended  the  name,  as  writer, 
of  John  Tabor,  of  S.  John's  College,  Cambridge,  1655)  we 
learn  that  the  band  consisted  of  five  men,  whose  names  are 
given  ;  five  is  now  the  favourite  number  of  bells  in  Bedfordshire 
steeples,  more  than  one-third  of  the  whole  of  the  churches 
having  that  number. 

After  this  "  Epigrame,"  we  have  from  the  pen  of  the  same 
John  Tabor  : — 

An  Exasticke  presented  to  Mr.  Palmer  &  y«  rest  of  y'  Consort 

from  which  we  gather  that  they  had  then  recently  been  rather 
neglecting  the  "  exercise  ;"  the  writer  inquires  : — 

What  ?  sure  Thy  dextrous  hand  hath  not  The  ccchoing  Bell  to  guide  forgot 
Or,  hath  Thync  owne  Sons  lately  to  Thee  disobedient  growno  ? 

We  have  next  thirty-four  lines  written  in  April,  1657,  by 
"T.  W.  Scoto-Britann'  ^tatis  circu  octogesimum,''  in  honour 
of  Palmer  and    "his  sonnes   &  Children   deare  ":    those  arc 

D 


26  Church  Bells. 

succeeded    by  some   of  equal    merit,  sic^ned  "J.    Dalt :  S.S. 
The  :  P  * — 57°  "  and  closing  with  : — 

Say,  lire  not  Bells  of  a  diviner  Birth 
Fiddles  are  made  by  men,  but  of  y'=  earth. 
England's  y^  Ringing  He  may  I  divine  ? 
Palmer's  the  second  Englands  Palmerine. 
Now  go  &:  prosper  still,  returne  agen 
I  am  your  Priest,  will  Gierke  be  tod.  Amen, 

Edmund  Allen,  of  Wootton,  was  the  writer  of  the  next  verses, 
in  1655,  addressed  : — 

To  ys  much  admired  Bedfordian  Company  of  Ringers  : 
Especially  Mr.  Oliver  Palmer,  Chiefe  of  y'  Musicall 
Society. 

It  was  my  Chance  lately  abroad  to  be 
In  place  where  I  Bell-musicke  sweet  did  heare, 
Still  I  did  stand,  minding  those  straines  so  high, 
"Which  at  y^  first,  strange  to  me  did  appeare  : 
Such  sublime  Sallies  in  y^  same  I  found 
That  I  was  forced  a  while  to  stand  my  ground. 


'Tis  not  for  nothing  y*^  Thy  Name  is  blowne 

So  far  abroad  y'  there  be  Hundreds  can 

Discourse  of  Palmer  though  Thou  beest  not  known 

To  them  but  by  Thy  Bellgohandlican  : 

Thy  Silken-Rope  is  up  so  everywhere 

That  Thou  a  Grace  art  to  our  Bedfordshiere 


These  lines  show  the  delight  with  which  change-ringing,  then 
a  new  art,  was  heard;  they  also   refer  to  the  "silken  rope' 


S.  T.  P.,  i.e.  D.D.  I  suppose. 


Church   Bells.  27 

with  which  Palmer  evidently  rang  his  bell.  "  Thy  silken 
rope"  is  also  mentioned  in  the  "  Exastickc "  to  which 
reference  has  just  been  made  ;  and  "  T.  W."  further  says  : — 

When  hempcn-Ropc  doth  hurt  his  hand 
For  silken-Rope  Hee's  at  no  stand. 

Then  follow  some  pedantic  lines  by  an  anonymous  writer,  in 
the  form  of  a  letter  addressed  "To  his  much  esteemed  Mr. 
Oliver  Palmer  in  Bedford,  these,"  and  commencing-  "  Melodious 

gr." 

This  curious  manuscript-book — on  p.  38  b.  of  which  is 
written  "  Thomas  Mollas  his  Book  " — further  contains  twenty 
lines  of  Latin  elegiac  Verses  "  In  laudem  Vellentium  &  Pul- 
santium  Campanaru,"  by  Samuel  Luke,  of  Aubersley, 
Huntingdonshire,  who  writes  of  five  bells  and  one  hundred 
and  twenty  changes  ;  about  thirty-six  pages  devoted  to  "  \'ox 
Campanaru,"  comprising  Psalm  tunes  and  sets  of  changes  on 
four,  five,  and  six  bells,  written  in  Hebrew  letters  instead  of 
figures,  others  in  which  Greek  letters  are  used  as  well  as 
Hebrew,*  and  concludes  with  an  account  of  "  a  six-fold 
manner  of  praising  y^  Lord,  Mentall,  Monumentall,  Chordall, 
Cordiall,  Vocall,  and  Actuall"! 

If  other  evidence  were  necessary  to  show  that  change- 
ringing  was  popular  in  this  County  in  the  early  da3's  of  its 
existence,  the  well-known  and  often  quoted  anecdote  of  John 
Bunyan  as  an  enthusiastic  ringer  at  P^lstow  might  be 
mentioned.      There  are  also  other  reasons  for  thlnkinL*"  that 


*  The  Rev.  J.  T.  Fowler,  F.S.A.,  has  set      Mr.  Ell.ncombe's   Bells  of   tht    Chtinh,  pp. 
two   of   the   tunes  in  musical   notation    for      301-4. 


28  Church   Bells. 

the  love  of  It  continued  for  some  years  afterwards.  In  1733 
the  Rev.  Samuel  Roe,  Vicar  of  Stotfold,  was  a  "  Cambridge 
Youth,"  and  as  such  would  hardly  fail  to  keep  alive  in  his 
neighbourhood  the  love  of  bell  music.  In  1745,  when  the 
parishioners  of  S.  Paul's,  Bedford,  increased  their  ring  from 
five  bells  to  eight,  the  Common  Council  paid  six  guineas  to 
eight  men  from  St.  Nicholas,  Cornhill,  London,  for  ringing 
the  opening  peals.  It  is  hoped  that  the  emulation  of  the  then 
local  ringers  was  stirred  up  by  that  proceeding,  and  that  they 
soon  became  as  expert  as  their  friends  from  London. 

Twenty  years  later,  whether  the  art  was  still  well  practised 
or  not,  It  Is  evident  that  the  love  of  Church  Bells  and  their 
music  was  still  strong  in  the  County.  The  Rev.  Samuel 
Rogers,  who  was  Rector  of  Chelllngton  from  1758  to  1768, 
wrote  "  a  Poem  addressed  to  a  Bell  Founder  and  Chime 
Maker,"  which,  though  long,  is  so  good  in  many  of  its  lines 
that  an  apology  for  its  introduction  here  Is  hardly  necessary  : — 

Since  you,  good  Sir,  (whose  fame  each  Country  tells 

For  founding,  hanging,  and  attuning  Bells.) 

Since  you,  to  them  adjust  harmonious  Chimes, 

Soft,  artful  echo  of  the  poet's  rhimes. 

The  muse,  in  verse  with  pleasure  shall  relate 

Thy  Art,  assistant  both  to  Church  and  State. 

She  means  not.  Sir,  her  time  and  pains  to  waste 

On  tinkling  Hand-bells  of  inferior  cast ; 

What  Stentor  rings,  with  gravity  of  phiz. 

To  usher  in  the  importance  of  "  O  Yez." 

Nor  those  which,  jingling  from  the  foremost  load. 

Cheer  each  slow-footed  pack-horse  on  the  Road. 

Nor  those  that  ring  a  thousand  times  a  day 

Whom  waiters,  maids,  and  footmen  all  obey. 


Chtirch   Bells.  29 

Far  nobler  themes  I  sing,  the  lofty  power 

Of  sound,  from  yon  old  venerable  tower. 

Which  in  loud  clangor  rends  the  echoing  air, 

When  happy  Damon  weds  the  blooming  fair. 

Or  furious  Britons  on  th'  embattled  plain, 

Vanquish'd  their  foes,  the  fields'  great  masters  reign. 

When  Roman  heroes  with  the  spoil  of  wars 

Approach'd  the  city  in  triumphal  cars. 

While  gladsome  p?eans  hail'd  the  glorious  day 

And  frcsh-cuU'd  flowers  bestrew'd  the  public  way 

Had  bells  but  rung,  complete  had  been  their  joys, 

And  fuller  shouts  of  triumph  rent  the  skies.  \ 

Ev'n  fancy  now,  brings  to  my  ravish'd  ears, 

Notes  like  the  fam'd  music  of  the  spheres. 

Hark  !  they  come  floating  on  each  spreading  gale 

Down  Tyber's  stream,  thro'  all  the  neighbouring  vale. 

From  Jove's  high  Capitol  how  strong  they  sound, 

And  Rome's  seven  hills  re-echo  all  around. 

The  nice  divisions  viols  boast,  the  harp 

Abounds  with  strings,  whose  notes  are  flat  and  sharp, 

Tho'  various  stops  the  solemn  Organ  grace, 

The  sprightly  treble,  and  majestic  bass. 

Yet  say  what  bass,  what  treble  can  excel 

The  chearful  matin,  or  the  funeral  knell  ? 

What  note  like  that  which  sounds  from  Paul's  high  dome, 

From  Oxford,  or  fam'd  Lincoln's  mighty  Tom  ? 

What  diapason  like  their  lofty  hum  ? 

Nor  less  have  Bells  our  passions  at  command 

Than  vocal  choir,  or  instrumental  Band  ; 

When  the  deep  sound  tolls  slow  o'er  solemn  biers. 

See  !  pity  droops,  and  sorrow  sheds  her  tears. 

But  whene'er  gay  festivities  draw  nigh. 

And  happy  seasons  call  forth  public  joy. 

What  notf.'s  more  lively  can  our  senses  know. 

Than  the  loud  changes,  which  melodious  flow, 

From  Ikide's,  Saint  Martin's,  Michael's,  Overy's,  Bow, 

And  thence  convey 'd  along  the  bordering  streams. 


30  Church   Bells. 

Rejoice  each  village  on  the  banks  of  Thames  ? 

When  Bells  hail  in  great  George's  natal  day, 

When  every  village,  every  town  is  gay. 

On  market-hills,  when  crackling  bonfires  blaze, 

While  ev'ry  street  rebellows  with  huzzas, 

Then,  then  our  souls  true  patriot  pleasures  feel 

As  each  high  steeple  gives  the  joyous  peal ; 

In  every  tavern  honest  healths  go  round, 

And  Jacobites  grow  loyal  ev'n  by  sound. 

Let  Handel  play,  and  Frasi  charm  the  fair 

With  Op'ra  songs,  and  soft  Italian  air. 

Our  country  swains  with  greater  pleasure  hear 

Famed  Majors,  Caters,  Triples,  and  Grandsire, 

Which  while  they  ring  sonorous,  clear  and  sweet, 

The  face  of  commerce  smiles  along  the  street ; 

Their  merry  sounds  ev'n  some  refreshment  yield 

To  toiling  husbandmen  amidst  the  field ; 

Let  skilful  Germans,  with  their  hands  and  feet. 

Still  play  their  chimes,  and  labour  still  and  sweat, 

Far  more  the  barrel  does  our  wonder  move. 

Which  strikes  the  hammers  on  the  bells  above. 

Taught  thus  with  sounds  melodious  to  prolong 

Playford's  grave  psalm  or  Purcel's  tuneful  song. 

No  longer  Albion,  for  the  time  to  come. 

Shall  raise  her  armies  by  the  beat  of  drum. 

Her  youth  but  coldly  mind  what  Captains  say 

Of  pleasant  qudrters,  or  of  present  pay ; 

But  when  they  hear,  in  notes  exalted  higher, 

"  Britons  strike  home  "  from  yonder  sacred  spire, 

Their  spirits  kindling  at  the  martial  song, 

Rush  furious  to  "  revenge  their  Country's  wrong." 

In  vain  a  sister  bids  her  brother  stay, 

In  vain  invents  new  causes  of  delay. 

In  vain  the  mother  would  her  son  detain. 

And  black-eyed  Susan  sheds  her  tears  in  vain. 

See  the  brave  lads,  whilst  brighter  glory  charms. 

Resistless  break  from  their  opposing  arms. 


Church   Bells.  3 1 

Cheerful  to  war  in  burning  climes  they  run, 

As  if,  the  labour  of  the  harvest  done. 

They  meant  themselves  a  while  but  to  regale, 

With  merry  dancing,  and  with  cakes  and  ale. 

Nor  here  forget  the  pious  founder's  care 

When  notes  discordant  strike  th'  offended  ear ; 

Soon  as  the  constant  sounds  are  known, 

He  pares  off  all  excressences  of  tone, 

Studious  examines  all,  till  all  agree. 

Note  following  note  in  truest  harmony. 

Thus  bards  retrench  each  rough  poetic  draught, 

And  lop  off  all  redundancy  of  thought, 

Correcting  long  what  they  had  wrought  too  soon, 

Smooth  each  harsh  line,  and  turn  them  into  tune. 

Proceed,  great  man,  whose  fam'd  mechanic  hand 

Works  wondrous  service  to  thy  native  land  \ 

Proceed,  till  chimes,  by  thy  auspicious  art. 

Raise  noblest  passions  in  each  British  heart ; 

Proceed,  till  sciueamish  schismatics  shall  deign 

To  hear  their  sounds,  nor  think  their  music  vain. 

No  longer  Bells  with  Popery  condemn. 

But,  turn'd  to  peace,  learn  harmony  from  them. 

Hence  village  swains  thy  bells  and  fame  shall  raise, 

The  muse  you  aid  shall  chime  in  grateful  lays 

And  every  town  ring  loudly  of  thy  praise.* 

•  The  Rev.  Samuel  Rogers  (the  son  of  the  above  copy  is  from  A  Key  to  the  Art  of 
Rev.  Benj.  Rogers,  who  was  Rector  of  Ringing.  By  Jones,  Reeves  &  Blackmore 
Chellington  for  upwards  of  fifty  years,  and  (p.  278),  published,  probably,  in  the  year 
died  in  1771,  aged  85  years),  was  Rector  of  1796.  The  circumstances  under  which  the 
Chellington-cuni-Carlton  for  about  ten  years—  poems  was  written,  and  the  name  of  the 
namely,  from  March,  1758,  when  he  was  in-  founder  addressed,  are  alike  unknown.  It 
stituted,  until  the  year  1768,  when  he  resigned  will  be  seen  that  neither  the  bells  of  Carlton 
Chellington  for  a  living  in  Northamptonshire.  nor  of  Chellington  arc  of  that  date.  The 
It  was  during  his  residence  in  Bedfordshire  Rev.  Samuel  Rogers  was  subsequently  Rector 
that  he  wrote  the  above  poem.  I  do  not  of  Husbands-Bosworth,  in  Leicestershire, 
know  where  the  lines  were  first  printed;  it  He  jHiblisheil  two  volumes  of  Poems  (Svo.) 
may  have  been  in  a  volume  of  poems  he  is  in  17S2,  printed  at  Hath,  in  whicli  an  in- 
said  to   have  published   early  in  life.     The  dirferent  portrait  of  him  is  given.     lie  married 


32  Church   Bells. 

In  1 80 1  we  find  a  record  of  the  Society  of  College  Youths 
ringing  5040  Grandsire  Triples  at  Leighton  Buzzard,  but  it  is 
evident  that  the  love  of  change-ringing  had  then  waned  in 
Bedfordshire.  Since  that  time,  and  until  quite  recently,  the 
bells  of  the  county — speaking  generally — have  been  much  and 
sadly  neglected.  Many  of  the  rings  have  been  allowed  to  fall 
into  a  deplorably  dilapidated  condition.  But,  as  it  may  be 
accepted  as  an  axiom  that  whenever  real  ringing  is  unknown 
dirt  and  neglect  of  all  matters  connected  with  the  bells  and 
belfry  reign  supreme,  it  is  satisfactory  to  know  that  a 
"  Bedfordshire  Association  of  Change-ringers  "  has  recently 
been  formed.  It  has  been  originated  mainly  by  the  exertions 
of  Mr.  Charles  Herbert,  of  Woburn,  who  has  spared  neither 
time  nor  energy  in  endeavouring  to  bring  about  a  better  state 
of  things  in  the  belfries  of  his  County.  Being  himself  an 
enthusiastic  ringer,  he  has  imbued  others  with  a  love  for  bell 
music,  and  also  by  inculcating  the  proper  use  of  bells  as 
"  ornaments "  of  the  Church,  he  has  enlisted — as  he  well 
deserves  to  do — the  sympathy  and  co-operation  of  very  many 
of  the  clergy  and  gentry  of  Bedfordshire  in  the  welfare  of  the 
new  Society,  which  will,  it  is  hoped,  be  the  means  of  reviving 
that  love  for  change-ringing  which  we  have  seen  was  so  well 
understood  here  two  hundred  years  ago. 

Miss  Catherine  Peers,  but  died,  without  issue,  Mr.    John     Rogers,    of    Chellington,    who 

at  the  Close,  Salisbury,  in  July,  1790.  possesses   a  manuscript  diary  of  remarkable 

For  these   biographical   particulars   about  events  kept  by  the  above  named  Rev.  Benj. 

the  Rev.  Samuel  Rogers,  I  am  indebted  to  Rogers,  the  father  of  the  poet, 
the  kindness  of  a  representative  of  his  family, 


THE  CHURCH    BELLS   OF 
BEDFORDSHIRE. 


^xx* 


THERE    are    now    in    the    Bedfordshire    Churches    564 
Church  Bells.     That  number  includes  22  Priests   and 
other  small  ones.     The  542  large  bells  are  thus  distributed  : — 

8  Rings  of  8  bells  64 

13  Rings  of  6  bells  78 

47  Rings  of  5  bells  235 

18  Rings  of  4  bells  72 

1 8  Rings  of  3  bells  54 

8  Rings  of  2  bells  16 

Single  bells 23 

542 

To  the  564  Church  Bells  may  be  added,  as  worthy  of  notice, 
the  clock  bell  at  Battlesden  House,  thus  making  a  total  of 
565  bells  to  be  described. 

Of  these  565  bells,  only  the  small  number  of  53,  or  about 
9  per  cent.,  can  be  said  to  have  been  cast  before  the  year 
1600,  being  a  smaller  proportion  of  ancient  bells  than  is  found 
in  Leicestershire  (i4f  per  cent.),  Northamptonshire  (loj  per 
cent.),  Lincolnshire  (17^  per  cent.),  or  Rutland  (16  per  cent.) 

There  is  only  one  complete  ring  of  ancient  bells  hanging  in 
this  county — that  of  three  at  Hockliffe. 

E 


34  ^/^^    CInu'ch   Dells   of  BcdfordsJiii^e. 

The  Dedications  and  Legends  of  these  53  ancient  bells 
may  be  thus  classified  : — 

Two  (Staughton  Parva  4th  and  Wymington  4th)  are 
inscribed 

.Sit   ^omcn   [IDomini   ^cncUictfam ; 

one  (Maulden  1st)  has  the  joyous 

another  (Old  Walden  3rd)  has  the  prayer : — 

One  bell  (Northill  ist)  is  dedicated  to  the  Archangel  Gabriel, 
one  (Cople  4th)  to  the  Archangel  Michael,  and  one  (Wyming- 
ton 5th)  to  the  Archangel  Raphael. 

Eight  of  these  ancient  bells  are  dedicated  to,  bear 
inscriptions  relating  to,  or  addressed  to,  the  Blessed  Virgin 
Mary  in  these  forms  : — 

at  Salford  (3rd).  Sundon  (single),  and  Thurleigh  (5th)  ; 

ja-^©^  m^j^^^^^j^  ©mj^^iii  ^j^i^^mm- 

on  the  ancient  Sanctus-bell  at  Dunstable  ; 

at  Edworth  (3rd)  and  Milbrooke  (ist)  ;  the  3rd  bell  at 
Hawnes  has  the  unusual  inscription: — 


The   CJmrch   Bells   of  Bedfordshire.  35 

and  the  4th  at  Kempston  (what  is  Intended  for)  — 

One  bell  (Campton  3rd)  is  dedicated  to  S.  Andrew  ;  one 
(Hockliffe  ist)  to  S.  Augustine ;  one  (Willington  5th)  to 
S.  Christopher  ;  two  (Carlton  4th  and  Harlington  4th)  to 
S.  John ;  two  (Chellington  4th  and  Wilden  2nd)  to  S. 
Katherine  ;  one  (Carlton  3rd)  to  S.  Martha,  a  very  unusual 
dedication;  three  (Eyeworth  ist,  Hockliffe  3rd,  and  Tingrith 
3rd)  to  S.  Margaret ;  one  (Wymington  3rd)  to  S.  ^lary 
Magdalene ;  one  (Chalgrave  ist)  to  S.  Nicholas ;  one 
(Campton  2nd)  to  S.  Paul ;  two  (the  Priest's  bell  at  Lidlington 
and  Stotfold  2nd)  to  S.  Peter;  and  one  (Hockliffe  2nd)  to 
S.  Thomas.  Ten  of  these  bells  (Bolnhurst  2nd  and  3rd, 
Clapham  3rd,  Clifton  8th,  Harlington  5th,  Houghton  Regis 
5th,  Maulden  3rd,  Meppershall  ist,  Tingrith  ist,  and 
Willington  4th)  have  the  names  of  the  founders  only  ;  one 
(Northill  2nd)  has  the  names  of  the  donors  only  ;  two  (Hulcote 
2nd  and  3rd)  have  the  names  of  both  founders  and  donors. 
Two  other  of  these  ancient  bells  (Fandish  3rd  and  Harlington 
ist)  have  the  invitation — 

(STTTxn  crvxn  i^xrxy  ^y\n-^j\ 

One  (Studham  3rd)  calls  upon  all  listeners  to 

PRIES    THE    LORD; 
another  (Thurleigh  2nd)  has  the  loyal  prayer — 


36  The    Church   Bells   of  Bedfordshire. 

Two  bells  at  Clifton  (two  of  four  which  evidently  bore  originally 
on  each  a  single  line  of  a  complete  verse)  say  : — 

^OWM  :pj^©rs  i5tr@ri^:i^  ©Tr:Ei  rnM^^i^. 

On  one  of  these  ancient  bells  (the  4th  at  S.  Mary's,  Bedford) 
there  are  founders'  stamps  only,  and  on  another  (Roxton  3rd) 
the  date  only. 

The  earliest  dated  bell  in  Bedfordshire  is  the  5th  at 
Houghton  Regis,  cast  in  1580;  the  largest  is  the  single  bell 
given  to  the  new  church  at  Woburn  by  the  Duke  of  Bedford 
in  1867 — it  weighs  two  tons  fifteen  hundredweight;  and  many 
people  consider  the  most  interesting  one  to  be  the  4th  at 
Elstow,  called  *'  Bunyan's  bell,"  of  which  more  will  be  said 
hereafter,  when  the  bells  of  that  parish  are  described. 


I 


THE    BEDFORDSHIRE 
BELLFOUNDERS. 


THE  only  permanent  Bellfoundry  at  present  known  to 
have  been  established  in  this  county  was  carried  on 
during  the  greater  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  at  Wootton, 
a  village  live  miles  south-west  of  Bedford. 

THOMAS  RUSSELL,  who  was  a  clock  and  watch 
maker  as  well  as  a  bellfounder,  supplied  the  ist  bell  at 
Aspley  Guise,  and  the  2nd  at  Harlington,  in  the  year  1715, 
those  being  the  earliest  bells  in  this  county  from  his  foundry. 
He  was  married  twice,  and  had  six  children — three  sons  and 
three  daughters.  His  first  son,  John,  died  in  his  infancy,  but 
Thomas,  baptized  8th  February,  1707-8,  and  William,  baptized 
27th  September,  1710,  were,  in  due  time,  associated  with 
their  father  in  the  foundry.  On  the  3rd  bell  at  Wootton, 
dated  1736,  we  find  "  Thomas  Rvssell,  William  Rvssell  fecit," 
and  on  the  ist  and  4th  bells  at  Bromham  we  read,  "  Thomas 
Rvssell  of  Biddenham  and  William  Rvssell  of  Wootton 
made  me  in  1739."  The  Biddenham  Registers  indicate  that 
the  residence  of  Thomas  Russell  the  younger  in  that  parish 
was  only  temporary,  apparently  extending  from  about  the 
year  1734  to  the  year  1740,  during  which  period  he  had  three 
sons  baptized  there  ;  but  no  entries  relating  to  the  family  arc 


38  The   Bed/or dJiire   Bcllfotmders. 

found  after  the  last  mentioned  date.  Thomas  Russell,  the 
elder  (who  supplied  bells  still  hanging  in  this  county,  dated 
from,  as  just  said,  the  year  171 5  to  the  year  1743,  when  he 
sent  bells  to  Barton-le-CIay,  Thurleigh,  and  Westoning)  died 
in  1744-5  ;  the  Parish  Register  of  Wootton  says  he  was 
buried  on  the  22nd  of  January  in  that  year,  and  describes  him 
as  "  Clock-maker  and  Bellfounder."  The  Russells  used  no 
inscriptions  upon  their  bells  in  this  county  beyond  their  names 
as  founders,  and  those  of  churchwardens.  They,  rarely,  used 
a  vine  as  a  border-ornament,  as  on  the  5th  bell  at  Sandy. 
They  used  a  plain  cross  occasionally — though  not  generally — 
as  an  initial,  as  at  Thurleigh ;  placed  many  impressions 
of  coins  amongst  their  inscriptions,  and  not  unfrequently,  as 
on  Stotfold  treble,  gave  an  impression  of  a  Pentacle,  the 
five-point  star  of  modern  Freemasonry,  which  denotes  the 
five  points  of  fellowship,  and  that  the  man  using  it  was  a 
master  mason  ;  no  doubt,  at  the  revival  of  Masonry  in  171 7, 
and  onwards,  men  would  be  proud  of  showing  that  they 
belonged  to  the  craft.  Upon  the  death  of  Thomas  Russell, 
the  foundry  at  Wootton  appears  to  have  been  closed  for  some 
years  ;  we  find  no  bells  bearing  the  name  of  Russell  after  the 
year  1 743,  so  it  may  be  presumed  that  the  sons  of  Thomas 
Russell  did  not  carry  on  the  business  after  the  death  of  their 
father.  A  quarter  of  a  century  subsequently  to  that  event  the 
Wootton  foundry  was  reopened  by 

WILLIAM  EMERTON,  whose  father,  John  Emerton, 
of  Marston  Moretaine,  married  Hannah  Gary,  of  Wootton,  on 
the  Sth  of  January,  1699-1700,  as  is  recorded  in  the  Wootton 
Register.     Their  son  W'illiam,  who  married   Mary  Warren  in 


The   Bedfordshire  Dellfoiinders.  39 

1766,  is  described  in  the  entry  of  marriage  in  the  Wootton 
Register  as  a  "Clockmaker."  Upon  his  marriage  he  com- 
menced business  as  a  Bellfounder  in  Wootton,  sending  the 
4th  bell  to  Ampthill  in  the  year  1768,  and  continuing  to 
supply  bells  to  various  churches  in  the  county  until  the  year 
1789,  the  date  upon  the  3rd  bell  at  Eversholt.  He  sent  an 
entire  ring  of  five  to  Tilsworth  in  the  year  1776,  and  six  to 
Biddenham  in  1787.  On  the  5th  bell  at  Eversholt  he  claims 
the  credit  of  casting  "  this  peal,"  but  is  contradicted  by  the 
bells  themselves,  three  of  which  were  cast  by  Miles  Graye 
about  a  century  before  Emerton  was  born.  Like  his  pre- 
decessors, the  Russells,  he  seldom  used  any  inscription  on  his 
bells  beyond  his  own  name  and  those  of  churchwardens— the 
5th  bell  at  Eversholt,  however,  is  an  exception  to  his  general 
rule.  He,  too,  was  partial  to  a  display  of  coins,  and  on  the 
4th  at  Stanbridge,  and  on  bells  at  Tilsworth,  he  shows  the 
Pentacle. 

The  site  of  the  Wootton  foundry — of  which  there  are  now 
no  indications — is  now  occupied  by  the  "Star  Inn,"  and  the 
local  tradition  is  that  the  last  founder  was  ruined,  and  his 
foundry  brought  to  a  close,  by  the  inability  of  the  parish  of 
S.  John  Baptist,  Bedford,  to  pay  for  three  bells  which  he  cast 
for  it,  and  which  bells  are  said  to  have  been  "  lying  kicking 
about  in  the  orchard  "  for  some  time  afterwards.  No  record 
of  the  death  of  William  Emerton  has  been  found. 

In  addition  to  the  permanent  foundry  worked  at  Wootton, 
there  were  certainly  two,  if  not  more,  temporary  ones  set 
up  in  the  county  for  short  periods,  a  not  uncommon  occur- 
rence in  the  days  of  bad  roads,  and  when,  consequently 


40  TIic  BedfovdsJiire   Bellfotmders. 

movement  of  heavy  weights  like  church  bells  was  a  difficult 
process. 

On  the  lly-leaf  of  the  oldest  Register  Book  belonging  to  the 
parish  of  Hargrave,  Northamptonshire,  commencing  in  1572, 
is  the  following  entry  : — 

John  Smith  Gierke 

January  13  anno  1599 
the  lytle  bell  was  cast  at  bedford 
this  year  1599  by  newcn 
tho.  browne  Junior  Ed.  Aspyn  Churchwardens 
the  same  yeare 

This  Hargrave  bell  was  evidently  cast  at  a  furnace  set  up  at 
Bedford  by  Edward  Newcombe,  or  by  one  of  his  three  sons, 
who  were,  about  that  time,  associated  with  him  in  the  Leicester 
foundry.*     One  of  the  earlier  Newcombes  had  already  sent, 
as  will  be  noticed  hereafter,  a  bell  (which  is  still  hanging)  to 
Carlton,  but  they  did  not,  probably,  set  up  their  temporary 
foundry   at    Bedford    until    about    the    time    they   cast,  the 
Hargrave   bell — 1599.     An    examination  of  the  other  bells, 
twenty-eight   in  number,  supplied   by  the   Newcombes,    and 
still  hanging  in  Bedfordshire  churches,  shows  that  they  range 
in  date  from  1602  at  Blunham  (2nd  and  3rd),  and  Sandy  (4th), 
to    161 7    at    Felmersham     (2nd    and    4th)    and    Goldington 
(3rd).      Of  these,  nine,  ranging  in  date  from   1602  to    1607 
(viz.,   Barton-le-Clay,   ist,  2nd  and   3rd  ;    Blunham,   2nd  and 
3rd  ;  Elstow,  5th  ;  Roxton,  2nd  ;  Sandy,  4th,  and  Shillington, 
3rd),  bear  the  usual    seventeenth   century  inscription  of  the 
Leicester  Newcombes  : — * 

■"'  See  North's  Church  Bells  of  Leicestershire,  p.  54. 


The  Bedfordshire  Bellfoiuiders.  41 

+  BE  •  YT  •  KNOWN E  •  TO  •  ALL  •  THAT  •  DOTH  •  ME  •  SEE 
THAT  •  NEWCOMBE  •  OF  •  LEICESTER  •  ^L\I)E  •  ME 

preceded  by  their  initial  cross,  fig.  i,herc  engraved,  and  were, 
most  probably,  supplied  direct  from  the  Leicester 
foundry.     A  second  batch  of  ten,  ranging  in  date 
'^"^r***^!  from    1604  to    161 3   (namely,    Bedford,   S.    Mary 
/—A       I   ^fj^  Cranfield   2nd    and  3rd,    Husbornc    Crawley 


^  2nd    and   6th,  Milton    Ernest    ist,   4th   and   5th. 

Northill  5th,  and  Sharnbrook  4th)  are  inscribed,  without  any 
initial  cross  : — 

NEWCOME    OF    LEICESTER    MADE    ME; 

and  the  remaining  nine  bells,  ranging  in  date  from  161  i  to 
161  7  (viz.,  Edworth  2nd,  Felmersham  2nd  and  4th,  Houghton 
Regis  3rd,  Husborne  Crawley  4th,  Keysoe  3rd,  Pavenham 
4th,  and  Tempsford  4th)  are  inscribed,  without  any  initial 
cross,  or  any  reference  to  Leicester : — 

NEWCOME  MADE  ME. 

Most  probably  the  second  series  of  Newcombe's  bells  were 
(as  indicated  by  the  absence  of  the  usual  initial  cross  and  the 
change  in  the  form  of  inscription  and  lettering)  cast  at  Bedford, 
and  the  same  may,  with  more  certainty,  be  said  of  the  third 
series,  upon  which  the  word  Leicester  no  longer  appears  ; 
indeed,  the  latest  dated  bells  of  the  Newcombes  in  Leicester- 
shire are  in  the  year  1612,  about  which  time  their  foundry 
there  was  merged  into,  or  eclipsed  by,  that  of  Hugh  Watts. 

We  are  indebted  to  the  Account   Books  of  Jesus  College, 
Cambridge,  for  knowing  that  Christopher  Graye  (probably  a 


42  The  Bedfordshire  Bellfotuiders. 

son  of  Miles  Graye,  a  noted  founder  at  Colchester,  to  whom 
reference  will  hereafter  be  made)  set  up  his  foundry  for  a 
short  time  at  Ampthill,  in  this  county.  Amongst  other 
charges  in  the  College  books  in  the  year  1658-9  is — 

Paid  to  Christopher  Gray  of  Ampthil  in  Bedfordshire 

Bellfounder  for  new  casting  of  the  Chappell  Bell    .     .    06   15  00* 

He  was  an  itinerant,  having,  it  seems,  been  casting  bells  in 
Staffordshire,  and  after  his  sojourn  at  Ampthill  he  went  to 
Haddenham,  where  he  resided  for  some  fourteen  or  fifteen 
years.t 

There  are  a  dozen  of  his  bells  still  remaining  in  this  county  ; 
the  earliest  were  cast  in  1655,  the  latest  (Ampthill  3rd)  is 
dated  1665.  He  placed  no  further  inscription  upon  any  of 
them  than  the  bare  announcement — 

CHRISTOPHER    GRAYE     MADE    ME, 

with,  sometimes,  a  star  of  dots  between  each  word. 

From  the  large  number  of  bells  still  hanging  in  Bedfordshire, 
cast  between  the  years  1589  and  1639  by  members  of  the 
Watts  family,  who  had  a  considerable  foundry  at  Leicester  at 
that  time,  it  might  be  inferred  that  they,  like  their  neighbours, 
the  Newcombes,  had  likewise  a  foundry  somewhere  in  this 
county ;  but  as  there  is,  at  present,  no  documentary  evidence 
forthcoming  to  support  that  supposition,  we  must  refer  to  their 
bells  hereafter  under  a  brief  notice  of  the  Leicester  founders. 


•  Coniniunicated  liy  Mr.  J.  W.  Clarke,  M.A.,  Trin.  Coll.,  to  Dr.  Raven.    See  Church 
Bells  oj  Cambyidgcshirc^  2nd  Ed.,  p.  202.         f  Ibid,  p.  89. 


OTHER  FOUNDERS 


OF 


BEDFORDSHIRE   BELLS. 


LEAVING  the  Bells  already  enumerated  as  cast  by 
Founders  within  the  County  of  Bedford,  we  pass  on  to 
notice  those  cast  by  other  founders,  known  and  unknown, 
ancient  and  modern. 

The  ancient  bells  first  claim  attention,  and  then  brief  notes 
upon  those  of  more  recent  date  will  follow. 

This  elaborate  and  curious 
founder's  stamp  is  found  on  the 
2nd  and  the  3rd  bells  at  Campton. 
It  was  long  a  puzzle  to  cam- 
panists  ;  by  some,  from  the  fiirure 

f^^  r^  ^^^''^.i^  I  of  the  bird  and  the  letter  P  below 
/^^^^^^^P^  rll5^  ^^^  clapper  of  the  bell,  the 
L-««saHra>is^?^^iL]  <X\i       founder's    name   was  conjectured 

to  be  William  Peacock  ;  others 
thought  that  the  name  William 
Bird,  or  William  Sparrow,  was 
suggested  by  the  words  on  th(! 
shield,  Jn  li'no  CO'flbo,  an  allusion 


44  Gthcr  Founders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 

being  imagined  to  the  continuation  of  the  verse  of  the  Psalm, 
"  How  say  ye  then  to  my  soul  that  she  should  flee  as  a  bird 
unto  the  hill."  These  guesses  of  the  rebus,  however,  as  Dr. 
Raven  shows  in  his  recently  printed  Church  Bells  of 
Cambridgeshire,^  have  been  finally  disposed  of  by  Mr.  A. 
Daniel-Tyssen,  who,  by  the  discovery  of  his  will,  has  shown 
the  name  of  the  founder  to  be  William  Culverden  ("Culver" 
being,  as  Dr.  Raven  points  out,  an  old  word  for  pigeon, 
probably  corrupted  from  Columba),  who  was  carrying  on  his 
business  in  1510,  in  which  year  his  name  occurs  in  the  parish 
accounts  of  S.  Mary-at-Hill,  London.  In  his  will,  which  is 
dated  the  29th  September,  1522 — shortly  before  his  death — 
he  describes  himself  as  "William  Culverden,  citezen  and 
brasier  of  London  and  parishioner  of  the  parishe  of  Sanct. 
Botulph  without  Algate  of  London."  He  gives  directions 
touching  "all  and  singular  my  belmolds  and  implements  w'  all 
other  stuffe  w'in  the  said  house  grounde  and  shedds  necessarye 
and  belonging  to  the  crafte  or  science  of  Bellfounders  or 
brasiers."  His  bells,  though  not  numerous,  are  found  in 
Kent,  Middlesex,  Hertfordshire,  Suffolk,  Dorset,  Cambridge- 
shire, and,  as  we  see,  in  this  county.  The  inscriptions  on  the 
Campton  bells  are  in  small  gothic  letters,  each  word  having 
a  very  bold  gothic  crowned  capital ;  the  2nd  bell  is  enriched, 
in  addition  to  the  founder's  shield,  with  the  pretty  cross  here 
engraved  fig.  3,  and  the  3rd  with  the  cross  fig.  4  also  here 
given.     The  cross  fig.  3  is  also  on  the  4th  bell  at  Harlington,  in 


*  2nd  Ed.,  pp.  42-46. 


Other  Foimders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells.  45 

company  with   its  neighbour   fig.  4,  a  coin  being  impressed 


between  them  ;  and  the  same  two  crosses  (figs.  3  and  4)  are 
upon  the  4th  bell  at  Staughton  Parva,  with  the  shield  fig.  5 
between  them.  Of  this  little  cluster  of 
bells  it  may  be  well  to  observe  that, 
though  the  letterings  of  the  Harlington 
and  Staughton  Parva  bells  are  similar — 
clear  black  letter,  with  rather  ornate  and 
crowned  capitals — they  are  quite  distinct 
in  character  from  that  upon  the;  bells 
bearing  William  Culverden's  shield  at 
5  Campton.      The    presence  of   the  shield 

fig.  5  in  company  with  stamps  in  the  same  hands  as  William 
Culverden's  shield  is  rather  unexpected.  It  is  found  on  bells 
in  Northamptonshire,  Rutland,  Cambridgeshire,  and  specially 
in  Kent,  and  has,  therefore,  been  supposed  to  have  belonged 
originally  to  a  founder  in  that  locality.  The  letter  stamps  of 
these  Kent  bells — and  so,  perhaps,  this  shield — appear  to  have 
fallen  into  the  hands  of  a  founder  whose  initials,  J.S.,  are  upon 
bells  in  several  counties.     That  was  also  the  case  with  the 


46 


Other  Founders  of  Bedfordshire  Dells. 


cross  fig.  3,  which  is,  with  those  initials,  upon  the  3rd  bell  at 
Tollington,  Lincolnshire.*  Such  bells  are  supposed  by  Mr. 
Tyssen,  for  reasons  given  in  his  Church  Bells  of  Sussex,  to 
have  been  cast  at  Reading,  and  the  presence  of  the  initials 
upon  some  of  them,  leads  to  the  inference  that  they  were  from 
the  foundry  of  John  Satmders,  who  was  casting  bells  there 
from  1539  to  1559.  Looking  at  the  date  of  William 
Culverden's  death  (1523),  is  it  not  probable  that  he  was  the 
founder  of  some  of  the  Kentish  and  other  bells  just  referred 
to,  and  that,  though  he  intended,  as  is  shown  by  his  will,  that 
a  Thomas  Lawrence  should  succeed  to  his  business,  yet,  for 
some  reason  not  at  present  known  to  us,  his  stamps,  or  some 


6  7 

of  them,  passed  into  the  hands  of  J.  S.,  the  presumed  John 
Saunders  of  Reading  ?  The  last  we  know  of  the  shield  fig. 
5  is  that  in  1604  it  was  in  the  hands  of  the  founder  who  cast 
the  2nd  bell  at  Kingsbury,  Middlesex,  in  that  year. 

The  shield  with  the   Royal  Arms  fig.  7,   is  found  on  the 


"'  It  should  also  be  noted    that  this  cross      by    campanists     to    William     ffounder,    an 
occurs  on  a  bell  at  South  Ornisby,  Lincoln-      earlier  craftsman  than  Wm.  Culverden. 
shire,   in   company  with   a   shield   assigned 


Other  Foiindi'i's  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 


47 


three  ancient  bells  at  Hockliffc,  and  on  the  2ncl  bell  at 
Wilden  ;  on  the  ist  and  2nd  at  Hockliffe  and  on  the  2nd  at 
Wilden  it  is  accompanied  by  the  initial  cross  fig.  6,  and  by 
the  stamp  fig.  8,  and  on  the  3rd  at  Hockliffe  by  the  cross 
fig.  6  only. 

A  similar  shield,  ensigncd  with  a  crown,  fig.  9,  is  upon  the 
3rd  bell  at  Tingrith,  accompanied  by  the  beautiful  cross  fig. 
10,  both  here  engraved,  and  by  the  stamp  fig.  8  given  above. 


^hc4-^i>. 


9  10 

It  has  been  well  observed  lh;it  the  date  of  the  fcnindry 
originally  using  these  shields  of  the  Royal  Arms  must  have 
been  subsequendy  to  14 13,  when  Henry  V.  substituted  these 
fleur-de-lys  in  the  first  and  fourth  quarters  of  his  coat  instead 
of  the  semee  of  (leur-de-lys ;  and  INIr.  J.  W.  Clark  in  his 
Paper  upon  the  Bells  of  Kings  College,  Cambridge,  by 
extracts  from  the  College  books,   and  by  his  discovery  of  a 


48 


Church  Founders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 


careful  drawing  of  the  inscriptions  and  stamps  upon  ancient 
bells  formerly  belonging  to  that  College,  goes  far  to  prove — if 
he  does  not  do  so  indisputably — that  these  shields  of  the 
Royal  Arms  were  used  as  stamps  by  Henry  Jorden,  who  was 
employed  to  cast  the  College  bells  in  1466,  and  for  which  he 
was  paid  ^40.* 


*  See  Cambs.  Antiq.  Society's  Coiiuituni- 
cations,  No.  xxi.,  p.  223,  for  Mr.  Clark's 
valuable  Paper  and  drawings  of  those  in- 
scriptions. Since  writing  the  above,  Mr. 
Stahlschmidt— a  former  Master  of  the 
Worshipful  Company  of  Founders,  London — 
has  very  politely  sent  me  a  copy  of  the  will  of 
"  Henry  Jorden  Citizein  and  P'yshmonger  of 
the  citie  of  London,"  dated  the  1 5th  of  October, 
146S,  and  which  he  obtained  from  a  copy 
preserved  by  the  Fishmongers'  Company, 
and  collated  with  another  copy  enrolled  at 
Cuildhall,  Henry  Jorden  by  this  will  be- 
cjueathed  his  lands  and  tenements  ^in  the 
lane  called  Billiter  Llane  in  the  pyshe  of 
seynt  Katheryn  Crechurrche  wMn  Aldgate  of 
London,"  also  "  all  that  mesuage  and  all  the 
apptenns  in  the  said  pisshe  of  saynt 
Katherync  beside  Crechurche  of  London 
upon  the  comr  of  the  said  lane  of  Billiter 
lane  of  London,"  and  "all  my  Tenements 
wt  their  apptenns  in  the  pyshe  of  seynt 
Brigidc  in  Fllete  streete  in  the  subberbes  of 
London,"  unto  "the  wardyenes  of  the 
comynaltie  of  the  mistery  or  crafte  of  ffysh- 
mongrs  of  the  said  Citie  of  London,"  upon 
trust  to  devote  the  proceeds  to  various 
charitable  uses,  and  to  the  payment  of  priests 
celebrating  his  obit  annually  in  several 
churches.  The  testator  appears  to  have  so 
disposed  of  his  real  estate  in  consequence  of 
his  son,  Henry  Jorden,  being  "a  monk 
p'fesscd  in  the  house  of  Horley  in  Barkshire." 
Whether  this  Henry  Jorden  is  the   same 


man  as  the  Bellfounder  mentioned  above  is 
not  certain,  for,  unfortunately,  this  will  deals 
only  with  the  real  estate  of  the  testator.  It 
appears  not  to  have  been  at  all  unusual  at 
that  time  for  men  to  make  two  wills — one 
for  realty  and  one  for  personalty — and  so, 
until  the  other  will  is  found,  we  are  wanting 
in  the  certain  evidence  which  a  description  of 
the  personal  estate  of  the  deceased  would  give 
as  to  his  trade.  Mr.  Stahlschmidt's  opinion 
is  that  the  first-mentioned  property  gives  the 
site  of  the  foundry,  the  second  that  of  the 
shop,  and  the  third,  perhaps,  that  of  his 
dwelling-house  ;  that  though  a  fishmonger  by 
craft,  he  was  not  one  by  trade,  "the  trade 
was  most  strictly  confined  to  three  special 
localities,  and  he  had  no  property  in  any  one 
of  them."  Further  research  may  produce 
further  proof  of  identification.  Certainly  the 
date  of  the  will  and  the  locality  of  the 
property — Billiter  (Belzetter  or  Bellfounders') 
Lane — are  in  favour  of  the  testator  being  the 
Bellfounder  referred  to  in  the  text ;  also  it 
may  be  noted  that  one  of  his  executors  was 
"  William  Chamberleyn  Ffounder,"  and  that 
he  desires  "  a  quarter  of  coles  "  to  be  given 
annually  to  "  xxti  of  the  poire  households 
wtin  the  crafte  of  Ffounders  dwellyng  wtin 
the  walks  of  the  citie  of  London."  The 
apparent  anomaly  of  his  leaving  his  property 
to  be  dealt  with  by  the  Company  of  Fish- 
mongers, rather  than  by  that  of  the  Founders, 
may  be  explained  by  the  fact  that  he  was  a 
member  of  the  former,  which  was  a  rich  and 


Other  Fotmders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 


49 


But  in  addition  to  the  ancient  bells  in 
this  county  upon  which  the  Royal  Arms 
appear,  there  are  others  linked  with  them 
by  bearing  some  of  the  other  stamps  which 
accompany  those  arms  on  the  bells  at 
Hockliffe  and  Wilden.  Thus  the  cross 
fig.  6  is  also  on  the  ist  bell  at  Eyeworth, 
in  company  with  the  shield  fig.  ii,  which 
bears  a  kind  of  merchant's  mark,  with  I  to 
the  left  and  W  beneath,  and  is  so  found  in  other  places. 
Again  the  fine  cross  fig.  lo,  which  is  on  the  Tingrith  bell  in 
company  with  the  Royal  Arms,  is  also  on  the  3rd,  4th 
and  5th  bells  at  Wymington,  accompanied  by  the  two  shields. 
so  well  known  to  campanists,  and  engraved  on  the  next 
page  as  figs.  12  and  13. 


1 1 


powerful  body,  the  latter  a  comparatively 
poor  and  insignificant  one  ;  and  it  should  also 
he  notedthat  thelicllfoundcrsof  that  tiniewerc 
not  generally  called  "  founders  "  (which  craft 
confined  their  operations  chiefly  to  the  mak- 
ing of  candlesticks,  laver  pots,  etc.,  etc.),  hut 
were  as  often  called  "braziers"  or  "potters." 
There  was  in  the  fifteenth  century  a  company 
of  "  bcllmakers,"  so  much  we  learn  from  a 
list  of  Guilds  dated  1422 — in  the  Records  of 
the  Brewers'  Co. — but  at  present  nothing 
more  is  known  about  it.  There  was,  how- 
ever, nothing  anomalous  in  a  Bellfounder 
being  a  brother  of  another  and  more 
important  Guild,  and  making  it  the  dispenser 
of  his  property  for  charitable  and  religious 
purposes.  If  it  were  proved  that  the  Henry 
Jorden  under  notice  was  a  fishmonger  by  craft 


and  a  bellfounder  by  trade,  one  would  be 
tempted  to  assign  to  him — as  suggested  by 
Mr.  Stahlschmidt — the  curious  stamp  en- 
graved on  page  50  as  fig.  12.  The  Patron 
Saint  of  the  Fishmongers  (in  the  fifteenth 
century  there  were  two  companies — the  Stock 
Fishmongers  and  the  Salt  Fishmongers  ;  it  is 
of  the  latter  we  are  now  speaking)  was  S. 
Peter,  and  the  arms  of  the  Company  were 
azure  three  cross-keys  saltire  wise,  or,  on 
which  a  chief  ^iilcs,  three  dolphins  naiant, 
argent.  On  this  bell-stamp  we  have  the  cross- 
keys  and  a  dolphin  naiant,  showing  the 
owner's  connection  with  the  Fishmongers' 
Company,  and  in  addition  we  have  the  bell 
and  the  laver  pots,  the  recognised  marks  of 
the  bellfounder  and  brazier. 


H 


50 


Olhcr  Founders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 


13 

The  Inscriptions  on  all  these  bells  at  Hockliffe,  Wllden, 
Tingrith,  Eyeworth,  and  Wymington  are  (with  the  exception 
of  the  5th  bell  at  Wymington,  where  the  only  difference  Is  the 
crowning  of  the  capitals)  from  the  same  letter-stamps  ;  so,  too, 
are  the  inscriptions  on  the  4th  bell  at  Cople  and  the  5th  at 
Willington,  where,  however,  the  initial  cross  In  both  cases  is 
fig.  15,  accompanied  by  the  two  shields  figs.  14  and  16.     This 


14  15  16 

shield  (fig.  14)— the  Plantagenet  Arms  of  England— which  Is 


Other  Founders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 


51 


upon  a  bell  at  S.  Clement's,  Truro,  with  fig.  15,*  is  found  on 
a  curious  bell  at  S.  Mary's,  Bedford  (the  4th),  which  also  bears, 
without  any  inscription,  in  addition  to  the  impression  of  a  coin 
which  is  unfortunately  undecipherable,  the  four  following 
stamps  figs.  17,  18,  19  and  20. 


17 


'!IHI(l|l|ll,,i:l'r,r-il|J|.  I IM.IIIIIIHIIm 

'  niiiicsc. 


EE)€)m0 


I  i  « 


18 


19 


Church  Bells  of  Gloucestershire,  p.  126. 


52 


Other  Founders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 


It  may,  it  is  thought,  be  safely  inferred  from  the  use  of  the 

same  letter-stamps  on  the  bells  just  enumerated,  and  from  the 

way  in  which  the  founder's  stamps  are  linked  together,  that 

the   latter   (figs.    1 1    to    20    inclusive),  engraved   above,    all 

belonged  either  to  Henry  Jorden  himself,  or  to  his  immediate 

predecessors  or  successors  in  the  same  foundry. 

Mr.  Ellacombe  tells  us*  that  the  stamp  fig.  20 — "the  rose 

en  soleil,  the  symbol  of  Edward  IV." — was  used  by  Austin 

Brac/ccr,  with   "the  arms  of   England,  three  Lions  passant, 

gardant " ;    the    same    is   stated    in     The    Church    Bells   of 

Norfolk.\     It  would  almost  appear  as  if  Henry  Jorden  was 

partial  to  these  Royal  Arms  and  symbols,  and  that  a  generation 

or  two  after  his  death  some  of  his  stamps  fell  into  the  hands 

of  this   Austin    Bracker,  who   was  living  and   casting  bells 

in  1556.I 

Another  form  of  the  stamp, 

fig.  17  is  upon  the  ist  bell  at 
Northill,  and  is  here  engraved 
(fig.  21). 

The  only  other  instance  at 
present  known  in  which  this 
stamp  occurs  is  on  the  3rd  bell 
at  Castle  Ashby,  Northampton- 
shire, where,  as  at  Northill, 
there  is  no  initial  cross.  It 
has  been  suggested  that  as 
these  shields  with  the  initials 
T.  B.  are  found  in  various  parts 


21 


*  Bells  of  the  Church,  p.  322. 
t  p.  56.  +  Dr.  Raven's  Church  Bells  of  Cambridgeshire,  2nd  Ed.,  p.  52. 


Other  Founders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 


53 


of  the  country,  they  probably  belonged  to  a  London  founder, 
and  so,  possibly,  to  a  man  named  Bullisdon,  whose  name 
occurs  as  a  London  founder  in  15 lo.*  But  may  they  not — 
looking  at  the  Bedford  bell — with  equal  probability,  have 
belonged  to  another  member  of  the  family  of  Bracker  ? 

A  cluster  of  ancient  bells  from  one  and  the  same  foundry — 
with  inscriptions  in  rather  thick  and  clumsy  Gothic  "smalls," 
with  crowned  capitals  of  inadequate  size — are  found  in  this 
county,  at  Carlton  (4th),  Chalgrave  (ist),  Maulden  (ist), 
Millbrooke  (ist),  and  Salford  (3rd).  These  all  bear  the  cross, 
fig.  22,  and  the  stamp  fig.  23  here  engraved,  and  have  also  an 


indistinct  impression  of  a  coin  between  the  stamps  ;  in  addition 
to  which,  the  Carlton,  Maulden,  and  Salford  bells  have  the 
founder's  shield  fig.  24.     Bells  with  these  stamps  are  found  In 


Tyssen's  Church  Bells  of  Sussex,  p.  15. 


54 


Other  Fotmders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 


most  of  the  counties  of  England, 
and  are  supposed  by  Mr.  Tyssen, 
like  those  mentioned  on  p.  46,  to 
have  been  cast  at  Reading,  probably 
by  John  Saunders  (i  539-1 559). 
into  whose  hands,  perhaps,  the 
R.L.  shield  descended  from  an 
earlier  founder.  This  supposition  is 
strengthened  by  finding  his  initials, 
J.  S.,  upon  several  bells  bearing 
these  stamps ;  those  initials  do  not, 
however,  appear  upon  any  bells  in  this  county. 

On  the   3rd  bell  at   Edworth  we  find  the   shield    fig.    26 


accompanied  by  the  cross  fig.  25  and  the  stamp  fig.  27  all 
here  engraved.  This  shield  is  found  upon  bells  in 
Cambridgeshire  with  the  cross  fig.  25,  and  upon  the  2nd  and 
3rd  bells  at  Mumby,  Lincolnshire. 


Other  Foiuiders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 


55 


2S 


The  small  initial  cross,  fig.  28,  is  upon 
the  4th  bell  at  Kempston,  the  2nd  at 
Stotfold,  and  the  3rd  at  Warden,  in  each 
case  preceding  an  inscription  in  equally 
small  and  neat  Gothic  capital  letters.  This 
cross,  and  the  letters  used  with  it,  are 
found  upon  ancient  bells  in  various  counties; 
their  date  may,  perhaps,  be  approximately  arrived  at  by  their 
being  used  upon  a  small  bell  now  hanging  in  Lincolnshire,  at 
Magdalen  College  School,  Wainfleet,  which  school  was 
founded  in  1484,  and  very  possibly  the  bell  may  have  been 
cast  and  placed  there  at  that  time,  although  the  form  of  letters 
used  certainly  claims  an  earlier  origin. 

There    are    two    Ave    Maria     bells 
bearing  the  same   initial   cross    fig.   29 : 
they  are  the  single  bell  at  Sundon,  and  the 
5th  at   Thurleigh ;    the    inscriptions  are 
in  plain  and  medium-sized  Gothic  capitals, 
in  both  cases  from  the  same  letter-stamps. 
The    bell    at    Sundon    has    also,    as   an 
intervening   stop,    the    "Royal    Head" 
(fig.  30),  usually  assigned  to  Edward    I. 
This    and    other  ''  Royal    Heads,"    well 
known    to    campanists,  are    found    upon 
ancient  and  later  bells  in  various  localities, 
and    frequently   in   connection    with  the 
initial  crosses  figs.  28  and  29.     They  were 
occasionally  used  by  the  later  Leicester 
founders,  and  so  late  as  1742  they  were 


29 


56 


OlJiev  Founders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 


placed  by  Thomas  Hcddcrly,  of  Nottingham,  upon  the  3rd 
bell  at  Chaddesden,  Derbyshire. 

There  is  an  ancient  bell  at  Chellington,  with  an  inscription 
in  Gothic  "  smalls  "  with  initial  capitals,  of  which,  owing  to  the 
difficulty  of  access,  complete  rubbings  have  not  been  taken. 
At  the  close  of  the  Sancta  Katerina  Ora  Pro  Nobis  are  the 
initials  of  the  founder,  read  by  one  gentleman  as  J  +  D,  but 
by  Mr.  Cary-Elwes,  who  is  probably  correct,  as  J  +  O.'"' 

The  inscription  on  the  interesting  Sanctus- 
bell  at  Dunstable  is  preceded  by  the  initial 
cross  fig.  31  here  engraved.  The  Salutation 
is  in  Gothic  capitals  of  a  small  size.  If  the 
tradition  be  true  that  Matilda,  the  daughter  of 
Malcolm,  King  of  Scotland,  acted  as  God- 
mother at  the  benediction  of  this  bell,  it  is  the  most  ancient 
bell  in  the  county,  Malcolm  III.  (who  had  a  daughter 
Matilda,  wife  of  Henry  I.  of  England)  being  King  of  Scotland 
in  the  latter  half  of  the  eleventh  century. 

The  last  of  the  ancient  bell-stamps  found  in  this  county  to 


32 


See  Dr.  Raven's  Ch.  Bells  of  Catnb.,  2nd  Ed.,  p.  24,  for  a  similar  difficulty  as  to  these  initials. 


