An Account of the Bells ofAll Saints’ Church, Derby

by

W. H. St. John Hope

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42

~n ~ttount of ffJt Jlttng of UtUS now tn ffJt~OWtt of ffJt ~Uttb of ~U $afnts, .JIm!?_

By W. H. ST. JOHN HOpE.

1ii!~~i1HE earliest records of the existence of Bells in All

Saints', Derby, is to be found in the first of twovolumes of the Churchwardens' Books of Orders,

now 10 private hands, commencing as early as 1465, where, inthe accounts of John Newton and John Clifton, Churchwardensfor the year 1510-11, occurs inter alia the following entry:-

" And to Ryngers of belles upon COrp" Xl day .... iiij","But, as the building of the present Tower was not commenced

until I 509, it is doubtful whether the five bells, which theChurch probably then possessed, are here referred to, unlesswe may suppose that they were hung in a temporary woodenbuilding until the new steeple was ready for their reception.

The first records of any of the existing bells are to befound in the Churchwardens' Accounts which are extant from

1620, with occasional notices in the Books of Orders alreadyreferred to.

Before, however, entering into particulars, it will be betterto give a brief outline of the history of the present Ring of

ten Bells.When the Church first became possessed of a bell is unknown,

but the existing Tenor is certainly not-later than the first halfof the fifteenth century. The remaining nine are all of theseventeenth century. What was the number of the original

ring, or how first augmented, it is impossible to say; but in

the year 1620, a new Treble was added to the existing five,

ALL SAINTS' BELLS. 43

and these six Bells continued up to 1677, when they wereincreased to ten. The four new ones were hung above theorhers, until 1687, when the whole ten were hung in one frameas at present. This latter fact was recorded on a brass plateaffixed to the bell frame, but which has since been removed tothe Vestry. It reads as follows:-

Anno Dni 1677.These Fower east Bells were

Bought by the Endeavours of Francis

Thacker of Southwood Esq &. hungabove the rest.

Anno Domini 1687John Baxter of Laxton in Northamptonshire

Bellhanger huilt this Frame and hungthe Bells new The same being undertakenBy George Sorocold of Derby Gentleman

John Bowly I CHVRCH IJo seph Heywood \ WARDENS \

In its present position this plate is unmeaning, and it oughtto be again fixed in its original and proper situation.

We will now proceed to give the history of the several bellsin.order.

As appears from the brass plate already referred to, the firstfour bells were bought by the endeavours of Francis Thacker,of Southwood, the parish contributing £10 towards defraying thecost of hanging the two smallest, as appears by the followingminute in the Churchwardens' Book of Orders:

Sept. 19, 1676. "The same day ordered that whereas there was five

" 'pounds formerly given by the Parish of All S"· towards hanginge the"2 least Bells the said five pounds being too litIe to Defray the aforesaid"charge, the Parish have this 190 Septernb" 1676 thought fit to add

" five pounds more for Y" aforesaid use as a free: gift from ye said Parish."

44 ALL SAINTS' BELLS.

15=00=0006=05=0006=05=00 "

In the Churchwardens' Accounts are the following entries,

referring to the hanging of these first four bells ;-

1676-7 To Joseph Bradbury fory" Bell frames etc. 13=09= II" To Jonathan Massey for mending the Bell Window.. 01=-01=02

For ale to Carpenters Masons and plumers 00=09=04-To watchmen 2 S and Laborers to help up the Bells6S 8d 00=08=08Casting Brasses 38 4d ••••.....••••••.....•••••.. 00=03=04­Francis Smedleys bill for work done at Church & Bells 02=06-081

It has been already mentioned that these four bells were hungin a separate frame above the other six, but ten years afterwardswe find the following minute in the Book of Orders ;-

"July 28, 1687. Itt appeareing to us all this pish meeting that the ("worke & fframes & wheeles belonging to All ...• the "Bells in All

" Sis steeple within y. Burrough aforesaid are decayed and oute of

"repaire and [that there is] greate necessity for y. repaireing of 1" same

"and although ye Pish bee in debt yet are willing to contribute to

"r repaire of ye same & are willing to raise fifteen pounds now and•• five and twenty pounds for the future for ye repaire of yesame pvided"that a new frame bee wholly made & all ye ten belIs new hung and

"whereas the late Churchwardens are out of pocket 136 ISS And"r late Overseers JIll 10 Itt is this day ordered that a dubble

"assessmt bee made that 4s two quarterly payments And wee assesse

"eny Inhabitant of y. pish as wee thinke weekly chargeable in

"y" quarterly payment to y" poore of y. pish And y" same to bee

"collected by the psent Churchwardens and paid as followes to witt

"13li 15 to y" late Churchwardens and IIU10 to y" late Overseers of"y. poore and fifteen pounds to Mr. Sorrocolde to bee ymployed for"& towards yo repaire of y. wheeles Y work & fframes of y" Bells

.. of y" pish of All S,s aforesaid and that y. ffive & twenty pounds"more bee raised within twelve months for y. compleating of y. worke."

