Stratton Bells

Stratton

THE BELLS OF ST. MARY'S CHURCH, STRATTON

Compiled by Colin Jackson from personal observation and information supplied by Bellhangers, Nicholsons Engineering Ltd. of Bridport, Dorset.
Photographs – Colin Jackson

There are five bronze bells housed in the tower of St. Mary 's Church, Stratton. Both the Treble and the Tenor are listed in the Council for the Care of Churches Schedule for Preservation in the Salisbury Diocese.

All five bells were originally cast with canons (supporting loops) and wrought iron cast-in crown staples.

The bells hang in an iron frame constructed at the end of the 19 th Century by bell-hanger Thomas Blackbourn of Salisbury . The three larger bells swing East-West and the two smaller bells swing North-South.

Before the bells were refurbished in 2005 they all hung from elm headstocks fitted with plate gudgeons running in plain bearings housed in cast-iron plummer blocks. They were fitted with traditional stays, sliders and runner gear. They all had clappers of wrought iron with baldrick tops. During the refurbishment the headstocks were replaced with new steel ones and all the other woodwork was renewed.

The 2005 restoration - Between the 28th February 2005 and the 2nd March 2005 all five bells were removed from St. Mary's Church tower by bell hanger Allan Britain of Nicholsons Engineering Ltd.

Having been restored and tuned, the bells and their new fittings were returned to St. Mary's, Stratton on 16th May 2005. During the following week they were replaced in the tower by the same bellhanger.

Stratton THE BELLS OF ST. MARY'S CHURCH, STRATTON Compiled by Colin Jackson from personal observation and information supplied by Bellhangers, Nicholsons Engineering Ltd. of Bridport, Dorset. Photographs – Colin Jackson There are five bronze bells housed in the tower of St. Mary 's Church, Stratton. Both the Treble and the Tenor are listed in the Council for the Care of Churches Schedule for Preservation in the Salisbury Diocese. All five bells were originally cast with canons (supporting loops) and wrought iron cast-in crown staples. The bells hang in an iron frame constructed at the end of the 19 th Century by bell-hanger Thomas Blackbourn of Salisbury . The three larger bells swing East-West and the two smaller bells swing North-South. Before the bells were refurbished in 2005 they all hung from elm headstocks fitted with plate gudgeons running in plain bearings housed in cast-iron plummer blocks. They were fitted with traditional stays, sliders and runner gear. They all had clappers of wrought iron with baldrick tops. During the refurbishment the headstocks were replaced with new steel ones and all the other woodwork was renewed.
The Treble bell, which was cast by Richard Rock of Closworth, Somerset in 1753, is the only example of his work known to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. It is inscribed ‘Elias Wood David Casher CW 1753'. Elias Wood and David Casher were Churchwardens at St. Mary's, Stratton when the bell was cast. It weighs 4 ¾ cwt, measures 30 1/8” in diameter and is tuned to the note of ‘C'. The photograph shows the refurbished bell after re-hanging in 2005. Churchwardens Accounts for 1753 show: - 26 th April, Pd. Mr. Richd. Rock his bill for casting the bell £10 15s 11d Pd. for carriage of ye bell to Closworth and home again 12s 6d
	The Second bell was cast in 1695 by Thomas Purdue of Closworth. It is 32 3/16” in diameter and weighs 5cwt, 1 qtrs, 24 lbs. Thomas Purdue's initials appear on the bell along with the name Samuel Fisher, a Churchwarden at the time of casting. The bell is tuned to the note of ‘Bb'. The photograph shows the bell being repositioned into the bellframe after the 2005 restoration
The Third bell was cast by Thomas Purdue in 1658. It is inscribed ‘IP CW ANNO DOMINI 1658', weighs 6 cwt, 3qtrs, 27 lbs and is 35 1/8” in diameter. The photograph, taken prior to the 2005 refurbishment, shows part of the 20” crack rising from the letter ‘O' of the word ANNO. The refurbished bell is tuned to the note of ‘A'.
	The Fourth bell is the oldest of the five. It was cast in 1619 by George Purdue. It is inscribed ‘GP ANNO DO 1619' and is 38 1/16” in diameter. It weighs 8cwt, 2 qtrs, 14 lbs and is tuned to the note of ‘G'. The photograph shows the bell following its 2005 refurbishment.
The Tenor bell (seen here before restoration in 2005) was cast in 1627 by Roger Purdue of Bristol and is inscribed with his casters mark (a bell symbol between his initials) and lettering ANNO DO MI NI 1627. The bell bears the coat of arms of King Charles I, weighs 10 cwt, 1 qtrs, 27 lbs, is 41 1/8” in diameter and 31” in height. It is tuned to the note of ‘F'.
	A plaque in the tower records that: - “A peal was rung in this Belfry 3hrs 40 mi March 7 1824 by William Green, John Riggs, Thos. Woodland, Jasper Riggs and William Sprackling. J. Clark, painter.”
There are two brass plaques at the base of the tower.
The top plaque reads: - These bells were rehung by Thos BLACKBOURN Salisbury and were rededicated to the service of God the 15 th day of Decr 1898. Charles L DUNDAS Vicar Alfred Pope Thomas Chick Churchwardens	The bottom plaque reads: - These bells were rehung by Nicholsons Engineering Ltd., Bridport and were rededicated to the service of God by Rt. Rev. Timothy Thornton, Bishop of Sherborne on the 12 th day of June 2005. Kenneth Scott Vicar Peter Holland Ian Gibson Churchwardens
The 2005 restoration - Between the 28th February 2005 and the 2nd March 2005 all five bells were removed from St. Mary's Church tower by bell hanger Allan Britain of Nicholsons Engineering Ltd. Having been restored and tuned, the bells and their new fittings were returned to St. Mary's, Stratton on 16th May 2005. During the following week they were replaced in the tower by the same bellhanger.
Stratton Page OPC Page