Other  Founders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells.  57 

which  attention  has  to  be  directed,  are  those  on  the  3rd  bell  at 
Carlton,  from  the  Leicester  foundry,  with  the  very  unusual 
dedication  Hv  XHiiXlTJK^ — they  are  here  given  as 
figs.  32  and  '^^i,  and  they  call  for  a  brief  notice  of  the  Leicester 
founders,  and  of  the  many  bells  they  supplied  (especially 
in  the  seventeenth  century),  to  the  churches  of  this 
county. 

John  of  Stafford  was  probably,  for  reasons  given  in  TJie 
Church  Bells  of  Leicestershire,  a  bellfounder  in  Leicester  in 
the  middle  of  the  fourteenth  century.  The  first  recorded 
founder,  however,  was  William  Millers,  who  died  in  1506; 
to  him  succeeded  Thomas  Newcombe  {pb.  1520),  who  was 
succeeded  by  Thomas  Belt.  He  was  Mayor  of  Leicester  in 
1529,  and  died  in  1538,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  his 
son-in-law,  Robert  Nezucombe,  who  had  three  sons — Thomas, 
Robert,  and  Edward — who  all  became  founders.  Thomas 
Newcombe,  his  eldest  son,  used  as  a  founder's  mark  the  shield 
engraved  above  as  fig.  ^iZ^  bearing  his  initials  (very  probably 
also  used  by  his  predecessor  of  the  same  name),  and  as  an 
initial  cross  the  one  also  engraved  above  as  fig.  32.  To  this 
Thomas  Newcombe,  who  died  in  1 580-1,  or  more  probably, 
from  the  style  of  the  inscription,  to  the  elder  Thomas 
Newcombe,  who  died  in  1520,  may  be  assigned  the  3rd  bell 
at  Carlton,  to  which  reference  has  just  been  made.  Edward 
Newcombe,  the  third  son  of  Robert,  had  himself  three  sons 
connected  with  the  foundry,  and  it  was  probably  one  of  them, 
as  the  representative  of  his  father,  or  on  his  own  account,  who 
had    a    foundry    at    Bedford    in    the    year    1599,   as   already 

mentioned  on  page  40.     The  foundry  there  would  appear  to 
I 


58  Other  Founders  of  BedfordsJiire  Bells. 

have  been  at  work  for  a  short  time  after  that  date,  for  it  has 
already  been  shown  (p.  41)  that  the  Newcombes  supplied 
bells  to  Bedfordshire  churches  for  a  few  years  after  they  had, 
apparently,  closed  their  foundry  at  Leicester,  where  it  was 
absorbed,  or  eclipsed,  by  that  of  the  famous  Leicester  founder, 
Hugh  Watts. 

Two  of  the  Watts  family  were  casting  bells  in  the  sixteenth 
century,  respecting  whom  we  have  at  present  little,  or  no, 
documentary  notice.  "  Hew  Watts  "  placed  his  name  upon  the 
1st  bell  at  South  Luffenham,  Rutland,  in  1563.  I  have  made 
a  long  search  for  his  Will,  but  without  success.  In  the 
accounts  of  the  churchwardens  of  S.  Martin's,  Leicester,  for 
1 61 7- 1 8,  is  a  receipt : — 

Item  for  the  bells  for  olde  Mr.  Watts  & 
buryall  in  the  church  xij5 

This  was  not  Francis  Watts  (to  be  mentioned  presendy),  who 
died  in  1600,  but,  possibly,  his  father,  the  above  "  Hew 
Watts."  The  Watts'  foundry,  or  their  house,  being  in  the 
Gallowtree  Gate,  Leicester,  they  would  be  residents  in 
S.  Martin's  parish.  The  name  of  William  Wales,  or 
William  Wattes,  appears  upon  the  8th  bell  at  Clifton  (where 
there  are  two  others  cast  by  him  at  the  same  time — 1590)  and 
upon  the  5th  at  Harlington  (where  the  ist  was  also  his  handi- 
work), without  a  date.  These  are  very  fine  bells,  the 
inscriptions  being  in  large  ornate  Gothic  capitals,  of  which 
the  letters 


OtJier  Founders  of  Bedfordshire  Bel/s. 


59 


Zl 


are  here  engraved  as  examples  ;  the  intervening  stop  between 
the  words  on  all  these  five  bells  is  fig.  38,  and  the  founder's 
stamp  at  the  end  of  the  inscription  on  each  is  the  shield  fig.  39, 
both  on  the  next  page.  To  this  founder  may  also  be  assigned  the 
2nd  bell  at  Northill,  dated  1589.  and  bearing  the  same  stamps. 


6o 


Other  Founders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells, 


.,;^^,,,^&|2)fl.^-^'^. 


There  is  no  proof  at  present  that  these  two  men  were 
Leicester  founders  ;  indeed,  it  is  more  probable  that  William 
Watts  had  his  foundry  in  Bedfordshire,  but  Fra7tcis  Watts 
appears,  with  certainty,  as  such,  in  1564,  when  he  bought 
some  bell-wheels  from  the  church  of  St.  Peter,  Leicester,  then 
being  taken  down.  He  very  rarely  placed  his  name  upon  his 
bells,  the  only  instance  at  present  known  being  a  bell  at 
Bingham,  Nottinghamshire,  which  is  inscribed  in  letters  of 
various  sizes,  badly  put  together  : — "  Fraunces  Wattes  made 
me."  He  died  in  the  year  1600,  his  will  being  proved  in  that 
year.  To  him  may  be  assigned  (but  whether  cast  in  Bedford- 
shire, where  he  may  have  continued  the  foundry  upon  the 
death  of  William,  or  at  Leicester,  cannot  be  determined)  the 
3rd  bell  at  Fandish,  dated  1597,  and  bearing  the  shield,  fig. 
39,  and  the  2nd  at  Thurleigh,  dated  1593,  which,  in  addition 
to  the  same  shield,  has  the  intervening  stop  (found  on  the 
Leicester  bells  elsewhere)  here  engraved,  fig.  40.     The  letters 


Other  Fowiders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 


6£ 


on  these  bells  are  the  ornate  capitals 
mentioned  above  as  used  by  William 
Watts. 

The  letters  and  stamps  used  by  these 
early  members  of  the  Watts  family  were 
previously  used  by  the  Brazyers,  founders 
at  Norwich  ;  it  is,  therefore,  highly  prob- 
able that  the  immediate  predecessor  of  one 
of  them  had  been  employed  at  Norwich, 
and  leaving  during  the  temporary  closing  of  the  foundry  there 
upon  the  death  of  Richard  Brazyer  in  15 13,  found  his  way 
to  Bedford  or  Leicester,  bringing  some  of  the  old  bell-gear 
with  him,  and  opened  a  foundry  there.  Francis  Watts  was 
succeeded  in  the  Leicester  foundry  by  his  son,  Hugh  Watts, 
who  speedily  obtained  a  high  reputation  as  a  founder.  Upon 
the  death  of  his  father  he  placed  his  name  upon  a  few  bells, 
but  quickly  discontinued  the  practice,  then  becoming  common 
with  founders,  of  so  doing.  The  ist  bell  at  Dean,  and  the  5th 
at  Kempston,  are  inscribed  "  Hugh  Wattes  made  me  1603." 
In  addition  to  these  two  there  are  thirty-nine  bells  still 
hanging  in  Bedfordshire  churches,  which  were  supplied  by 
Hugh  Watts,  and  all  bearing  his  stamp,  fig,  39.  The  largeness 
of  this  number,  the  way  in  which  they  arc  grouped,  and  the 
style  of  lettering  used  in  the  inscriptions,  all  point  to  the 
probability  of  a  large  proportion  of  them  being  cast  in  this 
county.  Finding  no  mention  of  William  Watts  after  the 
appearance  of  his  name  upon  the  Clifton  and  Harlington 
bells  (1590),  it  may  be  presumed  that  he  died  before,  or  about 
the  time  of  the  death  of  Francis  Watts,  the  father  of  Huo^h 


62  Other  Founders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 

(a.d.  1600),  and  that  not  only  the  Leicester,  but  the  presumed 
Bedfordshire  foundry,  in  consequence  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  latter,  who,  as  just  stated,  placed  his  name  upon  the  bells 
at  Dean  and  Kempston  in  the  year  in  which  his  father  died. 
It  is  curious  to  note  the  grouping  of  inscriptions  on  the  bells 
he  next  cast  for  churches  in  this  county.  Willington  ist  has 
the  name  of  the  donor;  six  bells  (Campton  4th,  Carlton  ist, 
Elstow  2nd,  Harrold  3rd,  Oakley  5th,  and  Ravensdale  3rd) 
are  all  inscribed,  "Praise  the  Lord;"  two  bells  (Goldington 
ist,  and  Harrold  2nd),  have  the  inscription  "Come,  Come, 
and  Pray ;"  four  others  (Goldington  4th,  Pavenham  2nd, 
Melchbourne  4th,  and  Northill  3rd)  have  loyal  in- 
scriptions. All  these  thirteen  bells  were  cast  in  the 
year  1600-1603.  There  was  then  a  pause  in  the  casting 
of  bells  for  Bedfordshire  until  the  year  1609  ;  in  that  and  in  the 
following  year,  1610,  Hugh  Watts  cast  at  least  a  dozen  (Bedford 
S.  Mary  6th,  Bedford  S.  Peter  3rd,  Blunham  4th,  Dean  3rd, 
the  whole  ring  of  five  at  Marston  Moretaine,  Puddington  2nd, 
Wilden  3rd  [?],  and  Yielden  4th),  all  having  the  alphabet,  or 
portions  of  it,  upon  them  in  lieu  of  inscription.  All  these  bells 
have  their  inscriptions  in  the  ornate  Gothic  capitals  figured 
above  (p.  59),  which  we  have  seen  were  in  the  hands  of 
William  W^atts  and  Francis  Watts.  Now,  although  those 
letters  were  occasionally  used  by  Hugh  Watts  upon  bells  cast 
at  his  Leicester  foundry,  they  appear  but  rarely,  he  having 
adopted  a  rather  coarse  Roman  capital  letter  for  use  in  his 
inscriptions,  of  which  examples  are  here  given,  fig.  41.  It 
would  thus  appear  that  the  foundry,  which  it  is  presumed  was 
worked   by   William,    and,   perhaps,    by    Francis    Watts,    in 


Other  Founders  of  BedfordsJiire  Bells.  63 

Bedfordshire,  was  carried  on  by  Hugh,  their  successor,  until 
the  close  of  the  year  16 10,  he  using  the  bell-gear  and  the 
letter-stamps  which  were  in  the  hands  of  his  deceased  relatives. 


41 
It  would  further  ajDpear  that,  having  finished  his  casting  of  the 
group  of  alphabet  bells  in  16 10,  he  closed  his  furnaces  in  this 
county,  for  no  more  bells  are  found  of  his  casting  until  twenty- 
three  years  afterwards,  that  is,  until  the  year  1633,  when  he 
again  appears  in  the  bell-chambers  of  Bedfordshire,  sending 
between  that  year  and  1639  fourteen  bells,  namely  : — the  ring 
of  five  at  Great  Barford,  the  ist  at  Felmersham,  the  ist  and 
2nd  at  Kempston,  the  3rd  at  Shelton,  the  5th  at  Wilden,  the 
5th  at  Odell,  the  3rd  at  Oakley,  and  the  ist  and  2nd  at 
Riseley.     Of  these,  five  have  his  favourite  inscription  : — 

IH'a  :  NAZARENVS  :  REX    JVDEORUM  :  FILI     DEI  : 
MISERERE    MEI 

which  he  used  so  often — there  are  ninety  in  Leicestershire — 
as  to  cause  his  bells  to  be  known  as  "  Watts'  Nazarcnes." 
The  letters  IH'8  engraved  above  are  the  first  three  letters  of 


64 


OtJicr  Founders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 


that,  his  well-known  inscription,  the  letter  S  being  always 
reversed,  as  shown.  He  and  his  predecessors  generally 
extended  the  inscription  round  the  bell,  filling  up  the  spaces 
between  the  words  with  the  ornamental  acorn  band,  fig.  42  : — 


He  also  very  rarely — as  on  bells  at  S.  Margaret's  Church, 
Leicester — used  another  form  of  Gothic  letter,  a  specimen 
word  of  which  may  be  given  (fig.  43),  although  it  does   not 


Other  Fonnders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 


65 


appear  on  any  bell  in  Bedfordshire,  and  with  it  he  used  the 
elegant  border  ornament,  fig,  44  : — 


Hugh  Watts  died  in  1643,  when  portions  of  his  bell-gear  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  Nottingham  founders,  but  his  stamp,  fig. 
39,  and  band  ornaments  never  appear  after  his  death.  The 
Leicester  foundry  was  then  closed,  to  be  re-opened  at  the 
commencement  of  the  eighteenth  century  by  Thomas  Clay, 
who,  however,  sent  no  bells  to  this  county.  Upon  the  closing 
of  his  business,  there  was  another  interval  until  Edward 
Arnold,  the  nephew  of  Joseph  Eayre,  the  bellfounder  of  S. 
Neots,  cast  his  first  ring  of  bells  in  Leicester  in  the  year  1784, 
for  Rothley  church,  Leicestershire,  as  he  tells  us  upon  one  of 
the  bells  there.  He  sent  no  bell  to  this  county  from  Leicester, 
but  upon  the  ist  and  2nd  at  Cardington  he  describes  himself 
as  of  S.  Neots  and  Leicester,  although  he  had  not  at  that  time 
commenced  business  at  the  latter  place.  These  and  other  in- 
scriptions show  that  during  part  of  the  time   he  carried   on 


66  Other  Founders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 

the  Leicester  foundry,  Edward  Arnold  continued  his  business 
at  S.  Neots,  into  which  he  received,  as  an  apprentice,  Robert 
Taylor,  who  towards  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century- 
succeeded  to  the  foundry  there,  which  at  that  time  was  carried 
on  in  a  lofty  brick  building  situate  in  the  Priory,  and  built  in 
the  form  of  a  bell.  Robert  Taylor  sent  the  whole  ring  of  five 
bells  to  Bletsoe  in  1786,  and  between  that  year  and  18 16  he 
sent  many  other  bells  to  churches  in  the  county,  upon  all  of 
which  he  placed  his  name.  Upon  the  3rd  bell  at  Risely 
(dated  1816)  he,  doubtless  for  some  exceptional  reason,  joined 
J.  Briant's  name  with  his  own  as  founder.  About  that  time 
the  firm  became  R.  Taylor  &  Sons.  They  sent  bells  to 
Husborne  Crawley  and  Wresdingworth  in  1820.  In  the  year 
1 82 1  the  Messrs.  Taylor  removed  to  Oxford,  from  whence 
they  sent  the  2nd  bell  at  Bromham  in  1826.  In  1825  Mr. 
John  Taylor^  one  of  the  Oxford  firm,  went  to  Buckland 
Brewer,  near  Bideford,  Devon,  to  cast  the  bells  there,  and 
after  casting  several  rings  and  odd  bells  in  Devon,  Cornwall, 
etc.,  returned  to  Oxford  in  1S35.  In  1839  he  and  his  son 
went  to  Loughborough,  in  Leicestershire,  to  cast  the  bells  there, 
and  finding  the  town  well-situated  for  business,  they  took  up 
their  residence  in  that  place.  From  thence  they,  in  the  same 
year,  sent  the  5th  bell  to  Turvey,  describing  themselves  as 
W.  Csf  J.  Taylor,  Oxford  and  Lo7Lghhoroiigh.  Although 
William  Taylor  (the  brother  of  John)  continued  to  work  the 
Oxford  foundry  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1S54,  his 
name  does  not  again  appear  upon  bells  cast  at  Loughborough. 
The  foundry^  there  was  carried  on  by  JoJm  Taylor,  who 
describes  himself  upon  the  ist  bell  at  Puddington,  dated  1843, 


Other  Fotcnders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells.  67 

as  of  "  Oxford  and  Loughborough,"  and  upon  the  Wymington 
I  St,  cast  in  that  same  year,  as  "  late  of  S.  Neots."  Since  that 
time  Mr.  John  Taylor  has  died,  leaving  his  son,  the  present 
Mr.  John  Williaiu  Taylor,  the  head  of  the  now  justly  cele- 
brated Leicestershire  foundry.  Messrs.  John  Taylor  cir"  Co. 
have  supplied  several  bells  to  Bedfordshire  churches,  but  as  their 
names  appear  upon  them  a  list  in  detail  is  rendered  unnecessary.* 

Returning  to  the  older  bells  in  Bedfordshire,  we  find  ten 
cast  by  John  Dier,  about  whom  litde  is  at  present 
known.  His  bells  in  this  county  date  from  1580,  at 
Houghton  Regis  (5th),  to  1593,  the  date  on  bells  at  Houghton 
and  at  Maulden.  His  earliest  bell  bears  his  name  "  John  dier," 
in  thick  black  letter ;  on  the  more  elaborate  bells  at  Hulcote, 
with  the  donor's  arms,  he  appears  in  the  same  type  of  letters 
as  "Johannes  Dier,"  the  last  two  letters  being  linked  together 
on  one  stem  ;  but  on  the  Willington  4th  he  discarded  the  old 
black  letter,  and  appeared  in  sharply  defined  Roman  capitals 
as  "  John  Dyey,"  with  the  whole  inscription  placed  backwards. 
He  used  the  Pentacle  as  a  trade-mark,  and  upon  the  Hulcote 
bells  he  placed  a  number  of  small  fanciful  stamps. 

The  name  oi  John  Clarke  is,  as  founder,  upon  the  2nd  bell 
at  Flitwick,  dated  1608.  He,  too,  used  the  Pentacle  in  place 
of  the  ancient  initial  cross.  His  bells  are  rare.  There  is  a 
similarity  between  his  lettering  and  that  of  John  Dier,  but  at 
present  three  is  no  proof  of  any  connection  between  them. 

About  this  time,  too,  we  find  Richard  Iloldfcld,  or  Oldficld, 
sending    two    bells    into    this    county — the    ist    at    Shelton, 

*  For  a  full  account  of  the  ancient  Leicester  licllfoundcrs,  with  copies  of  their  Wills,  etc., 
sec  North's  CInitch  Bells  of  LeuaUnhiie,  pp.  37-74- 


68 


Other  Founders  of  BedfordsJiire  Bells. 


inscribed  "  Praies  God,"  and  the  3rd  at  Studham,  inscribed 
"  Pries  the  Lord  ;"  they  are  both  dated  1599.  They  bear  no 
founder's  name,  but  the  letters  of  the  inscriptions  on  both — 
small  Roman  capitals — and  the  initial  cross  on  the  Studham 
bell,  here  engraved,  fig.  45.  are  identical  with  those  on  the  3rd 
bell  at  Everton,  Huntingdonshire,  inscribed  in 
part  "  Ricardvs  Holdfeld  me  fecit  161 1." 
Dr.  Raven  suggests  (for  reasons  given  in  his 
Church  Bells  of  Canibindgeshire '"')  that  Richard 
Holdfeld  was  a  Cambridge  founder.  There  is 
also  every  reason  for  assuming  that  he  was  a 
member  of  the  family  of  Oldfield,  of  Nottingham,  founders 
there  for  several  generations.  On  the  3rd  bell  at  East 
Bergholt,  Suffolk,  and  upon  some  bells  in  Essex,  cast  by  Richard 
Bowler  early  in  the  seventeenth  century,  there  is  a  circular 
stamp  bearing  the  initials  R.H.,  divided  by  an  arrow,  which 
points  to  some  connection  between  Richard  Holdfeld  and  the 
founder  of  those  bells. 

Richard  Hattlsey  cdi-st  the  2nd  bell  at  Dunton,  and  the  1st 
at  Edworth  ;  they  are  both  dated  1623.  The  inscriptions  are 
l^in  Roman  capitals  of  the  same  character 
as  those  used  by  Richard  Holdfeld,  and 
preceded  by  an  initial  cross  of  the  same 
form  (fig.  46),  but  both  letters  and  cross 
are  larger  in  size.  It  is  probable  that 
Haulsey  succeeded  to  the  foundry  of 
Richard  Holdfeld. 


*  2nd  Ed.,  p.  131. 


Other  Founders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 


69 


Robert  Oldfield,  too,  was  casting  bells  at  that  time.  He 
cast  the  3rd  bell  at  Stanstead  Abbots,  Hertfordshire,  and 
placed  his  name  upon  it,  in  1605.  To  him  may  be  assigned 
the  4th  bell  at  Eaton  Socon,  with  a  pre-Reformation  In- 
scription In   Gothic  capitals,   preceded  by   the   cross,  fig.  47, 


47 


48 


49 


with  fig.  49,  for  an  intervening  stop. 
In  163S  he  supplied  the  present  treble 
bell  to  Shillington,  which  has  fig.  47  for 
an  Initial  stamp,  and  under  It  the  founder's 
stamp  fig.  48,  all  here  engraved.  The 
fortunate  preservation  of  the  Shillington 
Churchwardens'  Accounts  for  the  year 
in  which  this  bell  was  cast  enables  us 
to  assign  these   stamps  with  certainty  to 


yo  Other  Founders  of  BcdfordsJiire  Bells. 

Robert  Oldfield,  and  to  state  that  he  was  then  working  his 
foundry  at  Hertford.     The  Churchwardens  charge  : — 

1638  Ite'  spent  at  Hartf  when  we  went  w"'  the  Bell o     8  8 

Ite'  to  John  Crouch  for  drawing  our  bell  to  Hartford  013  o 
Ite'   to   Robert   Oldfeild   for   casting   our   bell   at 

elcaven  shillinge  the  hundred    4  10  6 

The  only  other  bell  from  Robert  Oldfield's  Hertford  foundry 
now  in  this  county  is  the  Priests'  bell  at  Luton,  which  has  no 
inscription,  but  only  the  date  1637  immediately  over  the 
shield-shaped  stamp  fig.  48  on  page  69.  Robert  Oldfield  was 
doubtless  connected  with  the  Nottingham  founders  of  the 
same  name.  The  initial  cross  he  used,  fig.  47,  is  similar  in 
form  to  those  constantly  used  by  them. 

At  a  later  date  a  foundry  was  worked  at  Hertford  by  John 
Briant,  who  sent  several  bells  to  the  churches  of  this  county, 
dated  from  1790  at  Eaton  Bray  (5th)  to  18 16  at  Meppershall 
(3rd).  He  died  at  S.  Albans  in  the  year  1829,  being  then  in 
his  8ist  year,  and  was  buried  in  All  Saints'  Churchyard, 
Hertford.* 

There  are  a  large  number  of  bells — nearly  fifty — supplied  to 
Bedfordshire  churches  from  the  foundry  formerly  existing  at 
Drayton  Parslow,  in  Buckinghamshire.  "  Anthonie  Chandler 
Blacksmith,"  who  was  buried  at  that  place  on  "  Aprill  the  20, 
1 64 1,"  had  by  his  wife,  who  was  buried  there  in  1643,  two 
sons,  Richard,  baptized  there  on  the  6th  of  March,  1 601-2, 
and  Anthony,  who  died  an  infant  in  1605.     Richard  Chandler 


*  For  a  fuller  account  of  him,  see  North's  Church  Bells  of  Northamptonshire,  pp.  102-4. 


Other  Fotincicrs  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 


married  Bridget  Conoper  in  1622,  and  was  the  first  bellfounder 
at  Drayton,  sending  tlie  present  2nd  bell  to  Milton  Bryant  in 
1636.  He  placed  his  name  on  that  bell  as  "Richard  Chandeler," 
with  the  date  both  before  and  after  it,  and  the  two  stamps  here 
engraved  as  figs.  50  and  51.     He  was  buried  at  Drayton    on 

the  13th  of  June,  1638.  He  had  by  his 
wife  Bridget  one  son,  Anthony,  and  five 
daughters,  two  of  whom,  says  the  Regis- 
ter, "  Bridgetta  Chanler  et  Maria  Chan- 
ler  filice  posthumae  Richardi  et  Bridgettoe 
bapt :  fuerant  secundi  die  Aug^  1638." 
AntJiony  Chandler  (the  only  son  of  this 
Richard),  who  was  baptized  on  the  20th 
of  August,  1622,  carried  on  the  foundry 
on  the  death  of  his  father  (probably 
during  his  youth  with  the  assistance  of  a 
foreman)  sending  a  few  bells  to  churches 
in  his  own  and  neifjhbourincf  counties. 
He  sometimes  placed  his  name  in  full,  as 
at  Egginton  (2nd),  Houghton  Regis 
(6th),  and  Westoning  (ist),  and  some- 
times only  "  Chandler  made  me :"  and  very  rarely — as  on  the  5th 
bell  at  Harrold — the  fleur-de-lys,  fig.  5 1,  given  above.  He  was 
buried  either  on  the  23rd  of  January,  1680- 1,  or  on  the  loth 
of  January,  16S4-5  (for  there  were  two  men  of  the  name  living 
nt  the  same  time  at  Drayton),  leaving  a  numerous  family — 
four  sons — Richard,  baptized  15th  December,  1650;  George, 
baptized  3rd  March,  1654;  Thomas,  baptized  30th  November, 
1656,  and  John,  baptized  loth  July,  1664 — and  four  daughters. 


=:  I 


I  - 


Other  Founders  of  DcdfordsJiire  Bells. 


Ann,  Jane,  Bridg-et,  and  Leah.  The  two  elder  sons,  Richard 
and  George,  appear  to  have  succeeded  to  the  business  of  the 
foundry,  most  probably  as  partners,  though  their  joint  names 
have  not  yet  been  found  on  any  single  bell.  The  name  of 
George  Chandler  appears  as  founder  upon  the  3rd  bell  at 
Eaton  Bray,  dated  1705,  and  upon  the  5th  at  Stanbridge, 
dated  1725,  soon  after  which  he  died;  but  the  Parish  Registers 
do  not  give  the  entry  of  his  burial.  Richard  Chandler  died 
on  one  of  the  last  days  of  the  year  1 704,  being  buried  (the 
Register  describes  him  as  "  Bellfounder ")  on  the  ist  of 
January,  1704-5.  He  sent  several  bells  into  Bedfordshire, 
some  having  his  name,  and  some  only  his  initials.  Upon  his 
death  another  Richard  Chandler,  most  probably  his  son — 
though  here  the  Registers  do  not  help  us — placed  his  name 
upon  bells.  He  was  the  "  Richard  Chaundler,  bellfounder," 
whose  son  Henry  (according  to  the  Register)  was  baptized  on 
the  28th  of  April,  1702,  and  whose  daughter  Susan  was 
buried  on  the  28th  of  February,  1703-4.  The  latest  date  we 
find  upon  Richard  Chandler's  bells  in  this  county  is  1723,  upon 
the  4th  bell  at  Hulcote.  The  date  of  his  death  is  at  present 
unknown.  The  Chandlers  were  succeeded  at  Drayton  Parslow 
as  bellfounders  by  Edward  Hall,  who  sent  only  four  bells  to 
this  county,  Eaton  Bray  ist,  dated  1740,  Pottesgrove  ist, 
dated  1743,  and  Whipsnade,  ist  and  2nd,  dated  1740.  He 
was  not  successful  with  his  foundry,  and  the  addition  to  it  of  the 
original  business  of  the  Chandlers — that  of  a  blacksmith — 
does  not  appear  to  have  added  much  to  the  security  of  his 
position,  for  the  Parish  Register  records  his  burial  thus  : — 
9  February,  1755,  Edward  Y{:x\\,  poor  beHfounde?: 


Other  Foiinders  of  DcdfordsJiirc  Bells. 


73 


The  site  of  the  foundry  at  Drayton  Parslow  is  now  used  as 
a  garden  and  paddock  behind  the  "  Three  Horse-Shoes"  Inn: 
scraps  of  bell-metal,  and  other  indications  of  the  foundry  work, 
have  been  found."" 

Another  foundry  in  Buckinghamshire  supplied  the  ist  and 
the  3rd  bells  at  Chellington.  BartJiolomew  Alton,  "  Tann'  and 
Bellfounder,  the  apprentice  of  Thomas  Newcome,  Tann'  and 
Bellfounder,"  then  deceased,  was  admitted  to  the  Merchants' 
Guild,  or  made  free  of  the  town  of  Leicester,  in  1582-3. 
Shortly  after  that  date  he  was  casting  bells  at  Buckingham,  of 
which  town  he  was  bailiff  in  1604.!  He  sent  several  bells  into 
Northamptonshire,  and  showed  his  connection  with  the  Leices- 
ter founders  by  using  some  of  their  stamps.^  Upon  many  of 
his  bells  are  also  placed  the  initials  of  Robert  Alton,  who  was 
associated  with  him  in  the  foundry.  The  dates  of  the  deaths 
of  these  two  founders  are  not  at  present  known,  but  Bartholo- 
mew cast  bells  as  late  as  1636,  and  Robert  as  late  as  i634.§ 

Upon  the  3rd  bell  at  Chellington  Wil- 
liam Alton  appears  as  founder,  with 
the  name  of  this  Robert  Atton  ap- 
/#  pended.  In  1654,  when  the  treble  bell 
there  was  cast,  William  Atton  had  a  son 
associated  with  him,  the  founders'  names 
being  given  as  "  \\\  Atton  and  Son  :" 
soon  after   that   date   he   dic-d,    for  the 


*  For  numerous  extracts  (about  sixty  in 
number)  from  the  Parish  Registers  of  Dray- 
ton Parslow  relating  to  the  Chandler  family 
I  am  much  indebted  to  the  courtesy  of  the 
present  Rector,  the  Rev.  A.  Cyril  Pearson. 


t  Lipscomb's  Hist,  of  Rucks -^  vol.  ii.,  p.  567. 

:J:  See  North's   Church  Bells  of  Northants, 

p.  114. 
§  IbiJ.  pi>.  114,  115. 


74  Other  Founders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 

Buckingham  Register  says  "  Mr.  William  Atton  four  times 
Bailiff  [buried]  Oct.  23,  1655."*  The  Attons  used  as  an  initial 
cross  fig.  52  engraved  on  p.  ']-^\  it  appears  upon  the  3rd  of 
the  Chellington  bells. 

There  are  a  score  of  bells  in  Bedfordshire  churches  which 
were,  as  their  inscriptions  testify,  cast  by  Miles  Graye.  They 
range  in  date  from  161 5  at  Stotfold  (3rd)  to  1667  at  Fandish 
(ist).  Miles  Graye  was  a  founder  of  considerable  reputation 
at  Colchester.  The  inscription  on  the  tenor  bell  at  Kersey, 
Suffolk,  says  : — 

Samuel  Samson,  Churchwarden,  I  saye, 
Caused  me  to  be  made  by  Colchester  Graye. 

Although  no  founder  of  his  period,  according  to  Dr.  Raven, 
"  was  equal  to  *  Colchester  Graye,'  "  not  much  is  at  present 
known  about  him  beyond  what  his  bells  themselves  tell.  He 
is  said  to  have  died  in  i666,f  It  is  generally  supposed  that 
Christopher  Graye,  whose  bells  in  this  county  have  been 
already  mentioned  (see  p.  41)  was  his  son. 

During  the  time  Miles  Graye  was  casting  bells  at  Colchester 
Ja7n£s  Kecne  was  actively  employed  in  the  same  way  at  Wood- 
stock in  Oxfordshire.     There  are  twenty-three  of  his  bells  in 
this  county,  dating  from  1618  at  Odell  and  Puddington  to  1641 
at  Milton  Bryant  and  Wootton. 

GOD  SAVE  OVR  KING 
was  his  favourite  motto  :  it  appears  on  fourteen  of  those  bells. 
On  the  Chellington  2nd  and  on  the  Colmworth  4th  he  placed 
"  Pray.e  ye  the  Lord,"  omitting,  apparently,  the  letter  s  in  the 

*  Willis'  Hisi.  of  Bucks.,  p.  72. 
+  But  the  Fandish  bell  is  dated  in  the  following  year  (1667). 


Other  Founders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 


75 


first  word  :  the  3rd  at  Stanbridge  has  the  name  of  the  church^ 

r^  warden,  and  on  the  2nd  at  Fan- 
iVj^l    dish,  the  ist  at  Milton   Bryant, 
the  I  St,  2nd.  and  3rd  at  Odell, 
and  the  ist  at  Salford,  the  ini- 
I   tials   I.  K.    are  given  with  the 
^5  Pl^  date.     These  initials,  which  are 
also  on  many  of  his  other  bells 
\  — for  James  Keene  did  not  give 
''  his  name   in  full — are  generally 
in  the    form    given   as   fig.    53, 
using  frequently  as  initial  crosses  the  figs.  54,  55  and  56.    The 


initial  cross  fig  54  is  upon  bells  at  Chalgrave(2nd),  Clophill  (2nd), 
Hawnes  (ist),  Odell  (4th),  Pavenham  (5th),  and  Puddington 
(3rd  and  4th).  That  figured  No.  55  is  on  bells  at  Colmworth 
(3rd),  Cople  (5th).  Flitwick  (4th),  Henlow  (2nd),  Milton 
Bryant  (3rd),  Salford  (ist),  and  Studham  (4th),  and  that  figured 


76 


Other  Foimders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 


57 


58 


59 


No.  56  is  found  on  bells  at  Chellington(2nd), 
Colmworth  (4th),  Milton  Bryant  (ist), 
Stanbridge  (3rd),  and  at  Wootton  (5th). 
James  Keene  also  rarely  used  as  a  stop 
fig.  57  here  engraved  :  it  is  only  found  once 
in  Bedfordshire — on  the  3rd  bell  at  Odell  ; 
and  much  more  frequently  the  fleur-de-lys, 
fig.  58,  which  is  found  on  ten  of  his  bells 
in  this  county. 

Amongst  the  other  seventeenth  century 
bells  are  five  from  the  Stamford  foundry. 
Tobias  or  Tobie  Norris,  Bellfounder,  took 
up  his  freedom  at  Stamford  on  the  4th  of 
June,  1607,  consequently  the  ist  and  2nd 
bells  at  Clapham,  dated  in  that  year,  and 
upon  which  he  placed  the  initial  cross  fig. 
59,  and  the  stop  fig.  60,  were  amongst  his 
first  efforts.  He  was  also  the  founder  of 
the  4th  and  5th  bells  at  Shillington,  dated 
1624,  upon  the  latter  of  which  he  also 
placed  the  initial  cross  fig.  59.  It  appears 
from  the  accounts  of  the  churchwardens  of 
Shillington  that  these  two  bells  were  cast  at 
St.  Ives,  where  Norris  had  probably  set  up 
a  temporary  foundry.  He  died  on  the  2nd 
of  November,  1626,  and  was  succeeded  in 
the  foundry  by  Thomas  N'orris,  who  took 
up  his  freedom  of  Stamford,  as  a  bell- 
founder,  on  the  31st  of  December,  1625. 


Other  Founders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells.  jj 


He  sent  no  bells  now  remaining  in   this 

county,  but  his  son  and  successor,  Tobias 

Norris  (2nd),   who    was  baptized  at   S. 

George's  Church,  Stamford,  on  the  25th 

of  April,    1634,   and   was    buried  in  the 

same   parish    on    the    19th    of   January, 

«====— =-=^   1698-9,   sent   the   2nd    bell    to    Dean  in 

^  i(:>']'],  placing  upon  it  his  name  preceded 

by  the  initial  cross  fig.  59.* 

Bryan  Eldridgc,  of  Chertsey,  sent  only  one  bell  to  Bedford- 
shire— the  2nd  at  Yielden,  dated  1660. 

During  the  greater  part  of  the  seventeenth,  and  the  earlier 
years  of  the  eighteenth  centuries,  foundries  were  worked  at 
Chacombe  and  at  Ecton,  Northamptonshire,  by  the  family  of 
Bagley.  Henry  Bagley,  the  first  bell-founder  at  Chacombe 
(baptized  2nd  Oct.  1608,  died  about  1676),  sent  no  bells  to 
Bedfordshire  :  upon  his  death  the  business  appears  to  have 
been  carried  on  by  his  two  sons,  Henry  (not  mentioned  in  the 
Parish  Register)  and  Williatn  (born  29  June,  1663),  in  con- 
junction with  his  nephew  Matthezu  (baptized  6  April,  1653). 
Although  their  names  do  not  appear  jointly  in  any  known 
instance  upon  the  same  bell,  Henry  and  Matthew  frequently 
each  placed  his  name  upon  separate  bells  in  the  same  ring, 
and  cast  at  the  same  time.  Their  bells  are  not  numerous  in 
this  county,  being  the  5th  at  Stagsden,  the  ist  at  Tilbrook, 
and  the  2nd  and  3rd  at  Turvey.  Tilbrook  is  on  the  borders 
of  Northamptonshire,  but  the  Bagleys   probably  owed  their 

*  For  a  full  account  of  llic  Stamford  Foundry,  see  North's  Church  Bells  of  Norlhanls,  pp. 
95-102,  and  his  Church  Bells  of  Lincolnshire,  pp.  51-58. 


78 


Other  Founders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 


introduction  to  the  other  places 
to  the  Rev.  Thomas  Monta- 
gue, Rector  of  Burton,  North- 
amptonshire, the  donor  of  a 
bell  to  Sharnbrook  in  1683. 
The  Bagleys  occasionally  used 
the  stamp  fig.  61,  and  the 
intervening  stop  fig.  62,  which 
is  on  the  5th  bell  at  Stagsden. 
On  the  2nd  bell  at  Willing- 
ton  is,  in  bold  thin-faced 
61  Roman  capitals,  Thomas  Tom- 

pion  Fecit  1671.     Of  him  nothing  is  at  present 
known. 

Thomas  Janazvay,  of  Chelsea,  sent  the  4th 
bell  to  Potton  in  1785.  Mr.  Tyssen  tells  us 
that  he  probably  learned  his  art  in  the  White- 
chapel  (London)  foundry,  that  the  Chelsea 
foundry  only  lasted  from  1763  to  1786,  and  that  at  its  close  all 
its  stamps  and  tools  were  bought  and  transferred  to  White- 
chapel,  and  there  used  for  many  years.'" 

Thomas  Nezuman,  whose  name  appears  as  founder  upon  the 
5th  bell  at  Eaton  Socon,  cast  in  1705,  and  upon  the  ist  at 
Potton,  cast  in  the  following  year,  was  of  Norwich,  but  he 
itinerated,  and  it  is  quite  probable  that  those  bells  were  sent 
by  him  from  Cambridge,  where  it  is  known  he  was  casting 
bells  a  few  years  latent 


*  Sussex  Coll.,  xvi.,  p.  179. 
J  See  Dr.  Raven's  Church  Bells  of  Cambridgeshire,  2nd  Ed.,  p.  98. 


Other  Fo7inders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells.  79 

In  171  7,  Thomas  and  John  ^^_)'r^,  the  first  bellfounders  at 
Kettering,  Northamptonshire,  supplied  the  treble  bell  at 
Yielden ;  upon  the  death  or  retirement  of  John  Eayre  in,  or 
about,  the  following  year,  the  foundry  there  passed  into  the 
sole  management  of  Thomas  Eayre,  who  did  a  large  business. 
He,  however,  only  sent  three  bells  into  Bedfordshire  : — the 
ist  and  5th  at  Ampthill  in  1725,  and  the  ist  at  Oakley  in 
1750.  He  was  buried  at  Kettering  on  the  3rd  of  January, 
1758,  after  which  the  foundry  there  was  carried  on  for  a  few 
years  by  his  son  and  sole  executor,  Thomas  Eayre  (2nd),  who 
being  unfortunate  in  business,  brought  it  to  a  close  in  1761." 

Joseph  Eay7'e  (the  brother  of  the  first-named  Thomas  Eayre, 
of  Kettering),  who  was  baptized  as  "an  adult  person"  at 
Kettering,  in  the  year  1731,  and  whose  marriage  in  the 
Kettering  Register  is  thus  noted  :— 

Mr.  Joseph  Eayre  of  S.  Neots  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Soame  of  Kettering, 

opened  a  foundry  at  S.  Neots  about  the  year  1735,  in  which 
year  he  sent  a  ring  of  bells  to  Chatteris,  Cambridgeshire. 
He  sent  six  bells  into  this  county,  dating  from  1740,  at  Eaton 
Socon  (ist),  to  1772  at  Langford  (3rd).  After  his  death  the 
business  at  S.  Neots  was  held  jointly  for  a  short  time  by  his 
late  foreman,  Tliomas  Osborn,  and  his  cousin,  Edivard  Arnold. 
After  they  dissolved  partnership,  Edzuard  Arnold  held  the 
foundry  at  S.  Neots,  sending  bells  from  thence  to  KeyscE  (5th) 
in  1772,  and  to  Langford  (2nd)  in  17S0.  In  1784  he  opened 
his  foundry  at  Leicester  (see  p.  65),  still,  however,  keeping  on 
the  S.  Neots  foundry  for  a  time. 

*  See  North's  Church  Bells  of  Northants,  pp.  48-51,  for  a  full  account  of  their  foundry. 


8o  Other  Fotmders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 

Thomas  Osborn,  after  dissolving  partnership  with  Edward 
Arnold,  set  up  for  himself  at  Downham  Market,  where  he 
subsequently  took  William  Dobson,  his  grandson,  into  partner- 
ship. Upon  the  death  of  his  grandfather,  this  William  Dobson 
carried  on  the  foundry,  sending  the  3rd  bell  at  Eaton  Socon 
in  1832.  Although  he  had  a  large  connection,  he  was  not 
prosperous  in  business.  In  1833  his  foundry  passed  into  the 
hands  of  Mr.  Thomas  Mears,  of  London. 

The  modern  Birmingham  founders  are  represented  by 
two  bells.  Mr.  James  Barzvell  supplied  the  ist  at  Stevington 
in  1872,  and  Messrs.  Wm.  Blews  &  Sons  the  ist  at  Wyming- 
ton  in  the  following  year. 

In  writing  of  the  bells  in  this  county  cast  by  the  Newcombe's 
of  Leicester  and  Bedford  (see  pp.  57-8),  the  4th  bell  at  Elstow, 
traditionally    known    as    Bunyan's    bell,    escaped    notice   as 
being  probably  from   their  foundry.     It  bears  for  an  initial 
cross,  fig.  63,  which  cross  is  not  only  found 
on  bells  in  Leicestershire  and  Northampton- 
shire, but  on  the  2nd  bell  at   Upton  Magna, 
Salop,    dated     1605,    where    it   appears    in 
company  with  a  border  ornament  used  by 
the  Newcombes,  and    preceding  a  form  of 
inscription,  ''  Come  Come  and  Pray,"  found 
63  on  the  bells  of  the  Leicester  founders. 

The  only  other  founders  who  sent  bells  into  this  county  are 
those  of  London  from  the  seventeenth  century  to  the  present 
time.  As  their  bells  are  nearly  one  hundred  and  twenty  in 
number,  and  as  the  name  of  the  founder  of  each  appears  upon 
it,  and  so  will  be  pointed  out  in  the  proper  place  under  the 


Other  Fotmders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 


Si 


parish  in  which  it  hangs,  It  is  unnecessary  to  give  a  detailed 
Hst  of  them  here. 

John  Hodson — the  first  London  founder  of  the  modern  era 
whose  bells  are  in  Bedfordshire — and  Christopher  Ilodson 
were  the  principal  founders  of  their  time,  a  time  not 
encouraging  to  men  of  their  craft.  In  1653  John  Hodson 
supplied  the  4th  bell  at  Harrold  ;  in  the  following  year  he  sent 
four  bells  to  Stevington  ;  and  in  1663  he  cast  the  3rd  at 
Pavenham  and  the  1st  at  Cranfield.     On  the  last-mentioned 

bell  he  placed,  as  intervening 
stops,  a  fleur-de-lys  and  fig.  64, 
here  engraved,  with  the  royal 
arms  after  the  inscription.  He 
used  large  plain  Roman  capitals 
for  his  inscriptions,  with  fleur-de- 
lys,  the  fig.  64,  coins  of  Charles 
I.  and  the  Commonwealth,  stars 
of  dots,  and  lozenges  plentifully, 
as  Intervening  stops.  The 
Initials  \V.  H.  observed  on  his 
bells  at  Cranford,  Pavenham,  and  on  two  at  Stevington,  arc 
those  of  William  Hull,  who  was  his  foreman,  and  to  whom  he 
apparently  taught  his  trade.  William  Hull  not  only  placed 
his  initials  upon  many  of  John  Hodson's  bells,  but  sometimes 
his  name  appears  in  full  in  conjunction  with  that  of  his  master, 
and  on  the  ist  at  Pertenhall  we  have  "  William  Hvll  made 
me  1666"  standing  alone,  although  it  was  clearly  his  master's 
bell.      After   leaving    John     Hodson   he    was   employed    by 

M 


UTT/IMC 


64 


82  Other  Founders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells. 

Michael  Darble,  until  he  set  up  for  himself  at  South  Mailing, 
Sussex,  where  he  died  in  the  year  i687.'''' 

The  Whitechapel  (London)  bellfoundry  is  of  ancient  date  ; 
there  was  a  foundry  there  as  early  as,  if  not  earlier  than,  the 
year  1520.  Later  on  we  find  that  Robert  Mot,  who  was 
buried  on  the  ist  of  April,  1608,  worked  the  foundry  there 
until  his  death.  Joseph  Carter  succeeded  him,  who,  dying 
early  in  the  year  16 10,  left  the  management  of  the  London 
foundry  to  the  care  of  his  son  William  Carter,  who  only  lived 
a  few  years  after  his  father's  death.  To  him  succeeded  (in 
1 6 1 9)  Thomas  Bartlett,  who  had  been  a  servant  in  the  foundry, 
and  in  the  family  of  the  Bartletts  the  Whitechapel  foundry 
remained  until  the  end  of  the  seventeenth  century.  The  only 
bell  sent  into  this  county  by  the  Bartletts  is  the  clock-bell  at 
Battlesden  House,  dated  1674.  That  bell  has  the  name  of 
Anthony  Bartlett  as  founder,  and  also  the  circular  stamp, 
bearing  three  bells  encircled  with  the  words  "  Thomas 
Bartlett,"  which  had  been  used  by  the  first  founder  of  that 
name.  Anthony  Bartlett,  who  died  in  1676,  was  succeeded  by 
his  son,  fames  Bartlett,  who  died  in  1701.  Richard  Phelp, 
who  cast  several  noted  bells,  was  the  next  founder  at  White- 
chapel ;  he  died  in  1738,  when  he  was  succeeded,  as  founder, 
by  his  foreman,  Thomas  Lester,  whose  name  appears  on  six 
bells  at  S.  Paul's,  Bedford,  cast  in  1744.  He  soon  took 
Thomas  Pack  into  partnership,  and  the  names  Lester  &  Pack 
are  upon  the  single  bell  at  Lower  Gravenhurst,  dated  1758. 
Upon  the  death  of   Lester   in    1769,  his    nephew,    William 

*  For  a  full  account  of  Wm.  Hull,  see  Mr.  Tyssen's  Church  Bells  of  Sussex,  pp.  26-29. 


Other  Founders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells.  8 


J 


Chapman,  became  Pack's  partner,  and  the  new  firm,  Pack 
&  CJiapnian,  sent  bells  to  Cardington,  Dunstable,  and  Luton 
from  1772  to  1776.  The  firm  next  appears  in  this  county  as 
Chapman  &  ^Teal's — Pack  died  in  1781,  and  William  Mears, 
who  had  learned  his  business  under  Chapman,  and  had  been 
casting  bells  on  his  own  account,  was  then  taken  into 
partnership  by  him — upon  bells  at  Caddington  cast  in  1782. 
William  Chapman  died  in  1784,  when  William  Mears  was 
alone  for  a  short  time  only,  for  in  1787  we  find  IV.  &'  T. 
Mears  describing  themselves  on  bells  at  Leighton  Buzzard  as 
''  late  Lester,  Pack,  &  Chapman."  The  foundry  remained  in 
the  Mears  family — many  of  their  bells  will  be  found  hereafter 
described  under  the  different  parishes — until  about  the  year 
1865,  soon  after  which  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  present 
proprietor,  Mr.  Robert  Stainbank,  who,  however,  retains  the 
name  of  Mears  in  the  firm  (Mr.  George  Mears,  his  former 
partner,  after  being  out  of  business  some  years,  died  at 
Landport,  Portsmouth,  on  the  12th  of  August,  1873,  aged  53 
years),  and  he,  under  the  style  of  Mears  &  Stainbank,  has 
sent  many  bells  to  the  churches  of  this  county.* 

The  name  of  Islip  Ednmnds,  London,  appears  upon  the  i  st 
bell  at  Melchbourne  as  the  founder  in  i  764,  and  upon  the  3rd 
at  Milton  Ernest  in  1765.     Of  him  little  is  known.     Messrs. 


*  Mr.  Tyssen    in    his    Church    Bells    of  merchant,     lie  died  at  his  residence,  Spring 

Sussex,    gives   much   information   about   the  Lodge,    Lawrie    Park,    Sydenham,    on    the 

Whitechapel    foundry.      Since    writing    the  morning  of  Wednesday,  the  24tli  of  January, 

above,  Mr.  Stainbank  (who  was  bom  at  Not-  iSSj,    and    was    buried    on    the    following 

tingham   about    the    year    1815)    has    died.  Monday,  at  Boston,  Lincolnshire,  where  his 

Before   entering   into   partnership    with   the  father,   mother,  and   other   members   of  his 

late  Mr.  Mears,  he  was  in  business  as  a  timber  family  are  interred. 


84 


Other  Fowiders  of  Bedfordshire  Bells, 


John  Warner  &  Sons,  of  the  well-known  Crescent  Foundry, 
Cripplcgatc,  London,  have  sent  bells  to  Bedfordshire,  including 
a  full  ring  of  six  to  Arlescy  in  1877.* 


*  For   a   fuller   account   of  this  foundry,  see   North's  Chtirch   Bells  of  Northamptonshire, 

pp.  119,  120. 


From  an  Illummated  MS.  of  the  Psalms  (fourteenth  century)  in  the  King's  Library, 
British  Musemn  :  marked  20.     B.  xi. 


PECULIAR    USES 

OF    THE 

BEDFORDSHIRE    BELLS 


-'XX* 


THERE    are    very    few   directions    in    the    Rubrics    and 
Canons  of  the  Church  of  England  as  to  the  use  of  the 
Church  Bell. 

The  single  one  in  the  Rubrics  is  that  in  which  the  Curate 
is  ordered  to  "  cause  a  bell  to  be  tolled  "  to  daily  service  "  a 
convenient  time  before  he  begin,  that  the  people  may  come  to 
hear  God's  word  and  to  pray  with  him."  The  directions  in 
the  Canons  are  also  very  brief:  the  15th,  which  directs 
"  Litany  to  be  read  on  Wednesdays  and  Fridays,"  orders  that 
warning  be  "  given  to  the  people  by  tolling  of  a  bell,"  and  the 
67th  orders  : — 

And,  when  any  is  passing  out  of  this  life,  a  bell  shall  be  tolled,  and  the 
Minister  shall  not  then  slack  to  do  his  last  duty.  And  after  the  party's 
death,  if  it  so  fall  out,  there  shall  be  rung  no  more  than  one  short  peal, 
and  one  other  before  the  burial,  and  one  other  after  the  burial. 

No  further  directions  are  given  as  to  the  use  of  church 
bells,  and  the  only  other  references  to  them  are  in  the 
88th  Canon  against  the  superstitious  use  of  bells  upon 
"  Holy  days  or  Eves  abrogated    by  the  Book   of  Common 


86  Peculiar  Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells, 

Prayer,  nor  at  any  other  times  without  good  cause,  to  be 
allowed  by  the  minister  of  the  place "  and  by  the  church- 
wardens, and  in  the  iiith  against  hindering  the  minister  or 
preacher  "  by  untimely  ringing  of  bells." 

It  was,  no  doubt,  the  superstitious  use,  and  the  "untimely" 
ringing  of  the  bells  in  mediaeval  times,  which  caused  the 
Church  at  the  Reformation,  not  only  to  put  a  check  upon  their 
excessive  ringing,  but  to  order  only  the  most  simple  and 
necessary  use  of  them.  It  will  be  observed  that  one  bell  is  all 
that  is  really  essential  in  carrying  out  the  directions  of  the 
Church,  so  that  the  poorest  parish  can  have  no  difficulty  in 
obeying.  But  it  by  no  means  follows  that  what  is  sometimes, 
but  not  always  correctly,  spoken  of  as  "  Apostolical  simplicity  " 
is  intended,  either  in  this  or  in  other  matters  connected 
with  the  services  of  the  Church,  to  be  inculcated  when  better 
things  can  be  obtained  ;  indeed,  we  know  that  it  is  generally 
only  poverty,  or  some  other  difficulty,  which  hinders  the 
erection  in  our  modern  churches  of  a  number  of  bells  with 
which  to  ring  those  peals  in  which  almost  all  English 
Churchmen  delight.  And  so  it  was  in  more  ancient  times  :  the 
larger  parish  churches  sometimes  had  five  bells,  many  four, 
more  perhaps  only  three,  but  it  was  a  very  rare  thing  indeed 
to  find  any  church  with  less  than  two  and  a  sanctus  bell. 

In  pre-Reformation  times,  as  I  have  shown  elsewhere,  the 
bells  were  heard  much  more  frequently  than  now.  Where  the 
Canonical  Hours  were  kept  they  would  be  ringing  very 
frequently  and  very  regularly,  by  day  and  by  night,  so  that  they 
answered  very  much  the  purpose  of  a  clock,  and  the  different 
ways  in  which  they  were  rung  told  the  service  then  about  being 


PectUiar  Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells.  87 

said.  The  bells  were  then  frequently  rung  by  the  deacons. 
Such,  we  know,  was  the  case  in  the  fifteenth  century  at  Holy 
Trinity,  Coventry,  and  in  the  following  century  at  Ludlow  and 
at  Exeter.  Sculpture  on  the  font  at  Belton,  Lincolnshire, 
shows  the  cavipanarius  attired  in  his  camise,  chiming  two 
bells.  In  our  smaller  parish  churches,  too,  those  bells  be- 
longing to  minor  altars,  to  Guilds  and  Fraternities,  or  used  for 
special  Offices,  would  very  frequently  be  sounding.  Thus,  at 
Ludlow — in  addition  to  a  ring  of  five  bells — they  possessed 
"Our  Lady  belle,"  "  First-Mass-Bell,"  and ''the  gild  belle."* 
On  Sundays  and  on  high-days  all  the  bells  appear  to  have 
been  rung  for  Matins  and  Evensong — the  two  Services  which 
all  were  expected  to  attend,  and  so  the  custom  has  continued  to 
the  present  time.  Hooper,  in  his  Injunctions,  dated  1551, 
whilst  forbidding  ringing  at  unseasonable  times,  adds  "  but 
before  services,  as  well  morning  as  at  even,  to  warn  people  by 
as  many  peals  or  ringings  as  they  think  good." 

The  mode  of  ringing  or  of  chiming  for  Divine  Service 
varies  somewhat  in  different  parishes  in  Bedfordshire,  as  in 
the  other  counties  of  England. 

At  Ampthill,  Harrold  and  Pavcnham,  all  the  bells  arc 
chimed,  followed  by  a  five  minutes'  sounding  of  the  treble  as 
the  parson's  bell. 

At  Cardington,  Carlton,  Chellington,  Goldington,  and 
Houghton-Conquest,  all  the  bells  are  chimed,  followed  by 
a  five  minutes'  tolling  of  the  tenor. 

At  Apsley  Guise  and  at  Eversholt  the  tenor  is  rung  for  a 
few  minutes,  followed  by  a  chiming  of  all  the  bells. 

■•'■'  See  Ludloiij  Churchwardens^  Accounts,  published  by  Camden  Society. 


88  Pectiliav  Uses  oj  the  Bedfordshire  Bells. 

At  Barton-le-Clay  the  treble  is  rung  for  fifteen  minutes, 
then  all  the  bells  are  chimed,  followed  by  the  tolling  of  the 
treble  for  five  minutes. 

At  Dunstable  they  chime  all  the  bells  for  twenty  minutes, 
followed  by  the  sanctus-bell  for  ten  minutes  as  a  sermon-bell. 

At  S.  Peter's,  Bedford,  the  first  four  bells  are  chimed, 
followed  by  the  tenor  bell  alone.  The  same  custom  is  followed 
at  Blunham  and  at  Cranfield.  At  Melchbourne  and  at  Hawnes 
the  first  three  are  chimed,  followed  in  the  same  way  by  the 
4th  or  tenor. 

At  S.  Mary's,  Bedford,  the  bells  are  chimed  for  fifteen 
minutes,  after  which  the  tenor  is  tolled  for  ten  minutes,  followed 
by  the  priest's  bell  for  five  minutes. 

At  Houghton-Regis  the  tenor  is  first  rung  up  as  a  sermon- 
bell,  and  is  "  dropped  in  "  with  the  other  bells  when  chiming 
commences,  and  so  is  gradually  "  lowered,"  after  which  it  is 
tolled  till  the  commencement  of  service.  A  similar  mode  is 
followed  at  Marston  Moretaine  (where,  however,  about  twenty 
strokes  on  the  treble  concludes),  and  also  at  Stanbridge  ; 
indeed,  that  is  the  favourite  style  of  using  the  bells  on  Sunday 
in  that  part  of  the  county.  At  Husborne-Crawley,  too,  the 
tenor  is  first  raised,  then  "  dropped  in,"  whilst  the  other  bells 
are  chimed  for  twenty  minutes,  after  which  the  tenor  is  lowered 
alone,  followed  by  a  chiming  of  all  the  bells  until  a  few  minutes 
before  the  commencement  of  Divine  Service,  when  the  priest's 
bell  concludes  the  warning. 

At  Meppershall  all  the  bells  are  first  chimed  with  the  tenor 
rung  in ;  the  tenor  is  then  lowered  and  chimed  with  the  other 
bells. 


Peculiar  Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells.  89 

At  Clifton  ten  of  the  bells  arc  chimed  by  machinery  until 
five  minutes  before  the  commencement  of  Service,  when  ilic 
6th,  /th  and  8th  bells  are  chimed. 