In accordance with this resolution all the ten bells wererehung by one John Baxter, of Laxton, Northamptonshire, Bell­hanger, in one frame as at present. Mr. Sorocold being responsible

for payment (see Brass Plate). The following are the onlyentries on the subject :-

"1687-8. Paid Mr. Geo. Sorrowcold for y. Bells .

1688-9. Paid Mr. George Sorrocold .Paid Mr. Sorocold.... . .

--- "--~--"--------" It would probably be partial1y taken out to allow the Bells, etc., to be

drawn through.

ALL SAINTS' BELLS. 45

The remaining £12 lOS. was not paid within the year as ordered,for in 1698 we find the following resolution passed at a ParishMeeting, held March 28 :-

.. It is this day ordered that what moneys is stated by the ·psent

"Churchwardens to be due to Mr. George Sorocold upon account of

" Hanging the Bells in All Saints Steeple be paid to the said Mr. SOlO­

"cold by the officers of the said parish."

There is, however, no further record of the money having beenpaid.

The TREBLE, or smallest Bell, is 29 inches in diameter at the

mouth,* and bears the following legend :-

~®~ (OmL Fig. 6) .sJa>TE. (OmL Fig. ·6) ::EQ~.s

(Omt. Fig. 6) €r:EilW::a..€rJ3i (Omt. Fig. 6) :FtEflI­f1El::Eii...5-@'")KEE. (Omt. Fig. 6) I ::ul.flI-(5 (5 (Ornt,

Fig. 6) 1678, in one line round the haunch in small foliatedLombardic Capitals.

The lR and f1El in Mr. Thacker's name are larger, andof great beauty, but as they occur also on the 6th bell, weshall have more to say about· them further on. The :G> inthe first word is upside down. Between the words is the smallrunning pattern, Fig. 6. The crown of the bell is encircledby the fine moulding, Fig. I, and the same ornament is repeated(points upwards) beneath the legend, except beneath the orna­ment between the two names, where it is replaced by the lettersW.N. .

These are the initials of William Noone, of Nottingham, atwhose foundry the bell was cast. The names are those of Mr.Francis Thacker, who was instrumental in purchasing the bell,and of John Ragg, the Sexton of All Saints' at that time.

I am unable to account for the discrepancy between the dateof the bell, and those given in the Book of Orders and onthe brass plate, as it does not seem probable that the bell wasrecast so soon after its being placed in the Tower, and there areno entries whatever specially relating to it in the Churchwardens'

Accounts.

* The height of a Bell is about the same as its diameter at the mouth.

.~L L ';.\ I ~T'; BE LL='.

T he S F:CO ~ [) Bell is 30 in ch es in d iameter a t th e m out h. a nd

bears the foll owi ng lege nd :-

GIJD (Ornt. F ig. 1) S AYE (i ,rn t. F ig . 1) IllS (Ornt. F ig. 1)

CH YHCR (O rn r. F ig. I I 16Si (O ru t, F ig. I ) in one line ro und

t he haun ch in ROll1 :1I1 C a pi ta ls . Between the wor .l» is the

fine mo ulding Fig. 1 (w hi ch occurs al so o n tile Treb:e). The

sa m e pattern en circles the b ell beneath th e legend. bu t is in­

terrupted in two place s U)' th e words :-F. TllACK.-\i: a nd G·.

SAlt :\COLE. a lso in R om a n Capit.rls. T hese a re the n.unes of

M es srs. Franc is Thack er a nd G eor ge Sorocold , a lready referred

to. It is no t a t all un usu al to lind words and names rn isspe lt

o n b ells.

There may be a m istake in the elat e of thi s bell, as th e figures

used by th e fo unders are id entical with t hose 011 the Tr«ble, and

there is no m ention anywh er e of its being recast. It is possible

th at the last two figures sh ould be transposed.

There are no entries specially relating to this bell in the

Churchw ardens' Accounts. It was proba bly cast by Noone, of

K ot ti ng ha m ,

With refer en ce to th ese tw o Bell s, Sim ps on states in his

"History of DO'b}' " (p. 110 ). tha t in 1669 there were " 1'\\' 0

new b ell s added to Ail Hallow s C hurch by su bs cript ion;" b ut

this is certa inl y erron eou s .

