The Bells

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The tower contains a ring of eight bells, the oldest of which is the 7th, cast by Robert Atton of Buckingham in 1626 and inscribed "GOD save King Charls". The 5th was cast in 1752 by William Hill for his father, Edward Hill of Drayton Parslow. The tenor which weighs 22 cwt. was cast in 1814 by John Briant and the 4th by Robert Taylor of Leicester in 1825. The other bells were cast in the last century. The photograph below of the old five bells was taken sometime between 1891 and 1906.

The eight bells
In March 1891 Taylors of Loughborough quarter turned the ring of five bells and rehung them in a new frame, but it is thought that the timber heads are possibly partof the seventeenth century frame which was probably contemporary with the sixth and seventh bells of 1625 and1626. Cocks reported in 1897 that most of the stocks were old, although the wheels and straps were new, indicating possibly that Taylors concentrated their work more on the fittings than the frame. However, they were rehung in 1891 and quarter turned and the frame became a composite structure with cast-iron side frames supporting timber heads from oak sills, with steel foundation beams supporting the whole structure. This old oak and cast-iron frame still exists. Local carpenter Mr. H. Cox of Hanslope erected the large support beams, and the cost of the whole work being £175-13s-9d (£175.68) was raised locally by public subscription.

The picture below was taken outside the church in the 1890's, presumably when the above work was being carried out.

Left to right:

Harry Gregory, Herbert Garret, bell hanger, Alfred Bowell of Ipswich - the bell founder with the recast 4th bell(now the 6th), Squire Watts and nephew, Jack Neal, Rev and Mrs Harkness, Miss Neal,Albert Greenwood, Stanfield Nicholson with the new treble bell(now the 3rd) which he donated, Percy Evans, Tommy Nicolls, The Curate. Two on the step are Jo Kerridge and the sexton, Harry Yorke


In 1906 the old ring of five was augmented to six by the addition of a new treble cast by Alfred Bowell of Ipswich at which time he also recast the no. 6 bell and rehung the whole peal.

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