The  chiming  of  the  bells  at  Leighton  Buzzard  is  dixidcd 
into  two  peals,  between  which  the  tenor  is  raised  and  rung  as 
a  sermon  bell. 

At  Northill  the  chiming  commences  an  hour  before  I)i\in(? 
Service  ;  after  a  pause  it  is  resumed  half-an-hour  before  the 
time,  and  is  followed  by  five  minutes'  tolling  of  a  single  bell. 

At  Hockliffe  any  one  bell  is  rung  as  a  sermon-bell,  followed 
by  the  chiming  of  the  whole  three  ;  and  at  Pertenhall  the 
sermon-bell  is  first  rung,  then  the  three  bells  are  chimed, 
followed  by  the  tolling — for  a  few  minutes — of  the  tenor.  At 
Old  Warden  (where  there  are  four  bells)  they  first  chime  all 
for  twenty  minutes,  then  toll  one  bell  for  five  minutes,  and 
conclude  by  the  ringing  of  the  third  bell  for  five  minutes. 

The  bells  at  Arlesey  are  usually  rung,  not  chimttd,  for 
Services  on  Sunday. 

At  Woburn  new  church  the  single  bell  (the  largest  in  ihc 
county)  is  rung  up  half-an-hour  before  the  hour  for  Divine 
Service  by  three  men  ;  then  a  pause  for  ten  minutes,  after 
which  there  is  ringing  again  for  ten  minutes,  and  the  bell  is 
lowered  ;  the  ringers  receive  three  shillings  per  Sunday,  paid 
by  the  Duke  of  Bedford. 

On  the  Great  Festivals  the  call  to  Divine;  Service  is  rung 
instead  of  chimed  at  Coplc  and  at  Tottenhoe. 

These  examples  show  the  diversity  of  usage  at  present  in 
different  parishes,  but,  no  doubt,  anci("nt  customs  have,  in  many 
cases,  departed. 

N 


90  Peculiar  Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells. 

Early  Sunday  Peals. — With  the  introduction  of  the  "  new 
service  "  (as  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  was  called)  in  the 
time  of  Edward  VI.,  the  singing  of  the  Canonical  Hours — 
with  the  exception  of  Matins  and  Evensong — was  dropped. 
The  only  traces  of  them  we  now  have  in  the  use  of  our  church 
bells,  excepting  the  ringing  or  chiming  for  Morning  and 
Evening  Prayer,  are  the  ringing  of  the  "  first  and  second 
peals  "  on  Sunday  mornings  at  seven  and  eight,  or  at  eight  and 
nine  o'clock,  in  many  parishes.  In  pre-Reformation  times 
matins  was  said  in  all  parish  churches  before  breakfast  as  a 
preparation  for  mass.  The  "first  peal  "was  the  call  to  matins, 
the  "second  peal  "  to  tierce  and  mass.  It  is  a  curious  proof 
how  tenacious  custom  is  in  having  continued  the  ringing  of 
these  bells  for  over  three  hundred  years  after  the  purposes 
they  served  were  abrogated,  and  when  few  even  think  of,  or 
inquire  as  to,  the  meaning  of  their  sound. 

For  these  "  peals  " — which  are  rung  in  many  Bedfordshire 
parishes — the  smaller  bells  are  generally  used.  The  mode  of 
rinorinor  varies  : — 

At  Houghton  Conquest  the  treble  bell  is  rung  at  7  a.m.,  the 
ist  and  2nd  at  9  a.m. 

At  Marston  Moretaine  the  ist  is  rung  at  8  o'clock,  and  is 
called  "  8  o'clock  bell,"  or  "first  peal,"  and  the  ist  and  2nd  at 
9  a.m. 

At  Pertenhall  they  ring  the  ist  at  7  a.m.,  and  the  ist  and 
2nd  at  8  a.m. 

At  Stanbridge  the  ist  is  rung  at  ^.^o  a.m.,  and  again  at 
9.30  (the  latter  now  for  Sunday-school). 

The  two  early-peals  have,  in  many  parishes,  merged  into 


Peculiar  Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells.  91 

one  ;  thus  one  bell  (generally  the  treble)  is  rung  at  8  o'clock 
at  Ampthill,  Bedford  (S.  Cuthbert),  Biddenham,  Dunstable 
(2nd  bell),  Flitwick,  Harlington  (for  "sermon  bell," commonly 
called  "  8  o'clock  bell"),  Kempstone  (where  they  formerly  rang 
ist  at  7  a.m.,  and  ist  and  2nd  at  8  a.m.),  Lidlington,  Mill- 
brooke,  Northill,  Potten,  Shelton,  Stotfold,  Tilbrook,  Wilden, 
and  Wilhampstead.     Two  bells  are  rung  at  the  same  hour — 

8  a.m. — at  Bedford  (S.  Peter's),  Blunham  (ist  and  2nd),  Card- 
ington  (3rd  and  4th,  called  "  sermon  bells  "),  Eversholt  (ist  and 
2nd,  called  "8  o'clock  bells  "),  Leighton  Buzzard  (3rd  and  4th. 
called  "  the  8  o'clock  peal  "),  Odell,  and  at  Sandy  (ist  and  2nd). 
At  Cranfield  they  chime  the  ist,  2nd  and  3rd  bells  at  8  a.m. 
In  some  parishes  a  large  bell  is  rung  at  8  a.m.  ;  thus  at  Cad- 
dington  they  ring  the  5th,  and  call  it  the  sermon-bell  ;  at 
Southill  the  3rd  is  rung,  and  at  Toddington  the  6th  bell  is 
rung  alternately  at  8  and  at  8.30  a.m.  At  Houghton  Regis 
the  treble  is  rung  at  7  a.m.,  and  is  still  called  the  "  first  peal  ;" 
the  treble  is  rung  at  the  same  hour  at  Milton  Bryant  and  at 
Turvey,  and  at  Tingrith  the  2nd  is  then  rung,  and  is  called 
the  sermon-bell.     At  Fandish  and  at  Hawnes  a  bell  is  rung  at 

9  a.m. 

]\Tany  years  ago  it  was  the  custom  at  Aspley  Guise  to  ring 
a  bell  at  8  a.m.  and  again  at  9  a.m.,  called  respectively  "the 
first  and  second  peals  ;"  so,  too,  until  recently,  one  bell  was 
rung  at  7  a.m.  and  two  at  8  a.m.  at  S.  Paul's,  Bedford.  The 
ringing  of  a  bell  at  Tilsworth  at  7  a.m.,  and  of  one  at  Willing- 
ton  at  8  a.m.,  are  remembered.  They  have  both  been  dis- 
continued for  some  years. 

The  Sermon  Bell  was  heard  in  Pre-Relormation  limes,  as 


92  Pectdiar  Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells. 

is  evident  from  the  Riles  of  Durham,  and  the  Royal  Injunc- 
tions of  1547  ordered  a  bell  in  convenient  time  to  be  runj^ 
or  knolled  before  the  sermon.  The  ringint^^  of  this  bell,  which 
is  usually  the  tenor,  though  not  universal,  is  heard  in  many 
parishes  in  this  county,  and  that  frequently  after  the  chiming. 
The  tenor  bell  is  so  used  at  Bedford  (S.  Peter's  and  S.  Mary's), 
Carlton,  Chellington,  Egginton,  and  Milton  Ernest  ;  it  is  rung 
before  chiming  at  Houghton  Regis,  Husborne  Crawley, 
Marston  Moretaine,  Pertenhall,  Stanbridge  and  at  Hockliffe, 
where  any  bell,  not  necessarily  the  tenor,  is  rung. 

At  Leighton  Buzzard  the  tenor  is  rung  as  a  sermon  bell 
between  two  peals  of  chiming.  At  Dunstable  the  ringing  of 
the  sanctus  bell  for  ten  minutes  after  the  chiming  of  all  the 
bells  is  called  the  sermon  bell.  At  Harlington  the  ringing  of 
the  treble  at  8  a.m.,  at  Caddington  the  ringing  of  the  5th  bell, 
and  at  Cardington  the  ringing  of  the  3rd  and  4th  at  the  same 
hour,  are  called  sermon  bells.  At  Tingrith  the  2nd  bell,  rung 
at  7  a.m.,  is  called  the  sermon  bell ;  and  many  years  ago  it 
was  customary  after  this  bell  was  raised  to  strike  the  day 
of  the  month.  At  Tilsworth  the  ringing  of  the  sermon  bell 
was  discontinued  about  the  year  1870,  and  at  Stevington  it 
was  rung  until  recently  at  8  a.m.;  it  was  discontinued  in  con- 
sequence of  the  clerk  being  a  shepherd,  and  his  services  being 
supposed  necessary  in  the  fields  at  that  hour. 

Sunday  Mid-dav  Peals. — It  is  customary  in  some  parishes 
to  ring  at  the  close  of  the  Morning  Service  in  a  similar  manner 
to  that  described  under  Early  Peals.  Thus  the  ist  and  2nd 
bells  are  so  rung  at  Pertenhall ;  at  S.  Peter's,  Bedford,  the 
treble  is  rung  for  five  minutes,  followed  by  the  ringing  of  the 


PcctUiar  Uses  of  the  BcdfordsJiirc  Bells.  93 

3rd  and  4th  bells  for  five  minutes,  called  "  the  dinner-ljell  ;"'  at 
Blunham  and  at  Cardington  a  bell  (at  the  latter  place  the  3rd) 
is  then  rung  for  a  few  minutes. 

As  the  early  peals  are  freciuently  considered  signals  for  the 
Morning  Service,  so  these  mid-day  ringings  are  sometimes  now- 
used  as  warnings  that  Evensong  will  be  said  ;  such  is  the  case 
at  Wilden,  where  a  bell  is  runof  at  12  o'clock  when  MorninLf 
Prayer  has  not  been  said,  which,  however,  very  rarely  happens. 

The  bell  so  rung  at  the  close  of  Morning  Service  is,  in  some 
places,  called 

The  Puddixc,  or  Dixxkr  Bell,  being  supposed  to  be  rung 
in  order  to  give  the  cook  warning  that  Service  is  over,  and  so 
dinner  may  be  prepared.  Such  is  the  case  at  Leighton  Buz- 
zard, where  the  3rd  bell  is  rung  at  i  o'clock,  and  (as  we  have 
seen)  at  S.  Peter's.  Bedford.  At  Tingrith  a  bell  is  rung 
immediately  after  Morning  Service,  and  is  popularly  known  as 

The  Potato  Bell,  "  because  on  hearing  this  bell  the  people 
at  home  put  their  potatoes  in  the  }JOt  for  boiling."  At  Wilhamp- 
stead  the  ringing  of  this  bell  has  been  recently  discontinued. 

This  custom  is  probably  the  survival  of  the 

Knollinc;  oe  tiii;  Aves,  mentioned  in  the  Injunctions  of 
1538  as  being  sounded  after  the  Service,  and  at  certain  oiher 
times,  and  as  having  been  brought  in  and  begun  by  the  pre- 
tence of  the  Bishop  of  Rome's  pard(jn,  and  il  was  ordered 
that  they  be  thenceforth  left  and  omitted.  Shaxton,  Bisho[) 
of  Sarum  in  that  year,  said  "  that  the  bell  called  the  Partlon, 
or  Ave  Bell,  which  of  longe  tyme  hathe  been  used  to  be  tolled 
three  tymes  after  and  before  Divine  Service,  be  not  hereafter, 
in  cUiy  part  of  my  diocese,  any  more  tollyd." 


94  Peculiar  Uses  of  tJie  Bedfordshire  Bells. 

In  some  places  the  Aves'  bell  was  tolled  thrice  every  day. 
That  was  the  case  at  Cropedy,  Oxfordshire,  as  we  know  from 
a  benefaction  to  the  bells  made  by  Master  Roger  Lupton, 
vicar  of  that  parish,  by  indenture  dated  26  August,  151 2.  He 
gave  certain  money  to  the  churchwardens  upon  condition  that 
they  should,  amongst  other  things,  "toll  dayly  the  Avees  bell 
at  sex  of  the  clok  in  the  mornyng,  at  xij  of  the  clok  at  noone, 
and  at  foure  of  the  clok  at  afternoone.""" 

The  saying  of  the  Aves  was  between  the  tolling.  Among 
the  Articles  of  Enquiry  in  1547  was  one  whether  the  knolling 
at  the  Aves  be  used. 

The  ringing  or  tolling  of  a  bell  or  bells  before  the  chiming 
commences  for  Divine  Service  at  Aspley  Guise,  Barton-le- 
Clay,  and  in  other  parishes,  may  be,  and  probably  is — as  well 
as  the  ringing  at  the  close  of  the  Service — a  continuance  of 
the  custom  of  knolling  the  Aves. 

The  Passing-Bell. — Besides  the  use  of  bells  for  calling  to 
Divine  Service,  the  Canons  enjoin  the  tolling  of  the  "  Passing- 
bell."  The  custom  of  notifying,  by  this  means,  the  passing  of 
a  soul  out  of  this  life.  Is  almost.  If  not  quite,  as  ancient  in  this 
country  as  the  use  of  bells  by  the  Church.  Bede  records  its 
use  as  early  as  the  year  680. f  Durand,  writing  about  the 
close  of  the  twelfth  century,  thus  describes  the  object,  as  well 
as  the  mode,  of  ringing  : — 

When  any  one  is  dying,  bells  must  be  tolled,  that  the  people  may  put  up 
their  prayers,  twice  for  a  woman  and  thrice  for  a  man  :  if  for  a  clerg)-man, 
as  many  times  as  he  had  orders.  1; 

*  Historical  Notices  of  Cropedy,  by  Rev.  D.  f  Bede,  Book  iv.  c.  xxiii. 

Koyce,  p.  43.  J  Brand's  Pop,  Aittiq.  ii.  129. 


Peculiar-  Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells.  95 

The  Passing-bell  was,  of  course,  then  rung  at  all  hours  of 
the  night,  as  well  as  by  day.  After  the  Reformation  the  custom 
of  ringing  the  Passing-bell  in  the  ancient  way  was  continued. 
Bishop  Hooper,  in  his  Injunctions  (1551)  allowed  it,  the  Royal 
Injunctions  of  1559  enjoined  it,  and  the  Advertisements  of 
1564  show  it  was  then  usual  to  ring  or  toll  the  Passing-bell 
whilst  the  person  was  believed  to  be  dying,  but  not  yet  dead. 
In  after-years  the  Bishops  inquired  in  their  Articles  whether 
the  Passing-bell  was  so  tolled  ;  indeed,  the  custom  was  con- 
tinued until  recent  times.  An  aged  friend  recently  told  the 
writer  that  when  his  mother  was  in  extremis  she  desircjd  her 
maid  to  order  the  Passing-bell  to  be  tolled,  and  other  similar 
instances  are  on  record.*  Persons  have  even  been  known  to 
recover  their  health  after  their  Passing-bell  had  been  tolled. + 
The  ancient  custom  of  so  rincjim^  the  Passinof-bell  had  eradu- 
ally  fallen  almost  into  disuse  about  a  century  ago.  W'heatley 
speaks  of  it  as  being  generally  disused  in  1755.I 

The  bell  now  used  for  the  Passing-bell  (or  more  properly, 
the  Death-knell,  as  it  is  not  now  rung  until  after  death)  is 
usually  the  tenor,  but  this  is  sometimes  changed,  as  we  shall 
see,  in  the  case  of  children,  for  a  smaller  bell.  At  the  close, 
or  the  commencement,  or  at  both,  of  the  Passing-bell,  it  has 
long  been  the  custom  to  indicate  the  sex  of  the  person 
departing,  or  departed,  by  certain  strokes  or  tolls  of  the  bell. 
These  have  generally  been  three  for  a  male  (in  honour  of  the 
Holy  Trinity),  and  two  for  a  femak^  (in  honour  of  our  Saviour. 


*  See  North's  C/iinr/t  Bells  of  Liitcolushire,        t  Ibid.,  p.  173. 
p.  173.  X  Kat.  III.  of  Hook  if  Com.  Frayet ,  p.  427. 


96  Pendiar  Uses  of  tJtc  Bedfordshire  Bells. 

born  of  a  woman)  on  the  tenor  bell,  as  at  Ampthill — where  all 
the  bells  are  previously  sounded  in  succession  for  half-an-hour — 
S.  Cuthbert's,  l^edford,  and  Biggleswade. 

At  Goldington  these  tolls  are  given  both  before  and  after 
the  knell. 

At  S.  Paul's  and  S.  Mary's,  Bedford,  Kempston,  Potton 
Sandy,  and  Steppingley,  the  same  distinctive  tolls — three  for 
a  male,  two  for  a  female — are  given  on  the  tenor  for  adults,  on 
a  smaller  bell  for  children. 

The  same  number  of  tolls  are  given  on  each  bell  after  the 
knell  at  Clapham,  Oakley  and  Milton  Ernest  (where  the  knell 
is  rung  for  five  minutes  only),  and  before  the  knell  at  Carlton, 
Chellington,  Harrold,  Langton  (where  they  begin  with  the 
treble  for  children),  Northill,  Odell,  Pavenham,  Stanbridge, 
Stevington,  Stotfold,  Tilsworth  and  Toddington  ;  the  same 
custom  is  followed  at  Blunham,  Houghton  Conquest  and  Tin- 
grith,  where,  however,  the  knell  is  tolled  on  the  treble  bell  for 
infants. 

At  Marston  Moretaine  they  give  three  tolls  for  a  male  and 
two  for  a  female  on  all  the  bells,  beginning  with  the  treble, 
both  before  and  after  the  knell,  which  is  rung  on  the  tenor  for 
adults,  on  the  4th  or  3rd  for  young  people  in  their  teens  and 
under. 

At  Flitwick  three  strokes  are  given  on  all  the  bells  for  a 
male,  two  for  a  female,  commencing  on  the  tenor  for  adults, 
on  the  treble  for  children  under  twelve  years  of  age. 

At  Great  Barford  each  bell  is  sounded  three  times  for  a 
man,  twice  for  a  woman,  and  once  for  a  baby  before  the  knell, 
which  is  rung  on  the  tenor  for  males,  on  the  treble  for  females. 


Peadiav  Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells.  97 

At  Clophill  they  orive  the  same  tolls  on  each  bell  for  a  man. 
and  two  on  each  bell  for  a  woman  or  child. 

At  Old  Warden  three  strokes  are  given  on  c^ach  bell  for  a 
man,  two  for  a  woman,  and  one  for  a  child,  after  which  the 
tenor  is  rung  up  and  sounded  once  a  minute. 

Another  usual  form  of  notifying  the  sex  in  this  county,  as 
elsewhere,  is  thrice  three  tolls  for  a  male,  and  thrice  two  for  a 
female.  Such  is  the  custom  after  the  knell  at  Caddington, 
Dunton,  Lidlington  and  Salford  ;  and  both  before  and  after 
the  knell  at  Aspley  Guise,  Chalgrave,  Cranfield,  Dunstable, 
Eversholt,  Houghton  Regis  (where  the  3rd  bell  is  used  for 
young  people),  Hulcote,  Leighton  Buzzard,  Milton  liryanl. 
Pertenhall,  Pottesgrove,  Tottenhoe,  Wootton  and  Woburn  ; 
at  Tottenhoe  and  Wootton  the  treble  is  used  for  children. 

At  Rattlesden  and  Wilhampstead  the  custom  is  to  give,  after 
the  knell,  thrice  three  tolls  for  a  man,  thrice  two  for  a  woman, 
and  three  single  tolls  for  infants  :  the  same  custom  is  followed, 
both  before  and  after  the  knell,  at  Egginton  and  at  Hockliffe ; 
also  at  Millbrooke,  where  the  tolls  are  given  on  both  the  bells. 

At  Harlington  the  thrice  three  tolls  for  a  male  and  thrice 
two  for  a  female  are  given  on  all  the  bells  in  succession  before 
the  knell  :  the  same  custom  is  followed  at  IMeppershall,  where 
the  tenor  is  used  for  adults,  the  treble  for  children,  and  where, 
after  the  knell  is  rung  and  the  bell  lowered,  the  age  of  the 
deceased  is  tolled. 

At  Shillington  the  same  number  of  tolls  arc  given  on   the 

tenor  bell  for  adults,  on  the  4th  bell  for  young  people,  and  on 

the  treble  for  children. 

At  Southill  they  give  the  same  number  of  tolls  (3  x  3   and 
o 


98  PcciUiar  Uses  of  tJic  Bedfordshire  Bells. 

3x2)  on  the  tenor  for  people  above  twenty  years  of  age,  on 
the  5th  for  those  under  twenty,  on  the  4th  if  under  sixteen, 
on  the  3rd  if  under  twelve,  on  the  2nd  if  under  eight,  and  on 
the  treble  if  under  four  years  of  age.  These  are  given  before 
and  after  the  knell  on  the  tenor  bell,  which  is  rung  with  a 
stroke  at  intervals  of  a  few  seconds. 

Different  customs  are  observed  in  other  parishes.  Thus  at 
Cardington  they  give  three  tolls  for  a  male  on  the  bells  in 
succession,  commencing  with  the  8th  (tenor)  bell,  and  going  to 
the  3rd,  when  the  tenor  is  rung  for  the  knell ;  the  same 
number  of  strokes  are  given  on  the  same  bells  for  a  female, 
but  commencing  with  the  3rd  and  going  on  to  the  8th. 

At  Dean  and  at  Melchbourne  three  tolls  are  given  for  males 
on  the  tenor,  and  the  same  number  on  the  treble  for  females, 
both  before  and  after  the  knell  on  the  tenor,  which  is  tolled 
forty  minutes  for  adults  and  fifteen  minutes  for  children. 

At  Tilbrook  three  strokes  are  given  on  all  the  bells  "  for  all 
alike." 

At  Husborne  Crawley  thrice  three  tolls  for  a  male  and 
thrice  two  for  a  female  are  given  on  the  3rd,  4th  and  5th  bells 
before  and  after  the  knell,  which  is  rung  on  the  tenor  for 
adults,  on  the  5th  bell  for  children. 

At  Keysoe  the  custom  is  to  give  three  tolls  twice  on  all  the 
bells  both  before  and  after  the  knell,  which  is  rung  for  an 
hour,  for  males  and  females  alike,  commencing  with  the  tenor 
for  the  former,  with  the  treble  for  the  latter. 

At  Turvey  they  give,  at  the  close  of  the  knell  on  the  tenor 
bell,  thrice  three  tolls  on  all  the  bells,  commencinof  with  the 
treble,  for  a  male  above  twelve  years  of  age  ;   for  a  female  of 


Pecidiar   U^cs  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells.  99 

the  same  age  the  same  number  of  tolls  are  given  in  succession 
on  the  first  five  bells  ;  for  children  under  twelve  the  5th  bell 
is  used  for  the  knell,  closing  with  three  tolls  on  the  first  five 
bells  for  a  boy,  on  the  first  four  for  a  girl. 

In  some  parishes  they  give  no  distinctive  tolls,  but  use  a 
different  bell  for  the  knell,  according  to  the  age  of  the  deceased. 
Thus  at  Clifton  the  tenor  is  used  for  adults,  one  of  the  middle 
bells  for  a  young  person,  and  the  3rd  for  infants.  So,  too,  at 
Edworth  the  3rd  is  used  for  adults,  the  2nd  for  young  persons, 
and  the  treble  for  infants  ;  and  at  Wilden — where  the  knell  is 
rung  for  an  hour — the  tenor  is  used  for  adults  and  the  treble 
for  children. 

There  is  no  distinction  of  any  kind  at  Gravenhurst,  Hawnes 
and  Willington. 

In  this  county,  as  elsewhere,  the  Passing-bell  is  not  rung  in 
cases  where  an  inquest  is  held,  until  the  jury  have  given  a 
verdict  other  ^^TiVi  felo-de-se. 

Death-Knell. — In  addition  to  the  Passing-bell,  the  Canon 
enjoins  that  "  after  the  party's  death,  if  it  so  fall  out,  there  shall 
be  rung  no  more  than  one  short  peal."  That  custom  is 
mentioned  by  Durand  (who  wrote  about  the  end  of  the 
twelfth  century),  in  \\\<i.  Book  of  Ceremonies  (1539).  and  in  ilu; 
Articles  of  Incjuiry  issued  by  the  Bishops  after  the  Reform- 
ation, who  used  such  words  as  "  or  to  ring  a  knell  presently 
after  the  departure,  that  notice  may  be  taken  by  all  to  give 
God  thanks  for  that  party's  deliverance  out  of  this  vale  of 
misery."  Even  the  Puritans  in  1562  were  willing  to  allow  it, 
only  stipulating  that  "  no  [)eal  after  death  of  any  person  be 
above  the  space  of  one  hour."     Wheatley  wrote  oi  *'  the  short 


lOO  PectUiar   Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells. 

peal"  after  death  as  being  generally  rung  in  1755,  but  the 
custom  has  now  entirely  fallen  into  disuse,  or  rather,  perhaps, 
it  would  be  more  correct  to  say,  has  been  superseded  by  the 
ringing  of  the  still  so-called  Passing-bell  after  instead  of  before 
death,  or  whilst  the  soul  was  "  passing."  A  trace  of  it  may 
perhaps  be  found  in  some  parishes,  where  the  tenor  bell  is  first 
tolled  for  a  short  space  and  then  rting. 

Burial  Peals. — The  Canon  enjoins,  "and  one  other  (peal) 
before  the  burial,  and  one  after  the  burial." 

This  sounding  of  bells  at  funerals  is  an  ancient  custom,  and 
had  been  carried  to  great  excess;  indeed,  so  early  as  1339 
Bishop  Grandisson,  of  Exeter,  found  it  desirable  to  check 
the  long  ringings  on  such  occasions,  on  the  grounds  that  "  they 
do  no  good  to  the  departed,  are  an  annoyance  to  the  living, 
and  injurious  to  the  fabrick  and  the  bells."*  The  Puritans,  in 
1562,  desired  to  limit  the  peals  at  funerals  to  half-an-hour. 
Notices  of  this  custom  are  constantly  found  in  Churchwardens' 
Accounts  and  in  other  Parish  Records,  and  provision  was 
frequently  made  for  its  performance  by  Will.  It  is,  however, 
now  becoming  obsolete,  though  it  still  lingers  in  a  few 
parishes  in  this  as  in  other  counties.  At  Cople  they  chime  the 
five  bells  for  funerals  ;  at  Hulcote  and  at  Salford  the  bells  are 
chimed  for  about  twenty-five  minutes  before  a  funeral,  followed 
by  a  tolling  of  the  tenor  for  five  minutes  ;  at  Harrold  the  prac- 
tice, though  not  now  followed,  is  remembered  as  customary. 

Simple  tolling  of  the  tenor  bell,  until  the  procession  reaches 
the  church,  is  now  the  general  custom. 

The  "  one  peal  after  "  the  funeral  is  now  of  rare  occurrence, 

*  EUacombe's  Bells  of  Exeter  Cathedral,  p.  7. 


Peculiar   Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Dells,  loi 

excepting  in  the  case  of  ringers  and  other  church  officials. 
The  only  trace  of  it  I  have  found  still  surviving  in  this  county- 
is  at  Flitwick,  where  about  five  strokes  are  given  on  the  tenor 
at  the  close  of  the  Service.  Until  about  the  year  1872,  the 
tenor  bell  was  always  tolled  at  Woburn  at  the  end  of  the 
Office  as  the  mourners  left  the  grave. 

In  pre-Reformation  times  the  church  bells  were  frequently 
ringing  on  Obit-days,  that  is,  on  the  anniversaries  of  the  deaths 
of  persons,  when  masses — for  which  provision  had  been  made 
by  the  deceased,  or  by  their  friends — were  said  for  their 
benefit.  Although  such  have  long  ceased  in  the  English 
Church, 

Commemorative  Services,  when  the  bells  are  chimed,  are 
not  unknown.  Oliver  Peach,  of  Harrowden,  a  hamlet  of  Car- 
dington,  in  this  County,  who  died  on  the  19th  of  June,  1715, 
aged  60  years,  left  a  yearly  rent-charge  of  one  pound  on  his 
estate,  afterwards  purchased  by  Mr.  Whitbread,  for  an  annual 
sermon  on  the  21st  of  June — the  day  of  his  burial. 

The  Saxctus  or  Saunce  Bell  is  generally  mentioned  in 
the  Inventories  of  Church  Goods  taken  in  the  reign  of  Kdward 
VI.  It  was  sometimes  hung  in  a  little  bellcote  at  the  gable 
of  the  chancel  roof  between  that  portion  of  the  church  and  the 
nave,  but  more  usually  in  a  convenient  position  in  the  belfry — 
not  unfrcquently  in  a  window — so  that  the  rope  came  down 
into  the  church  with  easy  access  to  the  server  at  the  altar. 
When  the  priest  said  the  Sauctus  in  the  Office  of  the  Mass, 
three  strokes  were  given  on  this  bell  (hence  its  name),  so  that 
all  within  reach  of  its  sound — whether  within  or  without  the 
church — could  join  in  the  sacred  song  of  adoration. 


I02  Peculiar  Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells. 

A  few  successors  of  the  Sanctus-bell  are  in  the  Bedfordshire 
churches  in  the  "  Priest's-bell,"  or  "  ting-tang,"  usually  rung 
immediately  before  the  service  begins.  These  are  in  many 
cases  modern,  being,  probably,  recasts  of  the  ancient  Sanctus- 
bclls.  There  are,  however,  two  of  those  ancient  bells  still 
remaining  in  this  county — the  one  at  Lidlington  and  the  other 
at  Dunstable. 

The  Sanctus-bell  may  have  been  used  upon  other  occasions 
than  the  one  just  mentioned.  Dr.  Rock  was  of  opinion  that 
in  many  parishes  some  kind  of  instruction  was  given  every 
Sunday  in  the  afternoon — we  know  that  was  the  case  at 
Durham.  To  warn  the  parish  of  the  sermon  time,  a  large  bell, 
or  bells,  would  be  rung  for  a  time,  followed,  perhaps,  by  the 
ringing  of  the  smaller  or  Sanctus-bell,*  hence,  probably,  the 
origin  of  the  modern  use  of 

The  Priest's-bell  or  Tixg-Tang.  At  Ware,  in  Hert- 
fordshire, they  possessed  in  1552,  "  one  lyttle  belle  to  calle  for 
ye  prieste,  clarke  or  sexton  when  they  are  absent."t  This 
bell  was  occasionally  called  the  'Tantony-bell,  or  Saint 
Anthony  bell,  a  small  bell  being  the  emblem  of  that  Saint ;  j 
and  at  Oldham  it  was  described  as  "  The  Anthem-bell. "§ 

As  just  indicated,  the  Priest's-bell  is  usually  sounded  for  a 
few  minutes  before  Divine  Service  to  call  the  clergy,  but  the 
one  at  Dunstable  is  rung  as  a  Sermon-bell,  and  the  one  at 
Toddington  is  not  only  rung  at  the  usual  time,  but  also  as  an 
alarm-bell  in  case  of  fire.     At  Luton  the  Priest's-bell — which 


*  See  Notes  and  Queries,  vol.  xi.,p.  150         J  See  North's  CJmrch  Bells  of  Norihants 

(iS55)-  P-  13S. 

t  Cussans'  Church  Goods  in  Herts,  p.  123.         §  Cheetham  Soc,  cvii.  p.  43- 


Peciiliaj"  Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells.  103 

has  not  been  used  for  twenty  years — is  unhung,  and  is  in  an 
outhouse  at  the  Rectory.  It  is  said  to  have  been  formerly 
known  as  the  Curfew-bell,  and  afterwards  as  the  Fire-bell. 
It  may  be  worth  noting  that  the  one  at  Wootton  hangs  in  a 
turret,  and  is  always  rung  from  the  chancel — the  ancient  mode  of 
ringing  the  Sanctus-bell — when  the  parson  enters  the  church 
for  serv^ice. 

The  Sacrixc:-eell  is  mentioned  in  the  Inventories  of 
Church  Goods  belonging  to  Eversholt  and  W'estoning  in  1552. 
It  was  a  small  hand-bell  used  formerly  in  every  church  in  the 
Office  of  the  Mass,  to  warn  the  people  that  the  elevation  was 
about  to  take  place  ;  it  generally  hung  in  the  chancel  ;  some- 
times a  number  of  small  bells  affixed  to  a  wheel,  which  was 
pulled  by  a  cord,  were  used  to  give  the  warning.*  At 
Hemswell,  Lincolnshire,  this  bell  was  called  the  "  Agnus-bell," 
from  its  being  rung  at  the  elevation  of  the  chalice  at  the  close 
of  the  Canon,  followed  immediately  by  the  singing  of  the 
Agnus.  The  ringing  of  the  Sacring-bell  was  forbidden  in  the 
Injunctions  issued  in  1549-50;  indeed,  the  necessity  for  ii 
passed  away  when  the  Order  of  Holy  Communion  was 
commanded  to  be  used  in  English. 

Hand-bells  are  also  mentioned  as  existing  in  parish 
churches  when  the  Inventories  were  taken  in  the  reign  of 
Edward  VI.  They  were  then  found  at  Batdesden,  Cranfield, 
liusborne  Crawley,  Salford,  and  \\\:stoning,  and  were,  doubt- 
less, at  the  other  churches  in  this  county,  whose  I  nventories  have 
not  yet  been  discovered.     They  were  used  in  a  variety  of  ways 

*  See  Church  Bells  of  AWthmils,  p.  139. 


104  Peculiar  Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells. 

in  pre- Reformation  times  :  in  processions  on  Rogation-days, 
in  lh(;  procession  when  the  Eucharist  was  borne  to  the  house 
of  the  sick  or  dying,  to  give  warning  of  its  approach,  that  all 
might  pay  reverence  to  it ;  hence  it  was  sometimes  called — as 
at  Great  Gonerby,  Lincolnshire — "the  Houselling-bell ;"  it 
was  also  rung  to  clear  the  way,  and  to  call  for  a  prayer  for  the 
deceased  at  the  burial  of  the  dead,  and  so  was  frequently 
called  "the  Corse-bell"  or  "Lych-bell;"  indeed,  the  hand- 
bell was  used  in  a  variety  of  ways  in  the  mediaeval  Church. 

The  Curfew. — I  am  not  aware  that  the  curfew  is  now  rung 
in  any  parish  in  Bedfordshire.  It  was  formerly  (till  about  the 
year  1835)  rung  at  S.  Paul's,  Bedford,  at  8  p.m.  in  the  winter, 
at  9  p.m.  in  the  summer ;  but  it  was  discontinued  when  the 
Corporation  declined  to  pay  the  ringer's  fee.  So,  too,  it  was 
rung  at  Leighton  Buzzard  until  about  the  same  date.  At 
Luton  the  Priest's-bell  is  said  to  have  been  formerly  known  as 
the  Curfew-bell,  and  at  Woburn  there  is  a  tradition  that  the 
Curfew  was  regularly  heard  there  many  years  ago. 

The  Early  Morning-bell. — As  the  Curfew,  when  it  ceased 
to  be  legally  enforced  as  a  notice  for  the  extinction  of  fire  and 
candle,  probably  became  the  evening  Angehts — a  warning  to 
all  to  say  an  Ave  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  before  retiring  to 
rest ;"  so  the  ringing  of  the  early  morning-bell  arose  from  an 
extension  of  that  practice.  In  1399  Archbishop  Arundel 
issued  a  mandate  commanding  that  at  early  dawn  one  "  Our 
Father,"  and  five  "  Hail  Marys,"  should  be  said.t  As  a 
reminder  to  all  of  this  duty,  the  Angehts — which  was  frequently 

*  See  Rock's  CJmrcJt  of  our  Fathns,  iii.,  p.  337. 
t  Walcott's  Sac.  Arch. 


Peculiar  Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells.  105 

called  "  Gabriel,"  from  being  dedicated  to  the  Angel  of  the 
Annunciation — was  rung  very  frequently  as  early  as  four 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  The  bells  bearing  the  inscription 
Ave  Maria — of  which  there  are  several  remaining  in  this 
county — were  probably  used  for  the  same  purpose.  The 
early  morning-bell — the  tenor — was  rung  at  Toddington  in 
this  county  at  four  o'clock  until  the  year  1877,  when  it  ceased. 
At  Hockliffe.  too,  until  recently,  a  bell  was  rung  daily  at 
7  a.m.,  and  again  at  9  a.m.  A  morning-bell  was  formerly 
rung  at  4  a.m.  at  Woburn  "  as  a  school-bell  in  connection  with 
the  free-school  there."  It  was  afterwards  rung  at  6  a.m.,  but 
has  been  entirely  discontinued  for  about  forty  years.  At 
Eversholt  the  ist  or  2nd  bell  is  still  rung  daily,  excepting 
Sunday,  at  8  a.m. 

Other  Daily  Bells. — A  mid-day  Angelus  was  rung  in 
France  in  the  fifteenth  century.  Although  that  custom  does 
not  appear  to  have  been  followed  generally  in  this  country,* 
a  IVI id-day-bell  was  rung  in  some  parishes,  and  is  still  heard  in 
a  few  ;  but  whether  it  be  in  all  cases  a  survival  of  the  mid-day 
Angehis  is  very  doubtful.  At  Turvey  the  treble  bell  is  tolled 
— and  has  been  from  time  immemorial — at  noon  {12  o'clock), 
and  is  now  considered  as  a  signal  for  dinner.  At  Eversholt  a 
bell  is  rung  daily  at  one  o'clock,  and  at  Cranfield  the  ist  and 
2nd  bells  are  rung  daily — Sundays  excepted — at  one  and  two 
o'clock,  and  are  called  dinner-bells.  The  I\Iid-day-bcll  (3rd) 
is  remembered  as  being  formerly  rung  daily  at  mid-day  at 
Oakley,  and  the  2nd  bell  at  one  o'clock  at  Pottesgrove. 

*  Tlic  "Avc-bell"  was  \\\wg  at  noon  at  t'ropedy,  Oxfordshire.     Sec  Historical  Noli,es  oj 
Cropcdy,  by  Rev.  1).  Roycc,  p.  43. 
P 


lo6  Peculiar  Uses  of  I  he  Bcdjovdskirc  Bells. 

In  the  absence  of  all  evidence  to  the  contrary,  the  use  of 
these  mid-day  bells  may  be  generally  attributed  to  a  secular 
origin — the  giving- warning  to  agricultural  labourers  and  other's 
of  the  time — rather  than  to  a  religious  one. 

TiiK  PANCAKK-iiiiLL  was  Originally  the  Shrive-bell,  which 
was  rung  on  Shrove,  or  Shrive  Tuesday,  as  a  warning  to  all 
to  come  to  church,  where  the  parish  priest  sat  in  an  open 
chair,  or  stall,  to  hear  the  confessions  of  his  people,  and  to 
award  them  such  penance  as  he  thought  good  for  them,  or  to 
give  them  absolution.  Again,  in  times  when  Lent  was  more 
strictly  observed  than  now  as  a  time  of  abstinence  from  llesh- 
meat,  the  housewives,  we  are  told,  in  order  to  use  up  all  the 
grease,  lard  and  dripping,  made  pancakes,  and  the  apprentices 
and  others  about  the  house  were  summoned  to  the  meal  by 
the  ringing  of  a  bell,  which  was,  naturally,  called  "  The  Pan- 
cake-bell."* 

The  ringing  on  Shrove  Tuesday  of  the  Shrive-bell,  now 
called  the  Pancake-bell,  is  still  continued  in  a  few  parishes  in 
this  county,  and  is  remembered  in  many  more. 

At  S.  Paul's,  Bedford,  the  5th  bell  is  rung  at  eleven  o'clock, 
at  Cranfield  the  3rd  bell  is  rung,  at  Toddington  the  6th  ;  at 
Turvey  the  1st  and  2nd  are  chimed  together  at  noon,  making 
a  most  unmelodious  noise,  which  is  supposed  to  indicate  the 
approaching  commencement  of  the  gloomy  season  of  Lent. 

Within  living  memory  the  Pancake-bell  was  rung  at  Card- 
ington  (6th  bell  from  eleven  till  twelve  o'clock),  Eversholt, 
Harrold,     Hulcote,     Marston     Moretaine,     Oakley,     Salford, 


See  Notes  and  Queries,  3rd  S.  vi.  404. 


Peculiar  Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells.  107 

Wootton,   and    Wol^urn  ;    and    at    Wilden    it   is    traditionally 
remembered. 

The  quaint  old  clerk  who  serves  both  Carlton  and 
Chellington.  and  who  is  (1881)  84  years  of  age,  says  the 
Pancake-bell  used  to  be  rung  at  Carlton  "by  a  chap"  whom 
he  describes  as  "  a  Roman,"  but  that  since  his  death,  about 
twenty-five  years  ago,  the  bells  have  not  been  kept  up  to  the 
same  pitch  of  ringing,  and  the  Pancake-bell  has  been 
discontinued. 

Advext  Ringing. — Although  there  is  no  special  peal  rung 
on  Advent  Sunday  in  this  county,  as  in  some  parishes 
elsewhere,  it  is  customary  in  Bedfordshire,  as  in  other  counties, 
for  the  ringers  to  practise  ringing  during  the  weeks  in  Adx'cnt, 
and  to  ring  much  during  the  Christmas  season  ;  such  is  the 
case  at  Arlesey,  Aspley  Guise,  Barton-lc-Clay,  Cople,  Dun- 
stable, Hartington,  llockliffc,  Hulcote,  INIcppershall,  and 
Salford. 

Christmas  Pkals  are  rung  in  many  parishes  on  the  Ex-e  of 
th('  l'\'sti\al.  Such  is  the  case  at  Aspley  Guise,  Biggleswade, 
Cardington,  Dean,  Egginton,  Hversholt,  Flitwick,  Hocklitie. 
Houghton  Conquest,  Husborne  Crawley,  Leighton  Buzzard, 
Marston  Morctaine,  Melchbourne,  ]\Tep[)crshall,  Pertonhall. 
Sandy,  and  Tingrith. 

The  ringing  at  midnight  is  an  old  custom  which  is  iollowcd 
at  Great  Barford,  Ijliinham,  Cople,  Ihulinglon,  Houghton 
Regis,  Keysoe,  Stanbridge,  Turvey,  and  W'oburn, 

Merry  peals  arc;  rung  early  on  Christmas  morning  at 
Arlesey  (at  6  a.m.).  Great  Barford,  Barton-le-Clay,  Cranfidd, 
Plitwich  (at  8  o'clock).  Goldington,  Houghton  Regis,   Keysoe 


loS  Peculiar  Uses  of  the  Ihdfordshire  Bells. 

(at  7  a.m.   and  at  4  p.m.),  Meppershall,  Southill,  Tilsworth, 
Toddington,  and  at  Turvey  (at  7  a.m.) 

Eastkr-dav  is  ushered  in  by  peals  on  the  bells  at  Arlesey, 
Eversholt,  Leighton  Buzzard,  Meppershall,  Tilsworth,  and 
Toddington.  At  Turvey  the  bells  are  rung  at  the  close  of 
afternoon  service,  and  at  Houghton  Regis  the  are  bells  some- 
times rung  instead  of  chimed  for  Service  on  this  great 
Festival. 

So,  too,  on  other  Festivals  the  bells  are  sometimes  rung : — 

The  Epiphany  :  Peals  are  rung  at  Tilsworth. 

Ascension-day  :  Peals  are  rung  at  the  same  place. 

Whitsunday  Peals  are  rung  at  Eversholt,  Leighton 
Buzzard,  Tilsworth,  Toddington,  Turvey,  and  sometimes  at 
Cranfield. 

Lady-day  :  the  bells  at  Tilsworth  are  rung  on  the  Feast 
of  the  Annunciation  of  the  Virgin  Mary. 

Trinity  Sunday  :  the  bells  at  Eversholt  are  rung, 

Lenten  Ringing  :  the  bells  of  the  church  should  be  silent 
in  Lent  excepting  for  Divine  Service.  No  other  rino-ino-  is 
allowed  at  Eversholt,  Husborne  Crawley,  Leighton  Buzzard, 
Tilsworth  (excepting  one  half  hour  a  week  for  practice  :  none 
for  any  wedding),  Turvey,  and  Woburn. 

Good  Friday  Use  :  at  Eversholt  the  "  early  peal "  at 
8  a.m.  is  rung  on  Ash  Wednesday  and  on  Good  Friday  as  on 
Sundays.  At  Keysoe  the  tenor  bell  is  tolled  for  Service  on 
Good  Friday, 

New  Year's-eve:  the  bells  are  rung  on  New  Year's-eve 
at— amongst  other  places— Aspley  Guise,  Biggleswade,  Cran- 
field,   Dean,    Melchbourne.     Hockliffe,     Husborne    Crawlev, 


Peculiar   Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells.  109 

Marston  IMoretaine,  Sandy,  Shillington,  Tingrith,  Toddington. 
and  Tottenhoe. 

New  Year's-eve  and  New  Year's-dav  :  the  old  year 
is  rung  out  and  the  new  rung  in,  at  Arlesey,  Blunhani, 
Cardington,  Cople,  Eversholt,  Flitwick,  Hartington,  Hough 
ton  Regis,  Leighton  Buzzard,  Shelton,  Southill,  Stanbridge, 
Wilden,  and  Woburn.  At  INIeppershall  a  muffled  peal  is  rung 
on  New  Year's-eve  for  half-an-hour  before  midnight,  ceasing 
a  few  minutes  before  twelve,  to  allow  of  the  mufflers  being  re- 
moved. At  midnight  the  number  twelve  is  struck  on  the  tenor, 
and  then  another  peal  is  rung  for  halfan-hour.  A  peal  is  also 
rung  at  day-break  on  New  Year's-day.  Early  peals  are  also 
rung  on  that  day  at  Barton-le-Clay,  Marston  Moretainc, 
Shillinorton,  and  Harlinorton. 

S.  Hugh's-dav:  in  the  Churchwardens'  Accounts  of 
Shillington  are  charges  in  many  years  between  1574  and  1594 
for  ringing  on  S.  Hugh's-day.  It  may  be  well  to  note  that 
this  ringing  was  not  in  honour  of  the  great  Bishop  of  Lincoln, 
but  in  celebration  of  the  accession  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  which 
took  place  upon  S.  Hugh's-day,  and  which  Saint's  day,  in 
accordance  with  ancient  custom,  was  frequently  quoted  as  a 
date  instead  of  the  day  and  the  month — 1 7th  November.  The 
day  was  also  known  as  "  Oueen's-day." 

Dedication  Peals  are  runij  at  Tilsworth  on  All  Saint's- 
day  ;  at  Turvey  on  the  Monday  following  the  first  Sunday 
after  All  Saints'-day,  and  at  JMilton  Ernest  on  "  the  Feast- 
day,"  which  is  said  to  be  the  2nd  Sunday  in  July,  although 
the  church  is  supposed  to  be  dedicated  to  all  Saints. 

Until  quite  recently  a  peal  was  always  rung  at   Husborne 


I  lo  Peculiar  Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells. 

Crawley  at  8  a.m.  on  S.  Jamcs'-day,  the  titular  Saint  of  the 
Church.  This  ringing,  which  was  voluntary  on  the  part  of  the 
ringers,  was,  it  is  said,  discontinued  in  consequence  of  an 
objection  being  made  to  the  time,  possibly  by  the  farmers, 
most  of  the  ringers  being  labourers. 

Banns  Peal — that  is,  a  peal  after  Divine  Service  on 
Sunday  morning,  when  the  banns  of  an  intended  marriage  are 
first  "put  up" — is  sometimes  rung  at  Biddenham,  Hulcote, 
and  Langford  ;  at  the  last  mentioned  place  the  ringing  depends 
entirely  on  the  "tips"  given  to  the  sexton,  which,  he  says, 
vary  "  from  five  bob  to  only  a  pint  or  two." 

Wedding  Peals  are,  of  course,  usual  in  almost  every  parish 
in  the  county  ;  at  Pertenhall,  however,  they  are  only  very 
occasionally  rung  for  a  wedding  by  license ;  at  Pottesgrove 
they  are  heard  "  now  and  then  ;"  at  Tottenhoe  they  are  "  few 
and  far  between  ;"  at  Tilsworth  no  wedding  peal  is  allowed 
to  be  rung  during  Lent;  at  Marston  Moretaine  peals  are  rung 
during  the  day  if  the  parties  can  pay — if  they  are  poor  the 
ringers  give  a  peal  in  the  evening  ;  and  at  Husborne  Crawley 
merry  peals  are  voluntarily  given  in  the  evening  of  the  day  on 
every  marriage  at  the  church,  without  respect  of  persons,  if  the 
ringers  can  muster,  which  is  generally  the  case. 

The  Bride's  Peal  is  occasionally  rung  in  some  parishes 
on  the  morning  after  the  wedding,  called  "  Ringing  them  up." 
The  only  approach  to  it  in  Bedfordshire  is  at  Steppingley, 
where,  sometimes,  a  peal  is  rung  on  the  day  after  the  wedding. 

Fair  Peals  are  rung  at  Toddington  on  the  25th  April, 
being  the  day  of  the  fair. 

The    Oven-bell  :  the   mill    and  oven   of  the    Lord  of  the 


Peculiar  Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells.  1 1 1 

Manor  formerly  existed  in  many  parishes  ;  to  them  the  tenants 
of  the  Manor  were  expected  to  resort  to  grind  their  corn  and 
to  bake  their  bread.  In  some  places  a  bell  was  rung,  called 
the  "oven-bell,"  to  give  warning  that  the  Manor  oven  was 
heated  and  ready  for  use.  There  is  only  one  trace  of  this 
custom  in  Bedfordshire — at  Shillington  there  are  faint  re" 
miniscences  of  the  Oven-bell  being  rung,  but  the  custom  has 
been  long  discontinued. 

The  Marki:t-i;ell,  which  was  formerly  heard  in  many 
market  towns,  where  it  was  rung  to  announce  when  buying 
and  selling  should  commence,  and  so  prevent  forestalling, 
etc.,  has  no  representative  now  in  this  county.  The  only  trace 
of  it  I  have  found — and  that  not  in  connection  with  a  church 
bell— is  at  Woburn,  where  a  small  bell,  used  as  a  Market-bell, 
formerly  hung  at  the  Town  Hall.  It  was  stolen  from  the 
Park  Farm — where  it  had  been  placed  for  safety  during  the 
building  of  a  new  Town  Hall — about  the  year  1829. 

The  Restoration  of  Charles  the  Second  is  well  com- 
memorated in  this  countv.  At  Cranfield  rino^ini/  commences 
as  early  as  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  is  continued  at 
intervals  throughout  the  day  ;  a  large  bough  of  oak  is  affixed 
to  the  top  of  the  church  tower,  and  the  day  is  observed,  more 
or  less,  as  a  holiday  in  the  village.  At  Toddington  the  bells 
are  rung  from  three  till  five  o'clock  in  the  morning.  At 
Blunham  they  ring  two  or  three  peals,  commencing  at  loin- 
o'clock  in  the  mornin'"-  ;  and  the  bells  are  still  runLT  on  this 
day  at  Dunstable,  Houghton  Conquest,  Houghton  Regis 
(morning  and  evening),  Kempstone,  Marston  Moretainc, 
Potton,  and  at  Shillington  (with  an  oak  bough  on  the  tower), 


1 1  2  Peculiar  Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells. 

where  we  find  ;i  very  early  instance  of  it  recorded  in  the 
Churchwardens'  Accounts  : — 

1661.     ( liven  to  y'=  Ringers  y<=  29th  of  May 026 

Until  recently  the  bells  were  rung  on  this  day  at  Cardington, 
Carlton,  Chellington,  Harrold,  Oakley,  Sharnbrook,  Willington, 
and  Wilden. 

The  Gleaning-bell  is  rung  in  many  parishes  during 
harvest  in  the  morning  and  evening,  that  all — old  and  feeble, 
as  well  as  young  and  active— may  have  a  fair  start.  Such  a 
bell  is  rung  at  7  a.m.  and  at  6  p.m.  at  Great  Barford, 
Blunham,  Carlton,  Chellington,  Keysoe,  Langford,  and  at 
Muggerhanger  ;  at  7  a.m.  and  at  7  p.m.  at  Houghton  Regis, 
IMilton  Ernest,  Pavenham,  and  Willington  ;  at  Sandy  the  ist 
bell  is  rung  at  6  a.m.  and  at  6  p.m.  ;  at  Bolnhurst  a  bell  is 
rung  at  6  a.m.,  and  again  in  the  evening  ;  at  Clifton  and  at 
Harrold  the  bell  is  rung  in  the  morning  at  7  a.m.  The 
school-bell  (not  one  of  the  church  bells)  is  rung  as  the 
Gleaning-bell  at  Meppershall. 

The  Gleaning-bell  is  remembered  as  being  rung,  though 
now  discontinued,  at  Dunton,  Marston  Moretaine,  Pertenhall, 
Sharnbrook,  Turvey,  and  Wilden.  At  Turvey  the  gleaners 
used  to  pay  a  fee  of  a  halfpenny  each  to  the  ringer. 

The  Executiox-bell  :  the  5th  bell  at  S.  Paul's,  Bedford, 
was  formerly  tolled  as  the  criminal  passed  on  his  way  to  be 
hanged,  calling  on  the  people  to  pray  for  one  passing  from 
this  life. 

The  Fh-ie-bell  :  a  special  bell  is  sometimes  rung  as  an 
alarm  in  case  of  fire.     The  Priest's-bell  is  so  rung  at  Todding- 


Peculiar  Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells.  1 1 3 

ton,  the  5th  at  Houghton  Regis,  and  the  tenor  at  Husborne 
Crawley. 

Gunpowder  Plot. — The  discovery  of  this  plot  is  still 
commemorated  by  the  ringing  of  merry  peals  at  Cranfield, 
Dunstable,  Goldington,  Houghton  Conquest,  Kempstone, 
Leighton  Buzzard,  Marston  Moretaine,  Odell,  Pertenhall, 
Potton,  Sandy,  Wootton,  and,  occasionally,  at  Stanbridge. 

At  Houcfhton  Rec^is  the  bells  are  raised  and  clashed  or  fired 
{i.e.  all  together)  at  intervals — called  in  Lincolnshire  "shooting 
old  Guy " — breaking  into  rounds  after  about  half-a-dozen 
"  fires."     At  Toddington,  too,  the  bells  are  similarly  rung. 

Ringing  on  this  day  is  remembered,  though  not  now 
practised,  at  S.  Peter's,  Bedford,  Cardington,  Carlton,  Chcl- 
lington,  Harrold,  Hawnes,  Oakley,  Sharnbrook,  Wildcn,  and 
Willington.  The  Churchwardens'  Accounts  of  Shillinglon 
have  an  early  entry  about  it : — 

1619.     Bestowed  upon  the  ringers  the  v^'^  of  November  xij,/. 

and  in  1665  there  is  a  charge  for  ringing  on  "Gunpowder 
Tresson  day." 

The  Mote  or  Common  Bell  which  was  ordered  by 
Edward  the  Confessor  to  be  sounded,  in  case  of  danger, 
to  convene  the  people,  and  which  was  so  commonly  used,  ai 
least,  in  all  large  towns  in  mediaeval  and  later  limes,  as  at 
Stafford,  "  to  geather  to  all  things  pertening  to  the  townc,"  has 
a  representative  in  many  parishes  in 

The  Vestry  Bell,  which  is  rung  as  a  summons  to  a  town 
or  parish  meeting.  The  ist  bell  is  rung  as  a  call  to  vestry 
meetings  at  Barton-le-Clay,  Battlesden,  Blunham,  Harlington, 
Q 


1 1 4  Peculiar  Uses  of  Ike  Bedfordshire  Bells. 

Stanbridgc,  Tilsworth,  Turvey  and  Wilden  ;  the  2nd  bell  is 
rung  at  Langford  ;  the  3rd  at  Ampthill  and  at  Husborne 
Crawley  ;  the  4th  at  Pavenham  ;  the  5th  at  Houghton  Regis  ; 
the  6th  at  Toddington  ;  the  7th  at  Dunstable  ;  the  tenor  at 
Goldington  and  at  Hockliffe  ;  one  of  the  bells  is  also  rung  as 
a  summons  to  vestries  at  Chalgrave,  Clapham,  Cople,  Cran- 
field,  Dunton,  Egginton,  Gravenhurst,  Hadey  Cockayne, 
Houghton  Conquest,  Hulcote,  Keysoe,  Lidlington,  Milton 
Bryant,  Milton  Ernest,  Pertenhall,  Shillington,  Tilbrook, 
Tingrith,  and  Old  Warden. 

At  S.  Paul's  and  at  S.  Peter's,  Bedford,  the  summons  is  by 

about  ninety  strokes  given  on  the  tenor  bell  three  times,  with 

a  short  interval  between  each  tollinof. 

Until    recently   the    vestry-bell   was    heard    at    S.   Mary's, 

Bedford,     Carlton,     Chellington,     Kempstone,     Pottesgrove, 

Sandy,  Wootton,  and  Woburn. 

Induction-bell  :  the  old   custom  of  the  new  parish  priest 

ringing  one  of  the  church  bells  upon  being  inducted  into  his 

living  is  referred  to  in  an   entry   in   the   Parish   Register  of 

Houghton  Conquest  thus  : — 

Mr.   Loverly  took  poset'on  of  the  church  of  Houghton  Conquest  and 
Ronge  his  Bells  the  7  th  day  of  Jun  being  wisson  Sunday. 

Mayor's  Peals  are  rung  at  S.  Mary's,  Bedford,  when  the 
new  mayor  is  chosen. 