The THIRD B ell is 34 inches in di ameter at the mouth . and

bears the following legend ;-

X"': E. :;D :0 l-:I- X3 v :n C· J=. JE.>.T E. Xl

:riM-:P:PV (O rnt. Fig . 4) :m...t3...;p :r~:.rlI.an~

(O rnt. F ig. 4) m :m.0 G·J lfi:I. :r~,al~1 W.A.lmE~l::)

16 93 in on e lin e round the haunch in small flori at cd Lorn bardic

Capital s, sim ila r to those on th e T r.-bl c , eX('q ,t ing th e last wo rd .

whi ch is in Roman Capitals. The Idler J.l is o mitted in the

second word , and th e seco nd letter of the thi rd word s ho u ld

lie JE.. III th e las t \\,\))'(1 b ut one J';\. is omitted. The

running .pattern Fi;;. 4 is a lar ger variety o f Fig. (j, whi ch oc curs

on the Treble. Natha niel Prun e a nd Thom as Ci .a pmnn were

Ch urc h wa rdens in 1693. In t he Book u f O rd e rs ( 16:-\9- 17 22 ) ,

Fi/!'. 1. Fi /!'. 2.

Fig. :1.

Fig. 5 .

Fi~. 6.

F ig. 8.

Fi !:. t ,

- --- - --

Fi~. n.

._--_._---BELL MARKS, ALL SAINTS', DE RBY.

,\ LL SAINTS' ]JELLS.

IS the following resolution, passed November 8th, 1693 :-

47

"Orden',,1 likewise yt yO Churchwardens take care to have yO third

"bell new cast att as reasonable terms they can."

This was accordingly done by William Noone, for £16 I8s.,

and we find the following entries in the Accounts for 1093-4 ;-

I'd John Coap for yO Carraige of yO hell too

and from Nottingham .

Pdforgett;ngupycbe1l6j .

I'd ~Ir Noone his hill for casting and adding

metle to y< 3d bell .. 16 18

The FOURTH Bell is 33 inches in diameter at the mouth, andbears the following legend ;-

COELVM HEMVNEHET BENEFACTOHIBVS l\fEIS(" May Heaven reward my benefactors ") in one line round thehaunch in Roman Capitals, similar to those on the second bell.

The crown is encircled. by the fine moulding, Fig. I, which

occurs on the two smallest bells.There are no entries specially relating to this bell in the

Accounts, and it is probably one of the original four put incirca 1676-7.

The FIFTH Bell is 36 inches in diameter at the mouth, andbears the following legend ;-

BATCHELERS (Ornt, Fig. 5.) SELL (Ornt. Fig. 5.) 1620(Ornt, Fig. 5.) in one line round the haunch in Roman Capitals,

similar to those on the seco nd and ,. fourth bells. The initial

letter of the second word is upside down . The Ornament, Fig.5, between the words is a peculiar one, with satyrs, monkeys,and squirrels. It also bears the Owl of Minerva, and the lettersR. J\L P. B., which have not yet been explained. On the crown,and below the legend, is the fine moulding, Fig. 3. This differs

somewhat from the one previously noticed. On the waist is the

mark of George Oldfield~' (Fig . 9') who cast the bell, bearing

* Henry Oldfield and his son George were Bell-founders, of Nottingham,and cast a gre,t number of bells in Derl.yshire, X"ttit'gham. Lincolnshire,ai.d Leicestershire, during the 16th and 17th centuries. Belb cast by theformer range from 1589, at Xorburv, to 1621. at '.larstan-an·Dove. Latterlyhe appears to have taken his son into partnership, as bells bearing the lancrsstamp occur at Morley, 1614, and elsewhere. His latest bell in Derbyshireie at Longstane, 1674.

.\ 1.1, ": \ 1:- '1'< BELI .~ .

his initials on eithe r side of a Cross Calvary, with the sun and

moon ab ove ; and the rim is enc ircled by the larger run ning

pa tte rn, F ig, 4. This is th e most ornamenta l be ll in the R ing.

U ntil 16jj-S, th is was kn own as the Treble BdL

The history of this be ll is most in ter esting, th e particulars

given in the Accounts being very complete and curi ous. It

ap pears th at th e Virginia Co mpa ny started a lottery in the parish,

and that certa in of the pa rishioners subsc ribed three gu ineas to

be "ad"ent ured " in it; their ente rprise was fortunate ly success­

ful, as th ey won £12 , £2 of which was gi, 'cn to wards th e repair

of the Cha ncel lead s , and the £ I 0 towa rds the new treble bel l.