Public  Rejoicings  would  be  incomplete  without  merry 
peals  from  the  church  bells  ;  so  thought  the  Corporation  of 
Bedford  when,  as  recorded  in  their  Black  Book,  they  received 


Peculiar  Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells.  i  r  5 

their  new  Charter  from  Charles  the  Second,  in  the  year  16S4. 
The  entries  are  : — 

1684.     A|:iril  11.   Renewal  of  Charter. 

July  33.  Ordered  that  the  Chamberlains  do  i)ay  Henry  Lower 
J[^Z~'  ^7-  ^-  fo^  Dinners  and  \\'ine  the  19th  Ins'- July 
being  the  Day  of  the  Reception  of  the  new  Charter 
and  Treatment  of  the  Earl  of  Aylesbury  and  other 
Gent,  there  present.  And  ^i.  5.  o.  to  be  paid  to 
the  Ringers.* 

Loyal  Peals  :  upon  all  occasions  calling  for  an  expression 
of  loyalty,  such  as  the  anniversaries  of  the  Queen's  birthday, 
accession  and  coronation,  the  bells  are  rung  in  many  parishes, 
and  so  it  was  in  times  past.  The  accounts  of  the  church- 
wardens of  Shillington  have  entries  such  as  : — 

162S.     Item  given  to  the  Ringers  on  the  Coronation  day  iJ5-. 

1629.     Ite'  given  for  ringing  u[)on  the  King's  holyday ijr. 

That  would  be  S.  James'  Day,  when,  as  we  know  from 
similar  records  in  other  parishes,  the  bells  were  then  frequently 
rung. 

We  have  already  seen  (p.  22)  that  change-ringing  was 
practised  in  this  county  at  an  early  date ;  we  have  noticed  its 
gradual  decline,  and  have  referred  to  the  efforts  now  being 
made  to  revive  the  art  by  the  establishment  of  a  Bedfordshire 
Association  of  Change-ringers. 

It  may  be  well  to  remark  that  this  Association  is  not  only 
intended  to  encourage  the  cultivation  of  scientific  change- 
ringing,  but  to  promote  belfry  reform. 

*  For  making  these  extracts  I  am  indebted  to  D.  G.  Cary-EIwcs,  Esq.,  K. S..\. 


ii6  Pcmliar  Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells. 

An  important  step  towards  that  reform  is  to  make  the 
ringers*  chamber  not  only  clean,  but  comfortable  ;  it  should  be 
furnished  with  proper  light,  with  pegs  for  coats  and  hats,  and 
have  the  windows  glazed.  Another  important  step  forward  is 
made  when  the  parson,  rope  in  hand,  can  take  his  place  among 
the  ringers,  and  by  his  presence  improve  their  moral  standard 
and  the  general  tone  of  the  belfry. 

The  bells,  too,  should  be  well  looked  after.  Mr.  Haweis 
says :  "  The  Belfry  should  look  like  a  fire-engine  room  in  a 
first-rate  factory.  It  should  be  a  pleasure  as  well  as  an 
instructive  lesson  to  go  into  it.  When  all  was  in  motion, 
everything  should  be  so  neatly  fitted  and  thoroughly  oiled, 
that  we  should  hear  no  sound  save  only  the  melodious 
booming  of  the  bells  themselves."* 

*  Music  ami  Morals,  p.  460, 


LATIN    INSCRIPTIONS 


ON 

CHURCH  BELLS  IN  BEDFORDSHIRE. 

[With    Translations.*] 

AVE   MARIA. 

S^Hail  Mary.\ 

CUM    CANO    BUSTA    MORI    CUM    PULPITA    VIVERE     DISCE, 
DISCE   MORI   NOSTRO   VIVERE   DISCE   SONO. 

\When  I  sin  i(  of  Tombs,  learn  to  die  ;  w/ien  of  Pulpifs,  leant  to  lire  ;  learn  by 
our  sound  to  die  {and)  learn  to  live.\ 

CUM   VOCO   VENITE. 

\Conie  when  I  call. ^ 

DOMINE    MEMENTO   MEL 

\Remember  nu\  O  Lord.\ 

EGO   SUM    VOX  CLAMANTIS. 

\I  am  tlie  voice  of  one  r/j'///^.] 

EX   ANNA   NATA   SALVET    NOS    \TRr.O    BEATA. 

\_May  tlie  Blessed  Virgin^  born  of  Anna  ^  save  us.\ 


*  For  these  I  am  indebted  tu  the  kindness  of  a  friend. 


ii8  Latin  htscriptions  on  Church  Bells. 

FYDRLIS   MRSURIS  NOMEN    CAMPANA   MYKAELYS. 
[The  Rev.  I.  T.  Fowler  suggests  thai  as  it  stands  it  may  be  MidiacPs  bell  is 
(my)   name  (I   am)  true  in  (my)  measjires   (dimensions  or   tone) ;  but    tliat 
something   seems   to   be   missing,    and    "  Fydelis "   clearly   ought   to   rhyme 

with  "  Mykaelis."] 

GLORIA   DEO   SOLI 

\Glory  to  God  alo7ie^ 

GLORIA   DEO   IN   EXCELSIS. 

\Glory  to  God  in  the  highest ?[ 

GLORIA   PATRI  FILIO  ET  SPIRITUI   SANCTO. 

\Glory  he  to  t/ie  Father,  to  the  Son,  and  to  the  Holy  GhosfP\ 

GRATA   SIT  ARGUTA  RESONANS   CAMPANULA  VOCE. 

\_May  the  little  bell  be  pleasant,  sounding  with  clear  tone.] 

GURGITE   ET  AUDITE  VOCEM   MEAM. 

[And  hear  my  voice  in  the  depth.] 

HOC   SIGNUM   PETRI    PULSATUR    NOMINE   CHRISTI   FUSUM. 

A.D.  MDCCCXXV. 
[This  bell  of  Peter  is  ru7ig  in  the  name  of  Christ.     Cast  A.D.  1825.] 

HONORABILI  VIRO  DOMINO  HENRIC.  GRAVE  MARIQUE  UXORI 

EJUS  BENE  PRECATUR  ARTIFEX   1580. 
[  The  founder  prays  well  for  the  Hon.  Lord  Hefuy  Graye  a?id  for  Mary  his 

wife,  1580.] 

IH'S  NAZARENUS  REX  JUDEORUM  FILI   DEI    MISERERE  MEL 

[Jesus  of  Nazareth,  King  of  the  Jews,  0  Son  of  God,  have  mercy  on  ?ne.] 

IN  MULTIS  ANNIS  RESONET  CAMPANA  lOHANNIS. 

[For  many  years  may  John's  bell  resound.] 

MUSA  RAFAELIS  SONAT  AURIBUS  EMANUELIS. 
[The  song  of  Raphael  sounds  in  EmmanuePs  ears^ 

NOMEN  MAGDALENE  CAMPANA  GERET  MELODIE. 
[This  bell  shall  bear  melodiously  the  71a me  of  Magdalene,] 


Latin  Iiiscviptions  on  Chunk  Be  lis.  1 19 

NON   CLAMOR   SED   AMOR   CANTAT    IN    AURE    DEI. 
\^Love's  voicCy  not  noise,  si>igs  in  the  ear  of  God.\ 

NON   VERBO   SED   VOCE   RESONABO   DOMINI    LAUDES. 

[^Resound  the  praises  of  the  Lord  not  in  word,  but  -with  roiie.\ 

O    MARTIR   XPOFORE   PRO   NOBIS   SEMPER   ORATE. 

[C  Martyr  Christopher,  ever  pray  for  //j.] 

OMNIA     FIANT    AD    GLORIAM     DEI. 

\_Let  all  be  done  to  the  glory  of  God.] 

PATER    IN    MANUS   TUAS   COMMENDO  SPIRITUM    MEUM. 
[Father,   into    Thy   hands  I  commend  my  spirit.] 

SANCTE   PAULE  ORA   PRO   NOBIS. 
[Holy  Paul,  pray  for  us.] 

SIT   NOMEN    DOMINI   BENEDICTUM. 

[Blessed  be  the  Name  of  the  Lord.] 

STATUTUM    EST   OMNIBUS   SEMEL    MORI. 
[//  is  appointed  unto  all  men  once  to  die.  ] 

SUM   ROSA   PULSATA   MUNDI   MARIA   VOCATA. 
[/,  being  rung,  am  called  Mary  the  Rose  of  the  World.] 

SUM   CAMPANA   MARIE   MATRIS   MESSIE   PIE. 
[/  am  the  bell  of  Mary,  the  pious  mother  of  Messiah.] 

TE   DEUM   LAUDAMUS. 

[  We  praise  Thee  as  God?^ 

TU     INTONAS     DE     COEITS     VOX     CAMPAN/E     MICHAELIS 

ITERUM   FUSA. 
[Thou  soundest  from  the  heavens,  O  voice  of  bell  Michael  cast  again.] 

VOX   AUGUSTINI    SONET   IN   AURE    DEI. 
[Let  the   voice  of  Augustine   sound  in   the   car  oj    God.] 

XPE   AUDI    NOS. 
[O  Christ,  hear  us.] 


I-'O 


Avcraj^c  IV eight  of  Bells. 


List  ok  Tiiii  Average  Weights  and  Sizes  of  Bells  cast 
by  Messrs.  Mears  &  Stainbank,  Whitechapcl ;  Messrs.  Taylor 
&  Co.,  Loughborough  ;  and  Messrs.  Warner  &  Sons,  Cripple- 
gate,  London.  The  diameter  being  known,  a  reference  to 
this  list  will  give  the  approximate  weight  of  any  bell. 


Messrs.  Mears. 

Mess 

Rs.  Taylor. 

Messrs.  Warner. 

Weight. 

IVeighi. 

Weight. 

Inches, 

c'iVis.    (jrs.     His. 

eivL 

.    (jrs,     ll>s. 

C7vts.    qrs.    lbs. 

Inches, 

20 

I         3         0 

2 

0         0 

I         3         0 

20 

21 

200 

2 

1          0 

200 

21 

22 

220 

2 

2           0 

2         I         0 

22 

23 

230 

2 

3        0 

2           2         14 

23 

24 

300 

3 

0        0 

300 

24 

25 

320 

3 

2            0 

320 

25 

26 

400 

4 

0            0 

400 

26 

27 

4         I         0 

4 

2           0 

4           I           0 

27 

28 

420 

5 

0           0 

430 

28 

29 

500 

5 

2           0 

5        I        0 

29 

30 

5        I        0 

6 

0         0 

5        3        0 

30 

31 

620 

6 

2            0 

600 

31 

32 

600 

7 

I            0 

6        2       14 

32 

^i 

630 

7 

3        0 

700 

33 

34 

720 

8 

I        0 

720 

34 

35 

700 

9 

0        0 

800 

35 

36 

S        0        0 

9 

3        0 

820 

36 

37 

900 

10 

2        0 

900 

37 

38 

920 

II 

0        0 

10        0        0 

38 

39 

10        0        0 

II 

3        0 

10        3        0 

39 

40 

II        0        0 

12 

2        0 

12        0        0 

40 

41 

13        2      22 

13 

2        0 

12         3        0 

41 

42 

14        2        0 

14 

2        0 

13        3        0 

42 

43 

14        3        0 

15 

2        0 

14        2        0 

43 

44 

16        2        0 

16 

2        0 

15        0        0 

44 

45 

17        3      18 

17 

2        0 

16        0        0 

45 

46 

17        0        0 

18 

2        0 

17        0        0 

46 

47 

18        0        0 

20 

0        0 

18        0        0 

47 

48 

20        0        0 

21 

0        0 

19        0        0 

48 

49 

20        0        0 

22 

0        0 

20        3        0 

49 

50 

22        0        0 

23 

2        0 

23        0        0 

50" 

SI 

25        I       10 

25 

0        0 

24        2        0 

51 

52 

24        0        0 

27 

0        0 

25        3        0 

52 

53 

25        0        0 

28 

0        0 

27        0        0 

53 

54 

26        0        0 

30 

0        0 

28        0        0 

54 

S| 

27        2        0 

31 

0        0 

29        0        0 

55 

^      56 

30        0        0 

32 

0        0 

30        0        0 

56 

57 

33        3        7 

34 

0        0 

31        0        0 

57 

58 

35        0        0 

36 

0        0 

32        0        0 

58 

59 

35        0      45 

39 

0        0 

34        2        0 

59 

60 

38        0        0 

42 

0        0 

36        0        0 

66 

THE  INSCRIPTIONS 


ON    THE 


CHURCH     BELLS     OF     BEDFORDSHIRE, 

With  the  Diameter  at  the  mouth  of  each  bell,  from  which  its 
approximate  weight  may  be  ascertained  (see  opposite  page). 
To  which  are  added  Extracts,  where  procurable,  from  the 
Commissioners'  Returns  temp.  Edward  VL,  and  from  Paro- 
chial and  other  Records,  together  with  Local  Traditions, 
Notices  of  Donors,  etc.,  etc. 


Note. — The  7itC77ibers  between  [  ]  refer  to  the  ^ooodcuts  itwrked  into  the  letter- 
press. It  being  impossible  to  reproduce  here  the  various  forms  of  mediaeval  Gothic 
letters  fotmd  on  the  ancient  bells,  one  form  of  letter  is  used  to  indicate  where 
Gothic  capitals  are  foufid  [  J5_  ^  O']  and  one  form  where  small  Gothic,  or 
"  black  letter,"  is  found  [a  b  l*J.  For  the  various  forms  of  Roman  letters  found 
on  modern  bells,  one  form  [A  B  C]  70  ill  suffice. 

Errors  of  spelling,  misplacement  of  letters,  etc.,  etc.,  in  the  follojving  Inscrip- 
tions, are  copied  literally  from  the  Bells.  They  are  therefore  Founders'  blunders, 
and  not  Printers'  mistakes. 

A  I'eference  to  the  pages  given  after  the  name  of  each  Parish  in  the  Index  will 
supply,  in  most  instances,  information  as  to  the  uses  of  the  Church  Bells  therein. 

A  similar  reference  to  the  pages  given  after  the  name  of  each  Foundry  or 
Founder,  will  furnish  some  particulars  respecting  it  or  him. 
R 


1 2  2  The  Inscriptions  on  the 


AMPTHILL. 

S.  Andrew.  5  Bells. 

1.  IHS    NAZARENE    REX   JUD^ORUM    FILI    DEI    MISERERE 

MEI  -H  GLORIA  DEO  SOLI  h-  A  • .  •  DOM  O  1725  O. 

(Diam.  31  in.,  height  23  in.) 

2.  T  :  B  :  STONE  &  I  :  KIRK  C  :  WARDENS  I  :    BRIANT   HERT- 

FORD FECIT  181 1. 

(Diam.  31  in.,  height  24^  in.) 

3.  CHRISTOPHER  GRAVE  MADE  ME  1665. 

(Diam.  35  in.,  height  26  in.) 

4.  DAVID  BRODIE  ESQ. 

O  CHURCHWARDENS  O. 
JOHN  LEACH 

CHARLES  WHEELER  WILLIAM  JONES. 
WILLIAM  EMMERTON  OF  WOOTTON  MADE  ME  1768. 
(Diam.  40  in.,  height  30  in.) 

5.  IHS   NAZARENUS    REX   JUD^ORUM    FILI   DEI    MISERERE 

MEI  -1- 
GLORIA   PATRI   FILIO    ET  SPIRITUI   SANCTO  T:   EAVRE. 
KETT.  1725. 

(Diam.  4^  in.,  height  32  in.) 


ARLESEY. 

S.  Peter.  6  Belis. 

1—5.     J.  WARNER  &  SONS  FOUNDERS,  LONDON,  1877. 

cwt.  qr.  lb. 

1.  Diam.  28  in,,  weight  5     i  24,  Note  E. 

2.  Diam.  30  in.,  weight  5     2  25,  Note  D. 

3.  Diam.  32  in.,  weight  6     i  24,  Note  C. 

4.  Diam.  34  in.,  weight  7     d  10,  Note  B. 

5.  Diam.  36  in.,  weight  7     3  19,  Note  A. 


Church  Bells  of  Bedfordshire.  1 23 

6.  THIS  BELL  IS  GIVEN  BY  REV.  RICHD.  FOLLIOT  SCOTT, 
M.A.,  VICAR  OF  ARLESEY,  IN  MEMORY  OF  HIS  GRAND- 
FATHER, JAMES  CURTIS,  ESQ.,  B.C.S. 

?  (f  ^VLES  }  CHURCHWARDENS. 
YDoJtor's  \)  Arms\ 
(Diam.  39^  in.,  weight  10  cwt.  3  qr.  15  lb.,  Note  G.) 

The  ancient  spire  of  this  church  fell  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  century,  and 
the  story  is  that  the  people  then  sold  the  ring  of  bells,  according  to  the 
distich  current  in  the  neighbourhood  : — 

"  Arlesey,  Arlesey,  naughty  people. 
Sold  their  bells  to  build  their  steeple," 

but  did  not  so  expend  the  money. 

The  tradition  at  Arlesey  is  that  their  bells  went  to  the  neighbouring  village 
of  Shillington,  but  that  is  not  correct,  as  we  learn  from  the  Shillington  bells, 
and  also  from  an  account  made  by  Browne  Willis  of  the  expenses  attending 
the  recasting  of  the  bells,  and  augmenting  the  ring,  at  Bletchley,  in  Bucking- 
hamshire, in  the  year  17 12.  In  that  year  the  five  bells  there  were  taken  down, 
and  with  "  eighteen  hundredweight  of  additional  metal  (which  cost,  with  the 
carriage  of  it  from  Arlesey  in  Bedfordshire  to  Bletchley,  with  other  expenses 
in  bringing  it,  ^65  i6s.)  were  delivered  to  Mr.  Abraham  Rudhall,  of  Glou- 
cester," bellfounder,  who  recast  the  whole  into  a  new  ring  of  eight  bells.* 

It  appears  from  this  transaction  that  the  Arlesey  bells  were  broken  when 
the  spire  fell.  This  is  rendered  more  evitient  by  the  fact  that  in  the  wooden 
erection,  shortly  afterwards  put  up,  the  parishioners  did  not  place  one  of  the 
bells  belonging  to  the  old  ring— which  they  probably  would  have  done  had 
one  been  in  a  sound  condition — but  a  new  one,  which  was  inscribed  : — 

Henry  Russell  of  Wootton  made  me  1714- 

This  single  bell,  which  weighed  5  cwt.  i  qr.  6  lb.,  was  the  only  bell  hanging 
here  from  the  time  of  the  loss  of  the  ancient  ring  until— a  new  tower  having 


*  Notes  and  Queries,  i  S.  xii.  60. 


124 


The  Insc7'iptions  on  tJie 


been  built  at  the  cost  of  the  widow  of  the  late  S.  Bedford  Edwards,  Esq. — the 
present  bells  were  hung  in  the  year  1877.  They  were  purchased  by  subscrip- 
tion, and  cost  ;^48o.  The  new  ring  was  opened  by  six  members  of  the  ancient 
Society  of  College  Youths,  on  the  27th  of  June,  1877,  on  which  occasion  the 
new  tower  was  also  consecrated  by  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Ely. 

Mr.  Curtis,  to  whose  memory  the  tenor  bell  was  given,  was  patron  of  the 
living.  The  arms  under  the  inscription  are  those  of  the  donor — the  present 
vicar — three  Catherine  wheels  in  a  bordure  engrailed. 


ASPLEY   GUISE. 


S.  BOTOLPH. 


6  Bells. 


-5.     JOHN  TAYLOR  &  CO.  BELLFOUNDERS  LOUGHBOROUGH 
1883. 

TO  THE  GLORY  OF  GOD.  J.  C.  MALTBY  M.A.  RECTOR 
G.  A.  D.  MAHON.  W.  SMITH  CHURCHWARDENS 
APRIL  1883.  JOHN  TAYLOR  &  CO.  BELLFOUNDERS 
LOUGHBOROUGH. 


The  weights  of  these  Bells  are  : — 

cwt. 

qr. 

lb. 

I, 

3 

0 

0 

2, 

3 

3 

1 1 

3- 

4 

2 

27 

4- 

5 

2 

9 

5- 

7 

0 

I 

6. 

10 

0 

II 

Total 

34 

I 

3 

The  previous  ring  consisted  of  four  bells  only,  which  were  inscribed  : — 

1.  Thomas  Russell  of  Wootton  [made]  mee  17 15. 

(Weight,  4  cwt.  I  qr.  18  lb.) 

2.  Who  made  thee  Chandler  made  me  1654. 

(Weight,  5  cwt.  3  qr.  o  lb.) 


Church  Dells  of  Bedfordshire.  125 

3.  G.  Mears  &  Co.  Founders  London  iS6r. 

(Weight,  6  cwt.  3  qr.  23  lb.) 

4.  C.  &  G.  Mears  founders  London  1S50. 

(Weight,  7  cwt.  I  qr.  15  lb.) 

These  four  bells  were,  to  use  a  ringer's  report,  "  a  bad  lot,  both  as  regards 
gear  and  tone ;  they  are  not  of  one  family"  The  previous  3rd  bell  was 
cracked,  and  so  had  to  be  recast  in  the  year  1861  ;  and  the  previous  tenor  fell 
out  of  the  gudgeons  and  was  cracked,  when  one  "  Will  Brown  "  was  ringing 
the  Sermon-bell  on  a  Sunday  morning.  It  had  a  narrow  escape  of  being  again 
broken  on  its  return  from  the  founders,  for,  the  task  of  rehanging  it  being 
entrusted  to  John  Hewlatt,  of  Aspley,  and  he  attempting  to  raise  it  by  a  rope 
too  weak  for  the  purpose,  the  bell  fell  upon  the  stone  floor  when  above  fifteen 
feet  high.  Fortunately  only  a  small  piece  was  chipped  off,  the  sound  not  being 
materially  altered. 

The  new  bells  were  dedicated  by  a  special  service  on  Tuesday,  29th  of  May, 
1883.     There  are  some  useful  rules  for  the  guidance  of  the  ringers. 


ASPLEY   GUISE   [District  Church]. 

This  modern  District  Church  has  one  small  bell,  cast  by  Messrs.  Mears  and 
Stainbank  in  1S68. 


ASTVVICK. 

S.  GuTHLAC.  I  Bell. 

The  single  bell  here  (which  is  traditionally  believed  to  have  been  stolen 
from  Stotfold)  is  so  difficult  of  access  that  I  am  reluctantly  compelled  to  leave 
it  undescribed. 

BARFORD   GREAT. 

All  Saints.  5  Bells. 

[^39]-  .    , 

(Diam.  32;l-  in.,  height  27  in.) 


126  The  Inscriptions  on  the 

a.     DANIEL  GOVLDSMITH.    CLERICVS.     GVLIELMVS  CARTER. 
GEN.   1636  [U  39]- 

(Diam.  33J  in.,  height  26  in.) 

3.  GVLIELMVS    CLARKE    ET    GEORGIVS    FLAVEL    GARDIANI 

1636  [U39]- 

(Diam.  35^  in.,  height  28|  in.) 

4.  IH'a    :    NAZARENVS     :    REX    JVDEORVM    :    FILI     :    DEI    '• 

MISERERE  :  MEI  :  1636  [U  39]. 

(Diam.  39I  in.,  height  31  in.) 

(Diam.  43^  in.,  height  34  in.) 

For  the  Stamp  on  these  bells  see  p.  60.  For  letters  used  on  ist  and  5th,  see 
p.  59,  for  those  on  4th,  see  p.  63. 

This  is  a  fine  ring  of  uniform  bells  from  the  foundry  of  Hugh  Watts,  of 
Leicester. 

The  Parish  Register  tells  us  that  "  Daniel  Gouldsmyth  [see  2nd  bell]  was 
endowed  with  the  Vicarage  of  Barford  in  the  yeare  of  our  Lord  1635."  He 
signs  the  Register  until  the  year  1644,  when  the  writing  changes,  and  the 
entries  are  made  in  English.     There  is  no  entry  of  his  burial. 

We  also  learn  from  the  Register  that  William  Carter  [see  2nd  bell]  was 
churchwarden  in  1633  and  1634.  After  the  entries  of  the  baptism  of  three 
children  (1630,  1632,  1634),  we  find  that  of  his  daughter  Elizabeth  on  the 
3rd  of  September,  1637,  and  six  days  after  (9th  of  September)  the  record  of 
the  burial  of  his  first  wife,  Anna,  "  pulcherrima,  amantissima,  suavissima." 
He  himself  was  buried  on  the  5th  of  September,  1644.* 


BARFORD    LITTLE. 

S.  Denys  or  S.  Mary.  4  Bells. 

I.     RICHARD  CHANDLER  MADE  ME  16S1. 

(Diam.  26^  in.,  height  igi  in.) 


*  For  lliese  notes  from  the  Registers  I  am  indebted  to  the  Rev.  C.  Greene. 


Chiii'ch  Bells  of  Bedfordshire.  i  2  7 

2.  CHRISTOPHER  GRAVE  MADE  ME  1661. 

(Diam.  27^  in.,  height  20  in.) 

3.  Blank. 

(Diam.  29  in.,  height  21  in.) 

4.  JOHN     GAMBLE    MINISTER.        EDWARD    PECK    CHURCH- 

WARDEN 1759. 

(Diam.  30}  in.,  height  24  in.) 

The  Rev.  John  Gamble  (see  tenor  bell)  was  inducted  to  this  benefice  in 
March,  1733,  and  died  in  1763. 


BARTON-LE-CLAY. 

S.  Nicolas.  S  Bells. 

I,  2,  3.  [  +  I  ]  BE  .  YT  .  KNOWNE  .  TO  .  ALL  .  THAT  .  DOTH  . 
ME  SEE  .  THAT  .  NEWCOMBE  .  OF  .  LEICESTER  . 
MADE   .    MEE   .    1604. 

(i.  Diam.  34  in.,  height  27  in. 

2.  Diam.  36^  in.,  height  27  in. 

3.  Diam.  39  in.,  height  31  in.) 

4.  +  RUSSELL  OF  WOOTON  MADE  ME  1743  +  ROBERT  HURST 

AND   RICHARD  CROUCH   CHURCHWARDENS. 
(Diameter  42^  in.,  height  33  in.) 

5.  JOHN  HALE  RICHARD  CROVCH  C.  W.  1622. 

(Diam.  47  in.,  height  34  in.) 

For  Stamp  on  ist  see  p.  41- 


BATTLESDEN. 

S.  Peter  and  All  Saints.  3  Bells. 

t.     Blank. 

(Diam.  29 J  in.,  height  22  in.,  cracked.) 


128  Tlie  Inscriptions  on  the 

2.  THOMAS  MEARS  OF  LONDON  FECIT  1813. 

(Diam.  31  in,,  heigh*  23  in.) 

3.  Blank. 

(Diam.  33  in.,  height  29^  in.) 

In  1552  "  Batelysdene  "  possessed  "  Item  ij  hanbelles  Item  in  the  stepuU  of 
the  scid  churche  iij  Belles."* 

The  treble  bell,  being  cracked,  is  not  now  used. 

Close  to  the  church  is  Battlesden  House,  a  handsome  modern  structure, 
built  upon  the  site  of  a  previous  mansion,  formerly  the  residence  of  Sir 
Saunders  Duncombe,  and  subsequently  of  Lord  Bathurst.  Here  is  a  clock 
which  strikes  upon  a  bell  which  belonged  to  the  former  house.  The  bell, 
which  hangs  on  the  roof  of  the  house,  is  in  ringable  order,  having  a  wheel, 
rope,  etc.     It  is  inscribed : — 

ANTHONY  BARTLETT  MADE  MEE  1674. 

(Diam.  21  in.,  height  18  in.) 

and  bears  the  founder's  stamp  of  Thomas  Bartlett. 


BEDFORD. 

S.  Paul.  8  Bells. 

I.     MEARS  &  STAINBANK.     FOUNDERS.     LONDON. 
MICHAEL  FERRABEE  SADEL,  RVICAR. 

JOHN  MASON  CUTHBERT^(.j^uRCHWARDENS.  1868. 
JOHN  TRAPP  I 

(Diam.  31  in.,  height  24  in.) 

2,4.     THOMAS  LESTER  MADE  ME  1744. 

(Diams.  31^  and  37  in.,  heights  26  and  30^  in.) 

3.     MEARS  &  STAINBANK.     FOUNDERS.     LONDON. 

(Diam.  37  in.,  height  26  in.) 


*  Land  Revenue  Records,  Bundle  1 392,  File  2,  P.R.  Off. 


CJi  u  rch  Bells  of  Dedfo  rdsh  ire .  129 

5.  BY  A  SUDDEN  FALL  MY  SUBSCRIBERS  DID  SUPPRISE  BUT 

NOW  AM   COME  TO    PLEASE   THEIR    LISENLNG    EARS 
AND  EYES.     T.  L.   1744. 

(Diam.  42  in.,  height  34  in.) 

6.  THOS.  LESTER  MADE  ME. 

(Diam.  45  in.,  height  35  in.) 

7.  THQS    LESTER  OF  LONDON  MADE  ME  1744. 

(Diam.  49  in.,  height  35  in.) 

8.  JOHN     RUSSELL     MAYOR.       THOMA^     RICHARDS      JAMES 

BRADLEY  CHURCHWARDENS  1744.     THOMAS  LESTER 
OF  LONDON  MADE  US  ALL. 

(Diam.  52  in.,  height  41  in.,  weight  27  cwt.) 

Prior  to  1744  there  were  five  bells  only. 

The  ring  of  eight  bells  was  opened  in  the  spring  of  1745,  as  is  shown  by 
the  following  extract  from  the  minutes  of  a  meeting  of  the  Common  Council 
held  on  the  19th  of  April  in  that  year : — 

"  It  is  voted  ordered  and  agreed  unto  at  this  Court  of  Common  Council 
That  the  Chamberlains  of  this  Corporation  shall  pay  amongst  eight 
men  that  shall  come  from  Saint  Michael,  Cornhill,  London,  the  sum 
of  six  guineas  for  their  trouble  in  ringing  the  new  Peal  of  Eight 
Bells  which  are  hung  up  in  the  steeple  of  the  Parish  Church  of  Saint 
Paul  in  this  Town." 
The  treble  has  been  an  unfortunate  bell :  it  was  cast  with  the  others  in  1744, 
and  inscribed  : — 

"  At   proper    times  my  Voice   I'll  raise  and   sound   to   my  subscribers 
praise  1744.     Thomas  Lester  made  me," 
cracked,  and  recast  by  Lester  and  Chapman  in  1755,  and  again  cracked,  and 
recast,  as  above,  in  1868. 

The  old  chimes  here  having  been  long  silent,  a  new  machine  was  erected 
by  Messrs.  Gillett  and  Bland  in  1879,  through  the  exertions  of  Mr.  Elger.  It 
consists  of  two  barrels,  each  playing  seven  tunes — three  sacred  and  four 
secular.  The  new  carillon  machine  was  opened  with  a  religious  service  on 
New  Year's  Day,  18S0.  The  following  inscription,  engraved  on  a  plate,  records 
this  acceptable  addition  to  the  belfry : — 

"  The  purchase  by  public  subscription,  and  the  erection  of  these  chimes 
in  this  Tower  of  the  Parish  Church  of  Saint  Paul,  Bedford,  were 
S 


1 30  The  Inscriptions  on  the 

originated   by   Thomas   Gwyn    Empy    Elger,    Esquire,   during    his 
Mayoralty  in  the  year  of  Our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  1879." 
The  Rev.  M.  F.  Sadler  (see  ist  bell)  resigned  on  the  13th  of  March,  1870. 

BEDFORD. 

S.  Peter.  5  Bells  and  a  Clock  Bell. 

1.  TV    INTONAS    DE    CGELIS.      VOX    CAMPAN^    MICHAELIS 

ITERVM  FVS.^.  A.D.  MDCCCXXV.  PHILIPPO  HVNT. 
LLD.  ECCL.  DIV.  PETRI  RECTORE  GVLIELMO  BROWN 
THOMA  SMALL  ^DITVIS. 

(Diam.  24  in.,  height  21  in.) 

2.  ooD  svAa  THa  :hii\[g  oso. 

(Diam.  24  in.,  height  22^  in.,  piece  cut  out,  originally  cracked). 

3-  M-i^mi^m  ^^.(srm^is^  i^m:M<^  1609  [U39]. 

(Diam.  26  in.,  height  2i|  in.) 

4.  HOC  SIGNUM  PETRI  PVLSATVR  NOMINE  CHRTSTI  FVSVM. 

A.D.  MDCCCXXV.  GVLIELMO  BROWN.  THOMA  SMALL 
^DITVIS  PHILIPPO  HVNT.  LLD.  ECCL.  D.  PETRI. 
RECTORE. 

(Diam.  30  in.,  height  23  in.) 

5.  THOMAS      GROVES     AND     JOHN      LANGFORD      CHVRCH- 

WARDENS.  THOMAS  RVSSELL  OF  WOOTTON  MADE 
ME   1733. 

(Diam.  32-I-  in.,  height  24  in.) 

Clock  Bell : — 

RIC.  CHANDLER  MADE  ME  1701. 

(Diam.  i6|  in.,  unhung,  no  clapper). 

For  Stamp,  see  p.  60.     For  specimens  of  letters  used  on  3rd,  see  p.  59. 

The  Rev.  Philip  Hunt  (see  ist  and  4th  bells)  was  presented  to  the  living  in 
1799,  and  died  in  1S35. 

The  inscription  on  the  second  bell  is  curious  and  noteworthy.  The  Common- 
wealth was  declared  on  the  19th  of  IMay,  1649,  but  here  we  have  a  bell  cast 
in  the  following  year  bearing  the  loyal  inscription,  '  God  save  the  King.' 

The  letters  are  placed,  many  of  them,  upside  down,  and  it  has  been  sug- 
gested that  the  Royalist  founder  so  placed  them  in  order  that  the  ignorant 
might  not  readily  read  the  inscription,  and  so  not  notice  the  expression  of  his 


Church  Bells  of  Bedfordshire.  131 

sentiments.  Such  blunders,  however,  are  not  uncommon  on  bells  (Elstow, 
4th  bell,  and  Old  Warden  2nd,  both  in  this  county,  are  examples).  Probably 
the  casting  of  the  bell  was  so  near  to  the  declaration  of  the  Commonwealth, 
and  the  state  of  public  opinion  was  still  so  unsettled,  that  the  founder  ventured 
on  one  of  his  old  and  favourite  inscriptions. 

The  small  bell  was  formerly  used  as  a  clock-bell,  and  now  shows  the  hammer- 
marks  on  the  outside.  It  probably  hung  in  a  small  bell  turret,  which  was 
formerly  on  the  top  of  the  tower. 

BEDFORD. 

S.  Mary.  6  Bells  and  a  Priest's  Bell. 

1.  t  J  :  EAYRE.     S'l"  NEOTS  O  1748   -^  +  J  :  ACHURCH.     BROM- 

SALL.     C.W. 

(Diam.  24  in.,  height  21  in.) 

2.  RICHARD  CHANDLER  MADE  ME  1682. 

(Diam.  24  in.,  height  21  in.) 

3.  NEWCOMBE  OF  LEICESTER  MADE  MEE  1604. 

(Diam.  25  in.,  height  20  in.) 

4.  [Ui7-     U  19-     U  18  O  U  14-     U20.  ] 

(Diam.  27  in.,  height  21  in.) 

5.  RICHARD  CHANDLER  MADE  ME.   1682. 

(Diam.  30^-  in.,  height  23  in.) 

6.  .ii:B<3r:E)©-  :^<^jj^i\^  jh^jxms^  1609  [U39]- 

(Diam.  30  in.,  height  24  in.) 
Priest's  Bell : — 

1750- 
(Diam.  13  in.) 

For  Stamps,  see  pp.  50,  5 1  and  60,  and  for  letters  used  on  6th  bell,  sec  p.  59. 

BEDFORD. 

S.  John  Baptist.  i  Bell. 

I.     T.  Mears  of  London  Fecit  1827. 

John  Green  Amos  )  ^ 

•'  V  Churchwardens. 

John  Woodward    J 

(Diam.  31  in.,  height  25  in.) 


132  The  Inscriptions  071  the 

It  is  said  that  the  present  bell  replaced  one  which  was  cracked  whilst  being 
rung — it  must  have  been  a  sorry  peal — for  Colonel  McQueen's  election  for 
the  county. 

BEDFORD. 

S.  CuTHBERT.  I  Bell. 

I.     T.  MEARS  OF  LONDON  FECIT  1831. 

(Diam.  24  in.) 


BEDFORD. 

Holy  Trinity.  i  Bell. 

I.     JOHN  TAYLOR,  BELLFOUNDER,  1840. 
GLORY  BE  TO  GOD  ON  HIGH. 

(Diam.  30  in.,  height  22  in.) 


BIDDENHAM. 

S.  James.  6  Bells. 

1.  BE  LIGHT  AND  GLAD  IN  GOD  REJOICE  EMMERTON  FECIT 

1787. 

(Diam.  29^  in.,  height  22  in.) 

2.  EMMERTON  CAST  THIS  PEAL  1787. 

(Diam.  30  in.,  height  24  in.) 

3.  EMMERTON  FECIT  1787. 

(Diam,  32  in.,  height  25  in.) 

4.  WILLIAM  EMMERTON  OF  WOOTTON  1787. 

(Diam.  33  J-  in.,  height  25 i  in.) 

5.  EMMERTON  FECIT  1787.     Five  old  Bells  cast  into  six  at  the 

EXPENCE  OF  Mr,  John  Brooks. 

(Diam.  37  in.,  height  27  in.) 
6      BLESSED  IS  THE  NAME   OF   THE  LORD      EMMERTON  OF 
WOOTTON  FECIT  1787. 

(Diam.  42  in.,  height  30  in.) 


Chirch  Bells  of  Bedfordshire.  133 

In  152 1  Isabella  Low  left,  by  her  will,  "  to  the  bellys  iiij</."  *  Captain  John 
Brooks,  R.N.  [see  5th  bell],  who  resided  in  this  parish,  expended  a  considerable 
sum  of  money  upon  the  bells  and  the  restoration  of  the  church.  He  died  in 
1793  at  his  brother's  house  in  London,  and  was  buried  at  Manningtree,  in 
Essex. 

Prior  to  1787  there  were  only  five  bells,  see  5th  bell. 

BIGGLESWADE. 

S.  Andrew.  5  Bells. 

1.  RVSSELL  MADE  ME  1721. 

(Diam.  30^  in.,  height  25^  in.) 

2.  RVSSELL  MADE  VS  1721. 

(Diam.  31^  in.,  height  26  in.) 

3.  THOMAS  RVSSELL  OF  WOOTTON  MADE  ME  1721. 

(Diam.  34^  in.,  height  28  in.) 

4.  THOMAS  RVSSELL  OF  WOOTTON  CAST  THIS  RING  1721. 

(Diam,  36  in.,  height  29  in.) 

5.  JOHN     LANCASTER     AND     GEORGE      COOPER      CHURCH- 

WARDENS.    R  :  TAYLOR.     S^"  NEOTS.    FECIT  1806. 
(Diam.  43  in.,  height  30  in.) 

BILLINGTON. 

?  I  Bei.l. 

The  single  bell  here — which  was  reached  with  great  difficulty — is  without 
inscription  or  stamp  of  any  kind :  it  is  23  inches  in  diameter.  It  formerly 
hung  in  a  wooden  belfry,  which  was  removed  about  the  year  i860,  and  replaced 
by  the  present  stone  turret,  which  was  brought  from  the  old  church  of  Linslade 
in  Buckinghamshire. 

BLETSOE. 
S.  Mary.  5  Bells. 

I.     I  MEAN  TO  MAKE  IT  UNDERSTOOD  THAT  TIIO'  I'M  LITTLE 
YET  I'M  GOOD. 
R  :  TAYLOR  S'r  NEOTS  FECIT  17S6. 

(Diam.  32^  in.,  height  24  in.) 

•  Mr.  Ilcrvcy's  WilUy  Ihmdicd,  p.  19. 


134  1^^^  Inscriptions  on  the 

2.  WHILST  THUS  WE  JOIN  IN  CHEERFULL  SOUND  LET  LOVE 

AND  LOYALTY  ABOUND. 
R.  TAYLOR  Si'  NEOTS  FECIT.     1786. 

(Diam.  34^  in.,  height  25^  in.) 

3.  YE  PEOPLE  ALL  THAT  HEAR  US  RING  BE  FAITHFULL  TO 

YOUR  GOD  AND  KING. 
R  :  TAYLOR  St  NEOTS  FECI  APRL  4  1786. 
(Diam.  35  in.,  height  27  in.) 

4.  I  TO  THE  POOR  AND  NEEDY  AM  A  FRIEND  :  FOR  WHOSE 

RELIEF  I  CALL  YOU  TO  ATTEND  :  J  :  COLES  &  N  :  KING 
C  :  WARDENS     R  :  TAYLOR.     FECIT  :  1786. 
(Diam.  38  in.,  height  27I  in.) 

5.  I  TO  THE  CHURCH  THE  LIVING  CALL  AND  TO  THE  GRAVE 

DO   SUMMON  ALL.     JOHN   COLES  &  NICHOLAS    KING 
CHURCHWARDENS.     R.  TAYLOR  S^'  NEOTS  FECIT. 
(Diam.  42  in.,  height  30  in.) 


BLUNHAM. 

S.  Edmund.  5  Bells. 

1.  HONORABILI   VIRO    DOMINO    HENRIC.    GRAVE    MARIQUE 

UXORI   EJUS  BENE  PRECATUR  ARTIFEX  1580  RECAST 
1752.     J  :  SELLIS,  M  :  TATMAN  C.W. 

(Diam.  35  in.,  height  28|  in.) 

2.  BE  YT  KNOWNE  TO  ALL  THAT  DOTH  ME  SEE  THAT  NEW- 

COME  OF  LEICESTER  MADE  MEE  1602. 
(Diam.  36  in.,  height  29  in.) 

3.  [  +  i]  BE  YT  KNOWNE  TO  ALL  THAT  DOTH  ME  SEE  THAT 

NEWCOME  OF  LEICESTER  MADE  MEE  ANNO  DOMINO 
1602. 

(Diam.  40  in.,  height,  30  in.) 

4   Msnm^^  :H(3:KUi  :xii(j^:nio^  c^^HvI?  1609 
[U39]. 

(Diam.  42  in.,  height  2,2)  in.) 


Church  Bells  of  Bedfordshv'e.  135 

5.     JOHN  SELIJS,   JUNER.   AND  WILLIAM  TATMAN  CHURCH- 
WARDENS 1740. 

JOHN  SELLIS  AND 

,c  T.  ,  CHURCHWARDENS  1741 

Matthew  Tatman.  JuNTCR.    ^     '-'    ^  '^ 

R.  HANCOCKE  RECTOR  O  O  THOMAS  RUSSELL  OF  WOOT- 

TON  MADE  ME. 

(Diam.  47  in.,  height  36  in.) 

For  Stamps,  see  pp.  41  and  60  ;  and  for  specimens  of  letters  used  on  the 

4th  bell,  see  p.  59. 

The  Churchwardens'  Accounts  have  a  few  entries  relating  to  the  Bells  : — 

17 12     Paid  for  Bear  at  a  (iinerall  met'  when  we  Put  the 

Bell  to  mend  00     05     00 

1728     Paid  at  John  Gillbarts  for  bear  for  the  Ringers  King 

Georg  procleam"' 00     01     00 

Paid  for  bear  at  John  Gilbarts  for  the  Ringers  at 

King  georges  Crownation  00     02     06 

1742     July  3      Paid  M""  Rushill  for  Runing  the  gret  Bell       12       3       9 

Paid  Will.  Tatman  caring  the  licll    090 

1752     Paid  for  Runing  the  Bell   8     iS       o 

Paid  for  Caring  the  Bell     o       5       o 

Henry  Grey,  the  sixth  Earl  of  Kent  of  that  name  (see  1st  bell),  was  lord  of 

the  manor,  and  occasionally  resided  here.     He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Sir 

John  (or  Sir  George)  Cotton,  and  widow  of  Edward,  Earl  of  Derby.     Dying 

in  16 14-15,  he  was  buried  in  an  aisle  of  the  church  of  Flitton  in  this  county, 

erected  by  him  in  1605,  where  is  a  monument,  with  effigies,  to  the  memory  of 

himself  and  his  Countess.     She,  who  died  in  15  So,  was,  however,  not  buried 

there,  but  at  Great  Gaddesden. 

BOLNHURST. 

S.  DuNSTAN.  4  Bells. 

1.  Blank. 

(Diam.  28  in.,  height  21!  in.) 

2,  3-     Joll"  %  ^^^^  %  ^^^^^^  $  «^c  $  15S7. 

(Diams.  2 9 J,  and  32 \  in.,  heights  23  and  25  in.) 
4.     PRAISE  YE  TPIE  LORD  AO   1618. 

(Diam.  36  in.,  height  26  in.) 


136  The  Inscriptions  on  the 


BROMHAM. 
S.  Owen  [or  S.  Andrew].  6  Bells. 

1.  +  THOMAS     RVSSELL    OF     BIDDENHAM     AND     WILLIAM 

RVSSELL  OF  WOOTTON  MADE  ME  IN   1739  O  O. 
(Diam.  35  in.,  height  26  in.) 

2.  R.  TAYLOR  &  SONS  FOUNDERS  MDCCCXXVL 

(Diam.  39  in.,  height  28  in.) 

3.  CHANDLER  MADE  ME   1686.     GVLIELMVS  TVCKER,  VIC. 

(Diam.  40  in.,  height  29  in.) 

4.  GIVEN    BY   THOMAS   LORD   TREVOR   IN   THE   YEAR    1739. 

THOMAS    RVSSELL    OF    BIDDENHAM    AND    WILLIAM 
RVSSELL  OF  WOOTON  MADE  ME. 
(Diam.  41  in.,  height  30  in.) 

5.  C.  &  G.  MEARS  FOUNDERS  LONDON    1859. 

(Diam.  42  in.,  height  31  in.) 

6.  CHANDLER  MADE  ME  1686  L0D0VICV5  DYVE  ARMIG. 

M  D  {tJiese  two  letters  are  incised.) 
(Diam.  43  in.,  height  35  in.) 
The  family  of  Dyve  (see  6th  bell)  acquired  the  estate  at  Bromham  by 
marriage  from  that  of  Wylde.  Sir  John  Dyve,  who  died  in  1608,  left  one 
surviving  child.  Sir  Lewis  Dyve,  who,  dying  in  1669,  left  three  sons  ;  the  eldest. 
Francis,  died  without  issue  in  1685,  leaving  his  next  brother,  Lewis — whose 
name  is  on  the  tenor  bell — his  heir.  He  probably  was  a  benefactor  to,  or  was 
the  donor  of,  the  bell  on  his  accession  to  the  property.  He  died  shortly  after- 
wards, on  the  ist  January,  1686-7,  ^"d  was  buried  at  Bromham,  where  the 
tombstone  records  his  decease  : — 

Here  lyeth  interred  y^  body  of  Cap'.  Lewis  Dyve  y^  son  of  Sir  Lewis 
Dyve  who  departed  this  life  the  j^' of  Jan  :  1686  at  his  house  at 
Brumham  in  the  County  of  Bedford,  in  y^  46'^  year  of  his  age. 

He  left  one  son,  Lewis,  and  two  daughters.  This  Lewis,  who  appears  from 
the  Parish  Register  of  Bromham  to  have  been  living  there  from  1700  to  1708, 
sold  the  family  estate  to  Sir  Thomas  Trevor  about  the  latter  year.    Sir  Thomas 


Church  Dells  of  Bedfordshire.  137 

Trevor  was,  in  171 1,  created  a  peer  by  the  title  of  Baron  Trevor  of  Bromham, 
and,  dying  on  the  ist  July,  1730,  was  succeeded  by  the  donor  of  the  4th  bell.* 

The  Rev.  William  Tucker  (see  3rd  bell)  was  inducted  2nd  July,  16S4,  and 
resigned  in  i688.t 

The  bells  were  re-opened,  after  being  newly  hung,  on  14th  December,  18S1. 

CADDINGTON. 

All  Saints.  6  Bells. 

1.  JOHN     TAYLOR     AND     CO.    FOUNDERS     LOUGHBOROUGH 

MDCCCLXXXL 

(Diam.  26|  in.,  weight  4  cwt.  i  qr.  o  lb.) 

2.  Dan  .  Gazlev  &  John  Aslin.  Chapman  &  Mears  of  London  Fecerunt 

1782. 

(Diam.  29  in.,  height  23  in.) 

3.  John   Adams  &   Rob^.  Stockley.     Chapman  &   Mears  of   London 

Fecerunt  1782. 

(Diam.  30  in.,  height  24  in.) 

4.  John  Smith  Francis  Smart  Church  Wardens  1809. 
Thomas  Mears  &  Son  of  London  Fecit. 

(Diam.  35  in.,  height  29  in.) 

5.  Chapman  &  Mears  of  London  Fecerunt  1782. 

(Diam.  34  in.,  height  27  in.) 

6.  John  Smith  Francis  Smart  Church  Wardens    T  Mears  of  London 

Fecit  18 19. 

(Diam.  38  in.,  height  30  in.) 

The  treble  bell  was  previously  inscribed  : — 

Tho\  Byrchman  Jun^     Chapman  &  Mears  of  London  Fecerunt  1782. 
On  the  bell-frame  is  cut  : — 

O  THOMAS   O    HALLSEY 

EDWARD  AYDEL— CHVRCH   WARDENE 

lOHN  TOMES  BELL  HANGER. 

The  Churchwardens*  Accounts  show  that  ^'87  was  expended  in  17S2,  and 
;^3i  9^.  (id.  in  1809,  about  the  bells. 

•  See  Gcnl.  Mat;.  XCI.X.  (1S29),  pp.  20,  124,  202,  J2I. 
t  Mr,  llervcy's  IVillcy  IJunJrcJ,  p.  39. 


1^8  The  Inscriptions  on  the 

The  bells  here  have  been  "  clocked  " — not  rung — for  some  years  past.  Now 
the  treble  is  recast  it  is  hoped  that  a  practice  so  dangerous  to  the  bells  will  be 
abandoned. 

CAMPTON. 

All  Saints.  4  Bells. 

1.  R  C.     1700. 

(Diam.  28  in.,  height  19  in.) 

2.  Hanctl  ^^yx\t  Oca  ^^pxx^  :m0&ts  [  +  3  U  2  ]. 

(Diam.  29^  in.,  height  23  in.) 

3.  Hancfe  .^ninrcB  CDra  ^xxi  ^Illwbls  [  +  4  u  2  ]. 

(Diam.  32 1  in.,  height  25  in.) 

4.  :]p:mji^H©-  wm^  ^i^o^xm^  1603  [u  39]. 

(Diam.  35  in.,  height  27  in.) 
For  Stamps,  see  pp.  43,  45  and  60.     The  initials  on  the  ist  are  those  of 
the  founder — Richard  Chandler.  The  capitals  on  the  2nd  and  3rd  are  crowned. 
For  specimens  of  the  letters  on  the  4th,  see  p.  59. 

CARDINGTON. 

S.  Mary.  8  Bells. 

1.  GLORIA  DEO   IN    EXCELCIS  EX    DONO  SAMS    WHITBREAD 

EDWD  ARNOLD  ST  NEOTS  AND  LEICESTER  FECIT. 
(Diam.  30  in.,  height  25  in.) 

2.  EX  DONO  SAMS  WHITBREAD  ARMIG.  JAN.  XVIII.  MDCCLXXV 

^TAT  XXL 
EDWD  ARNOLD  ST  NEOTS  AND  LEICESTER  FECIT. 
(Diam.  31^  in.,  height  25  in.) 

3.  Samuel  WHITBREAD  of  Cardington  Esq'*  gave  this  bell  Anno  1772 

Pack  and  Chapman  of  London  Fecit.     6.2.0. 
(Diam.  32  in.,  height  25  in.) 

4.  Whilst  thus  we  Join  in  Cheerfull  Sound  may  Love  and  Loyalty 

ABOUND.     Pack  and  Chapman  London  Fecit  1772.     7.2.4. 
(Diam.  34  in.,  height  27  in.) 

5.  Pe.\ce  and  Good  Neighbourhood     Pack  and  Chapman  of  London 

Fecit  1772.     9.1.18. 

(Diam.  i^  in.,  height  28  in.) 


Church  Dells  of  Bedfordshire.  139 

6.  Ye  Ringers  All  That  Prize  Your  Health  and  Happiness  Be  Sober 

Merry  Wise  and  You'll  the  same  Possess    Pack  and  Chapman 
OF  London  1772. 

(Diam.  39  in.,  height  30  in.) 

7.  In  Wedlock  all  Ye  Who  Join  With  Hands  Your  Hearts  Unite  So 

Shall  our  Tunefull  Tongues  Combine  to  Laud  the  Nuptial 
Rite    Pack  and  Chapman  of  London  Fecit  1772.     13  .  3  .  13. 
(Diam.  43  in.,  height  31  in.) 

8.  Rev"^  In"  Pemberton  Vicar  Tho^  Pack  and  Richard  Steven*  C" 

Wardens  Jn"  Howard  Esq"  Jn"  Nesbii-t  Esq«  Sam'-  Whithread 
Esq"  Jn-^  Peck  Esq"^  Jon'^  Cranfield  Tho^  Wilson  Edmond  and 
Mathew  Morgan  In^  Hickman  Allen  Brown  Parish  Clerk 
Pack  and  Chapman  of  London  Fecit  1772.     20  .  i  .  12. 
(Diam.  46  in.,  height  36  in.) 

Prior  to  1775,  when  the  present  ist  and  2nd  bells  were  given,  there  were  six 
bells  only. 

The  Whitbread  family  settled  here  about  the  year  1650.*  Mr.  Samuel 
Whitbread,  the  donor  of  the  3rd  bell — who  was  born  at  Cardington  on  the 
20th  August,  1720 — purchased  the  manor  of  the  representatives  of  George 
Blundell,  Esq.  He  died  on  the  nth  June,  1796,  at  Bedwell  Park,  Hertford- 
shire :  a  fine  monument  is  placed  in  the  church  here  to  his  memory.  He  was 
succeeded  by  his  only  son,  the  Samuel  Whitbread,  Esq.,  who  gave  the  2nd 
bell,  and  probably  the  treble  also,  on  attaining  his  majority  in  the  year  1775. 

The  Rev.  John  Pemberton — see  tenor  bell — died  in  1776,  and  was  buried 
here. 

Amongst  the  names  of  benefactors  on  that  bell  is  that  of  John  Howard,  the 
philanthropist.  He  purchased  an  estate  here  after  the  death  of  his  second 
wife  in  1765,  adjoining  that  of  his  relative,  Mr.  Whitbread.  He,  as  is  well- 
known,  died  at  Cherson,  from  fever,  in  1790.  By  his  will  he  desired  that  "  a 
plain  slip  of  marble  may  be  placed  under  that  of  my  late  wife,  containing  an 
inscription  of  my  name  and  the  year  that  I  died,  with  this  motto — Spcs 
mea  Christus."  In  accordance  with  this  wish,  there  apjiears  at  the  base  of  a 
tablet  in  the  church  here  to  the  memory  of  his  wife  and  of  his  only  son  these 
words  : — 

*  Lyson's  Mcj^-  Brit.  Vol.  I.  p.  65  ;  sec  also  Gent.  Mag.  LXVI,  ]i.  531,  ami  LXXI.  p.  615. 


140  The  Inscriptions  on  the 

JOHN    HOWARD 

Died  at  Cherson  in  Russian  Tartary 

January  21^',  1790  aged  64 

"  Christ  is  my  Hope." 

The  house  once  belonging  to  and  occupied  by  John  Howard,  still  stands 

close  to  the  church,  and  is  now  in  the  occupation  of  General  Mills. 

CARLTON. 

S.  Mary.  4  Bells. 

I.  w^M.'^B^  WMm  :Ei©:i3i:E)er  1602  [  u  39-] 

(Diam.  29  in.,  height  24  in.) 
2.     JOHN   TAYLER    &   Co  FOUNDERS    LOUGHBOROUGH    1868. 
W.  S.  ESCOTT  RECTOR  I.    EYLES  H  :>IEEP,  C.W.    GLORY 
TO  GOD  COME  UNTO  ME. 

(Diam.  32  in.,  height  23  in.) 

3-  [+32  ]•  .^  mt^m^wMm  [u  zz\. 

(Diam.  36  in.,  height  28  in.) 

4-    3Ett  X3Q,uHt0  J5.nnt!5   ^cs^nef   ©"ampana   Jxjftannla  [  n  23 

U  24  ]  O  [  D  22  ]. 

(Diam.  38  in.,  height  30  in.) 
For  Stamps,  see  pp.  60,  56,  53  and  54.     For  specimens  of  letters  used  on 
the  ist  bell,  see  p.  59.     The  capitals  of  the  inscription  on  the  4th  bell  are 
crowned. 

The  Rev.  W.  S.  Escott  was  instituted  in  186 1,  resigned  in  1876. 

CHALGRAVE. 

All  Saints.  3  Bells. 

1.  Hancfc  :^Bi:0la5  CE)ra  ^Prrr  ^OiwMs  [Q  23.]  ©[022]. 

(Diam.  35  in.,  height  30  in.) 

2.  [  +  54.]     GOD   [D  58]  SAVE  [DSS]  OVR  [058]  KI>1G   1623. 

(Diam.  37  in.,  height  30  in.) 

3.  WILLIAM  EMERTON  OF  WOOTTON  FECIT  1775. 

William  Willison  )  ^ 

William  Shaw        |  Churchwardens. 

(Diam.  42  in.,  height  34  in.) 
For  Stamps,  see  pp.  53,  75  and  76.     The  capitals  of  the  inscription  on  the 
ist  bell  are  crowned. 


Church  Bells  of  Bedfordshire.  1 4 1 

These  bells  are  in  a  sad  state  of  disorder ;  the  clapper  of  the  tenor  bell  is 
out,  and  now  (1881)  lies  at  the  back  door  of  the  cottage  of  the  woman  who 
cleans  the  church.  The  bell-chamber,  and  indeed  the  whole  tower,  is  in  a  very 
dilapidated  condition  ;  the  bells  have  not  been  rung — only  tolled  by  "  clock- 
ing " — for  some  time,  and  rubbings  of  the  inscriptions  were  obtained  witli 
great  difficulty  and  some  danger. 

CHELLINGTON. 

S.  Nicholas.  4  Bells. 

1.  W.   ATTON  &  SON  MADE  >  ME  ->  1654. 

(Diam.  28  in.,  height  23  in.) 

2.  [+56]  PRAY  .  E  YE  THE  LORD  1630. 

(Diam.  29  in.,  height  24  in.) 