The gent leme n, however, who subsc ribed the £3 3S., did so on

co nd itio n that if th ey won, their mon ey should be repaid : if

th ey lost, of co urse th ey co uld not clai m it ; but as luck

atte nded th em, they magnanimously handed over the money

towards th e rehanging of the grea t bell.

The following are the entries relating to the tran saction III

the Acco unts :-

1620 , " F ein ij Receaved of the Virgin ia Cornpanie by the hands of

" Mr Gabriel Barber and 1\1r Robert Parker, at the instan t S~le of these

"Churchwardens, twelve pounds, ~os. whereof to be best owed on the

•• Chancell Ieades, and the rest o f the sam e a t the d iscrearion of ~l r

"John Chappell and these Churchwardens 12 0 0,"

1621

"Aprill 4. Paid un to ~yvers well myn ded to ward the Church who

" adven tured 3 3 0 at the Lottrie for ,the gUI,d of the Ch urch, wth thi s

".!?viso thatt the Church if they galt nothing they wod loose theire many,

"so that We may im pute the Lo-se of this muney togeather w'the

"Churchwardens ernest soli ssiting of the matter to be the sole cau se uf

"the gelling of the 12li afforesaid, yet this, th us geven to the adventure

"w'h the leaft hand, they freely have restored it to the Churche againe

" wth the r ight hand, and geven the said 3 3 0 toward o ur Sixt bell,

"notwithstand ing they are as deepe in the Sessment as any of th er ranck

"and so are content to undergoe a doble charg w' hout repyni ng therea t

3 3 0. "

We find in t 620. that th e Bachelors of Derby, assisted by the

co unty gentry a nd oth ers, subscribed the sum of £33 t s. 6d,

towar ds a new treble be ll, to be called t he Bachelors' Bell. The

bell was accordingly cast by George Oldfield , of Nottingham,

and the payme nts made to him, togeth er with the list of bene­

fact ors, are thu s en tered in the Accounts :-

16 21.\ laye 10

Paid to Ge orge Oldfield belfounder in N ottingham for6 - 2 -0 of be ll me ttl e a t 4-15'0 the C it: .. J O 17 6

Itrn paid him for waring Jolh or neare . . . . . 0 / 0 0Itm paid for going to ta ke the woight of I 0 2 4

the bell an d sealing a bond to uphoul it ., \ yea re .\: da yI trn paid for uringing it home and ra i ~ i ng the

said bell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 5 0Itm paid forth in iron, wood and workman-

ship to h an g it III th e st iepl e, the som e is I 6 8 33 6Yt wayed 8 2 0 inclu \ling th e sa ince hell (sau ctus hell ),

fur weh he had nothing lor ca:-;t illg, it heing 1101 remem -:be red in th e covenant, we had a lso t wo bras wheel esin th e Church fur w' h we had 2 b ras ses and the o werwaig iu of them made tile saincc be ll 2 LQ ~t ) that t h i~

six t an d treble bell cal led th e barc hel or s heU hung upin th is goodlie sti eple of All S '; at the ch ar ge , ofdyvers worthi e gentdmen uur nei,;l :bour,; & othe rwell w ille rs to th e sa me (wh ose names p t icularli ehereaf ter follow cost

~nno mom: 1620.

16 20 .

~t names of those that are be nefactors for the sixt and treable bell,

made and hung up at th eir cha rges in the st ieple of All S" in D arbie are as

hereunder follo ws

BE~EFACTORS !The Rig ht honorable lad ie Grace gave towards thi s

tre able bell Xis.

S' J ohn Harper of Swarson . . . . . . . . . . . xxiir,S' R ichard H arp of Li t leow e

•• • • • • . • xs .S' J ohn Bent lie of the priOl·ie. . . . . .. xr,-'II' J ohn Cu rson 0 " Kedelsion . . . . . . . . . . xir .?Ill' ffra nci s ) [undye of :'!arto. . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxi is.Mr J oh n Bu lloc k of Dnrli e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xx;,.Mr God frie Thacker o f Repton xxs.J\l l' J ohn H a rp of Il red sall . . . . . . . . . . . . xxs.Mr Thomas G ilber t of Lorb" xs.Mr Thomas W ighe D arbie xr.)I r Joh n Mu nda ve of Alestrie xs.Mr "Natha niell l late o f litle : C' . . . . . . xs.Mr s Sligh wid ow of l erton I'd xr,!III' Coll ingwood Sanders of l en xr.Mr J ohn Key s of H a p well P vs,Mr A nthonie L iste r of litle: U . . . . . . . . . . . vs.H enrv Cundie of Al estrie v s,Nic holes Collier of Al estrie vs.