3.  W  ATTON    [+52]    MADE    [+  52]    MEE    [+52]   1611   [+  52] 

ROBERT  ATTON. 

(Diam.  31  in.,  height  24  in.) 

4.  .Sancfa  J^attrina  Ora  ;f>v0  ^>ubta  I   +  O 

(Diam.  33^  in.,  height  25  in.) 
For  Stamps,  see  pp.  75  and  73. 

These  bells  are  difficult  and  dangerous  of  access  ;  the  floor  of  the  bell- 
chamber  is  all  gone. 

CLAPHAM. 

5.  Thomas  A  Becket.  5  Bf.i.ls. 

1.  [+  59]  GOD  [n6o]  SAVE  THY  [n<5o]  CHURCH   1607. 

(Diam.  24^  in.,  height  18  in.) 

2.  [+  59  ]  GOD   [  n  60]  SAVE  THY  [  Q  60]  OHAHD  1607  [.?  Q'''^"'"]- 

(Diam.  26^  in.,  height  2ii  in.) 

3.  Jolitt  $  fetcr  $  matic  $  ntc  $ 

(Diam.  27^  in.,  height  20^  in.) 

4.  RICHARD  CHANDLER  MADE  ME  1685. 

(Diam.  29  in.,  height  24  in.) 

5.  CHRISTOPHER  GRAVE  MADE  ME  1662. 

(Diam.  32  in.,  height  24  in.) 
For  Stamps,  see  pp.  76  and  77. 


142  The  Inscriptions  on  the 

These  bells — which  were  rehung  in  1861 — are  not  rung,  in  consequence  of 
the  roof  of  the  tower  being  in  a  weak  state ;  repairs  have  lately  been  effected, 
but  more  remains  to  be  done. 

CLIFTON. 

All  Saints.  8  Bells  and  7  for  chimes. 

I,  2,  3,  5.     ROBERT  STAINBANK  FOUNDER  LONDON  1867. 

(Diams.  23^,  24,  26,  30^  in.) 
4.     T.  Mears  of  London  Fecit  1831. 

(Diam.  28  in.) 

6.  :oTr5i?[n38]^:Bi©-:Ei[n38]<3T©mH©-ii^  [038] 

j:m^  [038]  xii©-Tzsf^3E:K.  [038]  159°  ^^\o-^ 

3^-S[U39]- 

(Diam.  32^^-  in.,  height  25  in.) 

7.  :i^Q>wM  [038]  ^j^^s  [038]  toe-j>xj>x  [038]  OTr:Ei 

[038]  ©-^^me"  [038]  1590  :e.©  [U39]- 

(Diam.  35^-  in.,  height  27  in.) 

8.  \yy^yh:sh%m^^]ix  [d  38]  'vaMm^s>  [□  38]  xii,^:e)©- 

[038]  T^B  [038]    %^t    [038]  M-^Et^SKB  [038] 

:xs)CE)xaa©-';5ie-[U39]- 

(Diam.  38  in.,  height  29J  in.) 
Additional  Bells  for  Chirnes : — 
1-4.     Mears  &  Stainbank,  Founders,  London,  1869. 
(Diams.  17!,  18,  19,  20  in.) 

5, 6.   Hf0'B€KC  s€m3mBmmM  2£0BBt>€m  ara^EBOB  1867. 

(Diams.  2oh,  2iiin.) 
7.     In  memoriam  patris  optimi,  carissimi,  hanc  campanam,  cvm  decem 
ALUS    posvit    Henricvs    Hvgo    Miles    Mears    &    Stainbank 
founders,  London,  i86g. 

(Diam.  29I  in.) 
For  Stamps,  see  p.  60  ;  and  for  specimens  of  letters  on  6th,  7th  and  8th 
bells,  see  p.  59. 

Prior  to  1867  there  were  five  bells  only.  Before  two  of  those  were  recast 
the  whole  were,  without  doubt,  of  one  date — 1590 — and  bore  inscriptions  which, 
read  consecutively,  gave  a  jingling  rhyme  of  five  lines,  of  which  the  last  three 
are  now  on  the  sixth,  seventh  and  eighth  bells.  These  three  are  fine  bells,  and 
good  specimens  of  the  work  done  at  that  period  by  the  Watts  family.     The 


Church  Bells  of  Bedfordshire.  143 

letters  used  in  the  inscriptions  are  of  the  type  engraved,  as  Figs,  34-37  on 
p.  59  ;  the  use,  as  usual,  of  the  small  black  letter  tu  in  place  of  a  large  Ciothic 
capital,  which  those  founders  did  not  possess,  will  be  observed,  and  the  letter  S 
is  reversed.  The  inscription  on  the  tenor  is  incomplete,  the  date  of  the  year 
being  wanting. 

In  the  year  1867  one  of  the  five  bells  was  recast,  and  five  additional  bells 
were  added — one  to  the  ring,  thus  making  it  a  ring  of  six  bells,  and  four  were 
used  for  the  "  Cambridge  Quarters,"  which  were,  in  that  year,  added  to  the 
clock.  In  1869  the  five  additional  smaller  bells  were  added,  thus  making  in 
all  fifteen  bells ;  upon  the  ten  least  of  these  a  chiming  apparatus  with  two 
barrels,  erected  by  Messrs.  Gillett  and  Bland,  of  Croydon,  played  fourteen 
tunes — seven  by  each  barrel.  Two  of  these  smaller  bells  were  subsequently 
fitted  with  wheels,  etc.,  and  added  to  the  ringable  bells,  so  giving  a  ring  of 
eight  bells  as  at  present,  and  as  described  above.  The  chimes  are  not  now 
(1881)  in  working  order.  The  cost  of  these  extensive  works  in  connection 
with  the  bells  was  defrayed  by  the  present  Rector,  and  his  relatives,  in  memory 
of  his  father,  the  late  Henry  Miles,  Esq.,  of  Downfield,  Herefordshire,  who 
was  patron  of  the  living,  and  by  whom  the  church  was  restored  and  handsome 
school  buildings  erected. 

CLOPHILL. 
S.  Mary.  2  Beli.s. 

1.  EMMERTON  OF  WOOTTON  FECIT  1774. 

Thomas  Dunton  I  ^  ^  ^  /^  /^ 

c  r^  \  Churchwardens  O  O  O  O 

Samuel  Taylor    J  v>  v>  w  w 

(Diam.  34  in  ,  height  25  in.) 

2.  [+  54]  GOD  [DSS]  SAVE  [058]  OVR  [QsS]  KIZG   1623. 

(Diam.  39  in.,  height  29  in.) 
For  Stamps,  see  pp.  75  and  76. 

These  bells  were  removed  from  the  old  church  on  the  hill,  where  were  three 
bells. 

CLOPHILL  [ancient  church]. 
S.  Mary.  i  Belu 

There  were  three  bells  liere  :  two  were  removed  to  the  new  church  when  it 
was  erected,  and  one  remains  here,  and  is  used  as  a  funeral  bell :  it  was  the 
treble,  or  smallest  of  the  three,  and  is  simply  inscribed  : — 

R  C  R  C 

The  initials,  most  probably,  of  the  founder,  Richard  Chandler. 


(Diam.  30^  in.,  height  22^  in.) 


144  The  Inscriptions  on  the 

COLMWORTH. 
S.  Denis.  4  Bells. 

1.  R  C  4071. 

2.  R  .  C  1704. 

(Diam.  33I  in.,  height  25I  in.) 

3      [+  55  ]  GOD  SAVE  OVR  KING  [I  K  53]  1635. 
(Diam.  35  in.,  height  27  in.) 

4.     [+  56]  PRAYE  YE  THE  LORD  [I  K  53]  1635. 
(Diam.  38  in.,  height  29^  in.) 

For  Stamps,  see  p.  75. 

The  initials  on  the  ist  and  2nd  bells  are  those  of  the  founder,  Richard 
Chandler.  James  Keene,  the  founder  of  the  4th  bell,  appears  to  have  omitted 
the  letter  S  from  the  first  word  of  the  inscription,  which  he,  doubtless,  intended 
to  have  been  "  Prayse." 

COPLE. 

All  Saints.  5  Bells. 

1.  GOD  SAVE  OVR  KING  1628. 

(Diam.  29  in.,  height  23  in.) 

2.  Blank. 

(Diam.  29I  in.,  height  24  in.) 

3.  BELIEVE  BE  WISE  AND  RETURN  REMEMBER  TO  DIE  :  I  : 

EAYRE  S'.  NEOTS  FECIT  1762. 

(Diam.  2,Z  i^^o  height  26^  in.) 

4-  [+15]    ^HtiticUs  XHesuria    ^omcn    (3"ampana    XHuJiactga 

[U  14  U  16]. 

(Diam.  36  in.,  height  27  in.) 

5-  [+  55]  GOD  SAVE  OVR  KING  1624. 

(Diam.  36^-  in.,  height  28  in.) 

For  Stamps,  see  pp.  50  and  75. 

As  to  the  inscription  on  the  4th  bell,  the  Rev.  J.  T.  Fowler,  F.S.A.,  suggests 
that  as  it  stands  it  may  be,  "  Michael's  bell  is  '^my)  name,  (I  am)  true  in  (my) 
measures  "  (dimensions  or  tone) ;  but  that  something  seems  to  be  missing, 
and  "  Fydelis  "  clearly  ought  to  rhyme  with  "  Mykaelis." 


>  Churchwardens. 


CJmrch  Bells  of  Ihdfordshire.  145 

CRANFIELD. 

SS.  Peter  and  Paui-  5  Bells  and  a  Priest's  Bell. 

1.  [064]    JEFERY   [D  64]  ALDRIGE    [Q*]    THOMAS   [  D  64  ] 

FEILD  [D  64]    CHVRCHWARDENS    [D  64]    W  H    [D*] 

JOHN  [064]  HODSON  [064]  MADE  [Q*]  ME  [064] 

1663   [064]. 

Royal  X)  Arms. 

(Diam.  35  in.,  height  26  in.  *Fleur-de-lys). 

2,  3.     MEWCOME  OF  LEICESTER  MADE  ME  A"  161 1. 

(Diams.  36,  39  in.,  heights  26^,  28  in.     Cannons  ofi'3rd.) 

4.  T.  Mears  of  London  Fecit  1833. 
William  Faldor 
John  Langston 

(Diam.  42^  in.,  height,  29I  in.) 

5.  TAYLOR  .  FOUNDER  .  S^  NEOTS  1805  GEO.  DAVIES  RECTOR. 

JAMES  OSBORNE  &  W  FALDOR  CHURCHWARDENS. 
(Diam.  47  in.,  height  33^  in.) 
Pricsf  s  Bell  :— 

Blank. 

(Diam.  15!  in.,  height  10  in.) 
For  Stamps,  see  p.  81. 

The  Inventory  of  Goods  belonging  to  this  parish  in  1552  is  extant,  but  it  is 
much  mutilated ;  it,  however,  shows  the  following  as  to  the  bells  then 
existing  : — 

Church  iiij  belles  &  a  sane'  bell  the  wey 

second  xjc.  thyrd  xvc  the  fourth  x Church  .... 

of  latten  w'  iij  small  belles  ij  crosses  of 

lattcn  etc.* 
The  Rev.  George   Davies,  B.D.  (see  tenor),  died  22nd  August,  1S09,  aged 
Co  years. 

The  bells  here  are  good  and  in  good  condition. 

DEAN. 

All  Saints.  3  Bells. 

I.  :Bix3c©:Ei  \yi]^m^&B  xrii^x^e-  jcne"  1603  [  u  39  \ 

(Diam.  32^  in.,  height  24  in.) 


♦  Latid  Revemu  Records.     Bundle  1392,  File  2.     P.  R.  Off. 


1 46  7  he   Inscriptions  on  the 

2.     [+  59]  T  DOLTON  C  W  TOBIE  P10RR12  CA2T  ME  1677. 
(Diam.  35  in.,  height  28  in.) 

3   m.i^<m:^^:e^^  :i&:^jBLmi:t^  i2>^Qx:E\.Bm  1610. 

(Diam.  39^  in.,  height  30^  in.) 
P'or  Stamps,  see  pp.  60  and  76. 

The  inscriptions  on  the  ist  and  3rd  bells  are  in  the  fine  Gothic  capitals 
used  by  the  Watts  family  ;  specimens  are  engraved  on  p.  59. 
The  tower  is  now  in  a  dangerous  condition. 

DUNSTABLE. 

SS.  Peter  and  Paul.  8  Bells. 

1.  Altho  I  AM    Both    Light  &  Small     I  will  be  Heard  Above  You 

All.     Pack  &  Chapman  of  London  Fecit  1776. 
(Diam.  30  in.,  height  24  in.) 

2.  If  you  have  a  Judicious  Ear    You'll  own  my  Voice  is  Sweet  and 

Clear     Pack  &  Chapman  of  London  Fecit  1776. 
(Diam.  31I  in.,  height  24  in.) 

3.  Pack  &  Chapman  of  London  Fecit  1776. 

(Diam.  33^  in.,  height  25  in.) 

4.  Whilst  thus  we  Join  in  Chearfull  Sound  Let  Love  &  Loyalty 

abound     Pack  tSj  Chapman  of  London  Fecit  1776. 
(Diam.  36J  in.,  height  26  in.) 

5.  Peace   &   Good    Neighbourhood.     Pack   &   Chapman   of   London 

Fecit  1776. 

(Diam.  37 1  in.,  height  28^  in.,  cracked.) 

6.  Music    is   Medicine  to  the  Mind    Pack  &:   Chapman  of  London 

Fecit  1776. 

(Diam.  40  in.,  height  30  in.,  cracked.) 

7.  In  Wedlock  Bands  All  ye  who    Join  with   Hands  Your   Hearts 

Unite    So  shall  our  Tunefull  Tongues  Combine    To  Laud 
the  Nuptial  Rite     Pack  &  Chapman  of  London  Fecit  1776. 
(Diam.  43^  in.,  height  32^  in.,  cracked.) 

8.  William    Coles    &    William    Eames    Church    Wardens    Pack    & 

Chapman  of  London  Fecit  1776. 
(Diam.  51  in.,  height  35  in.,  weight  20  cwt.  2  qr.  2  lb.,  cracked.) 


Church  Bells  of  Bedfordshire.  147 

Pi  test's  Bell:— 

[+31]  Msyr^  ^;^MSX\%M.  <s^xm.^1lM.  ^pj^e-jiiJX-. 

For  Stamp  on  Priest's  bell,  see  p.  56. 

From  the  Chronicle  of  Dunstable,  commenced  by  Prior  Richard  de  Morins 
in  1202,  and  carried  on  by  his  successors,  we  learn  that  in  1277  "  Magister 
Michael"  gave  to  this  Priory  Church  "duas  campanas  grandiores,"  and  that 
Henry  his  son  gave  another  on  the  death  of  his  father ;  and  further,  under  the 
year  1349,  "Tempore  pestilential  parochiani  de  Dunstable  fecerunt  sibi  unam 
campanam  et  vocabant  earn  Mariam  et  prior  Rogerus  commodavit  plumbum 
ad  cooperiendum  campanile." 

Prior  to  1776,  when  the  present  ring  was  cast,  there  were  five  heavy  bells. 

The  total  weight  of  the  present  bells  (exclusive  of  the  Sanctus  bell)  is  : — 

85  cwt.  3  qr.  23  lb. 
Clappers  2  o         9 

Total  88  cwt.  o  qr.  4  lb.* 
There  is  a  tradition  here,  that  at  the  consecration  of  the  ancient  Sanctus 
bell  still  hanging,  "there  was  a  gorgeous  ceremonial  at  which  Matilda, 
daughter  of  Malcolm,  King  of  Scotland,  acted  as  Godmother."  Henry  I. 
married  Matilda,  the  daughter  of  Malcolm  HI.,  King  of  Scotland.  She 
had,  as  is  well  known,  been  educated  at  the  Abbey  of  Ramsey,  in  Huntingdon- 
shire, which  was  then  one  of  the  principal  Religious  Houses  in  England. 
Henry  was  a  great  benefactor  to  Dunstable  :  he  not  only  erected  and  richly 
endowed  the  Priory  there — the  nave  of  which  now  forms  the  parish  church — 
but  also  built  the  palace  of  Kingsbury,  where  he  and  his  wife  Matilda  would 
occasionally  reside,  and  which  afterwards  (in  1204)  became  the  property  of  the 
Prior  and  Convent.  There  is,  therefore,  nothing  improbable  in  the  tradition 
as  to  the  benediction  of  the  small  Sanctus-bell,  which  may  well  have  escaped 
the  destruction  or  recasting  of  the  larger  bells,  and  so  have  come  down  un- 
injured to  our  time.  But  why  is  Matilda  spoken  of  under  her  maiden  name, 
and  not  as  Queen  of  Henry  I.  ? 

DUNTON. 

S.  Mary.  2  Bells. 

u     THOMAS  MEARS  FOUNDER  LONDON    1S39. 
(Diam.  73 A  in.,  height  25  in.) 


*  Ex  infor.  John  Harris,  Esq.,  C.E. 


1/1.8  The  Insc7'iptions  on  tJic 

2.     [+  46]  WHO  SO  EVER  DOETH  VS  SEE    WILLIAM  HAVLSEY 
MAD  ME  1622, 

(Diam.  35  in.,  height  28  in.) 
For  Stamp,  see  p.  68, 
The  second  bell  is  not  now  used. 

EATON    BRAY. 

S.  Mary.  5  Bells  &  Small  Bell. 

1.  EDWARD  HALL  MADE  ME  1740. 

(Diam.  34  in.,  height  28  in.) 

2.  KB  TH  EB  EC  WW  1656. 

(Diam.  34  in.,  height  28  in.) 

3.  GEORGE  CHANDLER  MADE  ME   1705. 

(Diam.  37  in.,  height  31  in.) 

4.  WLM    WHITTMORE    FOR    RICHARD    BURR  — AND  — THO 

— HAWARD— EB— EC— 1656. 

(Diam.  40  in.,  height  30  in.) 

5.  J.  BRIANT  HARTFORD  FECIT  1790   W.  PEARSON  MILLER.. .R, 

GADSDEN  SENR  R.  ASHWELL  C.  WARDENS    H.  MORRISS 
R.   GADSDEN  JUN^  OVERSEERS. 

(Diam.  43  in.,  height  33  in.) 
Small  Bell  :— 

1737- 
(Diam.  19  in.,  height  18  in.) 

These  bells  (1881)  have  been  silent  for  some  years  ;  they  are  all  sound,  but 
the  wheels  and  ropes  are  in  disorder.  The  nave  of  the  church  is  being 
restored,  but  the  tower  is  in  a  dilapidated  condition. 

The  small  bell,  upon  which  the  clock  formerly  struck,  is  said  to  have  once 
hung  at  the  Manor  House  ;  it  now  hangs  high  up  close  to  the  window  in  the 
bell-chamber. 

EATON    SOCON. 

S.  Mary.  6  Bells. 

I.     OMNIA  FIANT  AD  GLORIAM  DEI    JOS  :  EAYRE  ST  NEOTS 
FECIT  ANNO  :  DOM  :  1740. 

(Diam.  32^  in.,  height  24  in.) 


Church  Bells  of  Bedfordshire.  149 

2.  MILES  .-.   GRAVE  .;.   MADE  .;.   ME  .  • .   1654. 

(Diam.  33^  in.,  height  24  in.) 

3.  WILLIAM  DOBSON  FOUNDER  1832  .-.  JOHN  ROBT.  WALKER 

CHURCHWARDEN. 

(Diam.  37^  in.,  height  27^  in.) 

4-    [  +  47]  H©X3^  [D  49]  xioHii  [n'49]  ^-^J^Bj^J^M^ 

(Diam.  40  in.,  height  30  in.) 

5.  J  BASSET  VICAR     J  BELL  J   COANN      THOMAS   NEWMAN 

MADE  MEE   1705. 

(Diam.  43  in.,  height  31  in.) 

6.  +  RVSSELL  OF  WOOTTON  MADE  ME  1 741  ^  O  O  O  O  O  -•- 

(Diam.  47A  in.,  height  35  in.) 
For  Stamps,  see  p.  69. 
In  1552  there  were  here  "  V  belles  in  y*  stepyll  and  a  sanctus  bell."  * 

EDWORTH. 

S.  George.  3  T^i-'-i-s. 

1.  [+46]  HEE   THAT  WIL   BE   MERI    LET    HIM   BE    MERI    IN 

THE  LORDE  1623. 

(Diam.  31^  in.,  height  24}  in.) 

2.  HEWCOME  MADE  ME  A^  1615. 

(Diam.  33  in.,  height  26^  in.) 
3-     [+  25  ]  Hiinrfa  Xliariii  Or.i  X>r«J  :r>olti9  [+27.     U  26  ]. 
(Diam.  36^  in.,  height,  28^  in.) 
For  Stamps,  see  pp.  68  and  54. 

EGGINTON. 

S.  Michael  (?).  2  Bells. 

1.  GOD  SAVE  OVR  KING  1622. 

(Diam.  18^  in.) 

2.  AMTHO^IY  CHAMDLER  MADE  ME  1677. 

(Diam.  22  in.) 
These  are  good  bells,  and  the  wheels  are  in  good  order,  but  the  interior  of 


Laud  Revenue  Records,  IJuiullc  1392,  File  2,  P.  R.  Off. 


1 50  The  Inscriptions  on  tJie 

the  cage  is  in  a  very  dilapidated  condition,  and  the  floors  require  renewing. 
These  defects  it  is  hoped  to  remedy  shortly. 

ELSTOW. 

SS.  Mary  and  Helena.  -5  Bells. 

I.     CHRISTOPHER   • .' •  GRAIE  •  .*  •  MADE   •."•  ME  •  .'•   1655. 
(Diam.  27  in.,  height  22  in.) 

(Diam.  30  in.,  height  23  in.) 

3.  GOD  SAVE  THE  KING   1631. 

(Diam.  33  in.,  height  26  in.) 

4.  [+63]   ABCDE>iG[n*]  VBCDE[n*]-agXAAV[n*]- 

(Diam.  35  in.,  height  28  in.     *  Fleur-de-lys.) 

5.  [+  I  ]  BE  YT  KNOWNE  TO  ALL  THAT  DOTH  ME  SEE     THAT 

NEWCOMBE  OF  LEICESTER  MADE  ME.     1604. 
(Diam.  36  in.,  height  28  in.) 

For  Stamps,  see  pp.  60,  80  and  41. 

The  bells  here  hang  in  a  campanile  detached  from  the  church. 

The  letters  on  the  2nd  bell  are  of  the  type  of  those  engraved  on  p.  59. 

The  4th  bell  is  the  one  pointed  out  as  "  Bunyan's  bell."  The  writer  of  the 
great  allegory,  who  lived  in  this  parish,  was,  as  is  well-known,  an  enthusiastic 
ringer,  until,  in  the  strong  revulsion  from  a  careless  life  to  a  religious  one,  his 
then  over-sensitive  mind  caused  him  to  give  up  a  practice  which  he  doubtless 
felt  that  he  loved  too  well.  Even  then  the  sound  of  the  bells  drew  him  to  the 
belfry,  although  he  no  longer  handled  a  rope.  "  He  so  hankered,"  writes 
Southey,  "after  his  old  amusement,  that,  though  he  did  not  pull  a  rope  him- 
self, he  would  go  and  look  at  the  ringers,  not  without  a  secret  feeling  that  to 
do  so  was  unbecoming  the  religious  character  he  professed ;  a  fear  came  upon 
him  that  one  of  the  bells  might  fall.  To  secure  himself  against  such  an  acci- 
dent he  stood  under  a  beam  that  lay  athwart  the  steeple  from  side  to  side  ; 
but,  his  apprehensions  being  once  awakened,  he  then  considered  that  the  bell 
might  fall  with  a  swing,  hit  the  wall  first,  rebound,  and  so  strike  him  in  its 
descent.  Upon  this  he  retired  to  the  steeple  door,  thinking  himself  safe 
enough  there  ;  for  if  the  bell  should  fall  he  might  slip  out.  Farther  than  the 
door  he  did  not  venture,  nor  did  he  long  continue  to  think  himself  safe  enough 
there,  lor  the  next  fancy  that  possessed  him  was  that  the  steeple  itself  might 


Church  Bells  of  Bedfordshire.  1 5 1 

fall,  and  this  so  much  disturbed  him  that  he  dared  not  stand  at  the  door  any 
longer,  but  fled  for  fear  the  tower  should  come  down  upon  him." 

The  intense  love  of  bells  and  their  music  was,  however,  so  engrained  into 
his  nature,  that  it  finds  expression  more  than  once  in  his  "  Pilgrim's  Progress," 
for  as  his  pilgrims  approached  the  Heavenly  City,  "  they  thought  they  heard 
all  the  bells  therein  to  ring  to  welcome  them  thereto."  And  when  they  had 
entered,  "  then  I  heard,  in  my  dream,  that  all  the  bells  in  the  City  rang  again 
for  joy." 

"  Well,"  (writes  a  recent  visitor  to  Elstow)  "  the  bell  is  here  still,  and  the 
beam  is  here,  and  the  tower;  but  the  rugged,  wistful  face  is  gone.  Here, 
nevertheless,  his  memory  abides  still,  and  many  a  fancy  summons  him  up  into 
a  bodily  presence  again,  and  to  many  a  listener  the  musical  and  melancholy 
peal  has  an  added  pathos  from  the  fact  that  it  still  includes  John  Bunyan's  bell." 

EVERSHOLT. 

S.  John  Baptist.  6  Bells. 

I,  2,  4.     MILES  GRAIE  •.'•  FECIT  • .' •  1638. 

(Diams.  29^,  31^,  37  in.,  heights  23,  26,  28!  in.) 
3.     EMMERTON  OF  WOOTTON  FECIT   17S9. 

John   Daniel        )  ^ 

^  ^  \  Churchwardens. 

\\  iLLiAM  French  ) 

(Diam,  34^  in.,  height  26  in.) 

5.  EMERTON    OF    WOOTTON    CAST   THIS  PICAL     T.    WHITi:  . 

I.  PURSER.    CHURCH  WARDENS.     I  TO  THE  CHURCH 

THE  LIVING  CALL     AND  TO  THE  (]RA\1':  I   SUMMON 

ALL  1786. 

(Diam.  41  i  in.,  height  28  in.) 

6.  JOHN  TAYLOR  &  Co  FOUNDERS  LOUGHBOROUGH   1S82. 

(Diam.  45^  in.,  weight  17  cwt.  i  qr.  16  lb.) 
In  1552  there  were  here  : — 

Item  ij  sacrynge  belles 
Item  in  the  steapuU  iiij  belles.* 
The  tenor  bell  was  previously  inscribed  : — 

Thomas  Rvssell  of  Wootton  made  me  1727. 
(Diam.  44  in.,  height  35  in.) 


*  Land  Revenue  Kec\>rds.     Bundle  139.1.     Iilc2.     I*.  K.UIf. 


152  The  Inscriptions  on  the 

The  statement  of  the  founder  of  the  5th  bell  was  rather  wide  of  the  truth. 

These  bells,  which  are  in  good  condition  and  well  cared  for,  form  a 
very  musical  ring,  and  are  considered  by  the  people  here  as  second  only  to 
those  at  Crawley.  There  is  a  tradition  that  Handel  was  once  driving  in  the 
neighbourhood  when  these  bells  were  ringing,  and  that  he  was  so  charmed  with 
the  beauty  of  the  ring  that  he  ordered  his  coachman  to  stop  for  several 
minutes  in  order  that  he  might  listen  more  attentively  and  enjoy  the  music 
more  thoroughly. 

A  MS.  book  headed  "Particulars  of  Eversholt,"  1802,  after  noting  that  a 
plan  of  Eversholt  was  made  on  parchment  in  the  year  1764,  with  a  folio 
Reference  Book,  gives  a  corrected  list  of  owners,  tenants,  etc.,  amongst  which 
is  : — Bell  Rope  acre,  containing  oa.  2r.  8p.,  then  occupied  by  William  Axam, 
under  the  Rev.  John  Sandys,  Incumbent 

EYEWORTH. 

All  Saints.  2  Bells. 

1.  [+6]  jS'aucfa  X3Q,ar0ar£fa  ©ra  ^rw  ;i?i06t5  [U  n]. 

(Diam,  32I  in.,  height  24  in.) 

2.  MILONEM  GRAVE  ME  FECIT  +  1632. 

(Diam.  34I  in.,  height  27  in.) 
For  Stamps,  see  pp.  46  and  49. 
There  is  a  frame  here  for  a  third  bell  which  has,  apparently,  been  removed. 

FANDISH. 

S.  Michael  and  all  Angels.  3  Bells. 

1.  CHRISTOPHER  GRAVE  MADE  ME  1667. 

(Diam.  22^  in.) 

2.  [IK  53  D  58  D  58058]  1625. 

(Diam.  25  in.) 

3.  (ST-^xn  m^mi  -^Jsa^  ^^iM.  1597  [u  39]- 

(Diam.  28  in.) 
For  Stamps,  see  pp.  75,  76  and  60. 

In  1552  there  were  here  "thre  belles  in  the  stepuU  and  a  sanctus  belle."* 
There  was,  until  recently,   a  small  bell,  without  inscription,   unhung  and 
standing  in  the  church  :  it  has  been  sold. 

*  Exck.  Q.  A'.  CliMxh  Goods  Bedjordshirc  \.    P.  R.  Off. 


Church  Dells  of  Bedfordshire.  153 

FELMERSHAM. 
S.  Mary.  5  Bells. 

1.  IH'8  NAZARENVS  :  REX  :  IVDEORUM  :  FILI  :  DEI :  MISERERE 

MEI  1634  [U39]- 

(Diam.  35  in.,  height  29  in.) 

2,  4.     NEWCOMBE  MADE  MEE  16 17. 

(Diams.  36}  and  43  in.,  heights  28  and  ^tl  i"-) 
3     JOHN  HUTCHINSON  VICAR.    WILLIAM  BITHREY.     ROBART 
LORD  .  CHURCHWARDENS.     EAYRE    S^  NEOTS   FECIT 
1766. 

(Diam.  39^^  in.,  height  29  in.) 
5.     CUM  UOCO  UENITE.   JOHN  HUTCHINSON  VICAR  WILLIAM 
BITHREY  ROBART  LORD  CHURCHWARDENS.    JOSEPH 
EAYRE,  S^  NEOTS  FECIT  1766. 

(Diam.  47^  in.,  height  35^  in.) 
r'or  stamp  and  lettering  on  the  ist  bell,  see  pp.  60  and  63. 
The  Rev.  John  Hutchinson  (see  3rd  and  5th  bells)  was  presented  to  this 
living  in  January,  1756,  and  was  buried  here  15th  July,  1792. 

FLITTON. 

S.  John  Baptist.  5  Bells. 

1-5.     RICHARD  CHANDLER  MADE  ME  16S7. 
(i.    Diam.  25^  in.,  height  22}  in. 

2.  Diam.  27  in.,  height  22 i  in. 

3.  Diam.  28^  in.,  height  23  in. 

4.  Diam.  31  in.,  height  25  in. 

5.  Diam.  35  in.,  height  26^  in.) 

FLITWICK. 
SS.  Peter  and  Paul.  5  Bells. 

1.  GOD  SAVE  OUR  :HING  1637     RECAST  BY  JOHN  T.VYLOR   & 

Co.   1867. 

(Diam.  30  in.,  height  22  in.) 

2.  jjoljauucs  CSriarlie  \\a\\t  fcdt  (STanuLinani  1608. 

(Diam.  31  in.,  height  23  in.) 
X 


1 54  The  Insc7'iptions  on  the 

3-     [+55]  <^C)D  SAVE  OVR  KING  1631  [I  K  53]. 
(Diam.  34  in.,  height  25  in.) 

4.  MILES  •!•  GRAYE  MADE  ME  1653. 

(Diam.  35  in.,  height  25  in.) 

5.  MILES  •!•  GRAYE  •'.  •  MADE  •.*•  ME  1654. 

(Diam.  39  in.,  height  29  in.) 
For  Stamps,  see  p.  75. 
These  are  good  bells,  kept  in  excellent  order. 

GGLDINGTON. 

S.  Mary.  4  Bells. 

I.  m-^mi  m-^mi  .^:i^:e)  :i^mers^  1600  [u  39  ]• 

(Diam.  28  in.,  height  25  in.) 

2.  RICHARD  CHANDLER  MADE  MEE  1696. 

(Diam.  29  in.,  height  26  in.) 

3.  NEWCOMBE  MADE  ME  161 7. 

(Diam.  30  in.,  height  28  in.) 

4.   ©<2):e)  BJ^:i^m  WM^  (^^^mm^^^  1600  [u  39]- 

(Diam.  33  in.,  height  31^  in.) 
For  Stamp  and  form  of  letters  on  the  ist  and  4th  bells,  see  pp.  59  and  60. 

GRAVENHURST    UPPER. 

S.  Giles.  5  Bells. 

I,  2,  4.     M  G. 

(Diams.  28,  30J,  35I  in.,  heights  22,  23,  28  in.) 
3.     RICHARD  CHANDLER  MADE  ME  i69e. 
(Diam.  32  in.,  height  24  in.) 
5.     O  O  JOSEPH   CRAWLEY  CHURCHWARDEN    O  O   WILLIAM 
EMERTON  OF  WOOTTON  MADE  ME  1772. 
(Diam.  39  in.,  height  30  in.) 
The  initials  M.  G.  are  probably  those  of  Miles  Graye  the  founder. 

GRAVENHURST     LOWER. 

S.  Mary  [?].  i  Bell. 

I.    THE   LORD   BE  WITH   US     LESTER   &  PACK  OF   LONDON 
FECIT  1758. 

(Diam.  28  in.,  height  22  in.) 


Church  Dells  of  BedfordsJiire.  1 55 

HARLINGTON. 

S.  Mary,  5  Bells. 

I.  [n38]<3rooxii[n38]©rooxii  [n38]i5.:mx>[D38] 
:]g>'m,^:Ee"  [U39]. 

(Diam.  29^  in.,  height  2t^\  in.) 

2.  JOHN  TAPSTER  CHVRCHWARDEN  17 15     THOMAS  RVSaELL 

MADE  ME. 

(Diam.  33  in.,  height  24}  in.,  cracked,  unhung,) 

3.  CHANDLER  MADE  ME  1697, 

(Diam.  35 i  in.,  height  26  in.) 

4.  In  XHwIiis  J5-nnts  X^csmtct  dampana  J0r|anni0  [+3  +  4]. 

(Diam.  38^  in.,  height  29^  in.) 

5.  iiT^Ljix.-B: J JiXH  [  □  38  f  \^J7LW-^^S>  [  D  38  J  XIli3.I0)3 

WM%B  X33:i^j£x  [U  39]- 

(Diam.  40^  in.,  height  32  in.) 

For  Stamps,  see  pp.  60  and  45,  and  for  specimens  of  letters  on  the  ist  and 
5th,  see  p.  59.     The  letter  S  is  reversed  on  the  latter  bell. 

From  the  Inventory  of  Church  Goods  belonging  to  this  church,  taken  on  the 
2nd  of  September,  1552,  we  learn  there  were  then  : — 

"  Item  in  y*=  stepuU  of  y^  said  churche  v  belles  and  a  saunce  bell.  The  first 
bell  in  wydenes  ij  foote  and  vij  ynches  in  depthe  ij  foote  and  one  ynche  the 
second  bell  ij  foote  and  viij  ynches  in  depthe  ij  foote  the  thurde  bell  ij  fote 
wyde  and  ij  foote  depth  y^  fowerth  bell  iij  foote  wyde  and  ij  fote  depth  and  a 
di.  y^  v"^  bell  iij  foote  and  di.  wyde  ij  foote  and  di.  depe  the  saunce  bell  wyde 
xj  ynche  and  ix  ynche  depe."* 

The  2nd  bell  was  cracked  about  twenty  years  ago,  but  she  was  rung  with  the 
others  for  some  years  afterwards :  she  now  rests  upon  a  wooden  block ;  two  of 
the  bell-ropes  hang  close  to  the  wall ;  this  would  have  to  be  remedied  should 
change-ringing  be  attempted.  With  these  exceptions  the  bells — which  are 
excellent  in  tone — are  in  good  order. 

HARROLD. 

All  Saints.  5  Bells. 

I.     THOMAS    KNIGHT    AND    WILLIAM    WOOTTON  C  :  W  :  lOS  : 
EAYRE  S^  NEOTS   1756. 

(Diam.  30J,  in.,  height  26  in.) 

*  Land  Revenue  Records.     Bundle  1392,  File  2,  P.  R.  Off. 


156  The  Inscriptions  on  the 

2.  csTTscxii  ©"TiixTi  j^:m:f>  y^ixi^^y^^  1603  [u  39]- 

(Diam.  32  in.,  height  25  in.) 

3.  :]p>ji,^3EB©'  wM^  j>xo:ei)E)©-  i6oe  [u  39]- 

(Diam.  34  in.,  height  26^  in.) 

4.  JOHN    :;':    HODSON    .'■:    OF    :•■;    LANDON    : ;  :     MADE    ;•; 

ME  .;;    i6Se. 

(Diam.  37I  in.,  height  27^  in.) 

5.  CHAMDLER  MADE  ME  1652  [Dsi]. 

(Diam.  39^  in.,  height  30  in.) 
For  Stamps,  see  pp.  60  and  71,  and  for  specimens  of  letters  on  the  2nd  and 
3rd  bells,  see  p.  59. 

HATLEY    COCKAYNE.  *     . 

S.  John  Baptist.  2  Bells. 

1.  R.  TAYLOR.  S^  NEOTS  FECIT  1786. 

(Diam.  33  in.,  height  24  in.) 

2.  RVSSELL  OF  WOOTTON  MADE  ME  1725. 

(Diam.  34  in.,  height  25  in.) 

HAWNES. 

S.  Mary.  4  Bells. 

1.  [+  54]  GOD  [DsS]  SAVE  [D  58]  OVR  [DsS]  KING  1627. 

(Diam.  25^  in.,  height  20  in.) 

2.  CHRISTOPHER  GRAVE  MADE  ME   1662. 

(Diam.  27  in.,  height  21  in.) 

(Diam.  30  in.,  height  24  in.) 
4.     OG  TT  AV  A\  1653. 

(Diam.  31^  in.,  height  26  in.) 
For  Stamps,  see  pp.  75  and  76. 

The  inscription  on  the  3rd  bell  is  reversed  on  the  bell :  it  is  "  Sum  campana 
Marie  Matris  Messie  pie."  The  cross  in  the  centre  is  apparently  quite  plain 
in  character,  but  the  bells  being  very  difficult  of  access — there  is  no  floor  to 
the  bell-chamber — it  was  not  possible  to  take  a  "  squeeze." 


Church  BelL  of  Bedfordshire.  i  5  7 


HEATH  AND  REACH. 

S.  Leonard.  i  Bki.i. 

1.     RICHARD  WIGE  GENT  MAN  ONER  OF  ME   1695 

a7id  incised  on  the  top  of  the  bell, 
H 
TOMAS   SEPHEZS. 
(Diam.  20  in.,  height  18  in.) 

There  is  no  stay  or  slider  to  this  bell. 

Heath  was  formerly  a  parochial  chapelry  attached  to  Leighton,  and,  until 
the  year  1850,  was  without  a  burial  ground,  the  dead  being  interred  at  Leighton. 
There,  too,  marriages  and  baptisms  were  formerly  registered.  The  family  of 
Wigge  had  for  some  years  been  connected  with  this  neighbourhood  when  the 
above  small  bell  was  cast.  In  1639  William  Wigge,  yeoman,  purchased 
Stewkley  Grange  with  its  manor  and  appurtenances  (it  formerly  belonged  to 
Woburn  Abbey).  The  family  resided  there,  and  occupied  the  farm  for  several 
generations,  but  eventually — in  1760 — sold  the  property  to  a  Mr.  Ward. 
Members  of  the  Wigge  family  were  also  connected  with  Mentmore.  Another 
branch  resided  at  Heath.  The  Registers  at  Leighton  record  the  marriage  of 
John  Franks  and  Elizabeth  Wigg,  of  Heath,  on  the  13th  of  May,  1703.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  the  "  Richard  Wige  "  whose  name  is  on  the  above  bell. 
The  Registers  give  no  information  about  him  :  possibly  the  bell  belonged 
originally  to  his  house  as  a  dinner-bell — in  which  case  he  would  be  its  "  oner  " 
— and  was  afterwards  given  by  him  to  the  chapel,  where  are  two  pewter  alms 
dishes,  dated  1698,  which  may  also  have  been  his  gift  at  the  same  time. 


HEN  LOW. 

S.  Mary.  5  Bki.i.s. 

1.  MILES  •".  •  GRAVE  • ".  •  MADE  •".  •  ME  •  .'•  1630. 

(Diam.  32  in.,  height  25  in.) 

2.  [  +  55]  GOD  SAVE  OVR  KING  162S. 

(Diam.  34  in.,  height  26  in.) 

3.  MILES  •  !  •  GRAIE  • '.  •  FiXlT  •  '.  •  1638. 

(Diam.  35  in.,  height  27  in.) 


158  The  Inscriptio7is  on  the 

4.  -<-  THOMAS    TRUSTRAM    CHURCHWARDEN  -t-  CVM   VOCO 

VENITE  H-  J  :  EAYRE  :  S'l".  NEOTS  -h   -^  1750  h- 
(Diam.  39  in.,  height  29  in.) 

5.  1638  RECAST  1877  W.  HOLESGROVE  VICAR. 

CAST  BY  JOHN  WARNER  &  SONS  LONDON. 
(Diam.  43  in.) 
For  Stamp,  see  p.  75. 
The  tenor  bell  was  previously  inscribed  : — 

Miles  Graie  fecit  1638  G  E  • '.  •  G  C. 
(Diam.  42  in.,  height  34^  in.) 

HIGHAM    GOBION. 
S.  Margaret.  i  Bell 

I.     T.  Mears  of  London  Fecit  1829. 

(Diam.  33  in.,  height  24  in.) 

HOCKLIFFE. 

S.  Nicolas.  3  Bells. 

1.  "^0X  J5.0^slitti  S>^mi  Jn  Jiltrc  :E)ci  [  +  6    U  7    D  8  ]. 

(Diam.  29I-  in.) 

2.  [  +  6  ]  ^anrfB  g[?I|mtta  ©ra  ^Xi^  :i?l0lits  [  Q  8    U  7  ]• 

(Diam.  30  in.) 

3.  [  +  6  ]  Hancfa  XHargreia  Ora  ^x^  :ii),tfbis  [  U  7  ]• 

(Diam.  31 J  in.) 

For  Stamps,  see  p.  46. 

This  is  the  only  complete  ring  of  ancient  bells  in  Bedfordshire.  They  are 
all  of  the  same  date  and  from  the  same  foundry. 

The  ejaculatory  prayers  on  the  beautiful  cross  on  these  bells  are  frequently 
found  on  memorial  brasses  of  pre-Reformation  date.  An  example  formerly 
existed  in  Luton  Church  in  this  county,  on  a  brass  to  the  memory  of  John 
Ackworth,  who  died  17th  March,  15 13,  where  the  closing  words  of  a  quaint 
inscription  were  ; — 

Jesu  mercye  :  Lady  helpe  :  Mercy  Jesu. 

Since  the  above  was  written  the  ring  here  has  been  increased  to  four  bells 


Chtirch  Bells  of  Bcdfordshii'e.  159 

by  the  addition  of  a  new  treble,  cast  by  Messrs.  J.  Taylor  and  Co.,  of  Lough- 
borough,    It  is  inscribed  : — 

DEUM  LAUDO;  VIVOS  VOCO ;  MORTUOS  PLANGO. 

F.  H.  GRAY,  A.M.,  RECTOR. 
G.  E.  GILLMAN  ET  JACOBUS  E  INWARDS  ECCLESL^i  CUS- 
TODES  1883. 

(Weight  4  cwt.  3  qr.  19  lb.) 

HOLWELL. 

S.  Peter.  2  Bells. 

I,  2.  REVD  C.  D.  RADCLIFFE  RECTOR.  THOS-  ARMSTRONG 
CHURCH  WARDEN.  THOMAS  MEARS  FOUNDER 
LONDON   1 84 1. 

HOUGHTON    CONQUEST. 

All  Saints  [but  query  S.  James].  6  Bells. 

1.  DOMINE   MEMENTO   MEL     T.   MEARS   FOUNDER  LONDON 

1840. 

(Diam.  31  in.,  height  25  in.) 

2.  PATER   IN   MANUS   TUAS    COMMENDO    SPIRITUM    MEUM 

T.  MEARS  FOUNDER  LONDON  1840. 
(Diam.  34  in.,  height  26^  in.) 

3.  GLORIA   PATRI   FILIO   ET   SPIRITUI    SANCTO      T.    MEARS 

FOUNDER   LONDON  1840. 

(Diam.  36  in.,  height  27  in.) 

4.  OMNIA   FIANT   AD    GLORIAM    DEI      T.   MEARS   FOUNDER 

LONDON   1840. 

(Diam.  38  in.,  height  28  in.) 

5.  GURGITE    ET    AUDITE    VOCEM    MEAM.      REV.    HENRY    J 

ROSE  RECTOR. 

Titus  Cherry       )  „  o 

^  V  Churchwardens  1 841. 

Joseph  Chappell  ) 

(Diam.  41  i  in.,  height  29  in.) 

6.  I  H  S  NAZARENUS    REX   JUDEORUM    FILI    DEI  MISERERE 

MEL     T.  MEARS  FOUNDER  LONDON   1S40. 
(Diam.  43  in.,  height  30  in.) 


i6o  The  Inscriptions  on  the 

Probably,  prior  to  1626,  there  were  only  four  bells,  for  the  Parish  Register 
tells  us  that  "  Thomas  Archer,  person  of  Houghton,  gave  Ten  pounds  to  the 
making  of  a  ffyft  Bell  in  Anno  Dom.  1626,  Aprilis  primo." 

"The  seuerall  inscriptions,"  says  another  entry  in  the  Register,  "upon  the 
five  old  bells  were  as  follovveth  :  — 

1.  Sr.    Edmund    Conquest,   Sr.    ffrancis  Clarke,    Mr.    Thomas  Archer, 

Mr.  Thomas  Audley  1633. 

2.  Lord  Ailsbury,   Lord  Ashburnam,  Benedt.  Conquest,  Esq.,  Thomas 

Armstrong,    Esq.,    Etheldreda   Conquest,  Henry  Pearce,    Thomas 
Impey. 

3.  Ave  Maria  !     Gratia  Plena  ! 

4.  Vive  diu  sed  vive  Dei,  Deus  omnia  vidct,  1626. 

5.  The  Trinity  have  mercy  on  me  Margaret  Conquest. 
Trinitate  sacra  fiat  hac  Campana  beata. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Archer,  who  contributed  so  liberally  to  augmenting  the 
ring  of  bells  here,  left  a  collection  of  MSS.,  from  which  we  learn  that  he  was 
"borne  in  St.  Edmunds  Burie,  12  Aug.,  1554,"  and  was  presented  to  the 
Rectory  of  Meppershall  in  November,  16 13,  which  he  probably  held  in  con- 
junction with  Houghton  Conquest.  He  also  relates  that  "Sir  Edmond 
Conquest,  Knight" — whose  name  was  on  the  ist  bell — "was  high  shreive  of 
Bedfordshire  in  Anno  dom.  1618,"  and  that  "  Sir  ffrancis  Clerke  " — whose  name 
was  also  on  the  same  bell,  and  who  "  was  married  to  M.  Anne  Conquest  the 
26  of  Novemr,  1593" — "was  high  shrive  for  the  Countie  of  Bedford  in 
a  part  of  anno  Dom.  1623  and  in  part  of  1624,  and  Kinge  Jeames,  king  of 
great  Brittane,  fraunce,  And  Ireland  being  this  yeere  in  his  progress  in  Bed- 
fordshire graced  him  with  the  degree  of  knighthood,  1624,  in  July." 

These  five  bells  were  "  run  into  six  by  Thomas  Russell  of  Wooton  in  the 
year  1724."* 

The  six  bells,  so  cast  in  1724,  having  become,  some  cracked,  and  all  more 
or  less  unfit  for  use,  were  recast  by  Mr.  Mears,  as  described  above,  in  the  year 
1840,  at  a  cost  of  ;^54,  and  were  first  rung  on  the  birth  of  the  Prince  of  Wales 
in  the  following  year,  1841. 


*  For  these  extracts  from  the  Parish  Registers  and  from  the  Archer  MSS.  I  am  indebted  to 
the  industry  of  Mr.  F.  A.  Blaydes,  who  contributed  them  with  many  others  to  Bedfordshire 
NoUs  and  Queries.     Note  xxxi. 


Church  Dells  of  Bedfordshire.  i6i 

The  Rev.  Henry  John  Rose  (see  5th  bell)  was  instituted  in  1837,  and  died 
on  the  31st  of  January,  1873. 

What  is  the  allusion  on  the  5th  bell  ? 

HOUGHTON    REGIS. 

All  Saints.  6  Dells. 

1.  JOHN  BRIANT  HERTFORD  FECIT   1815  +. 

(Diam.  31  in.,  height  25  in.) 

2.  J.  BRIANT  HERTFORD  FECIT  18 16  +  ^  ^. 

(Diam.  32  in.,  height  27  in.) 
3-     aaWODAVaN  made  MEE   i6i6. 

(Diam.  34  in.,  height  31  in.) 

4.  J.  BRIANT  HERTFORD  FECIT  181 1  +  C  :  W.-. 

(Diam.  36  in.,  height  29  in.,  names  of  C.W.  omitted.) 

5.  J0l|n  $  ^trr  matic  $  mt  1580. 

(Diam.  40  in.,  height  36  in.) 

6.  AMTHONY  CHAPIDLER  MADE  ME  1673. 

(Diam.  44  in.,  height  30  in.) 
In  1552  the  ring  had  apparently  been  recently  increased   from  four  to  five 
bells,  but  was  again  reduced  to  the  original  number  in  consecjuence  of  the  cost 
of  the  new  bell  not  being  paid. 

The  Inventory  taken  that  year  says  : — 

"  Item  iiij  belles  and  y"^  v  bell  wass  not  all  payd  for  and  therforo  yt  wass 
solid  to  pay  yt."* 

Considerable  alterations  are  said  to  have  been  made  in  the  belfry  early  in 
the  present  century.  There  were  then  five  large  bells — the  parishioners  had 
cither  recovered  the  fifth  bell,  sold  about  the  year  1552,  or  had  subsequently 
purchased  another.  The  ancient  tenor  bell — the  stock  of  which  is  still  pointed 
out  in  the  ringing  chamber — is  reported  to  have  been  sold  to  Wavendon  in 
Buckinghamshire  ;  the  old  second  was  recast  in  181 1,  and  two  new  trebles — 
completing  the  present  ring  of  six  bells — were  added  in  18 15  and  1816. 

The  5th  and  6th  bells  have  had  their  cannons  knocked  off;  the  cannons  of 
the  new  bells,  ist,  2nd  and  4th,  are  very  short ;  those  of  the  third— a  powerful 
bell — are  very  long.     The  fifth  bell  is  a  great  favourite  with  the  parishioners. 

*  Land  RcvcHUi  Records.     Bundle  1392,  File  2.     P.  R.  Off. 


1 62  The  Inscriptions  on  tJie 

HULCOTE. 

S.  Nicolas.  4  Bells. 

1.  CHAHDLER  MADE  ME   1683. 

(Diam.  27I  in.,  height  21  in.) 

2.  ^Donor's  U  Arms^  ^jicliartr    (^\\tvcxiist\\  :EsqltEtr      Tfuljanne© 

:in)icr  $  XXlE  ^  JP.ecEf  8  .,^  8  1593  Onlu  3?»  C^otJ  X3b 
8  all  $  :&t0n0r  ^  ©Iwrie. 

(Diam.  3o|  in.,  height  22 J  in.) 

3.  [Z)^«(^r'5  U  Ar7ns\  ^|p:r|artr   (3rijarn0ck  ^E.sqtrmr      TfoTiannes 

:E)tEit  XIlB  :RECBf  J5-  3  1593  OnlK  5Pw  (50ti  X3e  23-a 
;Mit»n0ti  ^  ©l0ttte. 

(Diam.  38  in.,  height  25  in.) 

4.  RICHARD  CHANDLER  MADE  ME  1723. 

(Diam.  36  in.,  height  30  in.) 
On  the  31st  of  August,  1552,  when  the  Inventory  of  Church  Goods  belonging 
to  this  parish  was  taken,  there  were  : — 

"  Item  iij  lytell  belles  in  the  stepell  the  fore  bell  in  compas  A  yeard  one 
foote  iij  ynches  in  depth  di.  yard  ij  ynches  in  compas  the  second 
j  yard  di.  iiij  ynches  in  depthe  di.  yard  vj  ynches  the  third  in  com- 
pase  ij  yeardes  xiij  ynches  depthe  di.  yeard  vij  ynches."* 

These  three  little  bells  probably  remained  here  until  the  church  was  rebuilt 
by  the  Richard  Charnock,  Esq.,  whose  name  is  upon  the  present  2nd  and  3rd 
bells,  and  who,  doubtless,  at  that  time  gave  four  bells,  two  of  which  have  since 
been  recast. 

So  much  of  the  history  of  the  Charnock  family  as  is  sufficient  for  our  present 
purpose  may  be  gathered  from  two  inscriptions  on  monuments  in  the  church 
here.     The  first  relates  to  the  father  of  the  donor  of  the  bells  : — 

Robert  Chernocke  Esqvier,  Father  of  Richard  Chernocke  Esqvier  Here 
interred  did  desende  of  an  Anciente  Hovse  called  Chernocke  Hall 
in  Lancashieree—  He  hadd  by  twoe  wives  of  worshippfvU  parentage 
ten  children,  by  the  one  6  and  by  the  other  4 — He  was  the  firste 
that  planted  this  famelye  in  this  covntye.     He  lefte  his  estate  to  the 

*  Laiid  Revenue  Records.     Bundle  1392,  File  2.     P.  R.  Off. 


Church  Bells  of  Bedfordshire.  163 

sayd  Richard  his  sonne,  Departingc  this  life  abovtc  60  yearcs  of  age 
Anno  Domini  1547. 

The  second  relates  to  the  donor  himself : — 

Here  lyeth  interred  the  Bodye  of  Richard  Charnocke  Esci""  sonne 
&  Heire  of  Robert  Chcrnocke  here  remembered  he  had  twoe 
wives  the  first  named  Mary  Pvthenam  daughter  of  S'  George 
Puthenham  of  Sherfielde  in  Hamshire  Knight — By  her  he  had 
Issve  6  sonnes  and  8  daughters — The  second  wife  named  Avdrey 
Fradsom  davghter  of  William  Fradsom  of  Elton  in  the  Covntye  of 
Chester  Esq.  by  whom  he  had  noe  issve.  He  reedified  his  parish 
Churche  at  his  owne  proper  charge,  newe  bvilt  his  mansion  Howse, 
Thrice  bare  office  of  Highe  Shrife  in  this  Shire  :  And  Lastelye 
Havinge  attayned  the  age  of  84  yeares  peaceablye  and  piovslye 
Deceased  the  14th  daye  of  August  Anno  Domini  16 15. 

The  donor's  arms  on  the  2nd  and  3rd  bells  are  [  arg.  ]  on  a  bend  [  sa.  ]  three 
cross  crosslets  of  the  first  with  a  crescent  in  chief  for  difference. 


HUSBORNE    CRAWLEY. 

S.  James.  6  Bells  and  a  Priest's  Bell. 

1.  St.  JOHN  THOMASON  ESQ.  GAVE  ME  1637  RECAST  1820  BY 

R  :  TAYLOR  &  SON  S'l.  NEOTS. 

(Diam.  31^  in.,  height  24  in.) 

2.  MEWCOME  OF  LEICESTER  MADE  ME  161 1. 

(Diam.  33^  in.,  height  26^  in.) 

3.  WILLIAM  EMERTON  OF  WOOTTON  FECIT  O    i7  79- 

(Diam.  35 J  in.,  height  27 i  in.) 

4.  MEWCOME  MADE  ME  AO  1616. 

(Diam.  39  in.,  height  31  in.) 

5.  R.   TAYLOR   &   SON    FOUNDERS  S'i\   NEOTS  SEP^   13TH    ,820 

0000000 

(Diam.  42^  in.,  height  32  in.) 

6.  MEWCOME  OF  LEICESTER  MADE  ME  AO.    1613. 

(Diam.  46^  in.,  height  ii\  in.) 


164  The  Inscripticrns  on  the 

Fries fs  Bell.— 

1661. 

In  the  Inventory  of  Church  Goods  belonging  to  "  Husbande  Crauley,"  taken 

ist  September,  1552,  is  a  full  description  of  the  size  of  the  bells  : — 

"  Item  j  hanbell  and  a  Saunce  Bell. 

"  Item  in  y=  steple  of  y^  sayde  chyrche  iiij  belles.  The  grete  bell  in  bredithe 
iiij  foote  &  hallfe  A  inche,  in  depthe  iij  foote  &  v  inches  &  in  thycknes 
iij  inches.  The  second  in  bredthe  iij  foote  viij  inches  in  depthe  iij  foote  ij 
inches  iij  quarters  in  thycknes  ij  inches  and  iij  quarters  of  an  inche.  The 
thyrde  in  bredthe  iij  foote  v  inches,  in  depthe  iij  &  hallfe  and  {sic)  inche 
and  in  thycknes  ij  inches  &  a  hallfe.  The  fourthe  bell  in  bredthe  ij  foote 
xj  inches,  in  depthe  ij  foote  v  inches  and  in  thycknes  ij  inches  and  a  quarter 
of  A  inche."  * 

There  is  a  tradition  at  Ridgmount  that  three  bells  were  sold  from  the  old 
church  there  to  this  parish  about  the  year  1820. 

It  is  reported,  and  very  currently  believed,  at  Woburn,  that  the  Crawley 
bells  were  intended  for  that  place,  but  the  steeple  there  not  being  able  to  carry 
them,  they  were  hung  in  their  present  position.  There  is  clearly  no  truth  in 
this  fancy  •  it  may  have  arisen  from  a  jealous  feeling  in  times  past,  on  the  part 
of  the  Woburn  folk,  for  these  bells  are  considered  the  best  in  the  neighbour- 
hood.    The  frames  and  wheels,  too,  are  in  excellent  order. 

These  bells  had  a  narrow  escape  of  destruction  in  the  year  1841,  when 
their  frames  were,  after  a  thunderstorm,  found  to  be  on  fire,  which  was  quenched 
by  water  carried  up  the  spiral  staircase — which  was  then  in  a  sadly  dilapidated 
state — in  buckets.  The  bells  were  not  rung  for  some  years  afterwards ;  the 
frames  were  then  restored  from  the  wood  left  in  the  old  frames,  which  were 
large.  The  staircase,  too,  has  recently  been  repaired,  and  the  approach  to  the 
bells  and  clock  is  now  all  that  can  be  desired. 

There  is  a  charity  here  called  "  The  Husborne  Crawley  Charity,"  from  the 
receipts  of  which  grants  can  be  made  for  the  "  repairs  of  the  Parish  Church, 
Church  Steeple,  Bells  and  Church  Clock." 

"  S^  John  Thomason,  Esqi's.,"  who  gave  the  treble  bell  in  1637,  was  pro- 
bably a  son  of  the  John  Thomson,  Esq.,  one  of  the  auditors  of  the  Exchequer 
and  Lord  of  this  Manor,  who,  dying  in  1597,  was  buried  here  in  a  tomb,  upon 


Land  Revenue  Records t  Bundle  1392,  File  2,  P.  R.  Off. 


Church  Dells  of  Bedfordshire.  165 

which  are  the  effigies  of  himself  and  his  wife.  The  Registers  contain  entries 
at  intervals  relating  to  his  family,  but  there  is  no  trace  of  the  donor  of  the 
belL 

KEMPSTON. 

All  Saints.  5  Bells. 

I.  ^^^]^j.&^  ^:E^e- _ j2:o:nx)e-  1617  [U39]- 

(Diam.  36  in.,  height  28  in.) 

2.  IH'2  NAZARENVS  REX  IVDEORVM  FILI  DEI  MISERERE  MEI 

"^^^Zl  [U  39]- 

(Diam.  37  in.,  height  30  in.) 

3.  RYCHARD     MAMFORD     :     GEORGE    WHEELER    CHURCH- 

WARDENS  16 16. 

(Diam.  39  in.,  height  33  in.) 

(Diam.  43  in.,  height  35  in. ;  cracked). 

5.  :mxii:©:Bi   \yij^^w^^    xrij3.x)e    xnee   1603 

[U39]. 

(Diam.  46  in.,  height  36  in.) 

For  Stamps,  see  pp.  60  and  55,  and  for  specimens  of  letters  on  the  ist,  2nd 
and  5th,  see  pp.  59  and  63. 

The  founder  intended  to  say  on  the  4th,  "  Ex  Anna  nata  salvet  nos  ^"irgo 
Beata." 

KEYSOE. 

S.  Mary.  5  Bklls. 

1.  THOMAS  MEARS  FOUNDER  LONDON    1840. 

REVD.  WILLIAM  AIRY  VICAR. 

John  Fox  1  _ 

■;         ,,  Churchwardens. 

John  Browning  I 

(Diam.  33  in.,  height  25  J  in.) 

2.  RICHARD  BRICE  AND  IS.\.\C  FLANDi:  RS  CHURCHWARDENS. 

JOS.  EAYRE   KECri\ 

(Diam.  34 A  in.,  height  28  in.) 


1 66  The  Inscriptions  on  the 

3.  MEWCOME  MADE  ME  Ao  16 15. 

(Diam.  30  in.,  height  29  in.) 

4.  HEPIRY  HAWES CHAMDLER  MADE  ME  1683. 

(Diam.  39^  in.,  height  30  in.) 

5.  WILSON  WELLS  VICAR     THQS  HARTOP  AND  THQS  WHITE 

CHURCHWARDENS    h-  EDD  ARNOLD     S'r  NEOTS  FECIT 
1772. 

(Diam.  44^  in.,  height  t^t,  in.) 

KNOTTING. 

S.  Margaret.  i  Ret.l. 

I.     Unitas.    Rev  J.    W.    Hawkesley    Rector    George  Hine  Church- 
warden. 
T.  Mears  of  London  Fecit  1828. 

(Diam.  2i|  in.,  height  i6|  in.) 
The  Rev.  J.  W.  Hawkesley  was  instituted   in   March,   1792,  and  died  in 
April,  1856. 

LANGFORD. 

S.  Andrew.  3  Bells. 

1.  C.  &  G.  MEARS  FOUNDERS  LONDON   1855. 

(Diam.  28f  in.) 

2.  RICHARD   WHEELER    CHURCHWARDEN      EDW©    ARNOLD 

ST  NEOTS  FECIT   1780. 

(Diam.  29J  in.) 

3.  JOSEPH  FEILD  AND   EDWARD   CLARK   CHURCHWARDENS 

JOSEPH  EAYRE  FECIT  1772. 
(Diam.  Z2>  i"-) 

LEIGHTON    BUZZARD. 

All  Saints.  8  Bells  and  a  Priest's  Bell. 

I.     John  Swinstead  did  thro'  perseverance  Raise  This  Peal  Compleat. 

Real  merit   is  his   praise    1787.      John  Stubbe  M.D.  Donor 

W.  &  T.  Mears  of  London  Fecit  1787. 
(Diam.  -^2  in.,  height  25  in.) 


CJiurch  Dells  of  Bedfordshire.  167 

2.  John  Mann  Yeoman.      W.  «Sc  T.  Mears  late  Pack  &  Chapman  of 

London  Fecit  1787. 

(Diam.  t^i  in.,  height  25  in.) 

3.  Mrs  Martha  Sidgwick  Donor   1639     W.  &  T.  Mear.s  ok  London 

Fecit  1788. 

(Diam.  35^  in.,  height  25  in.) 

4.  Si''  Thomas  Leigh  Knighi-  Donor  1623   \S .  &  T.  Mkars  late  Lester 

Pack  &  Chapman  oi"  London  Fecit  1787. 
(Diam.  38I  in.,  height  27  in.) 

5.  AV.  &  T.  Mears  Late  Lester  Pack  and  Chapman  London  Fecit  17S7. 

(Diam.  41]  in.,  height  30  in.) 

6.  John  &  Matthew  Tii.lcock  Overseers    The  Living  to  the  Church 

I  call  and  to  the  Grave  I  summons  all     W.  ^  T.  Mkars  Late 
Lester  Pack  &  Chapman  of  London  Fecit  1787. 
(Diam.  43!  in.,  height  32  in.) 

7.  L\   \Vi:nLOCK   Bands  alt,  ve  who  Join  AV^ith   Hands  Your  Hearts 

Unite  So  shall  our  Tunekuli,  Tongues  Combine  To  Laud  the 
Nuptial  Rite  W.  &  T.  Mears  Late  Lester  Pack  c\:  Chapman* 
OF  London  Fecit  1787. 

(Diam.  47;^  in.,  height  35  in.) 

8.  Rev"  John  Wilson  Samuel  Davis  Esquires  Jeremiah  Tilcock   and 

William  Poulton  Churchwardens  W.  &  T.  Mears  of  London 
Fecit. 

(Diam.  53J,  in.,  height  51  in.) 

Priest's  Bell:— 
Blank. 

(Diam.  18 J  in.,  height  18^,  in.) 

The  total  weight  of  these  bells  (exclusive  of  the  Priest's  bell)  is  5  tons 
5  cwt.,  the  tenor  is  3^  in.  thick  at  the  sound-bow.* 

The  impression  here  is  that  the  Priest's  bell  is  an  ancient  one — it  is  called  a 
"  Roman  Bell.""  It  is  probably,  from  its  length  compared  with  its  diameter,  of 
pre-Reformation  date. 

*  Ex  itifor.  John  Harris,  Esq.,  C.E. 


1 68  The  Inscriptions  on  the 

On  the  Bell-frame  is  cut : — 

EDWARD  :  ASHWELL 

ROBERT  :  KESER.  FRANCIS 

MYCKELL  :  COLLS.  PRICE 

C  :  W.     1639 

Mr.  John  Swinstead  (see  ist  bell)  was  a  landed  proprietor  living  in  the 
neighbourhood.  He  is  traditionally  remembered  as  a  man  passionately  fond 
of  music  and  bells,  and  was  endowed,  it  is  said,  with  a  voice  of  five  octaves  in 
compass.  Mr.  John  Stubbe  was  a  physician  practising  in  Leighton  at  that 
time. 

Mr.  John  Mann  (see  2nd  bell)  was  also  a  landowner  at  Leighton  :  his 
descendants  emigrated  to  America. 

Sir  Thomas  Leigh  (see  4th  bell)  was  at  that  time  Lord  of  the  Manor  of 
Leighton. 

The  Rev.  John  Wilson  (see  tenor  bell)  died  in  1826. 

"The  Hon^'^  Charles  Leigh  Esq''^-"  left,  in  1704,  by  his  will,  205-.,  to  be  paid 
every  Christmas  to  the  Parish  Clerk  for  ringing  the  bell  to  daily  prayers.  This, 
being  charged  on  leasehold  property,  expired  some  time  ago. 

The  clock  and  chimes  having  been  silent  for  many  years,  were  restored,  in 
1863,  by  Charles  White,  Esq.,  merchant  of  London,  a  native  of  this  place. 

LEIGHTON    BUZZARD. 

A  new  church  dedicated  to  S.  Andrew,  and  consecrated  in  1S67  ;  has  one 
small  modern  bell. 

LIDLINGTON. 

All  Saints.  i  Bell  and  a  Priest's  Bell. 

I.     MEARS  &  STAINBANK  LONDON  1874. 

(Diam.  40  in.,  height  29  in.) 
Fries fs  Bell  :— 

^Efrc  [  D  <^  Lion  passant  gardant\ 

(Diam.  12  in.,  height  9  in.) 

In  the  tower  of  the  old  church,  taken  down  in  the  year  1809,  were  five  bells. 

In  that  year  a  blacksmith  was  induced  by  a  gift  of  five  shillings  to  ascend  the 

belfry,  then  in  a  dangerous  condition,  and  to  hammer  the  tenor  bell,  then 

cracked,  whilst  the  other  bells  were  being  rung.     The  4th  bell  of  the  old 


Church  Dells  of  Bedfordshire.  169 

ring  and  the  Priest's  bell  were  alone  preserved  and  hung  in  the  new  tower. 
The  former  was  inscribed  : — 

Becoming  cracked,  it  was  recast  as  above  in  1874.     The  latter  is  an  ancient 

sanctus  bell,  bearing,  in  addition  to  its  name,  a  small  stamp  of  a  lion  passant 
gardant. 

LUTON. 

S.  Mary.  8  Bells  and  a  Priest's  Bell. 

1.  I  mean  to  make  it  Understood  that  Tho'  I'm  Liitle  vet  Fm  Good 

Pack  &  Chapman  of  London  Fecit  1775. 
(Diam.  29  in.,  height  23  in.) 

2.  Altho'  I  AM  Both  Light  and  Small  I  will  be  Heard  above  you 

All.     Pack  &  ChapxMan  of  London  Fecit  1775. 
(Diam.  30  in.,  height  25  in.) 
3-7.     Pack  &  Chapman  of  London  Fecit  1775. 

(Diams.  33,  35,  36^,  39,  41^-  in.,  heights  25,  25,  26},  30,  2,0  in.     The  letters 
on  the  7th  bell  are  incised.) 

8.     I  H  S  Nazarenus  Rex  Judeorum  Fili  Dei  Miserere  Mei    Jos.  Eayre 
S'^  Neots  Fecit  1761. 

(Diam.  46  in.,  height  36  in.) 

Priests  Bell:— 

1637. 
[U48.] 
(Diam.  19  in.,  height  17  in.) 
For  Stamp  on  Priest's  bell,  sec  p.  69. 

The  "  old  ring  "  of  bells  is  said  to  have  consisted  of  five,  namely  : — 
Treble — mediceval. 
2nd — dated  1602. 
3rd — dated  16 16. 
4th — undated. 

Tenor— mediaeval,  and  believed  to  have  weighed  44  cwt.  2  qrs.  16  lbs.* 
When  the  present  bells  were  examined  the  Priest's  bell  was  missing,  but  was 
eventually  found  in  an  outhouse  at  the  Rectory.     It  had  been  lent  for  use  at 
a  temporary  district  church,  and  had   not   then  been   restored  to  its  proper 
place. 


*  E.y  ill/or.  Julin  Harris,  Esq.,  C.E. 


170  The  Inscriptions  on  the 

MARSTON    MORETAINE. 

S.  Mary.  5  Bells. 

1-5.  ,iipB€T:E>©^:H  ^^^%^j^^ixM  o:p<a:Ei^p?  1610 

[  ^  39  ]■ 

(Diams.  3 2 J,  44  in.,  heights  26,  31  J-  in.) 

[  u  39  ]•  ,       , 

(Diams.  34|,  35  in.,  heights  25I   30  in.) 

4.  .^?3€r:E)©-:R  ©:M3t:K:j^XDEi  :m_(i):]pCLLm  1610  [  u  39  ]• 

(Diam.  39  in.,  height  30  in.) 

For  Stamp,  see  p.  60. 

These  excellent  bells,  all  from  Hugh  Watts'  foundry,  are  what  are  termed 
alphabet  bells.  They  all  bear  letters  of  the  fine  character  figured  on  p.  59. 
They  hang  in  a  detached  campanile,  standing  fifty  feet  from  the  church  ;  the 
timbers  of  the  frame  are  exceedingly  large  and  strong. 

MAULDEN. 

S.  Mary.  5  Bells. 

1.  ^B  ^y^tvivci  ^aittramiis  [u  24  n  23]  O  [  n  22]. 

(Diam.  29  in.,  height  23  in.) 

2.  EMMERTON  OF  WOOTTON  FECIT  1780. 

Jo«^Gu°^^^H  Churchwardens. 
John  Webb       J 

(Diam.  31I  in.,  height  23  in.) 

3.  J0l|annc0  bier  Ijanc  tampanam  fccif  1593. 

(Diam.  32^  in.,  height  25  in.) 

4.  THOMAS  RVSSELL  OF  WOOTTON  MADE  ME  1738  + 

Michael  Winwright 
&  Joseph  Higham. 

(Diam.  36  in.,  height  27  in.) 

5.  T  Mears  of  London   Fecit    1831     Recast   1S31.      Rev"  Charles 

Ward  MA  Rector. 

M"^  T.  W.  Overman  I  ^  ,„ 

>  Church  Wardens. 
M'*  John  Seabrook  J 

(Diam.  40  in.,  height  29  in.) 
For  Stamps,  see  pp.  53  and  54. 
The  Rev.  Chas.  Ward  (see  tenor  bell)  was  instituted  in  1S25. 


Church  Bells  of  Bedfordshire.  1 7 1 

MELCHBOURNE. 

S.  Mary.  4  Bells. 

1.  PAWLETT  St  JOHN  VICAR  W^  AND  THQS  EDMUNDS  C.  W.  •. 

ISLIP  EDMUNDS  LONDON  FECIT  1764. 

(Diani.  iZ^  i"-)  height  26^  in.) 

2.  THOMAS  RVSSELL  MADIE  ME   17 19. 

(Diam.  35^  in.,  height  27^  in.) 

3.  NON  VERBO   SEQ  VOCE    RESONABO    DOMIM    {sic)   LAVDES 

1626. 

(Diam.  28  in.,  height  31^  in.) 

4.  i^:^M-y^^    ©ojE)    j3.:e>:o    0:13  c^u    w^m^ 

^^UL^m^  1 60 1  [  u  39  ]• 

(Diam.  42  in.,  height  32  in.) 

For  Stamps  and  Letters  on  4th  bell,  see  pp.  60  and  59. 

The  Rev.  Pawlet  St.  John  signs  the  Registers  as  Curate  in  1740,  and  first 
as  Vicar  in  May,  1742  ;  his  name  ceases  to  appear  after  7  August,  1774,  but 
he  does  not  appear  to  have  been  buried  in  this  parish. 

MEPPERSHALL. 
S.  Mary.  5  Bells. 

1.  jJol|u  :E)tcr  V  Xllatic  XHe  1591. 

(Diam.  28^  in.,  height  2\\  in.) 

2.  HOLINESS     UNTO     THE     LORD.      JOHN     TAYLOR     &    Co. 

FOUNDERS  LOUGHBOROUGH  1882. 

(Diam.  31^  in.,  weight  6  cwt.  3  qr.  7  lb.) 

3.  J  :  FOX.  C  :  W.    J  :  BRIANT  HERTFORD  FECIT  181 6. 

(Diam.  31  i  in.,  height  23  in.) 

4.  OMNIA    FIANT    AD    GLORIAM    DEI    :  JOSEPH    EAYRE    OF 

SAINT  NEOTS  HUNTINGDONSHIRE  FECIT  1766. 
(Diam.  36  in.,  height  28  in.) 

5.  WILLIAM    EMMERTON    WOOTTON    FECIT  O  1774      William 

Lincoln  Churchwarden  O 

(Diam.  39^  in.,  height  29  in.) 

In  the  Public  Record  Office  are  preserved  some  papers  relating  to — amongst 
other  Church  goods — a  "  Saunce  bell,"  fomierly  belonging  to  this  Church. 


172  The  Inscriptions  on  the 

There  is  a  letter  dated  from  Westminster,  on  the  i6th  of  May,  1556,  signed 
by  William  Burners,  Thomas  Mildmay  and  John  Wyscman,  and  addressed  to 
Thomas  Strynger,  of  Mepersale,  in  the  county  of  Bedford,  yeoman,  by  which 
he  is  ordered  to  appear  in  person  before  the  writers  at  Westminster  on  the  first 
day  of  Trinity  Term  then  next,  to  answer  concerning  the  detention  of  Church 
goods  formerly  belonging  to  the  parish  church  of  Mepersale. 

There  is  also  a  letter  from  Thomas  Hemmynge,  dated  from  Alrychesey,  3rd 
June  [1556],  and  addressed  to  Berners,  Mildmay  and  Wyseman,  touching  the 
order  so  given  to  Stringer,  stating  that  the  charge  was  made  against  him  out  of 
malice,  "and  forasmuche  as  my  neyghbour  ys  an  olde  man,  and  not  used  to 
jorney,  and  that  also  I  unworthely  among;^  other  of  the  worshypfuU  as  I  sup- 
pose are  yn  lyke  Commyssyone  within  our  Shyre  of  Bedf:  of  and  for  the 
churche  gooddes  and  other  thynges,  I  have  called  the  seid  partie  before  me, 
and  have  declared  the  contentes  of  yo""  lettres  before  hym,  and  uppon  dewe 
examynation  therin  had  before  me  and  other  of  the  Commyssyon,  have  taken 
his  answer  concernynge  the  premisses  yn  wrytynge."  The  writer  promises  to 
go  up  himself  within  a  day  or  two-  of  the  beginning  of  that  term,  and  trusts 
that  the  non-appearance  of  Stringer  will  not  offend  them.  The  declaration  of 
Thomas  Strynger  is  also  preserved.  It  sets  forth  at  some  length  that  about  six 
or  seven  years  past  he  and  one  Gowther  Parker,  yeoman,  of  the  same  town  {i.e. 
Mepersale),  now  deceased,  were  the  Churchwardens  of  Mepersale,  and  when 
they  were  commanded  by  the  King's  Commissioners  to  come  before  them,  and 
to  bring  a  lawful  inventory  of  such  church  goods  and  money  as  belonged  to 
the  said  church  of  Mepersale,  they  appeared  at  Luton,  and  also  at  Clifton,  and 
at  the  latter  place  delivered  to  Sir  Michael  Fisher,  knight,  and  other  Commis- 
sioners, an  inventory  in  which,  with  other  things,  "and  also  v  belles."  After 
the  inventory  so  presented,  and  before  any  goods  were  delivered,  he  and  Parker 
upon  the  accounts  were  discharged,  and  John  Strynger  and  Harry  Meade  were 
elected  Churchwardens,  after  which  election,  and  about  three  years  past,  they 
were  commanded  to  appear  before  new  Commissioners  at  Bedford  with  the 
ornaments  specified  in  the  inventory,  and  the  said  Churchwardens  did  make 
delivery  accordingly.  And  forasmuch  as  it  is  to  be  supposed  that  one  John 
Leventhorpe  the  elder,  gentleman,  of  Mepersale,  is  one  of  the  procurers  of  the 
bill  against  him,  the  deponent  says  that  he  must  needs  speak  of  the  "  ym- 
beaselynge  "  of  certain  goods  by  the  said  Leventhorpe  which  were  not  put  in 
the  Inventory 

"  Inprimis  he  had  a  saunce  belle  hangynge  yn  the  belfrey,  and  converted  the 


Church  Bells  of  Bedfordshire. 


/o 


same  to  his  owne  use,  and  never  payd  one  peny  therfore  and  by  estymacon 
worthe  to  be  sold  iiij  markes  or  thereaboughtes." 

The  charge  against  Thomas  Strynger  appears  to  be  comprised  in  these 
words  : — 

"  Ornamentes   belonging  to  the  churchc  of  Mepersale  and  soldc  and 
deteyned  by  Thomas  Stringer  of  the  same, 
ffyrste  one  chalesse         ......... 


Item  one  handebell  solde  to  Leonard  Daye xvj^. 

Sm^  vij''.  xiij^  viij*^. 
M.^  the  Commyssyoners  certyfycate  of  Beddfordshyre  beyng  serched 
the  xix  Daye  of  June  ann.  ij'io  and  iij<='°  itt  api)erythe  that  Iviij*. 
viijd.  for  the  broken  chalycc  the  cope  of  Taffyta  and  latten  was  i)aid 
to  the  Commyssyoners  handes  by  the  said  Thomas  Stringer,  and  is 
chardged  within  the  summe  of  cccviiji'.  iiijd.  for  the  churche  goodcs 
of  Beddfordeshyre."* 
Prior  to  1882  the  present  3rd  bell  was  the  2nd,  and  the  then  3rd  bell  was  an 
ancient  one,  inscribed  : — 

This  old  bell,  being  full  of  flaws  and  of  bad  tone,  was  recast  in  that  year 
for  the  2nd  bell,  and  the  old  2nd,  cast  in  1816,  being  much  too  flat  for  its 
position  in  the  ring,  was  adopted  as  the  3rd  bell. 


MILLBROOKE. 

S.  Michael.  2  Bf.i.i.s. 

1.  Hancta  XHarla  Ora  [IPrw  :i?iobis  [  n  23  ]  O  [  D  ^~^\ 

(Diam.  33  in.,  height  26  in.) 

2.  RICHARD  CHANDLER  MADE  ME   1677. 

(Diam.  40  in.,  height  31  in.,  cracked.) 

For  Stamps  on   the    ist   (where  the  capital  letters  are  crowned)  sec  p.  53. 

There  were  formerly  three  bells  :  one  is  now  missing  ;  an  aged  clerk  says, 
"  Sent  away  by  Churchwardens,  about  sixty  years  ago,  to  be  run,  and  never 
came  back." 

*  Land  Revenue  Records.     Churcli  Goods,  '^'*^'  P.R.  OfT. 

»7. 


1 74  The  Inscriptions  on  the 

MILTON    BRYANT. 

S.  Pkter.  3  Bells. 

1.  [+  56]  [IK  53]   1641  [DSS]. 

(I)iam.  30  in.,  height  24  in.) 

2.  1636  [D  51]  RICHARD  CHAMDELER  [+50]   1636. 

(Diam.  32^  in.,  height  27  in.) 
3-     [  +  55  ]  <^'01)  [  D  58  ]  SAVE  OVR  KING  1641   [  I  K  53  ]. 
(Diam.  36I  in.,  height  27  in.,  cracked.) 

For  Stamps,  see  pp.  75,  76  and  71. 

On  the  fly-leaf  of  one  of  the  Registers  is  a  memorandum  that  "  i  bell  was 
cast  in  1622,  Mr.  Winn'e  being  the  Rector."  No  present  bell  agrees  with  this 
entry. 

The  tenor  was  recently  cracked  by  allowing  the  clapper  to  "  drop,"  and  so 
strike  the  bell  below  the  sound-bow.  The  clock-hammers  (there  are  two)  which 
now  strike  on  the  2nd  bell,  bell-ropes,  etc.,  required  attention  when  these  bells 
were  examined.  Possibly  the  defects  have  been  since  remedied  by  the 
Churchwardens. 

The  bells  formerly  hung  in  a  kind  of  wooden  tower,  or  bell-cage.  The 
present  tower  was  built  about  thirty  years  ago.  It  is  large  enough  for  a  good 
ring  of  bells,  but  the  walls  are  rather  thin. 

MILTON  ERNEST. 

All  Saints.  5  Bells. 

1.  4,  5.     MEWCOME  OF  LEICESTER  MADE  ME  AO  161 1. 

(Diams.  28,  34,  37  in.,  heights  23,  26,  29  in.) 

2.  RICHARD  CHANDLER  MADE  ME  1678. 

(Diam.  30  in.,  height  24  in.) 

3.  I    .-.    EDMUNDS    LONDON    FECIT    1765.      GEO    .*.    BACK- 

HOUSE VICAR.     HENRY  BULL  &  JAME2   HARTWELL  : 
C  .  • .  W  .  • . 

(Diam.  32  in.,  height  25  in.) 

MUGGERHANGER. 

S.  Mary  the  Virgin.  i  Belu 

I.     HOLINESS  TO  THE  LORD. 

G.   MEARS  FOUNDER  LONDON   i860. 

(Diam.  23^  in.,  height  18^  in.) 


Church  Bells  of  Bedfordshire. 


I  D 


NORTHILL. 

S.  Mary.  5  Bfj.i.s. 

I.    L^  21]  Hanctc  ©a&rtct  Ota  ^trw  ^obia  O. 

(Diam.  34J  in.,  height  26  in.) 

ji:m:iii©-  [038]  :BiJiT^is)i:i?i<3  [U39]  1589- 

(Diam.  35  in.,  height  28  in.) 

3.  is{mM:^^   C50DE>   j5-:m)E)    ox^e^u    xx^e 

X>XiXXl€Te-  1602  [U39]- 

(Diam.  39  in.,  height  30  in.) 

4.  RICHARD  CHANDLER  MADE  ME  17— 11. 

(Diam.  43^  in,  height  ii\  in.) 

AO 

5.  MEWCOME  OF  LEICESTER  MADE  ME  161 13. 

(Diam.  48^  in.,  height  36  in.) 
For  Stamps  and  for  specimen  of  letters  on  the  2nd  and  3rd,  sec  pp.  52,  60 
and  59. 

OAKLEY. 
S.  Mary.  5  Bells. 

1.  R.  STOKES  -H  VICAR    O    J   :  AGUTER  &  O  :  PURSER  C   :  W 

-.-  1750.     T  :  EAYRE  .  •  .  RETT.  FECIT  O. 
(Diam.  28  in.,  height  23^  in.) 

2.  T.  SMITH  R.  KNIGHT  CHVRCHWARDENS  J.  C  1711. 

(Diam.  30  in.,  height  23^  in.) 

3.   (50X>  BMsv:'^  wx^^  x^ixi©.9  [U39]. 

(Diam.  32  in.,  height  26  in.) 
4.     THOMAS  MEARS  FOUNDER  LONDON  1842. 

(Diam.  35  in.,  height  25  in.) 
5-     X>XiJiXHQ-    WM^    X^OXi:0    1600  [U  39]. 
(Diam.  38  in.,  height  35  in.) 
For  Stamps  and  for  specimens  of  letters  on   the  3rd  and  5th  bells,  see  pp. 
60  and  59. 

There  is  in  the  church  a  memorial  to  "The  Rev"*.  M'.  Robert  Stookes  [see 
treble  bell],  Vicar  of  this  parish  and  Curate  of  Steventon  :  he  died  the  nth  of 
November,  1770,  in  the  62"'*  year  of  his  age." 


1 76  The  Inscriptions  on  the 

ODELL. 

All  Saints.  5  Bells. 

I,  2.     1638.     I  K. 

(I)iams.  30^^  and  33  in.,  heights  24  and  25^  in.) 

3.  WB[n  57].     RR[D  58].     CW  1638. 

IK. 
(Diam.  34I  in.,  height  28  in.) 

4.  [  +  54]  GOD  SAVE  OVR  KIWG  i6j8. 

(Diam.  38I  in.,  height  30  in.) 

j^^i^  miBM-^m  WM^  itLj.^i(^  1635  [u  39]- 

(Diam.  42-I  in.,  height  32  in.) 

For  Stamps  and  for  specimens  of  letters  on  the  5th  bell,  see  pp.  76,  75,  60 
and  59. 

There  are  a  set  of  good  rules  hanging  in  the  ringing  chamber  for  the 
guidance  of  the  ringers. 

PAVENHAM. 

5.  Peter.  5  Bells. 

I.     DANL    HIPWELL  AND    WILLIAM    DIX    C  :  WARDENS    ROBt 
TAYLOR  ST  NEOTS  FOUNDER  1796. 
(Diam.  28|  in.,  height  2o|  in.) 

2.  ©o:e)  BMs^m  wM^  ^.^^m:Eim  1602  [u  39]- 

(Diam.  28^  in.,  height  22J  in.) 

3.  RICHARD  O  GILBERT  [*]     ROBERT  o  TOLE  o  CHVRCH 

O  WARDENS  [*]    JOHN  O  HODSON  O  MADE  rj  MEE 
Oi663[*]     WHO  00. 

(Diam.  30  in.,  height  25  in.     *  Fleur-de-lys.) 

4.  MEWCOME  MADE  MEE  AO  1614. 

(Diam.  33^  in.,  height  26  in.) 

5.  [+  54]  GOD  [D  58]  SAVE  \U  58]  OVR  [Q  58]  KF/IG  [  D  58] 

1623  [IK  53]. 

(Diam.  35 i  in.,  height  27  in.) 
For  Stamps  and  for  specimens  of  letters  on  the  2nd  bell,  see  pp.  60,  75,  76 
and  59. 


Clmrch  Bells  of  Bedfordshire.  1 7  7 

PERTENHALL. 

SS.  Peter  and  Paul.  '  3  Bells. 

1.  ROBEART  O  SMITH  O  EDWARD  <>  PECOKE   O  CHVRCH 

O  WARDENS  O    O    O    O  O  WILLIAM    O    HVLL    <> 
MADE  <>   ME  O   1666  O- 

(Diam.  29^  in.,  height  23  in.) 

2.  JOHN    WADSWORTH  Q  CHVRCHWARDEN    17 16      THOMAS 

RV22ELL  OF  WOOTTON. 

(Diam.  32^  in.,  height  25  in.) 

3.  CHANDLER  MADE  ME  1683. 

(Diam.  34^?  in.,  height  28  in.) 
These  bells  have  been  recently  re-hung. 

POLLUXHILL. 
S.  James.  i  Beli, 

I.     Tho^  Mears  of  London  Fecit    iSoo   W''    Collyer    &:    Jos"  Cole 
Church  Wardens. 

(Diam.  32  in.,  height  24  in.) 

POTTESGROVE. 

S.  Mary.  3  Bells. 

1.  Blank. 

(Diam.  26^  in.,  height  i8|  in.) 

2.  EDWARD     HALL     MADE    ME    1743.       ELLISTON    WALKER 

CHURCHWARDEN. 

(Diam.  28^  in.,  height,  2\\  in.) 

3.  Thomas  Mears  of  London  Fecit  1813. 

(Diam.  30  in.,  height  22  in.) 

It  is  said  that  prior  to  the  year  1743  there  was  only  a  single  bell,  which  hung 
in  a  stone  turret.  About  that  time  two  other  bells  were  added,  and  a  wooden 
erection  was  put  up  in  which  to  place  them.  The  church  is  now  (18S1)  being 
restored.  This  wooden  cage  will  be  removed,  and  a  new  stone  turret  erected 
to  contain  the  bells,  in  accordance  with  the  original  design.  They  will  not  be 
hung  for  ringing,  simply  for  chiming  by  means  of  iron  levers. 

The  treble  bell,  without  inscription,  is   a  long-waisted,  ancient-looking  bell. 
The  cannons  have  been  cut  off",  and  she  has  been  much  cut,  apparently  in  an 
endeavour  to  bring  her  into  tunc  with  the  others. 
2  A 


1 78  The  Inscriptions  on  the 

POTTON. 

S.  Mary.  5  Bells. 

1.  THOMAS  NEWMAN  MADE  MEE  1706  Mr.  RICHARD  LEE. 

(Diam.  26|  in.,  height  19';  in.) 

2.  THOMAS  HANKIN,  THOMAS  PLOMER.  CW  1706. 

(Diam.  28  in.,  height  21  in.) 

3.  JAMES    UNDERWOOD     &    GEORGE    KITCHING    CHURCH- 

WARDENS ROBT  TAYLOR  ST  NEOTS  FOUNDER  1797. 
(Diam.  29 i  in.,  height  2\\  in.) 

4.  GEORGE    KITCHIN    &   JOHN    YAVD    :    CHVRCHWARDENS 

T.  JANAWAY  FECIT.     RECAST  ANNO  DOMINI  1785. 
(Diam.  32  in.,  height  23  in.) 

5.  GEORGE  SMITH  )  r^TTTTr>r>TT,,r  a-dt^itxtc 

JOHN  CRESSEY  LLOYD  I  CHURCHWARDENS. 
C.  &  G.  MEARS  FOUNDERS  LONDON  1844. 
(Diam.  35  in.,  height  25  in.) 

The  Parish  Registers  contain  several  entries  relating  to  the  Lee  family  (see 
ist  bell),  dating  from  1673  to  the  3rd  of  October,  1708,  on  which  day  is 
entered  the  burial  of  "  Richard  Lee,  Gent.,"  the  donor  of,  or  a  benefactor  to, 
the  treble  bell.  His  name  is  mentioned  in  an  account  of  the  Potton  Charities 
as  lending  ^15  in  July,  1699,  to  make  up  the  sum  of  £,220,  the  amount 
required  to  purchase  some  "  Town  Lands."  The  numerous  local  records  of 
this  parish  are  scattered  about ;  they  should  be  collected  and  placed  in  safe 
keeping.     Many  are  lost,  others  are  being  damaged  by  damp  and  mice. 


PUDDINGTON. 

S.  Mary.  4  Bells. 

I.     JOHN  TAYLOR  FOUNDER  OXFORD  AND  LOUGHBOROUGH 

1843. 

(Diam.  30  in.) 

2.  j^:B<sr  :E)er:R  ©:e^i  1609  [u  39]. 

(Diam.  34  in.) 

3.     [+54]  GOD  SAVE  OVR  ONO  161 3. 

(Diam.  35  in.,  cracked). 


Church  Bells  of  Bedfordshire.  \  79 

4.     [+54]  ("^OD  SAVE  OVR  KING  1618. 

(Diam.  37  in.) 
For  Stamps  and  for  specimens  of  letters  on  the  2nd  bell,  see  pp.  60,  75 

and  59. 

RAVENSDEN. 

All  Saints.  3  Bells. 

I.     THOMAS  WALKER  CHVRCHWARDEN    17 11. 

(Diam.  28  in.,  height  23^  in.) 
2     C.  &  G.   MEARS  FOUNDERS  LONDON  1847. 

(Diam.  30^-  in.,  height  23!  in.) 

3.  ^y\.j^%Bm  ^-Ker  j5.o:ri:oe-  1O03  [  u  39-] 

(Diam.  33  in.,  height  24  in.) 
For  Stamps  and  specimen  of  letters  on  3rd  bell,  see  pp.  60  and  59. 

RENHOLD. 

All  Saints.  5  Bells. 

I,  2.     CHRISTOPHER   •.'•  GRAIE  •."•  MADE  ME  1658. 
(Diams.  28^,  30^  in.,  heights  21},  24  in  ) 

3.  Blank. 

(Diam.  33  in.,  height  25^  in.) 

4.  THOMAS 'rVSSELL  MADE  ME  1721. 

(Diam.  35  in.,  height  27^  in.) 

5.  WILLIAM  EMMERTON  O  OF  O  WOOTTON   FECIT    1775  OO 

Robert  Newman    1  ^  ^       r\  n\ 

\  Churchwardens  (J  O 
Richard  Ashpole  J 

(Diam.  41?,  in.,  height  30  in.) 

RIDGMOUNT  [Ancient]. 

There  were  formerly  in  this  church — now  used  only  as  a  cemetery  chapel  — 
four  bells,  three  of  which  are  said  to  have  been  sold,  about  sixty  years  ago,  to 
Husborne  Crawley,  in  order  to  raise  money  for  repairs,  and  the  4th  still  remains 
hanging  in  a  tower  in  fiir  too  dilapidated  a  condition  to  be  safe  for  any  one  to 
ascend. 


i8o  The  Tnscriptio7is  on  the 

RIDGMOUNT  [New  Church]. 

All  Saints.  i  Bell. 

I.     PRESENTED  BY  FRANCIS  RUSSELL  DUKE  OF  BEDFORD  1855 
C.  &  G.  MEARS  FOUNDERS  LONDON. 
(Diam.  44  in.,  height  33  in.) 

RISELY. 

All  Saints.  5  Bells. 

1.  GOD  SAVE  THE  KINGE  1639  [U  39  ]• 

(Diam.  32  in.,  height  27  in.) 

2.  HGFEDCBA  XWVT  SRQPO  1639  [U  39]. 

(Diam.  32  in.,  height  28  in.) 

3.  +  ^  F.  W.  WHITEHEAD  &  s.  RICHARDS  .  C.W  :  R  :  TAYLOR  &  J 

BRIANT  ST  NEOTS  FECERUNT  1816. 
(Diam.  35I  in.,  height  28  in.) 

4.  C.  &  G.  MEARS  FOUNDERS  1852.     LONDON. 

(Diam.  40  in.,  height  28  in.) 

5.  SAMUEL   RICHARDS    &  W   BURBIQGE   CHURCHWARDENS 

R  :  TAYLOR  S^  NEOTS  FECIT  1814. 
(Diam.  44  in.,  height  31  in.) 
For  Stamps,  see  p.  60. 

ROXTON. 

S.  Mary.  4  Bells. 

1.  TAYLOR  S"^  NEOTS  FOUNDER  1799. 

(Diam.  28  in.,  height  19  in.,  piece  out  of  sound-bow.) 

2.  [+  I  ]  BE  YT  KNOWNE  TO  ALL  THAT  DOTH  ME  SEE  THAT 

NEWCOMBE  OF  LEICESTER  MADE  ME  i6oi. 
(Diam.  29J  in.,  height  23  in.) 

3.  \A  Fleur-de-lys  ]  1 5  9 1 • 

(Diam.  30  in.,  height  25  in.,  large  crack  and  piece  out  of  sound-bow.) 

4.  Blank. 

(Diam.  32  in.,  height  26  in.) 
For  Stamps  on  2nd  bell,  see  p.  41. 

Three  of  these  bells  are  said  to  have  been  cracked  on  the  occasion  of  ring- 
ing for  the  marriage  of  the  Prince  of  Wales  in  1863. 


Church  Dells  of  Bedfordshire.  1 8 1 

SALFORD. 

S.  Mary.  3  Bkli.s. 

I-     [+  55]  [DsSDsS]  [IK53]  1626. 

(Diam.  26  in.,  height  21  in.) 

2.  CHRISTOPHER  GRAVE  MADE  ME  1C61. 

(Diam.  27  in.,  height  20  in.) 

3.  «^trE  XHattt^  [U  24023]  O  [022]. 

(Diam.  31  in.,  height  23  in.) 

For  Stamps,  see  pp.  75,  76,  53  and  54.  The  capitals  of  the  inscription  on 
the  3rd  bell  are  crowned. 

In  1552,  when  an  Inventory  of  the  Church  Goods  belonging  to  Salford  was 
drawn  up,  there  were  : — 

"Iterti  in  y<=  steple  of  y^  said  church  iij  belles  the  great  bell  in  compas 
too  yeardes  and  di  in  deapth  iij  (luarter  and  a  nayle  the  second  in 
compasse  ij  yerdes  and  a  quarter  in  deapth  iij  quarter  the  third  in 
compasse  ij  yerdes  in  deapth  iij  quarter  save  a  nayle. 
Item  ij  hande  belles."* 

There  is  no  tower  to  this  church  ;  the  bells  are  hung  in  an  open  wooden 
turret  at  the  west  end  of  the  church,  and  can  be  reached  only  from  the  roof. 
They  cannot  be  rung,  as  there  are  no  wheels  :  they  arc  chimed  by  levers. 

SANDY. 

S.  SwiTHiN.  5  Bei.i.s. 

1.  EGO  SUM  VOX  CLAMANTIS    JOSEPH  EAYRE  FECIT  1769. 

(Diam.  31  in.,  height  27  in.) 

2.  RVSSELL  OF  WOOTTON  MADE  ME  1723. 

(Diam.  33^  in.,  height  24  in.) 

3.  C.  &  G.  MEARS  FOUNDERS  LONDON   1852. 

(Diam.  36  in.,  height  26  in.) 

4.  [  +  I  ]  BE  YT  KNOWNE    TO    ALL    THAT    DOTH     MEE   SEE 

THAT  NEWCOMBE  OF  LEICESTER  MADE  MEE  1602. 
(Diam.  39  in.,  height  29  in.) 


*  Land  Kncnue  Records,  r-uiullc  1392,  lilc  2,  I'.K.  On". 


i82  The  Inscriptions  on  the 

5.     THOMAS  RVSSELL  OF  WOOTTOM   NFAR  BEDFORD   MADE 
ME  1733   00000  THOMAS   BLEEN    AND    THOMAS 
ADKINS  CHURCHWARDENS  O  O  O  O  O  O 
(Diam.  42  in.,  height  31^  in.) 

P'or  Stamps  on  4th  bell,  see  p.  41. 

This  parish  lost  two  bells  in  the  reign  of  Edward  the  Sixth,  for  which  the 
parishioners  were  called  to  account  by  the  Commissioners  in  the  year  1556. 
A  letter,  addressed  from  Sandy,  is  still  extant  in  the  Public  Record  Office, 
which,  while  not  explaining  very  clearly  under  what  circumstances  the  bells 
were  removed  from  the  steeple,  gives  a  somewhat  curious  picture  of  the  man- 
ner in  which  church  bells  were  sometimes  misappropriated.  The  letter  runs 
thus  : — 

After  commendacions  vnto  yo''  Worships  the  Kinge  and  the  qifene  rha''"=s 
Comyssioners  Theshalbe  to  ass''teyn  yo"  for  answere  accordynge  to  the 
tenor  of  you""  lettre  directed  to  vs  the  Inhabitauntes  of  the  Towne 
and  paryshe  of  Sandeye  in  the  County  of  Bedf.  for  ij  belles  thone 
wayenge  x*^  i  q""  and  ix"'  of  bell  mettell  and  thother  wayenge  vij<= 
xlvij'"  of  bell  mettell  w*  said  ij  belles  were  lefte  in  the  churche  yarde 
of  Sandey  by  y^  commaundeme'  of  M""  Robt.  Burgoyn  decessid  then 
beynge  one  of  the  Kynge  ma''<=s  Audytcs  who  had  all  the  doynge  of 
the  exchaynge  of  y'^  saide  ij  belles  and  y'^"  charged  y'  no  persone 
shulde  medle  with  y*^  same  belles  vntill  he  sent  for  theym  And  sayd 
y'  he  wold  discharge  vs  of  y'^™  at  all  tymes  so  y'  we  were  not  charged 
w'  the  said  belles  And  so  shortly  after  the  dethe  of  the  said  Mr 
Burgoyn  Dame  Elizabethe  Litton  late  wiff  of  y'^  same  maister 
Burgoyn  late  wifif  of  S''  Robt  Litton  Knyght  also  decessyd  and  now 
wiff  unto  Mr  Thwynno,  commaunded  and  caused  one  Michael 
Hodgskyn  of  Brodwater  in  the  parishe  of  Nebborthe  in  the  County 
of  Hertf  y«"  beynge  bayly  vnto  y^  said  Dame  Elizabeth  Litton  to 
ffett  the  said  ij  belles  from  Sandey  aforesaid  w'^  his  cart  vnto  Neb- 
borthe aforesaid  where  as  the  same  Lady  Litton  y^"  dwelled.  And 
y^  said  Michaell  Hodgskyn  saythe  shortly  after  y«  said  Lady  Litton 
caused  y^  same  ij  belles  to  be  carryed  to  London  towardes  the  pay- 
ment of  y^  dettes  of  her  said  late  husband  Mr  Burgoyn  And  this 
the  said  Michaell  Hodgskyn  who  his  a  lyve  at  this  present  will  witnes 
and  testifie  this  before  whome  so  ever  he  shalbe  called,  for  s'^teyn  of 


CImrch  Bells  of  Bedfordshire.  183 

vs  the  said  inhabitaunce  of  Sandey  were  w'^  the  said  Michaell 
Hodgskyn  of  late  to  have  the  trowght  theryn  who  lyke  an  honest 
man  dcclayred  no  lesse  vnto  vs  y="  is  before  sayde  and  thus  we  the 
said  Inhabytauntes  of  Sanday  who  have  subscrybed  o""  handes  here 
vnder  written  in  the  name  of  all  y=  inhabitauntes  of  y«  Towne  and 
parishe  of  Sandey  aforesaid  have  as  well  advertised  yo""  worships  by 
whom  the  same  ij  belles  were  taken  away  as  also  by  whate  auctorytie 
and  further  we  cannot  say  as  knowith  God  who  have  your  Worships 
in  his  tuyscion  from  Sandey  the  xij'''  of  October  1556 
by  yo''s  to  Commaunde 
Thomas  Cater  Roger  Aldryche 

\\'yllyam  ffrancke 

Tomas  Cater  Willm.  adrosere 

Ihon  bronsoU  Thomas  wonderwode 

Thomas  Brittyn  -H  Thomas  spring 

Thomas  Goswell  Rale  bronsoU 

Wyll'am  Cartor  + 
lohn  BronsoU 
\^Addr€SseLp[  To    the    Right   Wo'^shipfull 
Mr  Thomas   Myldmay  and 
oy''s  y'=  Kinge  and  quene  ma''<^^ 
Commyssioners  in  the  paryshe 
of  saynt  Thomas  thapostle 
in  London  yeve  these 
\belino  in  another  hand\ 
ffrom  Sandy 


YEndoiscd^ 


From  the 
Towne  of 
Sandye  in 
the  Countie  of 
Bedf.  concernyng 
thaccompt  of 
S""  George 
Gyffarde* 


*  La)u{  Kivcnuc  Kaords,  Iniinllc  139;;,  1' ilc  4,  Nu.  1,  1'.  K.  UM. 


184  The  Inscriptio7is  on  the 

SHARNBROOK. 

S.  Peter.  5  Bells. 

1.  JOHN    SHARP    AND    JOHN    MERRILL    CHVRCHVVARDENS 

MATTHEW  BAGLEY  MADE  MEE  1683. 
(Diam.  24  in.) 

2.  HENRY  BAGLEY  MADE  MEE  1683. 

(Diam.  29^  in.) 

3.  EX    DONO    THOME     MOVNTAGV    DE    BVRTON    COMITAT 

NORTHAMPTON  RECTORIS  1683. 
(Diam.  30^  in.) 

4.  HEWCOME  OF  LEICESTER  Ao  161.     [?] 

(Diam.  36  in.) 

5.  WILLIAM    CORBEY   AND    JOHN   ROGERS  C  W     HENRICVS 

BAGLEY  ME  FECIT  Q  1699. 

(Diam.  39  in.) 
There  is  the  date  1683  carved  on  the  bell-frame:  the  bells  were  probably 
rehung  in  that  year,  when  several  of  them  were  cast. 

SHEFFORD. 

S.  Michael  and  All  Angels.  i  Bell. 

I.     R.    TAYLOR  .   FECIT    S^     NEOTS    1808      WILLIAM    GREEN 
CHURCHWARDEN. 

(Diam.  29^  in.,  height  22  in.) 

SHELTON. 

S.  Mary.  3  Bells. 

1.  PRAIES  GOD  1599. 

(Diam.  26|  in.,  height  20  in.) 

2.  JOSEPH  EAYRE  S^^  NEOTS  FECIT  1770. 

(Diam.  29I  in.,  height  24  in.) 

3.  I  H'8  NAZARENVS  REX  IVDEORVM   FILI    DEI    MISERERE 

MEI  1634  [U39]- 

(Diam.  32  in.,  height  26  in.) 
For  Stamp  and  specimens  of  letters  on  the  3rd  bell,  see  pp.  60  and  59. 


CImrch  Bells  of  Bed/ordshur.  1S5 

There  is  a  tradition  current,  both  here  and  at  the  adjacent  parish  ot  Har- 
grave,  Northamptonshire,  that  the  Uaryravo  folk  "swopped"  a  clock  with 
their  neighbours  here  for  one  of  their  bells,  and  to  this  day  it  is  a  matter  of 
chaffing  on  the  part  of  the  Hargrave  people  that  they  had  the  best  of  the 
bargain. 

SHILLINGTON. 

All  Saints.  5  Bells  and  a  Priest's  Bell. 

I.     [  ^  "^gl  PRAISE  THE  LORD   1638. 

(Diam.  37  in.) 

2.  :^:EiJ3:i.s©-  wM^  :iiio:nx)  1602  [U39]. 

(Diam.  41  in.) 

3.  [  +  I  ]    BE  YT    KNOWNE    TO    ALL    THAT    DOTH     ME    SEE 

THAT  NEWCOMBE  OF  LEICESTER  >LM)E  MEE  160. 
(Diam.  44 ^j  in.) 

4.  NON  CLAMOR  SED  AMOR  CANTAT  IN  AURE  DEI   1624. 

(Diam.  45  in.) 

5-  [  +  59  ]  CUM  CANO  BUSTA  MORI  CUM  PULPITA  VIVERE 
DISCE.  DISCE  MORI  NOSTRO  VIVERE  DISCE  SONO 
1624. 

(Diam.  47  j  in.,  height  39  in.) 

Pries fs  Bell:— 

1626. 

(Diam.  16  in.) 

For  Stamps,  sec  pp.  60,  69,  41  and  76  ;  and  for  specimens  of  letters  on  the 
2nd  bell,  see  p.  59. 

The  Churchwardens'  Accounts,  which  are  in  good  preservation,  contain 
many  entries  relating  to  the  bells.  1  have,  by  the  kind  permission  of  the 
Rev.  J.  A.  Bonser,  the  Vicar,  extracted  the  following : — 

1574  Paid  ta  Robert  Green  and  to  Richard  Deere  for  vj 
dayes  worke  aboute  y"'  hanginge  of  the  great  bell 
and  for  trussingc  of  the  other  belles  and  mendinge 

of  y'=  frame xiiij-f- 

Payd  to  James  Dcare  for  bred  and  1  )rinke  at  y*^  sett- 
ing upp  of  y*-'  poste  to  way  y""  great  bell     ...  ...  iiij-/ 

2  li 


86  The  Inscriptio7is  on  the 

Payd  to  Willya  Smithe  for  drawing  fourth  of  y*^  great 

bell  clapper  and  for  rounding  of  ye  same  ...  ...  \5. 

Paid  to  Willya  Smithe  for  laying  of  y<=  flite  of  y*^  fore 

bell  clapper  and  for  roundinge  of  y"^  same...         ...  \s. 

[Second  and  third  bells  mentioned] 
Paid  to  John  Wodfeild  plumer  of  Hitchin  for  xv  .  .  . 
ofmettell       ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  x5. 

1575     Receyvid  of  the  belfounder  ...         ...         ...  vli. 

Paid  for  one  half  hide  witlethere     ...         ...         ...  \]s.     n]d. 

[This  was  for  making  baudricks  for  the  bells] 
Paid  for  makinge  y^  quittance  when  we  receyved 
money  of  y^  belfounder       ...         ...         ...         ...  \]d. 

Paid  ye  belfounder  in  ernest  when  he  toke  y'^  bell  to 

caste ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  \\]d. 

Paid  for  his  supper  ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  xj^. 

[Church  Clock  mentioned] 
Paid  to  Robert  Greene  for  mendinge  the  belles    ...  \\]s.     \]d. 

Payd  when  they  went  to   buckyngham  when  they 
went  w' the  great  bell  ...         ...         ...         ...  xx\]d. 

Paid  y«  same  tyme  for  theyre  suppers  at  Woburne  x\]d. 

Paid  for  theire  brekfaste  in  y'^  mornyng     ...  ...  viij^. 

Paid  for  takynge  downe  y^  bell       ...         ...         ...  \d. 

Paid  to  Willm.  ffowlere  for  carringe  the  bell  ...  xs. 

Paid  to  grene  &  his  companye  when  they  hounge 

up  y«  bell  for  theire  brekfasts  at  Deare  his  howse...  xxij(/. 

Paid  for  on  paire  of  boote  ledgs  to  make  bawdriks 

w'all  ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...          ...  xij^. 

Paid  ij  bell  Ropes    ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         v\]s. 

Payd  to  ye  Ringers  on  Seynt  Hewes  daye  and  for 

barbers  suppere         ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  \\]d. 

[George  Edwards]  He  laid  forthe  at  buckingh^im 

when  they  w^ent  w^t  ye  bell    ...         ...         ...         ...  ij.f.    iiij^. 

He  laid  forthe  homeward  at  Woborne        ...         ...  xx^. 

He  paid  Willni  ffowler  for  carrynge  the  bell  ...  x^. 

He  laid  forthe  at  Amptill  as  they  came  homeward 

w'  the  bell     ...         ...         ...         ...         ...          ...  \]d. 


Church  Dells  of  Bedfordshire.  187 

1576  Paid  for  bred  and  drinke  for  y^  Ringers  on  Sainte 

Hewes  daye  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  .••  xviiji. 

1577  Itiii  for  a  pece  of  Whytlether  ...         ...         .-•        \]s- 

1578  Itiii  for  mcdyng  a  bawdricke  ...         ...         ...  vj^. 

[At  the  end  of  this  year's  account  is,  in  a  different 

handwriting  : — 
The  new  fore  Bell  do  way  vij  hundred  and  xxij  //. 
The  old  fore  Bell  did  waye  vij  hundred  and  a  halfe 

and  xiiij  //. 
The  old  third  Bell  did  way  iij  enters  of  a  hundred 

more  than  the  new. 
The  new  great  Bell  do  way  a  hundred  xxj  //.  more 
than  the  old] 
1579-80     Itm  for  Bell  mcttell  rec.  \\]li.xs. 

Payments  : — 

Itm  to  the  bell  founder  an  ernest    ...         ...         ...  \)d. 

Itm  expence  at  the  castinge  of  the  bells     ...         ...       vijy.        \\d. 

Itm  it  was  agreed  that  Ringted  should  have   for 
takinge  downe   the   bells   and   hangingc  them  up 
agayne  xxxiiji'.  iiij^.  whereof  he  receyved  in  money 
and  a  brasse  of  half  a  crowne 
Itni  foure  baudryks  for  the  belles    ... 
Itiii  for  the  bell  ropes 

Itiii  layd  out  for  the  belfounder  for  vij  sacks  of  char- 
coales  and  the  fetchinge 

Itni  for  the  expences  at  the  castinge  of  the  last  bell 
15S0-1     Itni  rec.  for  Bell  mettell   the  xvij  daye  of  Jan. 

beinge  the  first  paymente     ...         ...         ...         ...\\U.\\s. 

Itiii  rec.  for  Bel  mettel  at  one  other  lymcbcingc  the 

last  paymente  ...          ...         ...         ...        iiij//.  xvij.r. 

Payments : — 

Paid  vnto  William  Smyth   for  mcndinge  of  foure 

clapers  and  other  worke       ...  ...  ...  ...    xxiiji'.      \\\)d. 

September  the  xviij^'' Paid  vnto  the  belfounder     ...      liijj.      iiij</. 
Paid  for  makinge  of  the  acquitancc  ...  \\\]d. 


XXVJT. 

viijj'. 

iJ3-. 

\\\)d. 

viijy. 

\s. 

viij(/. 

xij</. 

1 88  The  Inscriptions  on  the 

Paid  unto  Roberte  greene  for  ccrtayne  worke  aboute 

the  fourthe  bell  in  hanginge  of  her  faste     ...  ...  xij^/. 

[This  entry  shows  there  were  now  five  bells.] 

1 58 1 -2     It'  to  the  Bellfounder  for  arnest  for  casting  the 

Bell iiij^- 

It' dryncke  for  the  Bellfounder        iij^- 

Payd  to  the  Bellfounder  for  casting  of  the  Bell    ...iiij//'.   \s. 
Payd  for  carryng  &  wayng  the  Bell  &  Recarryng  ...  vj. 

Payd  for  taking  downe  of  the  Bell  ...         ...  xij^?! 

Payd  for  the  overplus  of  mettall      viij^.  viij^. 

Paid  for  removing  the  fore  bell       ...  ...  ...  xij^/. 

1585-6     It'  payd  for  half  a  hide  of  Whitlether  for  the  bells  xy.     \]d. 

1588     Payd  to  the  Bellfounder  for  earnest  for  to  cast  the 

Bells xijV. 

Payd  for  drynke  for  the  Belfounder  ...  ...  vd. 

Payd  for  drynke  for  the  woorkemen  when  they  tooke 

downe  the  Bells        \.]s.     vjd. 

Payd  for  the  Carters   dynners  and  others  of  the 

towne  when  the  Bells  were  caried  to  Hitchin        ...        y'njs. 

Payd    for   drynke   for  the  Bellfounder  and  others 

that  did  helpe  to  drawe  up  the  Bells  ...         ...  xvujd. 

Payd  to  the  Bellfounder      ...         ...         ...         ...      xxiijj, 

Payd  for  the  Bellfounders  and  the  woorkemes  sup- 
pers when  the  Bells  were  hanged  [?]  ...         ...  x^. 

Payd  for  the  Bells  founders  dynner  the  iiij'^  of  October  \'iy/. 

Payd  to  the  Bellfounder  the  x^^  of  Octob"^  ...  vs. 

Payd  to  the  Bellfounder  the  xi]^^  of  October         ...     xx-xijV. 
Payd  for  sope  for  the  bells  .. .         ...         ...         ...  i]d. 

Payd  to  Robert  Greene  for  hanging  the  Bells        ...       xn]s.     iiij^. 
Payd  for  drynke  when  the  Bells  were  hanged        ...  xxd. 

Payd  to  the  Bellfounder      ...         ...         ...         ...v//.  vj5.    viij^. 

[There  is  next  "  a  Booke  levied  for  castinge  of  the 
Bells,"  a  long  list  of  ratepayers  in  1588]. 
1594     It'  paide  to  Kippes  forfower  Bell  ropes  wayng  xliij//. 

at  i'ly/.  the  pownde    ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  Xi\    viij^/. 

[Ringing  on  S.  Hugh's  day  in  this  and  other  years.] 


i\s. 

xJ. 

m'}s. 

iiij(/. 

iij//. 

xij^. 

vj//. 

x//. 

CImrch  Bells  of  Bedfordshire.  1S9 

1597     Payd  for  a  saunce  bell  roope  ...         ...         ...  \\\)d. 

1599     Laid   out   to   Scipis   [Kippes  of  i)revious  entry  in 

1594]  of  Hitchin  the  rope  maker  for  a  great  bell 

rope   ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         iij^.     \\\d. 

1603 — 4     Laied  foorth  by  y<=  Churchwardens  about  the  bells 

as  foUoweth  : — 

Paied  to  the  bellfounder      ...         ...         ...         ...  x//. 

Paied  for  writing  of  bonds  ...         ...  \]s. 

Paied  to  y^  bellfounders  men  ...  ...  ...  xij^/. 

Paied  to  William  Easam  his  charges  to  Leicester 

when  ye  bels  went  to  be  cast 

Paied  at  the  same  for  John  Mills  &  Leach  his  charges 

Paied  to  Cheese  for  hanging  y^  bells  ...         ...ii 

[Timber,  Boards  and  Nails]. 

Paied  for  y^  carriage  of  y'=  bells  to  Leicester 

Paied  to  y<=  bellfounder  at  y"^  second  payment 

Paied  for  bell  roopes  ...  ...  ...  ...         ws.  \\\)d. 

Paied  to  John  Burley  for  a  dinner  for  y°  labourers 

and  for  bread  and  beare  for  them  at  the  taking  downe 

of  y®  bells  and  y®  hanging  them  vp  ...  ...  ixi-.      ix</. 

Paied  for  oyle  for  y"  bels     ...         ...         ...         ...  xij</. 

Paied  for  mending  y"  upper  bell  loft  ...  ...  \]s.      \\d. 

[It  is  evident  from  these  entries  that  several  bells 
were  recast  at  this  time  by  Hugh  Watts,  of  Leices- 
ter, then  the  most  famous  founder  in  the  midland 
counties.  One  of  those  bells — the  2nd  of  the 
present  ring — still  remains,  and  bears  the  well- 
known  stamp  of  the  founder.] 
1607     Paid  for  hanging  the  third  bell        ...  ...  ...  xviij^/. 

1613  Paide  to  Honor  for  Hangeinge  the  bells  and  mend- 

inge  the  frame           ...          ...          ...  ...  •••  xxxiiiji-. 

[and  other  work  about  the  Bells] 

Bestowed  vpon  the  bellfounder       ...  ...  ...          \']s.  \\\]d. 

16 1 4  Paid  to  Williri  Smith  for  mendinge  the  grcatc  bell 

clap xiij.y.    iiijV. 

16 16     Ite'  paid  for  a  saunce  bell  roope     ...  ...  •■•  xvij</. 

Paid  Willfn  Hare  ....  and  hanging  the  saunce  bell  \\]d. 


x\s. 

xviij^. 

vd. 

xi]d. 

xijd- 

iji. 

Vlji". 

xij^. 

//.    is. 

i]d. 

190  7/ie  Inscriptions  07i  the 

1 6 19     Bestowed  vpon  the  ringers  the  Vth  of  November .. .  xijdf. 

1624     Layd  forth  at  S'  Ives  when  I  went  w"'  the  Bells    ...         viJ5. 

Paid  to  Thomas  Man  and  his  two  brothers  for  XX 

dayes  worke  about  the  Bells  xxxiij^. 

[and  other  expences] 

Paid  to  John  ifeild  &  John  Crouch  for  carrying  the 

Bells  to  S'  Ives        

Paid  for  taking  downe  the  bells 

Layd  forth  at  S'  Ives  when  we  did  bargayne  at  the 

first 

And  when  we  took  bond  of  him     ... 

Given  to  his  man  when  the  bels  was  cast  ... 

And  when  they  ware  cast  myselfe  and  my  horsse  . . . 

And  for  making  the  Bond    ... 

Item  for  casting  the  Bells  and  brasses 

[The  above  entries,  made  in  1624,  relate  to  the 
casting  of  the  present  4th  and  5th  bells  in  that 
year.  They  were  cast  by  Tobias  Norris,  of  Stam- 
ford, who  probably  at  that  time  had  a  temporary 
foundry  at  St.  Ives.*] 

1628  Item  given  to  the  Ringers  on  the  Coronation  day...  ij^. 

1629  Ite'  given  for  ringing  vpon  the  king's  holiday         ...  ijj. 
[and  so  in  1631] 

1632     Ite'  paid  to  John  Cheese  for  worke  about  y^  saunce 

bell     ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...  o  .:  o 

1638     Ite' spent  at  Hartf  when  we  went  w'^  the  Bell      ...  o  8  8 

Ite' to  John  Baxter  for  hanging  of  the  Bell            ...  o  14  o 
Ite'  at  going  out  of  our  bell  and  at  coming  in  for 

bread  and  beere        ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  o  i  4 

Ite'  to  John  Crouch  for  drawing  our  bell  to  Hartford  013  o 

Ite'  to  Robert  Oldfeild  for  casting  our  bell  at  eleaven 

shillinge  the  hundred           ...         ...         ...         ...  4  10  6 

Ite'  spent  at  the  payment  of  the  money     ...         ...  o  o  9 

*  In  further  support  of  this  opinion,  see  Dr.  Raven's   Church  Bells  of  Cambridgeshire,  2nd 

Ed.,  p.  70. 


Church  Bells  of  Bedfordshire.  1 9 1 

Ite'  paid  for  two  Bonds  about  casting  of  the  Bell...       o       i       o 
[These  entries  made  in  1638  relate  to  the  casting  of 

the  present  treble  bell  in  that  year.] 
1 66 1     Given  to  y®  Ringers  y^'  29'h  of  May  ...         ...       o       2       6 

[In  1665  there  are  charges  for  ringing  on  Coronation 

day  and  "  Gunpowder  Treason  day."] 

There  is  an  erroneous  tradition  that  the  bells  here — which  are  fine  in  tone 
— came  from  the  neighbouring  parish  of  Arlcscy.  [See  p.  123.]  They  were 
not  injured  when  the  ancient  tower  fell  in  1701. 

SILSOE. 

S.  James.  2  Bells. 

I,  2.     CAST  BY  JOHN  WARNER  &  SONS  LONDON  1S57. 

Royal  \)  Arms. 

PATENT. 

(Diams.  29^,  32  in.,  height  22,  23  in.) 

SOULDROP. 

All  Saint.s.  3  Bells. 

1.  T.  MEARS  OF  LONDON  FECIT  1828.     TAX. 

(Diam.  2\\  in.,  height  17^  in.) 

2.  T.  MEARS  OF  LONDON  FECIT  1828.     BENEVOLENTIA. 

(Diam.  23  in.,  height  18^  in.) 

3.  T.  MEARS  OF  lONDON  FECIT  1828.     GLORIA. 

THE  REVD  JOHN  WEBSTER  HAWKSLEY  RECTOR  01'  KNOT 
TING  &  SOULDROP  RECTOR  OF  TURVEY  BEDS. 

JOSEPH  RADBOURNE  )  CHURCHWARDENS 
RICHARD  POOLE  J 

(Diam.  26  in.,  height  20^  in.) 

The  roof  of  the  ancient  church  here  having  fallen  in  about  Chri.stmas,  1795, 

the  bells,  the  lead,  and  the  old  materials  of  the  church  were  sold — in  August, 

1799 — in  order  to  raise  funds  to  build  a  barn-like  structure  at  a  cost  of  _;^5oo, 

which  gave  place  to  the  present  fabric.     The  lead  sold  for  ;i^8o,  and  the  bells 

— two  in  number — for  ;^6o.     One  of  the  latter  is  said  to  have  been  inscribed  : 

Sit  nomen  Domini  bcnedictum. 

The  Rev.  J.  W.  Ilawkslcy  (see  tenor  bell)  was  instituted  in  March,  1792  ;  he 

died  in  Ai)ril,  1856. 


192  TJie  hiscriptions  on  the 


SOUTHILL. 

All  Saints.  ^  Bf.lls. 

i_5.  +  JOHN  BRIANT  HERTFORD  FECIT  1814. 
(i.  Diam.  29  in.,  height  21  in. 

2.  Diam.  30  in.,  height  22  in. 

3.  Diam.  32  in.,  height  24  in. 

4.  Diam.  35  in.,  height  26  in. 

5.  Diam.  37^  in.,  height  29  in.) 

6.     MEARS  &  STAINBANK,  FOUNDERS,  LONDON,   1867. 
(Diam.  42^  in.,  height  29^  in.) 

The  following  hangs  on  the  walls  of  the  belfry  :— 
SOUTHHILL  PARISH. 
Rules  to  be  strictly  observed  by  every  one  who  enters  this  belfry. 
We  ring  the  Quick  to  Church,  the  Dead  to  Grave, 
Good  is  our  use,  such  usage  let  us  have. 
He  that  wears  Spur,  or  Hat,  or  Cap,  or  breaks  a  stay, 
Or  from  the  floor  does  by  a  bell  rope  sway, 
Or  leaves  His  rope  down  Careless  on  the  floor  : 
Or  nuisance  makes  within  the  belfry  Door, 
Shall  six  pence  forfeit  for  each  single  Crime, 
Twill  make  him  carefull  at  another  Time. 
Whoever  Breaks  or  injures  any  of  the  Handbells  shall  make  the  Damage  good. 

We  Gentleman  Ringers  are  nobodys  foes. 

We  disturb  none  but  those  who  want  too  much  repose. 

Our  music's  so  sweet,  so  enchanting  to  hear. 

We  wish  there  was  ringing  each  Day  in  the  Year. 

/three  seven  minute   peals  Stop  one  minute 

To  call  the  folks  to  Church  in  3  between,   toll  the  Tenor  four  minutes,  ring 

time,  we  chime,  \  ^^^  '^^"S  Tang  three  minutes.     Total  \  an 

V  hour. 

When  Mirth  and  pleasure  is  on  the  wing  we  ring, 
At  the  Departure  of  a  Soul  we  Toll. 


Church  Bells  of  Bedfordshire.  193 

f  George  Bryant. 

\\'illiam  Litchfield. 

T,.  John  Litchfield. 

Ringers  '  ;:, 

(jcorge  Stacey. 

James  Handscomb. 

James  Finding.  John  Hale,  Sexton. 

David  Dickens,  Parish  Clerk. 

It  would  appear  that  when  the  above  Rules  were  drawn  up,  there  was  a 

Priest's  bell,  or  "Ting-Tang,"  now  lost. 

STAGSDEN. 

S.  Leonard.  5  Bells. 

1.  AMOS     BASS     AND     RICHARD     COOK     CHURCHWARDENS 

JOSEPH  EAYRE  FECIT  1769. 

(Diam.  29^  in.,  height  21  in.) 

2,  3.     CHANDLER  MADE  ME  1652. 

(Diams.  30^,  33  in.,  heights  22,  24^  in.) 

4.  C.  &  G.  MEARS  FOUNDERS  LONDON  1844. 

(Diam.  37^  in.,  height  26^  in.) 

5.  WILLIAM   MARKES  AND    [D  62]    FRANCES    [  D  62  ]    HOVT 

CHVRCHWARDENS.     HENRY  IJACJLEY  MADE  ME  1C84. 
(Diam.  J9  in.,  height  29  in.) 
For  Stamp,  see  p.  78. 
In  1552  "  Stachedenc  "  had  : 

"  Item  iiij  belles  in  the  steple."* 

STANBRIDGE. 

S.  John  B.\ptlst.  5  I'ELls. 

1.  RICHARD  CHANDLER  MADE  ME  1709. 

(Diam.  30  in.,  height  27  in.) 

2.  F  :  ELLINGHAM  C  :  W  : 

JOHN  BRIANT  HERTFORD  FECIT  1807. 
(Diam.  32  in.,  height  26  in.) 

*  Land  Rcvditie  Records.     Lundle  1392.     I'ilc  2.     1'.  R.OiT. 
2    C 


194  ^^^'  Inscriptions  on  the 

3-  [  +  5^J]  WILLIAM  TRENTIS  C.W.    1637  [IK  53]. 

(Diam.  35  in.,  height  29  in.) 

4.  Be  it  known  to  all  that  do  me  se  William  Emerton  of  Wootton 

made  me  o  o  1775- 

Thomas  Eames 

T         r^  Churchwardens 

John  Cooper 

(Diam.  37  in.,  height  32  in.) 

5.  GEORGE  CHANDLER  MADE  ME  1725. 

(Diam.  39  in.,  height  33  in.,  unhung.) 

For  Stamps,  see  p.  75. 

These  bells  are  very  good  ones,  and  would,  if  put  into  good  order,  make  a 
very  nice  ring.  The  tenor  is,  unfortunately,  now  unringable,  having  "  dropped  " 
on  the  stocks,  and  so  requires  rehanging. 

There  is  in  this  parish  some  land  called  "  Bell  Rope  Land,"  situate  at  Mill- 
field.  It  is  traditionally  believed  to  have  been  left  to  the  parish  by  Henry 
Honner,  who,  according  to  a  tablet  to  his  memory  in  the  chancel  of  the  church, 
died  on  the  27th  of  IMay,  1627,  in  the  95th  year  of  his  age. 

The  income  arising  from  Bell  Rope  Land,  which  stands  in  the  names  of  the 
churchwardens  in  the  Land  Tax  Assessment  for  1880,  does  not  now  appear  to 
be  applied  for  the  benefit  of  the  bells,  or  in  the  purchase  of  the  bell-ropes. 

STAUGHTON    PARVA. 

All  Saints.  5  Bells. 

1.  MILES  •".  •  GRAVE  •  .*  •  MADE  • .' •  ME  •  \  •  1654. 

(Diam.  2 7 J,  in.,  height  22^  in.,  cracked.) 

2.  LET  ALL  MEN  PRAYSE  THE  LORD   1628. 

(Diam.  29I  in.,  height  24  in.) 

3.  JOS :  EAYRE  S"^  NEOTS  FECIT.    LEONARD  VT^E  AND  ROBERT 

BAXTER  CHURCH^yARDENS. 

(Diam.  32  in.,  height  26  in.) 

4-  [+4]  3tf  ^mncn  X^wmiui  ^ntcMcfum  [+  3  U  5  ]• 

(Diam.  34^  in.,  height  27  in.) 

5.     MILES  • ".  •  GRAVE  • '.  •  MADE  •'.  ■  ME  • .'  •  1654. 
(Diam.  38^  in.,  height  30  in.,  no  cannons.) 
For  Stamps,  see  p.  45.     The  capitals  of  the  inscription  on  the  4th  bell  are 
crowned. 


Church  Bells  of  Bedfordshire.  195 

STEPPINGLEV. 
S.  Laurexce.  4  Bells. 

1.  CHRISTOPHER  GRAVE  MADE  ME  1660. 

(Diam.  26  in.,  height  20  in.) 

2.  4.     W  .  PHILTJPS  .  CHURCHWARDEN.    R  :  TAYLOR  S""  NEOTS. 

FOUNDER  1807. 

(Diams.  28,  34  in.,  heights  20 J,,  25^  in.) 

3.  W  :  PHILLIPS  &  T  :  COOK.     C  :  WARDENS.     R  :  TAYLOR  .  S"" 

NEOTS.  FECIT.  1814. 

And  oil  sound-bow  : — 
J  :  PARKER  :  TIDCOMl)   MY  BENEFACTOR. 
(Diam.  31  in.,  height  22  in.) 
Mr.  John  Parker,  Tidconibc — the  benefactor  to  the  3rd  bell — was  l)aptizcd 
here  on  the   24th   of  November,  1739,  ^"^  ^^'^^  buried  here  on  the  26th  of 
March,  1818.     He  was  the  son  of  Mr.  John  Tidconibc,  who  died   in  this 
parish  and  was  buried  here  on  the  3rd  day  of  April,  1768,  aged  59  years,  and 
the  grandson  of  "  Mr.' Michael  Tidconibc,  gentleman,"  of  Atworih,  near  Brad- 
ford, Wiltshire.* 

STEVINGTON. 

S.  Mary.  5  Blll.s. 

1.  JAMES  BARWELL  FOUNDER  BIR^^N^.HAM   1S72. 

(Diam.  31  in.,  height  25  in.) 

2,  3.    JOHN  O  HODSON  O  MADE  O  ME  <>  1654  I  L  O   H  N 

O  CHVRCH  W. 

(Diams.  32,  35  in.,  heights  25!,  27  in.) 

4.  JOHN  O  HODSON  O  MADE  O  MEE  O  1654  O   I   I^  O   H  N 

OCWO  WH 

(Diam.  38  in.,  hciglit  29  in.) 

5.  JOHN   O    HODSON   O    ^L\DE  O   MEE  O   1654      JOHN  O 

LATTON    O    HENRY   O   NF(;OVS   [  f  ]      W   <>    H    O 
CHVRCH  WARDENS. 

(Diam.  42  in.,  height  32  in.     f  Flcur-delys.) 

*  Sleppingley  Far.  Re^.^  kindly  supplieil  by  Kcv.  Dr.  Sniylh. 


196  The  Inscriptions  on  the 

STONDON. 

All  Saints.  1  Bell. 

The  single  bell  here  is  small,  and  has  no  inscription. 


STOTFOLD. 

S.  Marv.  3  Bells. 

I.     THOMAS  RUSSELL  OF  WOOTTON  MADE  ME  : 

Richard  Sexton  ^  _    _    ^ 

,        T-  +  Churchwardens  1740   O   O   O 

and  John  Fensham  '  ^     w    w   v^ 

(Diam.  30 i  in.) 


(Diam.  36^  in.,  wheel  broken,  not  used.) 

3.     MILES  •.'•  GRAVE  •.'•  MADE  •.*•  ME  •!•  1615. 

(Diam.  38^1-  in.) 

For  Stamp  on  the  2nd  bell,  see  p.  55. 

There  is  an  impression  in  the  village  that  there  were  formerly  five  bells  here, 
and  that  one  of  the  two  missing  ones  now  hangs  at  Astwick. 

It  may  be  mentioned  that  a  former  Vicar  of  Stotfold — the  Rev.  Samuel 
Roe,  M.A.,  Fellow  of  Trinity  College,  the  author  of  works  against  enthusiasm, 
etc. — was  a  ringer,  being  admitted  a  "  Cambridge  Youth"  in  1733.* 

STREATLEY. 

S.  AL\rgaret.  I  Bell  &  a  Priest's  Bell. 

I.     T.  Mears  of  London  Fecit  1832. 

(Diam.  26  in.) 
Fricsfs  Bell:— 

Blank. 
(Diam.  17  in.) 
There  was  formerly  a  second  large  bell,  but  it  fell,  whilst  being  rung,  to  the 
floor  of  the  tower,  broke  into  pieces,  and  was  never  replaced. 


See  Dr.  Raven's  Bells  of  Cambridgeshire  {2nd  Ed.)  p.  109. 


CImrch  Bells  of  Bed/ordshiix.  197 

STUDHAM. 
S.  jNIary.  4  Bells. 

I,  2.     CHAHDLER  MADE  ME  1666. 

3.  [  +  45]  PRIES  THE  LORD  1599. 

4.  [+55]  GOD   [DsS]  SAVE  [DsS]  OVR  [  D  5S  ]  KING  [  D  5S  J 

1627  [I  K  53]. 

For  Stamps,  see  pp.  68,  75  and  76. 

SUNDON. 

5.  Mary.  1  Bell. 
I.    [+29]  j5SV:G  [030]  OliiXlIii. 

(Diam.  36  in.) 

For  Stamps,  see  p.  55. 

It  is  said  here  that  there  were  formerly  five  bells,  and  four  were  sold  years 
ago  to  the  parish  of  Toddington,  since  which  time,  it  is  further  said,  this  place 
has  never  prospered. 

SUTTON. 

All  Saints.  4  Bells. 

1,  3.     C.  &  G.  MEARS  FOUNDERS  LONDON  1S56. 

(Diams.  30,  32  in.,  heights  24,  24?,  in.) 

2,  4.     CHRISTOPHER  •*.  •  GRAIE  •'.  •  MADE  ME  1655. 

(Diams.  31!,  35!  in.,  heights  22^  25  in.)j 

TEMPSFORD. 

S.  Peter.  5  Bklls. 

1,3.     MILES  •'.'  GRAIE  -'.•  1656. 

(Diams.  26^,  29^  in.,  heights  \^\,  23  in.) 
2.     RICHARD  CHANDLER  MADE  ME   1703. 
(Diam.  27^  in.,  height  20  in.) 

4.  MEWCOME  MADE  ME  A"   161 1. 

(Diam.  33^  in.,  height  24^  in.) 

5.  T.  Meaks  of  London  Fecit  1S29. 

(Diam.  36^,  in.,  height  26 J,  in.) 


198  The  Inscriptions  on  the 

THURLEIGH. 
S.  Peter.  5  Bells. 

1.  RUSSELL  OF  WOOTTON  MADE  ME  1743. 

+  Samuel  Redman      ^ 

„  „  Churchwardens. 

AND  Richard  Evins 

(Diam.  34  in.,  height  24  in.) 

2.  ©OX)     [  D  40  1   Hii-X^er    [  D  40  ]     W^G    [  D  40  ] 

OTite-e-:i?ier  [n4o]  1593  [u  39]. 

(Diam.  36  in.,  height  28  in.) 

3.  OLLIVER  HARVE  ESQVIRE.     GEORGE  FRANCKLIN  JVSTIS 

OF  PEACE  1595  + 

RECAST  BY  PARISHIONERS  1864.  THE  ORIGINAL  IN- 
SCRIPTION RESTORED  BY  THE  MARQUIS  OF  BRISTOL 
AND  JOHN  HARVEY  OF  ICKWELLBURY  ESQUIRE. 

(Diam.  34  in.,  height  27?^  in.) 

4.  Blank. 

(Diam.  36I  in.,  height  30  in.) 

5.  [  +  29]  j^-^^  \  XIli5.Xi^J5L. 

(Diam.  43  in.,  height  35  in.) 

For  Stamps,  see  pp.  61,  60  and  55,  and  for  specimens  of  the  letters  on  the 
2nd  bell,  see  p.  59. 

The  Herveys  were  seated  here  as  early  as  the  reign  of  Edward  I.,  when 
John  de  Hervey,  having  married  Joan,  daughter  and  heir  of  John  Harman,  of 
Thurleigh,  died  here  in  the  2  ist  year  of  that  King's  reign.  From  him  descended 
George  Hervey,  who  was  High  Sheriff  of  Bedfordshire.  He  married,  having 
issue  by  his  wife  only  one  daughter,  Joan,  who  (though  married)  died  appa- 
rently in  her  father's  life-time,  without  issue.  George  Hervey,  however — 
according  to  Lysons — had  an  illegitimate  son,  Gerard,  by  Margaret  Smart. 
By  his  will,  proved  in  1526,  he  left  certain  property  to  that  Margaret  Smart  for 
her  life,  remainder  to  her  son  Gerard  and  his  heirs,  and  also  to  the  same 
Gerard  his  manor  of  Thurleigh.  Gerard  Smart  took  the  name  of  Hervey,  was 
Knighted,  and  was  M.P.  for  Bedford  in  1553  :  his  grandson  was  the  "  Olliver 
Harve,  Esquire,"  whose  name  is  on  the  3rd  bell.     His  descendants  continued 


Chttrch  Bells  of  Bedfordshire.  1 99 

at  Thurleigh  till  the  death  of  John  Hervey,  Esq.,  in  1715,  but  the  manor  had 
passed  out  of  the  family  before  that  time.  From  Thomas  Hervey,  a  younger 
brother  of  George  Hervey  above  mentioned,  are  descended  the   Herveys  of 

Ickworth,  Earls  of  Bristol. 

The  Franklins  had  a  seat  here  for  several  generations.* 

Here  are  the  following 

Rules  for  Rinxers. 
If  to  ring  you  do  come  Here 
You  must  ring  well  with  Hand  and  Ear 
And  if  a  Bell  you  chance  to  Throw 
Six-Pence  to  Pay  before  you  go — 
And  if  you  Ring  in  Spurs  or  Hat 
Twelve-Pence  in  all  to  pay  for  that. 

TILBROOK. 
All  Saixts.  3  Bells. 

i.     MATTHEW  BAGLEY  MAGE  MEE  16S2  O  O  O  O  O 
(Diam.  c;!  in.,  height  22  in.) 

2.  OLIVER  S'^JOHN  COOPER  RECTOR.     G  JAMES   AND  JOIIX 

SANSAM   CHURCHWARDENS   1763. 
(Diam.  29  in.,  height  24^  in.) 

3.  NON  CLAMOR  SED  AMOR  CANTAT  IN  AVRE  lED   1625. 

(Diam.  32^  in.,  height  24J,  in.) 

The  letters  of  "  Dei  "  on  the  3rd  bell  are  reversed. 

The  Parish  Register  has  the  following  entries  relating  to  the  Rector  named 
on  the  2nd  bell  : — 

O  S'  John  Cooper  was  inducted  into  the  Rectory 
of  Tilbrooke  March  the  26'''  1738. 
Oliver  S'  John  Cooper  Rector  of  Tilbrook  was  buried 
in  the  Parish  Church  Nov'^''  i,  lySi.t 

*  See  a  pedigree  of  llic  Hervey  family  in  SUiiiniala  C/tii/u/iaiiii  ;  and  bcc  also  "  Lysoiis," 
vol.  i.  p.  140. 

t  Kindly  extracted  for  me  by  the  Rev.  N.  D.  Voung,  the  present  Rector. 


200  TJic  Inscriptions  on  the 

TILSWORTH. 

All  Saints.  5  Bells. 

1,4.    EMERTON  OF  WOOTTON  FECIT   1776. 

(Diams.  29,  32  in.,  heights  21,  26  in.) 

2.  JOHN  SWINSTEAD   D  :  ELLINGHAM  WARDEN. 
W:  EMERTON  OF  WOOTTON  FECIT   1776. 

(Diam.  29  in.,  height  23  in.) 

3.  EMERTON  OF  WOOTTON  FECIT  Q  O 

DANIEL  ELLINGHAM  CHURCHWARDEN  1776. 

WiLLLVM  Balls 
John  Oney 
Henry  Purrett 
Thomas  Skikelthorp. 
(Diam.  31  in.,  height  25  in.) 

5.     EMERTON  OF  WOOTON  ^     ^  Daniel  Ellingham  Churchwarden 
NEAR  BEDFORD  FECIT  ^^^     John  Partridge  senor 

John  Partridge  junor 
WiLLiAiM  Dover. 
(Diam.  34  in.,  height  27  in.,  cracked.) 
The  parishioners  of  Tilsworth  were  formerly  proud  of  their  bells  and  their 
excellent  ringers ;  but  for  some  years  the  bells  were  only  heard  upon  absolutely 
necessary  occasions.     The  tenor  was  cracked  in  a  thunder-storm,  and  in  con- 
sequence was  not  used;  in   1821,  however,  a  piece  fell  out,  and  the  sound 
greatly  improved.     Recently  (in    1880)  the  whole  ring  was  rehung,  and  now 
again  the  ringers  are  at  work,  and  the  sound  of  their  bells  again  cheers  the 
Tilsworth  folk. 

There  is  an  excellent  set  of  rules  for  the  guidance  of  the  ringers. 

TINGRITH. 

S.  Nicholas.  3  Bells. 

1.  Jolitt  $  Mcr  $  ntatic  $  iliis  $  bcII  3 

(Diam.  28  in.,  height  20}  in.) 

2.  CHRISTOPHER  GRAVE  MADE  ME  1660. 

(Diam.  29^-  in.,  height  22^  in.) 


Church  Bells  of  Jhdfordshire.  20 r 

3.     [U9+  10]  .iranct.-t  .(TMriMrcfa   Or.i  ;pr'r  Tiobir.  [QSj. 
(Diam.  32^  in.,  height  :;4  in.) 
For  Stamps  on  the  3rd  bell,  see  pp.  46  and  47. 
In  1552  "  Tyngrythe  "  possessed 

Item  in  the  stepuU  of  the  saide  churclie  iij  belles  weyngc   by  estymation 
XXV  hundred  wyght.* 

It  may  be  noticed  that  the  stone  of  the  arched  doorway  leading  up  to  the 
bells  is  much  worn  away,  as  if  some  one  had  sat  upon  the  stairs  and  there 
chimed  the  bells,  chafing  the  ropes  against  the  stone.  Such  was  really  the 
case  prior  to  the  restoration  of  the  church,  when  "old  Jim  Smart,"  the  then 
sexton,  fearing  that  the  clappers  of  the  bells,  which  were  then  unsafe,  might  fall 
upon  him,  adopted  that  plan  as  a  means  of  precaution  against  such  an  acci- 
dent. The  bells  were  afterwards  reclappcred  ;  the  old  clappers  are  now  in  the 
bell-chamber,  and  the  bells  arc  all  in  good  order  and  sound. 

TODDINGTON. 
S.  George.  S  P>ei.i.s  and  a  Priest's  Bell. 

1.  C.  &  G.  MEARS  FOUNDERS  LONDON   1850. 

(Diam.  30^-  in.,  height  23  in.) 

2,  3,  4,  8.     ThC^  Mears  Late  Lester  Pack  &  Chapman  of  London  Fecit 

1792     Tho^  Hollis  &  Harry  Osborn  Churchwardens. 
(Diams.  31^,  33,  35!,  51^  in.,  heights  23?,,  25,  26,  35 A  in.) 

5,  6.    Tno''  Mears  Late  Lester  Pack  cV'  Chatman  ok  London  I'lcir  (792. 
(I)iams.  38J,,  41  in.,  height  28^,  30  in.) 

7.     Tho''  Mears  of  London  Late  Lester  Pack  iV  Ciiap.man  Yvcw  1792. 

(Diam.  45  in.,  height  x,i  in.) 
Priest's  Bdl  .■— 

CHANDLER  MADE  ME. 

(Diam.  16!  in.,  height  13  in.) 

See  under  Sundon  for  a  tradition  relating  to  these  bells  :  the  parish  docu- 
ments here  having  been  lost  there  are  no  proofs  for  or  against  it-;  truth. 

Merc  are  chimes  for  the  (juarters,  pi  iced  in  1S76  at  the  expense  of  the  Kcv. 
John  Clcgg. 

*  Land  Kcvcmic  Records.     Buiullc  1392,  l"ilc  2.     1'.  K.  OfT. 
2  D 


202  TJie  Inscriptions  on  the 

TOTTERNHOE. 
S.  Giles.  5  Bells 

1.  CHAPIDLER  MADE  ME  1655. 

(Diam.  30  in.,  height  26  in.) 

2.  C.\ST  BY  JOHN  WARNER  &  SONS  LONDON  1865. 

[  Royal  XJ  Arms?[ 

Patent. 

(Diam.  31  in.,  height  26  in.) 

3.  4,  5.     CHAI^DLER  MADE  ME  1654. 

(Diams.  ZZ^  35,  38  in.,  height  26,  30,  31  in.) 

The  tenor  bell  is  badly  cracked,  and  is  now  without  a  clapper.  A  few  years 
ago  the  clapper  fell  out,  and  it  was  sent  to  a  blacksmith  to  repair.  He,  think- 
ing to  improve  it,  made  it  longer  and  larger,  in  consequence  of  which,  when 
replaced  in  the  bell,  it  struck  below  the  sound-bow,  and  after  striking  a  few 
times  broke  and  ruined  the  bell  :  a  warning  to  all  in  whose  care  bells  are 
placed  to  employ  competent  persons  for  their  repair. 

TURVEY. 

All  Saints.  6  Bells. 

1.  G.  MEARS  &  Co.  FOUNDERS  LONDON. 

PRESENTED  TO  HIS  BROTHER  PARISHIONERS  BY  L^.  COL. 
W.  B.  HIGGINS,  OF  PICTS  HILL,  TURVEY,  SEPTEMBER, 
1864. 

(Diam.  32  in.,  height  27  in.) 

2.  THOMAS     BURTON     AND     JOSEPH     OSMOND     CHVRCH- 

WARDENS,  1682. 

{Diam.  31  in.,  height  28  in.) 

3.  HENRY  BAGLEY  MADE  MEE  1682. 

(Diam.  34  in.,  height  27  in.) 

4.  -f-    -h  R  :  HOPLEY  RECTOR     T  :  DAVISON  AND  W  :SKEVING- 

TON  CHURCHWARDENS   h-  J  :  EAYRE  S^  NEOTS  FECIT 

1750- 

(Diam.  38^-  in.,  height  28 J  in.) 

5.  W  &  J  TAYLOR  BELLFOUNDERS  OXFORD  &  LOUGHBORO'. 

(Diam.  41  in.,  height  30  in.) 


Church  Bells  of  Dcdfordshire.  203 

6.     T   :  LATTAMS  &   W  :  PEARSON    C  :  WARDENS     R    TAYLOR 
ST  NEOTS  FECIT  1815. 
(Diam.  46  in.,  height  34  in.,  large  piece  out  of  shoulder.) 

Prior  to  1864,  when  Colonel  Higgins  gave  a  new  treble,  there  were  five  bells 
only.     The  donor  died  in  the  autumn  of  1S7S. 

There  was  formerly  a  Sanctus  bell,  which,  after  standing  for  many  years  on 
the  floor  of  the  chancel,  was  sent  to  the  founders  and  added  to  the  tenor  in 
18 1 5,  when  that  bell  was  recast. 

The  Rev.  R.  Hopley  (see  4th  bell)  is  said  to  have  been  instituted  in  June, 
1745.*  P^om  the  Registers,  however,  it  would  appear  that  the  only  resident 
clergyman  between  1727  and  1750  was  "Matthew  Keate,  curate."  Mr. 
Hopley's  handwriting  first  appears  in  the  latter  year.  He  was  succeeded  by 
the  Rev.  J.  Griffith  in  June,  1764,  so  probably  he  died  in  that  year,  but  there 
is  no  record  of  his  burial. 

In  the  ringing-chamber  are  three  memorial  tablets  to  deceased  ringers  ;  such 
a  mode  of  remembrance  might  well  be  adopted  in  other  churches.  There  is 
also  an  oil  painting  depicting  the  scene  described  in  S.  John  x.\i.  21.  It  was 
given  to  the  church  by  the  Rev.  Erasmus  Middleton,  instituted  Rector  in  1S03, 
and  had  been  placed  over  the  altar-table,  where  it  remained  until  the  church 
was  restored  in  i852.t 

WARDEN,  OLD. 
S.  Andrew.  4  Bells. 

1.  MILES   •!•  GRAVE  • .' •  MADE  •.'•  ME  •]•  1653. 

(Diam.  29^  in.,  height  22^  in.,  cracked.) 

2.  VBCD  [t]   H5XA  [t]  IIIKTIM  [  +  ]  GHIK    W. 

(Diam.  32^  in.,  height  25  in.      :J:  Fkur dc-lys.) 

3-   [  +  28]  -xl^  :  j^T^X)X  ;  t\<^>^^ 

(Diam.  36  in.,  height  28  in.) 
4.     THOMAS  MEARS  FOUNDER  LONDON    1S40. 
(Diam.  39^,  in.,  height  29!  in.) 
For  Stamp  on  3rd  bell,  see  p.  55. 

The  friend  who  inspected  the  bells  for  me  writes  :— "  Horrible  place  to  get 
up;  nearly  pitch  dark ;  the  steepest  ladder  I  have  ever  been  up." 

*  History  of  IVillcy  Hundred.  t  Ex  in/or,  llio  Kcv.  G.  T.  W.  Munhy. 


204  ^^^^  Inscriptions  on  the 

WESTONING. 

S.  Mary  Magdalen.  5  Bells. 

1.  ANTHONY  CHANDLER  MADE  ME  1672. 

(Diam.  29  in.,  height  24  in.) 

2.  +  RUSSELL  OF  WOOTTON  O  O  O  INLADE  +  ME  1743- 

(Diam.  33  in.,  height  25  in.) 

3.  T.  Mears  of  London  Fecit  1829. 

W"  Woodward  )  ^  ,,,  ^ 

,,     ,  Church  Wardens  1S29. 

Ld  Aldridge      j 

(Diam.  34^-  in.,  height  26  in.) 

4.  RICHARD  CHANDLER  MADE  ME  1722. 

(Diam.  36}  in.,  height  28^^  in.) 

5.  RUSSELL    OF    WOOTTON    HE    MADE    ME   IN   SEVENTEEN 

HUNDRED   AND   FORTY   THREE    +    JOSEPH    HARLEY 
AND  EDWARD  BURR  CHURCHWARDENS  O  O  O 
(Diam.  41  in.,  height  32  in.) 

In  the  *'  Inventory  of  plate^  jewels,  vestments,  ornaments,  and  bells  belong- 
ing to  the  parish  church  of  Westonynge,  in  the  county  of  Bedford,  made 
2  Sept.,  6  Ed.  6  "  (1552)  is  : — 

Item  in  the  stepull  of  the  seyde  churche  iiij  belles  to  [two]  of  the  seyde 
belles  weyng  by  estymation  xvij  hundred  and  a  half,  the  other  to 
grete  belles  xx'*  hundred  by  estimation  and  a  saunce  bell,  to  hand 
belles.  Item  to  sacarynge  belles.  Item  the  churche  chauncell 
steple  all  covered  w'  leed.* 

WHIPSNADE. 

8.  Marv  Magdalen.  3  Bells. 

1.  E.  HALL  1740. 

2.  a.  HALL  1740. 

3.  GOD  SAVE  OVR  KING  1630. 
These  are  three  small  bells. 

"•■  Land  Rrc'cnuc  Records.     Bundle  1392,  File  2,  P.  R.  Oft". 


Chiu'ch  Bells  of  Bedfordshire.  20  = 


WILDEiX. 

S.  Nicolas.  5  Bells, 

1.  A  SMITH  \V  GROVE  1649. 

(Diam.  30^  in.,  licight  25  in.) 
-■     L  +  6]  .S'lncfa  Kafrhut  Ova  ;r>vu  \  ),iiliis  [  D  S  U  7  ]• 
(Diam.  32  in.,  height  24  in.,  cracked.) 

3     i5^PB€T:E)   ei-C5Ti  J-X^y^  iJXXXO  [U39] 
(Diam.  34  in.,  height  27  in.) 

4.  CHANDLER  MADE  IslE. 

(Diam.  37  in.,  heiglit  27  in.) 

5.  IH'5  NAZARENUS  REX  IVDEORVM  FILI  DEI  MISERERE  MEI 

1637  [U  39]- 

(Diam.  40  in.,  liciglit  32  in.) 

For  Stamps,  see  pp.  46  and  60,  and  for  specimens  of  letters  on  the  3rd  and 

511-1  bells,  see  pp.  59  and  63. 

A.  Smith  and  W.  Grove  (see  ist  \)c\\)  were  the  cluin  hwardens  at  that  time, 
as  is  shown  by  their  initials  cut  on  a  beam  in  the  belfr)-,  tlius  : — 

AS  :  WG  :  G  :  1G50. 

WILLIXGTON. 
S.  L.vuRENCE.  5  Bells. 

I.  u»ij:i:i^ij^xii    c3^o.Svru.j:c;;L^    o  i  -    u.  i  i .  i .  - 

XMG^OX^    1600   [U39]- 

(Diam.  2 7 J,  in.,  height  21!  in.) 

2.  THOMAS  TOMPION  FECIT  1671. 

(Diam.  28!  in.,  height  21 J  in.,  cracked). 

3.  SIR    :    WILLIAM    ;    (ToSTWICK    \    BARN    ;    W  ll.LLXG  rG.\     ; 

1710  ;••;••;••;  o  o  o  o  o  o  o 

(Diam.  31  in.,  height  24  in.) 

4-    ;}  19S1  3  Ma  ;>  aavM  3  vavci  3  zhoi 

(Diam.  35  in.,  height  27  in.) 

5.     O  X-Tlarttu  Xiuifnrc  .1  >i-n    ruuii'-^  .^ciiu'cv  (^iMlc[+  157  i<i 

U  14]- 
(Diam.  38!  in.,  height  31!  in.,  large  piece  out  of  the  sound-bow.) 


2o6  The  Inscripiions  on  the 

For  Stamps,  see  pp.  60  and  50,  and  for  specimens  of  the  letters  on  the  1st 
bell,  see  p.  59. 

The  inscription  on  the  4th  bell  is  reversed  throughout  :  that  cannot  be 
entirely  shown  in  ordinary  type. 

The  Oostwicks  (see  ist  and  3rd  bells)  were  living  here  early  in  the  thirteenth 
century  ;  there  is  a  memorial  brass  in  the  church  to  the  memory  of  Robert 
Oostwick,  who  died  a  century  later — in  1315.  Leland  mentions,  "  Mf"  Gost- 
wick  beyng  borne  at  AMIlingtoun,"  and  that  he  "  boute  this  lordship  of  the 
Duke  of  Norfolk,  now  lyving,  and  hath  made  a  sumptuous  new  building  of 
brike  &  tymbre  a  fundi/ncntis  in  it,  with  a  conduct  of  water  derivid  in  leade 
pipes."  Sir  John  Gostwick  was  Master  of  the  Horse  to  Henry  VHI.  He 
built—in  1 54 1 — the  mortuary  chapel  attached  to  the  chancel  of  Willington 
church,  in  which  various  members  of  his  family  are  buried.  His  descendant, 
William  Gostwick — whose  name  is  on  the  ist  bell — was  lord  of  the  manor  of 
Willington,  and  was  created  a  baronet  in  161 2.  He  died  in  16 15,  aged  49 
years,  and  is  buried  in  the  mortuary  chapel  just  mentioned.  There  is  a  hand- 
some monument  there  to  his  memory,  in  good  preservation,  with  a  recumbent 
figure  of  him  in  alabaster,  with  a  wooden  canopy  over  it,  erected  by  his  widow 
Jane,  daughter  of  Henry  Owen,  Esq.,  by  whom  he  had  seven  sons  and  four 
daughters.  His  descendant,  Sir  William  Gostwick — whose  name  is  on  the 
3rd  bell — long  represented  the  county  of  Bedford  in  Parliament.  Having 
impoverished  his  estate  by  frequent  election  contests,  this  manor,  amongst 
others,  was  sold  in  1731  to  Sarah,  Duchess  of  Marlborough.  It  is  now  the 
property  of  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  whose  ancestor  bought  it  of  the  Marlborough 
family  in  1774.  There  is  a  portrait  of  this  Sir  Wm.  Gostwick  at  Mr.  Whit- 
bread's,  Southill,  with  a  warning  subscript  against  electioneering  extravagance. 
He  was  the  last  buried  in  the  family  vault  here.  There  is  no  monument  to 
his  memory,  but  when  the  vault  gave  way  some  years  ago,  his  coffin  was 
exposed,  and  the  present  vicar  saw  the  silver  plate  on  it  bearing  the  name  of 
Sir  William  Gostwick,  of  Willington  Park.*  The  title  and  family  are  now 
extinct. 

WILSHAMPSTEAD. 

All  Saints.  i  Bell  and  a  Priest's  Bell. 

I.     EMMERTON  OF  WOOTTON  FECIT  1783  O  O  O  O 

*  Ex  ill/or.  Rev.  Augustus  Orlebar,  vicar  of  the  parish. 


Church  Bells  of  Bedfordshire.  207 

Priesfs  Bell:— 

GEORGE  MORTON  C"  WARDEN  1S26. 
There  were  formerly  four  bells  and  a  Priest's  bell.     The  following  extracts 
from  the  fly-leaf  of  the  Parish  Register  ex[)lain  how  three  of  them  were  lost  to 
the  parish  : — 

Memorandum.  The  Tower  fell  down  on  Sunday  night,  April  11,  1742, 
at  half  an  hour  after  9. 

The  Bricklayers  and  Carpenters  Estimate  to  make  good  y^  breach  in 
the  church  which  the  Tower  made  in  falling,  and  to  hang  up  one  bell, 
the  old  materials  included,  45/.   o   o. 

Charles  Boomer,  Thomas  \\"hite.  ] 

John  White.  John  Rentham. 

July  17''^  1742. 

The  Bricklayers  and  Carpenters   Estimate  to  rebuild   the  Tower, 

finding  workmanship  and  all  materials,  474/.  12. 

After  these  entries  is  the  Bishop's  license  to  sell  the  bells,  thus  : — 

Having  considered  the  extent  of  y*^  disaster,  and  the  inability  of  the 
Parishioners  to  repair  the  steeple  according  to  its  ancient  dimensions, 
and  confiding  in  the  Vicar's  representation,  I  ap[)rove  of  their 
repairing  the  downfall  according  to  this  latter  scheme,  and  consent 
y'  the  \'icar  and  Churchwardens  may  sell  three  of  their  bells  towards 
their  expence  on  this  occasion. 

R.  Lincoln, 

Sept^  17,  I  74-. 

The  three  bells  were  sold  for  £,s,^  to,  as  is  generally  believed,  the  vicar  and 
churchwardens  of  Hendon,  Middlesex.  As  might  be  expected,  the  following 
distich  soon  became  current : — 

Wilstead  folks,  wicked  people. 
Sold  their  bells  to  build  the  steeple. 

That  steeple  was  an  open  wooden  one,  in  which  the  two  bells  hung  exposed 
to  the  air.     The  present  tower  was  not  built  until  the  year  1S51. 


208 


The  Inscriptions  on  the 


WOBURN    [Old  Church.] 
S.  Mary.  8  Bells. 

I,  2.     MEARS  &  STAINBANK,  FOUNDERS,  LONDON,  1877. 

(Diams.  26,  27^  in.) 

3,  4,  5,  7,  8.     T.  Mears  of  London  Fecit  1829. 

(Diams.  32I,  34I,  36,  40,  42  in.) 

0.     His  Grace  John  5T11  Duke  of  Bedford.     The  Rev"  Thomas  Rov. 

Joseph  Tween         \ 

;„  ^  Church  Wardens  a  d  1820. 

William  Freeman  J 

T  Mears  of  London  Fecit  1829. 

The  Monastery  here  appears  to  have  possessed  five  bells  (see  p.  17). 

According  to  an  Liventory  taken  in  1651  there  were  then 

Three  broken  Bells  with  Clappers. 
One  whole  Bell. 

One  iron  Clock  with  a  Bell  proper  to  it. 
One  Saint's  Bell. 

Shortly  afterwards  four  broken  bells  are  mentioned. 

In  1664  the  bells  were  recast  at  an  expense  of  about  p/^120,  of  which  ;^9o 
was  given  by  the  Earl  of  Bedford. 

In  1724  a  fifth  bell  was  added,  or  the  clock  bell  utilized  as  a  ringing  bell. 

In  1S29,  two  of  the  five  bells  being  broken,  and  the  others  out  of  tune, 
they  were  taken  down  and  sent  to  the  Whitechapel  foundry,  from  which  the 
present  larger  six  bells  were  received  and  hung  in  time  to  be  rung  on  the 
Proclamation  of  William  IV.  as  King.  The  following  are  the  weights  of  these 
bells  (the  present  3 — 8)  as  taken  down  at  the  time  of  the  late  Mr.  John  Price, 
and  preserved  in  his  diary  : — 


cu^ts. 

qrs. 

tbs. 

Treble    i. 

(present 

3)     - 

5 

2 

7 

1     xn 

.-5  ^ 

2. 

4)     ... 

6 

0 

2 

^  & 

3- 

5)     •- 

6 

I 

4 

4_>    ri 

fx."^  - 

4- 

6)     ... 

7 

I 

n 

:s   0 

5- 

7)     ... 

9 

3 

26 

Tenor 

6. 

8)     ... 

12 

-^ 
J 

19 

48         o        19 
In  1877  the  ring  was  increased,  as  the  bells  show,  to  eight,  by  the  addition 


Church  Bells  of  Bedfordshire.  209 

of  two  trebles;  the  augmented  ring  was  opened  on  the  i6th  of  April  in  that 
year. 

In  1829,  when  the  churcli  tower  was  being  rebuilt,  and  the  five  bells  were 
taken  down  to  be  recast,  the  Saint's  bell  mentioned  in  the  1651  Inventory, 
and  which  hung  in  an  "  open  cupola  supported  by  eight  pilasters  "  on  the  top 
of  the  tower,  was  removed  (with  the  Fire-Ik-ll  from  the  old  Town  Hall)  to  the 
Park  Farm,  from  which  it  was  subsequently  stolen. 

It  has  been  pointed  out  that  there  is  an  error  in  the  inscription  on  the  6ih 
bell.  The  Duke  of  Bedford  thereon  mentioned  was  the  6ih,  not  the  5th, 
Duke. 

The  bells  here  hang  in  two  tiers  of  four  each  ;  the  3rd,  5th,  7th,  and  tenor 
hang  below,  and  the  ist,  2nd,  4th  and  6th  above.  The  clock  strikes  on  the 
6th  :  the  small  space  in  the  tower  has  necessitated  great  care  in  the  hanging 
of  the  bells.  The  ringing  chamber  (as  well  as  its  ap])roaches)  is  in  excellent 
order,  is  a  model  of  cleanliness,  and  a  pattern  of  what  such  a  place  should  be. 

The  bells  arc  fitted  with  "  Seage's  Tell  Tales,"  which  enable  the  ringers  to 
practise  as  much  and  as  long  as  they  choose,  without  causing  any  annoyance 
to  the  people  living  in  the  close  neighbourhood  of  the  tower. 

WOBURN  [New  Church]. 
S.  Mary,  i  Ef.i.i- 

I.     MEARS  &  STAINBANK,  FOUNDERS,  LONDON    1S67. 
(Diam.  d-^  in.,  height  43  ia,  weight  2  tons  15  cwts.) 
This  is  the  largest  bell  in  the  county. 

WOOTTON. 

S.  Mary.  5  Bells  and  a  Priest's  Beli_ 

I.     WILLIAM  EMMERTON  OF  WOOTTON  FECFT  1779. 

(Diam.  34  in.,  height  24  in.) 

2,4.     I  :  TAYLOR  &  Co.  FOUNDERS  LOUCilllU  )l<()HiII    1S74. 

(Diams.  35^1-,  41^  in.,  heights  27,  29J,  in.) 

3.     Thomas  Rvssell  : 

IX.  11  r  ecu- 

William  Rvssell  : 

Stephen  Hvdson  :  ,,  ,  rs  r\  r^  f->. 

^  Chvkciiwakhkns  i7;6  (J  (J  U  (J 

Benjaman  Rainbow  : 

ChKISTOI'HEK  Fl.EMlNC;  O  O   C 

'i'HOMAS  Si.ArvR     John  Si.aiku  O  O  O  O  O 
(Diam.  38I  in.,  height  28!  in.) 
2  K 


2IO  The  Inscriptions  on  the 

5.     [+56]  GOD  SAVE  OVR  KING  1641    J  H, 
(Diam.  44  in.,  height  34  in.) 

Piicifs  Bdl  {in  turret)  :  — 

1748.   • 
(Diam.  14  in.,  hciglit  11  in.) 
For  Stamp  on  the  5th  bell,  see  p.  75. 

On  the  back  of  an  old  book  belonging  to  the  church  are  the  following  dates 
of  the  bells :  we  learn  from  the  list  the  date  of  the  previous  4th  bell  : — 

Treble  Bell      i779- 

Second   [no  date  or  description,   so  the   bell  was  probably  a  pre- 

Reformation  one]. 
Third   ...  ...  ...      1736. 

Fourth  1595. 

Tenor  ...         ...         ...      1641. 

Sanctus  ...         ...      1748. 

WRESTLINGWORTH. 

S.  Peter.  i  Bell. 

I.     R.  TAYLOR  &  SON  FOUNDERS  ST  NEOTS  1820     I  :  FOBIGG 
C  :  W. 

(Diam.  28^  in.,  height  20  in.) 
There  are  frames  for  two  more  bells  which  arc  now  wanting. 

WYMINGTON. 

S.  Laurence.  6  Bells. 

1.  THE  GIFT  OF  STEPHEN  WOLLASTON  ESQ.  TO  THE  PARISH 

CHURCH   OF  WYMINGTON  BEDFORDSHIRE  IN  HONOR 
AND  PRAISE  OF  GOD,  1873.     WILLIAM   MONK  RECTOR. 
WILLIAM  BLEWS  AND  SONS  FOUNDERS  BIRMINGHAM. 
(Diam.  27^  in.,  heights  23  in.,  unhung.) 

2.  L   TAYLOR   FECIT   LOUGHBRO'  LATE  OF  ST  NEOTS   1843. 

(Diam.  30^7  in.,  height  25  in.) 

3.  ^I^omrn XH'i0i»*^Ic"'t  (STniupana Grrcf xrifti?i>i> [U 12  D  10  U  13]- 

(Diam.  34  in.,  height  28  in.) 

4.  HH  ^mnrn  X)i^»ti»i  X^nttMiium  [U  ^^  D  10  U  13]- 

(Diam.  37  in.,  height  28  in.) 


CJmrcJi  Bells  of  BcilfordsJiirc.  2  i  1 

5.  XXlusa  Xl'if.iclir.  .Suuaf  j  i.uvilms ^'(T) auliclii-i  [7 1 2  □  i o  "7  1 3]. 

(Diam.  39  in.,  heiyht  29  in.) 

6.  JOHN    ACHURCH     C  :  WARDEN.      K  :  'IWYLOR  S'"  NEOTS  . 

FECIT  .   18 14. 

(Diam.  44  in.,  height  30J,  in.) 
For  Stamps  on  the  3rd,  4th  and  5th  bells,  see  pp.  47  and  50. 
Prior  to   17S3  there  were  five  bells  only.     In  that  year  an  additional  treble 
bell  was  given,  as  shown  above.     Though  presented  to  the  parish,  it  has  not 
yet — 1 88 1 — been  hung,  but  stands  on  the  floor  of  the  church. 

According  ioWeexer  {Fi/tii-ral  Afouiii/iiiifs,  Introd.  cxix.) — who,  however,  is 
not  quite  correct  in  his  copies  of  the  inscriptions  on  the  present  ancient  bells — 
the  two  recast  (2nd  and  6th)  were  previously  inscribed : — 

2.     Hoc  signum  Petri  pulsatur  nomine  Christi. 
6.     Sum  rosa  pulsata  mundique  Maria  vocata. 

There  is  said  to  have  been  formerly  also  a  Sanctus  bell  here,  inscribed  :  — 
George  ora  pro  nobis. 

YIELUEN. 

S.  Marv.  4  l>i:i-i-J^- 

1.  T.  &  J.    E.VYRE  FECERUNT. 

GRATA  SIT  ARGUTA  RESONANS  CAMI'.Wri.A  VOCE  Q  R  '- 
CELL  &  W  :  SAMWORTH  CHURCHWARDENS  O  OCT013 
1717. 

(Diam.  2 7 J,  in.,  height  2 2 J,  in.) 

2.  BRYANVS  ELDRID(;E  ME  FECIT  1660. 

(Diam.  29  in.,  height  22J,  in.) 

3.  PRAISE  THE  LORD  1617. 

(Diam.  32  in.,  height  23 A  in.) 

[  u  39  ]• 

(Diam.  34  in.,  height  25  in.) 
For  Stamp  and  specimens  of  letters  on  the  4lh  bell,  see  pp.  Co  and  59. 


GOD'S    APPOINTMENT 

IS 

MY   CONTENTMENT. 


INDEX 


.<► — 


AniNc.nox,  ancient  bells  at,  J. 

Advent  ringing,  107. 

Jviiclwolil,  S.,  casts  bells,  J. 

Agnus-l)t;ll,  103. 

Anipthill,  a  bell  foundry  at,  42,  122. 

Aiiipthill  bells,  42,  79,  87,  91,  96,  114. 

Aiii^c/iis,  the,  104. 

Anthern  bell,  I02. 

Arlesey  bells,  21,  89,  107,  107,  loS,  109,  122. 

Arnold,  Edu-ard,  a  bellfounder,  65,  79. 

Ascension-day  peals,  loS. 

Asjdey  Guise  bells,  87,  91,  94,  97,  107,  107, 

loS,  124. 
Astwick  bell,  125. 

Atton,  Bartholomew,  a  bellfounder,  73. 
Atton,  Robert,  a  bellfounder,  73. 
Atton,  William,  a  bellfounder,  73. 
Atton,  William  and  Son,  bellfounders,  73. 


AGLEV,  Henry,  a  bellfounder,  77. 
aglcy,  Henry  (2nd),  a  bellfoundci',  77. 
agley,  Matthew,  a  bellfounder,  77. 
agley,  William,  a  bellfounder,  77. 
inns  peals,  no. 

IJaptism  "  of  bells,  4. 
arford,  Great,  bells,  63,  96,  107,  107,  112, 

125. 
arford,  Little,  bells,  126. 
artlett,  Anthony,  a  bellfounder,  82. 
.irllett,  James,  a  bellfounder,  S2. 
artlett,  Thomas,  a  bellfounder,  82. 
:irton  le-Clay  bells,  40,  88,  94,    107,  107, 

109,  113,  127. 

arwell,  James,  a  bellfounder,  80. 
altlesden  bells,  97,  103,  113,  127. 
attlesden  house-lieli,  82. 
ede  (a.D.  680)  mentions  bells,  3. 
edford  Ringers,  "  Ejiigram  "  to,  23- 
edford  Ringers,  an  "  l!.\astickc  "  presented 


Bedford,  S.  Mary's,  bells,  36,  41,  51,  62,  SS, 

92,  96,  114,  114,  131. 

Bedford,  .S.  I'aui's,  bells,  2S,  S2,  91,  qO,  104, 

106,  112,  1 14,  128. 
Bedford,  S.  I'etcr's,  bells,  62,  SS,  91,  92,  92, 

93,  113,  114,  130. 

Bedford,  S.  Cuthbert's,  bell,  91,  96,  132. 
Bedford,  S.  John  Baptist,  bell,  1 31. 
Bedford,  Holy  Trinity,  bell,  132, 
Bedfordshire  bells,  tcm/<.  Ed,  \T.,  ccrlificale 

mi.ssing,  10.  . 
Bedfordshire  chantries,  certificate  relating  to, 

10. 
Bedfordshire   bells,  commission  relating  to, 

in  1552,  II,  19. 
Bedfordshire   religious  houses,  bells  bclon^j- 

ing  to  some,  16. 
Bedfordshire,  ringing  in,  22. 
Betlfordshire  Association  of  Change-ringers, 

32,  115- 
Bedfordshire,  Church  Bells  of,  ^y 
Beuford.^hire  bellfounders,  37. 
Bedfordshire  bells,  other  ftjunders  of,  43, 
Bedfordshire  bells,  peculiar  uses  of,  85. 
Bedfordshire  bells,  Latin  Inscriptions  on,  with 

translations,  1 1 7. 
Bedfordshire  bells,  Latin  inscriptions  on,  121. 
Bellfounders,  Bedfordshire,  37. 
Bells,  use  of,  universal,  2. 
Bells  cast  in  churches  and  churchyards,  4. 
Bells,  benediction  of,  4. 
Bells,  forms  of  in-icrijition  on,  6. 
Bells,  oldest  dated  in  Engl.md,  6, 
Bells,  how  used  before  the  Reformation,  S,  S6. 
Bells,  ancient,  why  scarce,  21, 
Bells  formerly  rung  by  the  ilc.icons,  87, 
Benediction  of  belU,  4. 
Bett,  Thom.a.s,  a  bellfounder,  57. 
Biddenham  bells,  91,  IIO,  132. 
Biggleswade  bells,  96,  107,  loS,  133. 


214 


Index. 


liillinglon  bell,  133. 

llingliam,  Notts,  a  bell  at,  60. 

]Jirming]iani  bcllfounders,  So. 

IJietsoe  l)clls,  66,  133. 

]!le\vs  ami  Son,  bellfounders,  80. 

liiunham  bells,  40,  40,  62,  88,  91,93,96,  107, 

109,  III,  112,  113,  134. 
Bolniuiist  bells,  35,  112,  135. 
Bracker,  Austen,  a  bellfounder,  52. 
Briaiit,  John,  a  bellfounder,  70. 
Bride's  jieal,  the,  1 10. 
Bromhani  bells,  66,  136. 
Buckingham,  bellfoundry  at,  73. 
BuMisdon,  — ,  a  bellfounder,  53. 
"  Bunyan's  bell,"  36,  80. 
Burial  peals,  1 00. 
Bushmead  Priory,  bells  of,  17,  18. 
Bydenhambridge,  Chantry  of,  bells,  II. 

Caddington  bells,  S3,  91,  92,  97,  137. 
Caldwell  Priory,  bells  of,  17,  18. 
Cainpana,  a  large  bell,  2. 
Canipton  bells,  35,  35,  43,  62,  1 38. 
Canons  of  Church  of  England  on  bells,  85. 
Canonical  hours,  ringing  of,  3,  90. 
Cardington  bells,  65,  S3,   87,  91,  92,  93,  98, 

loi,  106,  107,  109,  112,  113,  138. 
Carlton  bells,  6,  35,  35,  53,  57,  b2,  87,  92, 

96,  107,  112,  112,  113,  114,  140. 
Carter,  Joseph,  a  bellfounder,  82. 
Carter,  William,  a  bellfounder,  82. 
Castle  Ashby,  Northants,  a  bell  at,  52. 
Chacombe,  Is'orthants,  a  bellfoundry  at,  77. 
Chalgrave  bells,  35,  53,  75,  97,  114,  140. 
Chandler,  Anthony,  a  bellfounder,  71. 
Chandler,  George,  a  bellfounder,  72. 
Chandler,  Richard,  a  bellfounder,  70. 
Chandler,  Richard  (2nd),  a  bellfounder,  72, 
Chandler,  Richard  (3rd),  a  bellfounder,  72. 
('hapman  and  Mears,  bellfounders,  83. 
Chellington   bells,   35,  56,  73,  74,  76,  87,  92, 

96,  112,  112,  113,  114,  141. 
Chelsea,  a  bellfoundry  at,  78. 
Chertsey,  a  bellfoundry  at,  77. 
Chicksand  Priory,  bells  of,  17,  18. 
Chiming  at  funerals,  lOO. 
China,  bells  used  in,  2. 

Christians,  early,  mode  of  calling  together,  i. 
Church  bells,  i. 

Clapham  bells,  35,  76,  96,  114,  141. 
Clarke,  John,  a  bellfounder,  67. 
Claughton,  Lancashire,  early  dated  bell  at,  6. 
Clay,  Thomas,  a  bellfounder,  65. 
Clifton  bells,  35,  36,  58,  89,  99,  112,  142. 
Clophill  bells,  75,  97,  143. 


Colchester,  a  bellfoundry  at,  74. 

Cold  Ashby,  Northants,  early  dated  bell  at,  6. 

Colmworth  bells,  74,  75,  76,  144. 

Commemorative  Services,  loi. 

Common  or  mote-bell,  113. 

Coplc  bells,  7,  34,  50,  75,  89,  100,  107,  107, 

109,  114,  144. 
Corse-bell,  104. 
Cranfield  bells,  41,  81,  81,  88,  91,  97,  103, 

105,  106,  107,  108,  108,  III,  113,  114,  145. 
Croyland  Abbey,  bells  at,  3. 

Culverden,  William,  a  bellfounder,  44. 
Curfew-bell,  103,  104. 

Daily  Service,  a  bell  to  be  tolled  for,  85. 

Daily  bells,  other,  105. 

Dean  bells,  6i,  62,  77,  98,  107,  108,  145. 

Death-knell,  the,  99. 

Dedication  peals,  109. 

Diameters  of  bells,  guides  to  their  weights, 

120. 
Dier,  John,  a  bellfounder,  67. 
"  Dinner-bell,"  93. 

Divine  Service,  modes  of  ringing  for,  87. 
Dobson,  William,  a  bellfounder,  80. 
Downham  Market,  a  bellfoundry  at,  80. 
Drayton  Parslow,  Bucks,  a  bellfoundry  at,  70. 
Dunstable  bells,  6,  34,  56,  83,  88,  91,  92,  97, 

102,  102,  107,  III,  113,  114,  146. 
Dunstan,  S.,  casts  bells,  and  draws  up  Rules 

for  ringing,  3. 
Dunton  bells,  68,  97,  112,  114,  147. 

Early  Sunday  peals,  90. 

Early  Morning-bell,  104. 

Easter  peals,  108. 

Eaton  Bray  bells,  70,  72,  148. 

Eaton  Socon  bells,  69,  78,  79,  80,  148. 

Eayre,  Joseph,  a  bellfounder,  79. 

Eayre,  Thomas  and  John,  bellfounders,  79. 

Eayre,  Thomas,  a  bellfounder,  79. 

Eayre,  Thomas  (2nd),  a  bellfounder,  79. 

Ecton,  Northants,  a  bellfoundry  at,  77. 

Edmunds,  Islip,  a  bellfounder,  83. 

Edworth  bells,  7,  34,  41,  54,  68,  99,  149. 

Egbert  (A.D.  750)  mentions  bells,  3. 

Egginton  bells,  71,  92,  97,  107,  114,  149. 

I-^ldridge,  Bryan,  a  bellfounder,  77. 

Elstow  Nunnery,  bells  of,  17. 

Elstow  bells,  36,  40,  62,  80,  150. 

Emmerton,  William,  a  bellfounder,  38. 

Epiphany  peals,  108. 

Eversholt  bells,  87,  91,  97,    103,   105,    105, 

106,  107,    loS,    loS,    108,    loS,    loS,  109, 
151. 


Index. 


21 


Execution  bell,  112. 
Eyeworth  bells,  7,  35,  49,  152. 

Fair  peals,  no. 

Fandish  bells,  35,  60,  74,  75,  91,  152. 
Felmeisham  bells,  40,  41,  63,  153. 
Fire-bell,  103,  112. 
Flitton  bells,  153. 

Flitwick  bells,  67,  75,  91,  96,  loi,  107,  107, 
109,  153- 

Gabriel-bell,  105. 

nieanlng-bell,  the,  112. 

Goldington  bells,  40,  62,  62,  87,  96,  107,  1 13, 

114/154- 
r.ood  P'riday  use,  loS. 
Gravenhurst,  Upper,  bells,  154. 
Gravenhurst,  Lower,  bell,  82,  99,  114,  154. 
Graye,  Christopher,  a  bellfounder,  41. 
Graye,  Miles,  a  bellfounder,  42,  74. 
(Jreeks  used  bells,  2. 
Gunpowder  Plot,  ringing  on  5th  Nov.,  113. 

Hall,  Edward,  a  bellfounder,  72. 

Hand-bells,  103. 

Harlington  bells,  14,  35,  35,  35,  44.   58,  91, 

92,  97,  107,  107,  109,  109,  113,  155. 
Ilariold  Priory,  bells  of,  17,  iS. 
llarrold   bells,    62,  62,  71,  81,   87,   96,  loO, 

106,  112,  112,  113,  155. 
Hatley  Cockayne  bells,  114,  156. 
Ilaulsey,  Richard,  a  bellfounder,  68. 
Hawnes  bells,  7,  34,  75,88,  91,  99,  113,  156. 
Heath  and  Reach  bell,  157. 
Henlow  bells,  75,  157. 
Hertford,  bellfoundries  at,  70,  70. 
Higham  Gobion  bell,  1 58. 
Hindoos  used  bells,  2. 
HocUliffe  bells,  33,  35,  35,  35,  47,  89,  92,  97, 

105,  107,  107,  108,  114.  15S. 
Hodson,  Christopher,  a  bellfounder,  Si. 
Hodson,  John,  a  bellfounder,  81. 
Holdtield,  Richard,  a  bellfounder,  67. 
Hohvell  i)ells,  159. 
Houghton  Conquest  bells,  87,  90,  96,  107, 

II  I,  113,  114,  114,  159. 
Houghton  Regis  bells,  35,  36,  4I,  67,71,88, 

91,  92,   97,  107,   107,   108,  109,    III,    112, 

113,  113,  114,  161. 
Houselling-hell,  104. 
llulcote  bells,  35,  67,  72,  97,  lOO,   I06,  107, 

I  10,  114,  162. 
Hull,  William,  a  bellfounder,  81. 
Husborne  Crawley  bells,  41,  41,  66,  88,  02, 

98, 103, 107, 108,  lo8, 109, 1 10, 1 13,  1 14, 163. 


Impincton,  Cambridgeshire,  l>ells  at,  8. 
Induction  bell,  1 14. 

Inscriptions  on   Church    Pells  of   Bedford- 
shire, 121. 

Janawav,  Thomas,  a  iK'UfounJcr,  78* 

Jerome,  S.,  mentions  bells,  2. 

Jews  used  bells,  2. 

Jorden,  Henry,  a  bellfounder,  48. 

Kkkne,  James,  a  bellfounder,  74. 
Kempstone   bells,  8,  35,  55,  61,  63,   91,  96, 

III,  113,  114,  165. 
Kersey,  Suffolk,  a  1h.11  at,  74. 
Keysoe  bells,  41,  79,98,  107,  107,  loS,  II3, 

114   165. 
Knolling  of  the  Aves,  93. 
Knotting  bell,  166. 

Lai>v-day  peals,  108. 

Lanfranc,  Rules  for  rmging  by,  3. 

Langford  bells,  79,  79,  96,  no,  112,  114,  166. 

Leicester  bellfounders,  57. 

Leighton  Pu/zard  bells,  S^,  89,  91,  92,  93,  97, 

104,  107,  108,  108,  108,  109,  113,  166.    . 
Leighton  Puzzard,  .S.  Andrew's,  bell,  1 68. 
Lenten  ringing,  108. 
Lester,  Thomas,  a  bellfounder,  82. 
Lester  au^l  Pack,  liellfi>unders,  S2. 
Lidlington  bells,  21,  35,91.97.  1 02,  1 14,  16S. 
Litany,  a  bell  lo  be  lolled  for,  85. 
London,  modern,  bellfounders.  Si. 
Loughborough  bellfoundry,  66. 
Loyal  peals,  1 1 5. 
Luffenham,  .South,  a  bell  at,  58. 
Luton  bells,  70,  83,  102,  104,  169. 
Lych-bell,  104. 

^L\R^.ATE  Priory,  bells  of,  17,  iS. 

Market-bell,  the,  III. 

.Marston  Moretaine  bells,  62,  88,  90,  92,  96, 

106,  107, 108,  109,  no,  n  I,  112,  113,  170. 
Matins,  call  lo,  3. 

.Maulden  bells,  34,  35,  53,  67,  170. 
M.nyor's  peals,  1 14. 
MePTs,  \V.  and  T.,  bellfounders,  S3. 
Mears  and  .Stainbank,  bellfounders,  S3. 
Melchbournc  bells,  62,  S3,  88,  98,  107,  roS, 

171. 
Meppershal!  bells,  20,  35,  70,  SS,  97,   107, 

107,  108,  loS,  109,  n2.  171. 
Millbrooke  bells,  21,  34.  53,  9I,  97,  173. 
Millers,  Wdli.im,  a  bellfounder,  57. 
Milton  Pryant   bells,  71,  74,  75,  75,  76,  91, 

97.  I '4.  >74- 


2l6 


Index. 


Milton  Ernest  bells,  41,  83,  92,  96,  109,  112, 

114,  174. 
Mot,  Robert,  a  bellfounder,  82. 
Mote,  or  common  bell,  1 13. 
IMuggerhanger  bell,  112,  174. 
Mumby,  Lincolnshire,  bells  nt,  54. 

Newcomise,  Edward,  a  bellfounder,  40,  57. 

Newcombe,  Thomas,  a  bellfounder,  57. 

Nevvcombe,  Robert,  a  bellfounder,  57. 

Newcombe,  Thomas  (2nd),  a  bellfounder,  57. 

jSi'evvman,  Thomas,  a  bellfounder,  78. 

Newnham  Priory,  bells  of,  iS. 

New  Year's  Eve,  ringing  on,  108. 

New  Year's  Eve  and  New  Year's  Day,  ring- 
ing on,  109. 

Nineveh,  bells  found  at,  2. 

Norris,  Thomas,  a  bellfounder,  76. 

Norris,  Tobias,  a  bellfounder,  76. 

Norris,  Tobias  (2nd),  a  bellfounder,  77. 

Northill  bells,  34,  35,  41,  52,  59,  62,  89,  91, 
96,  175- 

Oakley  bells,  62,  63,  79,  96,  105,  106,  112, 

"3.  175- 
Oliit-days,  loi. 
Odell  bells,  63,  74,  75.  75.  76,  91.  96,  113. 

176, 
Oldfield,  Richard,  a  bellfounder,  67. 
Oldfield,  Robert,  a  bellfounder,  69. 
Osborn,  Thomas,  a  bellfounder,  79,  80. 
Oven-bell,  the,  no. 
Oxford,  bellfoundry  at,  66. 

Pack,  Thomas,  a  bellfounder,  82. 

Pack  and  Chapman,  bellfounders,  83. 

Palmer,  W.,  of  Bedford,  and  his  sons,  23. 

Pancake-bell,  106. 

Passing-bell,  85,  94. 

Pavenham  bells,  41,  62,  75,  81,  81,  87,  96, 

112,  114,  176. 
Peals,  first  and  second,  90. 
Peculiar  Uses  of  the  Bedfordshire  Bells,  85. 
Persians  used  bells,  2. 
Pertenhall  bells,  81,  89,  90,  92,  92,  97,   107, 

no,  112,  113,  114,  177. 
Phelp,  Richard,  a  bellfounder,  82. 
Poem  addressed  to  a  bellfounder,  28. 
Polluxhill  bell,  177. 
"  Potatoe-bell,"  the,  93. 
Pottesgrove  bells,    72,    97,    105,    no,    n4, 

177- 
Potion  bells,  78,  78,  91.  96,  ni,  n3,  17S. 
I'riest's  bell,  or  Ting-Tang,  102. 
Public  rejoicings,  peals  on,  114. 


"  Pudding-bell,"  93. 

Puddingtun  bells,  62,  66,  74,  75,  178. 

Ravensden  bells,  62,  179. 

Reading,  hallowing  a  bell  at,  5. 

Renhold  bells,  179. 

Restoration  of  Charles  II.,  ringing  on  anni- 
versary of,  in. 

Ridgmount  bells,  2i,  179,  180. 

Riseley  bells,  63,  66,  180. 

Rogers,  Rev.  Samuel,  poem  by,  28. 

Romans  used  bells,  2. 

Ropeford,  Roger  de,  a  bellfounder,  4. 

Roxton  bells,  36,  40,  180. 

Rubric  of  Book  of  Common  Prayer  on  bells, 
85. 

Russell,  Thomas,  a  bellfounder,  37. 

Saf.iman,  Pope  (.\.D.  604),  used  bells,  3. 

Sacring-bell,  103. 

S.  Hugh's  day,  ringing  on,  109. 

S.  Neots,  a  bellfoundry  at,  65,  79. 

Salford  bells,  20,  34,  53,  75,  75,  97,  lOO,  103, 

106,  107,  iSi. 
Sanctus,  or  saunce-bell,  the,  loi. 
Sandy  bells,  20,  40,  40,  91,  96, 107,  108,  n2, 

113,  114,  181. 
Saunders,  John,  a  bellfounder,  46. 
Sermon-bell,  91. 

Sharnbrook  bells,  41,  n2,  n2,  n3,  184. 
Shefford  bell,  184. 
Shelton  bells,  63,  67,  91,  109,  1S4. 
Shillington  bells,   40,   69,  76,   97,    108,  109, 

109,  nr,  ni,  n3,  n4,  n5,  185. 
Shrive-bell,  106. 
Sioniiin,  a  large  bell,  3. 
Silsoe  bells,  191. 

Somerby,  Lincolnshire,  early  dated  bells  at,  6. 
Souldrop  bells,  21,  191. 
Southill  bells,  91,  97,  108,  109,  192. 
South  Somercotes,  Lincolnshire,  early  dated 

bells  at,  6. 
Stainbank,  Robert,  a  bellfounder,  S3. 
Staflbrd,  John  of,  a  bellfounder,  57. 
Stagsden'bells,  77,  78,  193. 
Stamford,  a  bellfoundry  at,  76. 
Stanbridge  bells,  75,  76,  88,  90,  92,  96,  107, 

109,  n3,  n4,  193. 
Stanstead  Abbots,  Herts,  a  bell  at,  69. 
Staughton  Parva  bells,  34,  45,  194. 
Steppingley  bells,  96,  no,  195. 
Stevington  bells.  So,  Si,  Si,  92,  96,  195. 
Stondon  bell,  196. 

Stotfold  bells,  35,  55,  74,  91,  96,  196. 
Streatley  bells,  21,  196. 


Index. 


217 


Studham  liells,  35,  68,  75,  197. 
Sunday  mid -day  peals,  92. 
Sundoii  bells,  8,  21,  34,  55,  197. 
Sutton  bells,  197. 

'Tantony  bell,  102. 

Taylor,  Robert,  a  bellfoundcr,  66. 

Taylor,  R.  and  Sons,  bellfoun<leis,  66. 

Taylor,  John,  a  ])ellfounder,  66. 

Taylor,  \V.  and  J.,  bellfuundcrs,  66. 

Taylor,  John  anil  Co.,  bellfoiinders,  67. 

Tem]5sford  bells,  41,  197. 

Thurleiijjh  bells,  8,  34,  35,  55,  60,  198. 

Tdiirook  bells,  77,  91,  98,  1 14,  199. 

Tilsvvorth  bells,  91,  92,96,  loS,  108,  loS,  108, 

108,  108,  108,  109,  no,  114,  20c. 
Tini^rith  bells,  20,  35,  35,  47.  Qi.  9^,  93.  9^. 

107,  108,  1 14,  200. 
TinLj-tang,  102. 

T<iiidingtt)n  bells,  91,  96,  102,  105,  106,  loS, 

108,  108,  108,  no,  II  I,  112,  1 13,  114,  201. 
Tompion,  Thomas,  a  bellfounder,  78. 
Tottenhoe  (or  Tollernhoc)  bells,  89,  97,  108, 

1 10,  202. 
Trinity  Sunday  peals,  loS, 
Truro,  a  bell  at,  51. 
'I'urvey  bells,  77,  91,  98,  105,  106,  107,  108, 

108,  108,  108,  109,  112,  114,  202. 

UrroN  Magna,  Salop,  a  bell  at,  So. 
Vkstry  bell,  113. 


W.MNFLEFT,  Lincolnshire,  a  bdl  at,  55. 

WanKn  Mnnastery,  bells  of,  17. 

Wanlcn,   Old,    bells,   34,    55,    89,    97,     M4, 

203. 
Warner,  John,  and  Sons,  1  cllfoundcrs,  S4. 
Watts,  Francis,  a  bellfounder,  60. 
Watts,  "  Hew,"  a  bellfounder,  58. 
Watts,  Ilu},'h,  a  bellfounder,  61. 
Wat's,  William,  a  bellfounder,  58. 
Wedding  jieals,  i  lo. 
\\'eij;hts  of  bells  judged  from  their  diameters 

120. 
Westoning  bells,  71,  103,  103,  204. 
^\'llil)sna>le  bells,  72,  204. 
Whitsuntide  peals,  loS. 
Wilden  bells,  35,  47,  62,  63,  91,  93,  99,  107, 

109,  112,  112,  113,  n4,  205. 
Wilhanipstead  bells,  21,  91,  93,  97,  206. 
Willington  bells,  8,  35,  35,  50,  62,  67,  ;8,  91, 

99,  112,  112,  113,  205. 
Woburn  Monastery  bells,  17. 
Woburn  bells,  36,  89,  97,  lot,  104,  105,  107, 

107,  109,  106,  III,  114,  208. 
Woods'.ock,  Oxfordshire,  a  bellfoundr)'at,  74. 
Wootton,  a  bellfoundry  at,  37. 
Wootton  bells,  74,76,  97,  107,  II3,  1 14,  209. 
Wrestlingwortii  bells,  66,  210. 
Wyboston,  Chantry  of,  bell,  II. 
Wymington  bells,  34,  34,  35,  40,  67,  So,  2lo. 

VliiLDEN  bells,  62,  77,  79,  211. 


CORRIGENDA. 


Page  3,  sixth  line  from  bottom,  for  Laiicfranc,  read  Lanfranc. 
,,    6,  third  line  from  bottom,  for  Son'crby,  read  Somcrby. 
,,  50,  the  fourth  woodcut  should  l)e  numbered  15,  and  the  fifth  numbered  16. 
,,   52,  fourteenth  line,  for  Austin,  read  Austen. 
,,  62,  eighth  line,  for  RavoisJale,  read  Ravcnsden. 
,,  81,  eighth  line  from  bottom,  for  Craiifon/,  read  Cranfieid. 
,,  87,  second  line  from  bottom,  for  Apsley,  read  A'^piey. 
,,  96,  thirteenth  line,  for  Lattgtoii,  read  Langford. 

,,   107,  sixteenth  and  twenty-fifth  lines,  for  IIaititijilo)i,  read  Ilarliiiglon,  and  so  on  the 
third  line  of  page  109. 


ELLIOT    STOCK  S 

NEW   AND    RECENT    PUBLICATIONS. 


Reli^io    Medici, 

By  SIR  THOMAS  BROWNE,  Physician.  Being  a  facsimile  reproduction 
of  the  first  Edition  published  in  1642,  with  an  Introduction  by  1)k. 
GREEN  HILL,  Hastings. 

Five  Inindrcd  copies  only  will  be  printcrl,  and  sui)plied  to  Subscrilx:rs  at  4s.  each,  bt-fore  the 
date  of  publication,  after  which  the  price  will  be  raised  to  6s.,  should  any  copies  remain  unsold. 

I-ifty  large  paper  copies  will  also  be  printed  in  foolscap  4to  size,  on  handmade  piijxT,  and 
will  be  numbered  and  apportioned  in  the  order  of  application  to  Subscribers  at  15s.  cacli  ;  after 

publication  these  will  be  2is. 

.-/  full  prospectus  ivill  be  foi-warJcd  post  free  on  applUation. 


THE  ANTIQUARY'S  LIBRARY. 

Vol.  I.       Folk- Lore  Rciics  of  Juirly  Village  Life,  by  G.  L. 
GO^LME. 

Vol.  II.     TJte  Game  and  Playe  of  the  Chesse,  by  CAXTOX. 
Edited  by  ^V.  E.  A.  Axon. 

Vol.  III.    The  History  of  Fairs,  Ancient    and    Modern,   by 
CORNELIUS  WALEORD. 

The  works  constituting  this  Lidrary  are  on  subjects  of  interest  to  antiquaries  and  cultivated 
readers  generally.  The  volumes  are  primed  in  antique  style,  in  the  highest  style  of  tlie  printing 
art,  on  handmade  paper,  and  are  bound  in  Roxburgh  with  gilt  top.  The  first  issue  of  '1  UK 
.\NTiyu.\Kv's  LiiJKAKY  is  now  in  course  of  delivery.  Intending  Subscribers  are  inviteti  to  apply 
to  the  Publisher  for  prospectuses,  which  will  be  forwarded  post  free.  \'ery  few  sets  of  the  tin>l 
.series  are  left  for  sale. 


In  crown  8vo,  contemporary  binding,  price  los.  6d.,  pos.t  free. 
THE  LIEE  AND  STRANGE  SURPRISINC;  ADYEN  TURES  OF 

Rohiiison  C?^usoe^ 

Of  York,  Mariner.  Being  a  facsiiiiilc  reproduction  of  the  l'"irst  Edition, 
published  in  1719,  with  the  curious  frontispiece,  and  a  Preface  l)y 
Austin  Douson. 


ELLIOT  SrOCK,  62,  PATERNOSTER  ROW,  LONDON,  E.C 


NEiy  AND  RECENT  PUBLIC ATlONS-conliiiucd. 


In  crown  8vo,  6s.  ;  old  style  calf,  los.  6d. ;  antique  morocco,  jQ\  is.     Large 
paper   copies,    Roxburgh   binding,   ^\  is.  ;    antic jue   Turkey  morocco, 

£2    I  OS. 

JValt07t  s  Compleat  Ajigler  ; 

Or,  The  Contemplative  Man's  Recreation.     A  Reprint  of  the  First  Edition, 

published  in  1653. 


In  crown  Svo,  old  style  binding,  price  5s.,  post  free. 

George  Herbert" s  Te^nple, 

Sacred  Poems  and  Private   Ejaculations.     By  GEORGE  HERBERT,  late 
Oratour  of  the  Universitie  of  Cambridge. 

Tliis  facsimile  is  made  from  one  of  about  20  copies,  which  were  struck  off  for  presentation  to 
Herbert's  friends,  in  1633,  before  the  issue  to  the  public  of  the  first  published  edition.  Reproduced 
rem  Mr.  Huth's  copy. 


In  small  4to,  antique  binding,  price  los.  6d.,  post  free.  Large  paper  copies,  21s. 

Milt 071^ s  Paradise  Lost, 

h.  facsimile  Reproduction  of  the  First  P2dition  of  1667.     With  an  Introduction 
by  David  Masson,  M.A.,  LL.D.,  Author  of  the  "Life  of  Milton,"  etc. 


In  crown  Svo,  boards,  or  old  style  binding,  price  3s.  6d.,  post  free. 

BtmyaTt  s  Pilgrim^ s  Progress, 

Being  a  facsimile  reproduction  of  the  First  Edition,  published  in  1678. 


Printed  on  rough  handmade  paper,  similar  to  that  of  the  original,  and  bound 
in  handsome  contemporary  vellum  binding,  price  ;^2  2s. 

The  Poke  of  St,  Albari s. 

By  Dame  JULIANA  BERNERS.     Containing  the  Treatises  on  Hawking, 
Hunting,  and  Heraldry. 

Printed  at  St.  Alban's,  by  the  Schoolmaster- Printer,  in  i486.  With  an  Introduction  by  WILLI.\M 
BLADES,  Author  of  "  The  Life  and  Typography  of  Caxton."  This  facsimile  is  faithfully  repro- 
duced by  photography.  The  interest  and  value  of  this  reproduction  are  greatly  enhanced  by  Mr. 
Blades'  Preface,  which  treats  at  length,  in  separate  chapters,  of  the  Authorship,  Typography, 
Bibliography,  Subject-matter,  and  Philology  of  the  Work. 


ELLIOT  STOCK,  62,  PATERNOSTER  ROW,  LONDON,  E.C 


NEIV  AND  RECENT  PUBLICATIONS— continued. 


COxMPANION  VOLUME  TO  "THE   BOKE    OF    SAINT    ALIJAX'S." 
The  First  English  Book  o.v  Fishim;. 

Now  ready,  in  demy  410,  printed  on  handmade  paper,  and  bound  in  antique 

vellum,  jirice  i8s. 

The  Treatyse  of  Fysshynge  wyth  ait  Aiigle, 

By  Dame  JULIANA  BERNERS.  A  facsimile  reproduction  of  the  First 
Edition,  printed  by  Wynkyn  de  Worde,  at  Westminster,  in  1496.  \\\\\\ 
an  Introduction  by  the  Rev.  M.  G.  W'ATKIXS. 

The  extreme  rarity  of  this  work,  and  the  great  interest  taken  in  it  by  connoisseurs,  has 
suo'gested  to  the  Pubhsher  the  advisability  of  producing  a  farsiiniU  reprint  for  the  iis«;  of  tlios*' 
Collectors  and  Anglers  who  can  never  hope  to  possess  the  almost  priceless  original.  The  present 
facsimile  is  reproduced  from  a  copy  of  the  original  edition  in  the  Mriiish  Museum,  by  means  of 
photography,  and  consequently  renders  every  peculiarity  of  the  original  in  faithful  det.ail :  theniie 
Illustrations  which  pdorned  the  first  edition  of  this  "  lytyll  plaunflet  "  are  here  given  in  all  their 
quaint  roughness.  The  work  is  printed  on  handmade  paper  of  the  same  texture  and  colour  as  that 
on  which  the  first  edition  appeared,  and  the  binding  is  of  contemporary  pattern  and  material,  so 
that  the  reader  of  to-day  in  iKindliiig  this  volume  can  realize  the  form  and  appearance  of  the 
original,  which  must  have  delighted  the  eyes  of  those  who  studied  "  treatyses  porteynynge  to  dyuers 
playsaunt  matters  belongynge  vnto  noblesse." 


In  crown  Svo,  old  style  binding,  price  5s.,  post  free. 

Some  Passages  of  tlie  Lfe  and  Death  of  the 
Right  Ho?t.  Johii^  Ea?^  of  Rochester, 

^^'ho  died  on  the  26th  July,  1680. 
Written  by  his  own  direction  on  his  deathbed.      By  (iii.nERT   Bi'rn'ei',  D.I). 
Reprinted  \r\.  facsimile  from  the  Edition  of  16S0.     With  an  Introductory 
Preface  by  Lord  Ronald  CiowER,  and  Portrait. 

In  small  4to,  vellum,  price  17s.  6d.,  jiost  free. 

A  Ballade  of  the  Scottysshe  Ky?ige, 

Written  by  JOHN  SKELTON,  Poet  Laureate  to  King  Henry  VIIL  Re- 
produced in/7ri7////7(',  with  an  Historical  and  Bibliographical  Introduction 
by  John  Ashton. 

The  B,\LLADii  OF  THE  ScoTTYSSiiE  KvNGE  is  thc  carlicst  known  printed  Rnglish  t>all.id  ;  it  was 
discovered  under  curious  and  interesting  circumstances,  which  are  narrated  in  detail  in  the  Intro- 
duction, and  is  here  very  carefully  facsimiled.  A  limited  number  of  cojiies  were  issued  in  a  t.istrful 
form  for  those  collectors  of  ballads  and  connoisseurs  of  early  printing  who  desire  to  possess  the 
work  in  the  nearest  shap(!  to  its  original  form.  It  is  accompanied  l>y  an  Historical  and  nil)Ii()- 
graphical  Introduction,  giving  an  account  of  the  various  printed  forms  of  the  incidents  it  records, 
with  Illustrative  Quotations  from  the  more  important  of  them  ;  also  Notes  froni  C'onfniponiry 
History,  elucidating  the  events  of  the  Ballad,  and  other  information  interesting  to  the  .Xntuju-iry 
and  the  liibliographer, 

ELLIOT  STOCK,  62,  PATERNOSTER  ROW,  LONDON,  E.C. 


NEJV  AND   RECENT  rUIU.ICATIONS—contimicd. 


In  foolscap  4to.,  tastefully  jirintcd  in  anticjuc  style,  on  handmade  paper,  with 
rough  edges,  and  bound  in  vellum  of  very  beautiful  pattern,  price  i6s. 

A  Nohle  Boke  of  Cookry 

ffor  a  Pryncc  houffolde  or  eny  other  cftatcly  hourfoldc. 

Reprinted  Verbatim  from  a  rare  MS.  in  the  Holkham  Collection.     With  an 
Introduction  by  Mrs.  Napier. 

This  very  curious  and  interesting  work  is  a  reproduction  of  a  fourteenth  century  cookeiy  book, 
containing  numerous  recipes  for  dishes  which  were  in  common  use  at  that  period,  many  of  which 
are  now  obsolete  :  others  are  evidently  the  early  counterparts  of  made  dishes  of  the  present  flay. 
The  work  also  furnishes  a  number  of  mams  of  great  contemporary  feasts,  which  throw  much  fresh 
light  on  the  domestic  habits  of  our  ancestors. 


Published  Monthly,  Price  One  Shilling,  in  crown  4to,  tastefully  printed  on 
handmade  paper,  with  rough  edges,  and  occasionally  Illustrated. 

The  Antiquary, 

A  Magazine  devoted  to  the  Study  of  the  Past. 

The  Half-Annual  Volumes  of  The  Antiquary  furnish  a  vast  repertory  of  useful,  curious  and 
interesting  information.  They  contain  able  articles  on  Antiquarian,  Archaeological,  Historical, 
Bibliographical,  and  similar  subjects  of  permanent  and  current  interest.  They  also  present  a 
valuable  record  of  antiquarian  intelligence  for  the  period  they  cover,  as  well  as  many  curious  and 
varied  jottings  on  antiquarian  subjects,  which  are  gleaned  from  out  of  the  way  and  little  known 
sources. 

Seven  volumes  are  now  ready,  bound  in  Roxburgh,  price  7s.  6d.  each,  post  free. 


Published  Monthly,  in  crown  4to,  price  is.,  post  free. 

The  Bibliographer  :    a  Journal  of  Book-Lore, 

Containing  articles  on  the  various  branches  of  Bibliography,  Records  of 
Remarkable  Book  Sales,  Bibliographical  News,  and  much  valuable  infor- 
mation for  those  interested  in  Book  Lore. 

Three  volumes  are  now  ready,  bound  in  Roxburgh,  price  7s.  6d.  each,  post  free. 


ELLIOT  STOCK,  62,  PATERNOSTER  ROW,  LONDON,  E.C. 


f>^iriraf^ir,  %  pe,tmtt$Btan,  ta   the 


(  "■  The  Council  were  veH 
Mr.  Ransom  thai  haviaj^ 
cured  a  description  of  \_nia 
of  the  coioity,  he  had  7io7l 


Minute  of  the 

Bedfordshire         ^^  ,,,^  .^,*,«^, ,..  r.^^  «...-. 
Architectural  and  I  ha7ids  of  Mr.    Thomas  A 


Archceological 
Society. 


known  author  of  '  The  Chm 

and  Northa7uptonshirel  w, 

7naterials   in    a    simila) 

\Bedfordshirey 


Some  Opinions  on  Mr. 


•sdum<;  : 
jpqj  JO  sSuiMBJQ  Xq  paj'BJisnnt  opqAV  sqi  'Xj5uno3  aqi  puc  uopuo-]  ; 
put;  *J^J^aT;J^I  ui^quMOQ  'sjoajsj  "cj  'aquioDuio  'pjojuni)*,'  '>iDOispoo\\ 
'qSnojoqqSnoi  'aajsaDioq  '3uij3U3M  'piojuaj-i  yc  soupunoj  jo  siuno.u 
'sdiUBis     'saapuno  j  uopuoq  XiJi:^  jo  soduou  opnpui  i[i\\     "sipij  OJuis 

'AI  NOrXDUS 


pUB   'pjOJpaq   Vi  SOqUIODA\DtyI  01(1   JO  'uOllOOyW  JO  'U01J3VU;.I   IUVI1]IW  JO 

apnpui  ii!;V\.      "sn   oj  ua\ou>|  3jv  sv  sjopuno ,{  aqi  jo  qDns  jo  sjioin 
sai4punoj  juajajyip  aqj  jo  sjunooDV  uiejuod  m-w  uoijoos  siqj. — *sJop 


•///  NOIIDHS 


JO  spuaSaq  put:  suouT^otpaQ  aqi  jo  uonwytssxro     •painqujsiQ  Moq  pi 
•pajnqujsia  Avoq  's[pa  aSiuq     'sipa  .sisauj  jo  snpuvg     -sJiqspjo 


^^>'i<=S'*«'*«'*C5^e<^a>,i<=«^i<^«^^ 


I  ft 


ft^trtraf^ir,  bu  p^ttmisBtim,  to  f^e  asig^f  m^b. 
Corli   ©iafiop  of  ®Ig. 


i"  Tie  Council  were  very  pleased  to  hear  from 
Mr.  Ransom  that  having  several  years  since  pro- 
cured a  description  of  [many  of]  the  Church  Bells 
of  the  county,  lie  had  now  placed  the  MSS.  in  the 
hands  of  Mr.  Thomas  North.  F.S.A.,  the  welU 
knownaulhorof  'The  Church  Bells  of  Leicestershire 
and  Northamptonshire;  who  proposes  to  employ  these 
materials  in  a  similar  work  on  the  Bells  of 
Bedfordshire." 


Soint  Opinions  on  Mr.  NorlKs  firmir  Bill  Bctki. 


T^E  i  Cp^e^  •}•  BELLS 

OE 

^BEDBO^DS^II^E  .^ 


Their   Founders,    Inscriptions,    Traditions, 


Peculiar    Uses, 


WITH   A   BRIEF 

HISTORY  OF  CHURCH   BELLS  IN  THAT  COUNTY, 

Chiefly  from  Original  and  Contemporaneous  Records, 

BV 

THOMAS   NORTH,    F.S.A., 

Hon.Mem.atidHon.  Sec. of  the  Leicestershire  Architectural  and Archcsological 

Society, 

Hon.  Mem.  of  the  Derbyshire  Arcliaological  Society,  &c.,  &c. 

publisher  has  much  pleasure  in  announcing  for  early  issue 
the  present  year  the  above  new  volume  by  Mr.  North. 
^^_  The  work,  which  is  now  at  press,  is  arranged  on  the  same 
plan  as  his  former  volumes  on  the  Church  Bells  of  Leicester- 
shire, Northamptonshire,  Rutland,  and  Lincolnshire,  and  will  be  uniform 
with  them  in  size  and  style.  The  following  abstract  of  contents  will 
indicate  the  thorough  manner  in  which  the  subject  has  been  treated. 


The  book  -will  be  published  in  fcap.  4to.,  handsomely  printed  on 
thick  paper,  illustrated  by  about  65  woodcuts,  bound  in  cloth,  and  will  be 
charged  Twelve  Shillings  and  Sixpence  to  Subscribers. 

Only  250  copies  of  the  ordinary  edition  will  be  printed,  of 
which  a  few  copies  will  be  prepared  in  paper  boards,  with  printed  label 
and  rough  edges  for  those  who  prefer  that  style  of  binding.  In  addition 
to  which  TwENTV-FivE  CoriES,  onlv,  will  be  printed  on  Large  Paper, 
with  rough  edges,  bound  in  paper  boards,  or  cloth,  according  to  the 
selection  of  the  Subscribers.  The  price  of  these  Large  Paper  copies  will 
be  jCi    ys.  6d,  each. 

As  these  numbers  will  be  strictly  adhered  to,  intending  Subscribers 
are  requested  to  at  once  send  in  their  applications  to  the  Publisher  on  the 
annexed  form,  taking  care  to  indicate  the  binding  they  select,  as  well  as 
whether  they  wish  large  or  small  paper  copies. 

It  may  be  added  that  some  of  the  former  volumes  of  Mr.  North's 
series  are  now  out  ol  print,  and  cannot  be  obtained  excepting  at  con- 
siderably advanced  prices. 


^Sig^n.iSy(^;:ig^^$iS^;s^^eiS^4^^j^yi?;jgy(sSag^;SiBLyi:^s^g^ 


<>-BI(IEB  •^  55]BST^;;56T  •!•  OB  -f  gOpEpS.- 


I  Introduction  of  Bells  into  Churches.  Early  Modes  of  Calling  to  Prayer.  Bells  in  Saxon  England. 
S.  Dunstan  and  Lanfranc  on  Beil-ringing.  Early  Bell-founders  and  Bcll-founding.  Benediction  of 
Bells.  Early  Bells,  what  they  tell :  Bedfordshire  Examples.  Bell-ringing  in  Mediaeval  Times- 
Changes  in  connection  with  the  Inscriptions  and  Ornamentation  of  Bells  after  the  Reformation.  Com- 
"  '   ""  ~"  ~  "      ■'     " ;  relating  to  Colleges,  Chantries,  &c.,  '     "    ' 


!  Ed.  VI.  as  to  Church  Furniture.     Certiti 
1549.     Commission  of  6  Ed.  VI.,  copy  of:  Its  Action  in  Bedfordshire,  with  Examples. 
I  of  7  Ed.  VI.     Bell-metal,  what  became  of  it.     Original  Documents  relating  to  Bedford- 


fordshir 

'  shire  Bell-metal,  and  the  Bells  and  Lead  of  Religious  Houses  in  the  County.  Onginal  records 
quoted  relating  to  Bell-metal  removed  from   Bedfordshire.     Proclamation  of  Elizabeth  against  the 

^  throwing  down  of  Bells.  Comparison  between  the  Number  of  Bells  in  Bedfordshire  femp.  Ed.  VI. 
and  the  Present  Time.  Causes  of  Destruction  of  Ancient  Beljs  :  Bedfordshire  Examples.  Ringing, 
Love  of  English  for.  Early  Cultivation  of  in  Bedfordshire.  Oliver  Palmer  and  "  his  sons  ;"  "  Epi- 
grame  to  Bedford  Ringers  ''  (1655),  "  An  Exastick  "  presented  to  Mr.  Palmer,  and  other  quaint  verses. 
John  Bunyan,  and  other  Lovers  of  Bells  in  Bedfordshire  in  the  17th  and  18th  centuries.  Poem  by 
the  Rev,  Samuel  Rogers,  of  Cheilington.     Decline  of  Ringing  ;  consequent  neglect  of  Bells.     Recent 


/ival  of  Change-nngmg,  and  fori 


of  Bedfordshire  As: 


of  Change-ringers. 


these  Ancient  Bells. 


SECTION  II. 


SECTION  III. 


The  Bedfordshire  Bell-founders. — This  Section  will  contain  Accounts  of  the  different  Foundries 
I  the  County,  with  short  Memoirs  of  such  of  the  Founders  as  are  known  to   us.      Will   include 
s  of  the  RusselU,  and  of  William  Emerton,  of  Wootton,  of  the  Newcombes  at  Bedford,  and 


Christopher  Graye  at  Amptbill. 


SECTION  IV. 


Drayton  Parslow,  Buckingh:ti 
of  other  modem  Foundries  ir 
Initial  Crosses,  Stops,  and  other  Stamps. 


The  book  will  be  published  in  fcap.  4to.,  handsomely  printed  on 
thick  paper,  illustrated  by  about  65  woodcuts,  bound  in  cloth,  and  will  be 
charged  Twelve  Shillings  and  Sixpence  to  Subscribers. 

Only  250  copies  of  the  ordinary  edition  will  be  printed,  of 
which  a  few  copies  will  be  prepared  in  paper  boards,  with  printed  label 
and  rough  edges  for  those  who  prefer  that  style  of  binding.  In  addition 
to  which  Twenty-five  Copies,  only,  will  be  printed  on  Large  Paper, 
with  rough  edges,  bound  in  paper  boards,  or  cloth,  according  to  the 
selection  of  the  Subscribers.  The  price  of  these  Large  Paper  copies  will 
be  £1    js.  6d.  each. 

As  these  numbers  will  be  strictly  adhered  to,  intending  Subscribers 
are  requested  to  at  once  send  in  their  applications  to  the  Publisher  on  the 
annexed  form,  taking  care  to  indicate  the  binding  they  select,  as  well  as 
whether  they  wish  large  or  small  paper  copies. 

It  may  be  added  that  some  of  the  former  volumes  of  Mr.  North's 
series  are  now  out  of  print,  and  cannot  be  obtained  excepting  at  con- 
siderably advanced  prices. 


S^S^S^^^'^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^i^^^^^^^^^^ 


^B^iEB  ^  j^m\jm  ^  OB  ^  6opEps.-<^ 


♦••'♦ 


SECTION  I. 

Introduction  of  Bells  into  Churches.  Early  Modes  of  Calling  to  Prayer.  Bells  in  Saxon  England. 
S.  Dunstan  and  Lanfranc  on  Bell-ringing.  Early  Bell-founders  and  Bell-founding.  Benediction  of 
Bells.  Early  Bells,  what  they  tell  :  Bedfordshire  Examples.  Bell-ringing  in  Medieeval  Times. 
Changes  in  connection  with  the  Inscriptions  and  Ornamentation  of  Bells  after  the  Reformation.  Com- 
mission of  2  Ed.  VL  as  to  Church  Furniture.  Certificate  relating  to  Colleges,  Chantries,  &c.,  in  Bed- 
fordshire in  1549.  Commission  of  6  Ed.  VI.,  copy  of:  Its  Action  in  Bedfordshire,  with  Examples. 
Commission  of  7  Ed.  VI.  Bell-metal,  what  became  of  it.  Original  Documents  relating  to  Bedford- 
shire Bell-metal,  and  the  Bells  and  Lead  of  Religious  Houses  in  the  County.  Original  records 
quoted  relating  to  Bell-metal  removed  from  Bedfordshire.  Proclamation  of  Elizabeth  against  the 
throwing  down  of  Bells.  Comparison  between  the  Number  of  Bells  in  Bedfordshire  te7np.  Ed.  VI. 
and  the  Present  Time.  Causes  of  Destruction  of  Ancient  Bells  :  Bedfordshire  Examples.  Ringing, 
Love  of  English  for.  Early  Cultivation  of  in  Bedfordshire.  Oliver  Palmer  and  "his  sons  :"  "Epi- 
grame  to  Bedford  Ringers  "  (1655).  "  An  Exastick"  presented  to  Mr.  Palmer,  and  other  quaint  verses. 
John  Bunyan,  and  other  Lovers  of  Bells  in  Bedfordshire  in  the  17th  and  i8th  centuries.  Poem  by 
the  Rev.  Samuel  Rogers,  of  Chellington.  Decline  of  Ringing;  consequent  neglect  of  Bells.  Recent 
revival  of  Change-ringing,  and  formation  of  Bedfordshire  Association  of  Change-ringers. 


Peculiar  Us« 
Parish  Registers! 
ing  for  Divine  S( 
various  Uses  in  '. 
different  Parishc 
rung,  popular  E 
ancient  Use,  wi 
different  Modes 
Burial  Peals  and 
Commemorative 
Bell,  or  Ting-tan 
how  used.  Agnt 
Lych-bell.  The 
Daily  Bells.  T 
Peals.  Easter 
Lenten  Ringing, 
Dedication  Pea 
Restoration  Peal 
or  Common-bei: 
Belfry  Reform 


Latin  Inscri 
being  known)  b 


The  InscriR 


-3p  SC    ''pQ  "S 


NEtr  h 


t^t  (^66^ 


It 


®' 


HIS  Work  fu 

principal  hist 

Cross  from  t 

succinct  desc 

disputed  question  of 

fabric  itself;    and  frci 

given. 

The  Work  is  il 
specially  made  for  thi 
taken  from  interestin 
the  remaining  Illustr: 
which  it  is  believed 
accompanied  by  a  dc 
the  surroundinijs  and 

Cf)f  ^bbi 

folio  size,  tastefully  pi 
restricted  to  One  Hui 
at  1 2s.  6d.  each  ;  tlust 


*j*  As  so  ft 
intending  Subscribe 
order  to  avoid  disc 


SECTION  V. 


ing  for  Divine  Service  in  Mediseval  Times.  Canonical  Hours.  Bells  rung  by  the  Deacons.  Present 
various  Uses  in  Bedfordshire.  Early  Sunday  Peals,  Survivals  of  Canonical  Hours,  how  rung  in  the 
different  Parishes.  The  Sermon-bell,  ancient  and  present  Customs.  Sunday  mid-day  Peals,  how 
run^,  popular  Explanations  of;  Pudding  Bell;  Potato  Bell;  Knolling  of  the  Aves.  Passing-betl, 
ancient  Use,  with  curious  Examples.  Meaning  of  Tolls  at  end,  general  Custom,  nearly  thirty 
different  Modes  in  Bedfordshire  explained.  The  Death-knell  explained,  traces  in  Bedfordshire. 
Burial  Peals  ancient  and  modem,  Bedfordshire  Examples.  Peals  after  Funeral.  Obit  or  Year-mmd. 
Commemorative  Peals.  Sanctus-bell,  what,  how  used  ;  ancient  Examples  in  Bedfordshire.  Priests' 
Bell,  or  Ting-tang,  how  used.  'Tanlony-bell.  Anthem-bell.  Sacring-bell,  Bedfordshire  Examples  : 
how  used.  Agnus-bell.  Hand-bells,  how  used,  Bedfordshire  Examples.  Houselling-bell.  Corse  or 
Lych-bell.  The  Curfew.  Early  Morning-bell  ;  e&r\y  An^eius ;  Gabriel  Bells;  how  now  rung.  Other 
Daily  Bells.  The  Shrive  or  Pancake  Bell,  ancient  and  present  Use.  Advent  Ringing.  Christmas 
Peals.  Easter  Day.  The  Epiphany.  Ascension  Day,  Whit  Sunday.  Lady-day.  Tnnity  Sunday. 
Lenten  Ringing.  Good  Friday  Use.  New  Year's  Eve  and  Day.  S.  Hugh's  Day.  Queen's  Day. 
Dedication  Peals.  Banns'  Peals.  Wedding  Peals.  Bride's  Peal.  Fair  Peals.  The  Oven-bell. 
Restoration  Peals.  Gleaning-bell.  Execution-bell.  Fire-bell.  Gunpowder  Plot.  Market-bell.  Mote 
or  Common-bell.  Vestry-bell.  Induction-bell.  Mayors'  Peals.  Public  Rejoicings.  Loyal  Peals. 
Belfry  Reform.     Ringing-chamber:  proper  care  of  BeUs. 


SECTION  VI. 


vith  Translations.    A  Table  (the  diameter 


SECTION  VII. 

The  Inscriptions,  with  the  Founders' Initial  Crosses  and  other  Stamps,  on  the  Church  Bells' of 
Bedfordshire,  565  in  number,  from  Rubbings  and  Casts  taken  specially  for  this  work  ;  the  Measure- 
ment of  each  Bell,  by  which  its  Weight  can  be  ascertained  ;  to  which  will  be  added  Notes  on  Local 
Traditions,  numerous  Notices  of  the  Donors,  &c,,  of  Bells,  and  copious  Extracts  from  Parochial  and 
Public  Records. 


Full  Indices,  Lists  of  Subscribers,  Helpers,  S:c.,  will  be  given. 


FORM  OF  ORDER, 


Mr.   ELLIOT  STOCK, 

62,  Paternoster  Row, 
London,  E.G. 

Please  enter  my  name    as  a   Subscriber    to    the    "  Church 
Bells  of  Bedfordshire,"  as  described  in  the  foregoing  Prospectus,  price 

and  forward _,cop,„,.. „to  me  on  _  _ 

*paper  bound  in _. 

Name „^  

A  ddress ^ , !__ 


[p.T.o. 


NEW  WORK  ON  WALTHAM  ABBEY. 


t^i,  (^66eg  of  tDaf^pam  f  ofg  Croae: 

Its    History    and    Architecture. 
by  edward  h.  buckler. 


HIS  Work  furnishes  in  a  concise  but  comprehensive  form  an  account  of  the 
principal  historic  events"  connected  with  the  Abbey  Church  of  Waltham  Holy 


\J^     Cross  from  the  earliest  times,  derived   from  original 

succinct  description  of  its  most  interesting  architectural  feati 
disputed  question  of  the  age  of  the  building  is  discussed  from  the 
fabric  itself;  and  fresh  light,  it  is  believed,  is  thrown  on  the  subject 
given. 

The  Work  is  illustrated  by  Twenty  Drawings  on  Six  Plates,  which  have  been 
specially  made  for  this  work  by  the  Author.  Of  these,  the  views  have  been  purposely 
taken  from  interesting  points   of  observation  which  have  r      '  '  "  ' 

the  remaining  Illustrations  represent  objects  of  interest  in  c 
which  it  is  believed  have  never  been  illustrated  before, 
accompanied  by  a  descriptive  text,  which  gives  much  curio 
the  surroundings  and  associations  of  the  Abbey. 

Ct)C  ^bllCP  of  Siaaaltfiam  i^OlB  CTrOfiS  is  published  in  large 
folio  size,  tastefully  printed  in  antique  style,  and  handsomely  bound.  The  Edition  is 
restricted  to  One  Hundred  and  Fifty  Copies,  and  will  be  supplied  only  to  Subscribers 
at  I2S.  6d.  each  ;  tliese  have  all  been  appropriated  but  about  25  Copies. 

*^*  As  so  few  reynain  unappropriated,  the  Publisher  regtiesis  i/iat 
intending  Subscribers  will  send  their  names  to  him  as  early  as  possible,  in 
order  to  avoid  disappointment. 


es,  in  which  the 
Lfidences  of  the 
I  the  particulars 


t  hitherto  been  selected  ; 
nnection  with  the  Abbey 
These  Illustrations  are 
i  information  concerning 


FORM     OF     ORDER. 


Mr.  ELLIOT  STOCK, 

62,  Paternoster  Row,  London,  E.C. 

Please  send  meaCopy  of'CflE  at)6r!)0f  JK!9alt6am 

JftOlH  Cross,'  by  Mr.  BUCKLER,  price  I2s.  6d.,  as  de- 
scribed in  ttie  foregoing  Prospectus. 

Na»:e 


^07?^  ON  IFALTHAM  ABBEY. 


The  bool 
thick  p^per,  illu 


charged  Tw..v,^     Of    "^(^U^Xi^     gofg     CrO00 1 


History    and    Architecture. 


BY  EDWARD  H.  BUCKLER. 


Only  2^'i 
which  a  few  co 
and  rough  edgeig 
to  which  TwEN' 
with  rough  edg 
selection  of  the  * 
be  £\   ys.  6d.  e    

As  these 
are  requested  tc 

annexed   form,   imishes  in  a  concise  but  comprehensive  form  an  account  of  the 

1      1         1  •  oric  events  connected  with  the  Abbey  Church  of  Waltham  Holy 

^       'he  earliest  times,  derived   from  original  sources,  as  well  as  a 

It  may  tiption  of  its  most  interesting  architectural  features,  in  which  the 

the  age  of  the  building  is  discussed  from  the  evidences  of  the 

series    are   now  ■^  ^j^j^^.^  -^  j^  believed,  is  thrown  on  the  subject  in  the  particulars 

siderably  advanc 

lustrated  by  Twenty  Drawings  on   Six  Plates,  which  have  been 

^>J^^^'^^^s  work  by  the  Author.     Of  these,  the  views  have  been  purposely 

„  ^  points  of  observation  which  have  not  hitherto  been  selected  ; 

itions  represent  objects  of  interest  in  connection  with  the  Abbey 

have  never  been  illustrated   before.      These    Illustrations   are 

■^J3X\1  scriptive  text,  which  gives  much  curious  information  concerning 

associations  of  the  Abbey. 

JB  Of  2lBalt1)am  f^Olg  atrO$0  is  published  in  large 
•inted  in  antique  style,  and  handsomely  bound.  The  Edition  is 
idred  and  Fifty  Copies,  and  will  be  supplied  only  to  Subscribers 
'  have  all  been  appropriated  but  about  25  Copies.  » 

Introduction  of  Be  W^*^ 

Bells^^^Eily^Belir,"  ^^£^   remain   unappropriated,   the  Publisher  requests    that 
Changes  in  connections^  2£/z7/  seud  their  names  to  him  as  early  as  possible,  in 

mission  of  2  Ed.  VI.  a  ,  ,     •    -  , 

fordshirein  1549.    Q^pp Ointment. 

Commission  of  7  Ed. 

shire  Bell-metal,  and 

quoted  relating  to  Be 

throwing  down  of  Bel 

and  the  Present  Time.' 

Love  of  English  for. 

grame  to  Bedford  Rin<  \ 

John   Bunyan,  and  otl 

the  Rev.  Samuel  Roge  0_ 

revival  of  Change-rmg      PQRM        OF        ORDER. 


m 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


I^^H 


cc 

North  - 

212 

The  church 

bells 

BUNSl 

of  Bedfordshire. 

CC 

212 

BliNSl 

uc  sc 


Iliiliiill 


iiiii 


mil'- 

if: 

:  .  ,     .'     ,     ■     ;