2I 2

10

10

11I I 2 0

11I

10

1010

10

toto

I 5

I 5 I5 I

I 5 ,- !---12 15 0

ALL SAINTS' BELLS.

iC!rounfjmen lJenetl1620

l\l I' Tymothie Leimming Recorder xvs 0 0 0 0 •••••• 0 0 0 0

Mr Samuell Parker balif xs 0 ••• 0 0 ••••• 0 0 0 •• 0 0 • 0 0 •

~Ir Jarvis Sligh gave us xvs 0.0000 ••• 0 ••••

?-Ir Henry ?-Iellor gave xs .. 0 •••••••••• 0 0 • 0 • : 0 0 •• 0 •

Mr R icbard ffletcher gave xiijs ivd ... 0 •••••••••••

~Ir Edward Pottle gave viis. 0.0 ••• , o' •. 00000 •• 00.

Thomas Ward butcher gave VSo 0.0 •• 000. 00.0 ••••••

Richard Doughtie mercer vs 0 ••••••

George Mellor hath given ijs 0 •• 0 •••••••••••• 0

Robert Kingstonne shoemaker iijr 0 0 •••••••••• 0

John Heathcolt habberdasher vs 0 •••• 0

IS10

1510

13 47552

35

u s d 4Some on this side is xvij v iiij 0 • • • • • • • • • • • 17

(On another page)anno mom: 1620

Uc1~tltrfj fn 1620

Darbie Benefactors as followesMr John Chappell Minister xxiis .J olin Osborne clark of p vis 0 •••••••••••••

William Leveret gave also vs ....•..••... 0 ••••••••

Edward Spuring gave also vs. 0 •••• , ••••••••••• 0 0 •

Hamblet Xeidle gave a marke 0 •••••• 0 0 0 •

Mathew Bate draper gave xis .••••.............. 0 0

Peter Cearie drap a marke .. 0 • • • • •• • •• 0 • • • • • • •• •

Thomas Leening gave us vir 8d .Daniell Parker gave a marke .Samuell Doughtie gave a marke 0 •••••••••••••••••••

Edward Smith gave a marke .. 0 •••••• 0 •••••••••••••

Edward j acksonne gave a marke .Thomas Potter gave us xs 0 •••••• 0 •• 0 0 •• 0 ••••••• 0 ••

Richard Stringer gave us xs .... 0 •••• 0 •••••••• 0 0 •• 0

\Villiam \Vollett gave us xis 00 ••••••• 0 ••••••••••••••

\Villiam Turner gave us xs . . . . . . . . . • . . 0 ••••• 0 •• 0 0 • 0

Thomas \Vandell gave us xs . 0 0 •••••••••••• 0 0 0 0 • 0 •

Richard Burklie gave us xs 0.0 •••••• 0 ••••••••••• 0 0 0

Phillip Par gave also xs. 0 • 0 •••••••• 0 • 0 ••••••••••• 0 ,

Thomas Jepley gave also xs .... 0 •••• 00.0 •• 0 ••••••• ,

Thomas Statham gave also xs. 0 " ••• o ••••••• 0 •••••• ,

Thomas Radford gave us vis 8d . 0 • • • • • • • • • • • •• • •••

Richard Collier butcher vis 8d 0 ••• ' ••••• 0 •••••

Anthonie Spicer gave us vs vid 0 •••••••••••••• 0 •

Thomas Bryan gave a crowne ....•.... 0 •••••••••• 0 •

Thomas \Vhallie gave a crowne 0 0 ••••• 0 0 • 0 •••••••••

Thomas Cooke gave a crowne 0 0 ••••••••••••••• 0 •

Thomas \Vilsonne gave a noble .Thomas Greaves gave a crowne .0 •••••••••••••••••

Abell Topplis gave us iiijs .Vincent Olliver gave us vs .Paull Ballydon Churchwarden .....•.............. 1Joseph Parker Churchwarden \

of, all Saints in Darbie aforesaid

10

5

-i

2

655

13II

136

131313131010II1010101010106655556545

44

4

484444

886

8

15 16 2Broughte from the other side and is 0 • 17 5 4

33 6

ALI. " .\ 1:\ '1'''' HEI.I .";.

Receaved uf bene factors in a ll

xxxiijli jS vjd

Some on both sids is : x.x.x. iii'' is \" id

An d now the bel is worth : x.x .x .x . Iii"

Thanks to all these ben efacto rs

T o on Chvrch and ' teil'd! : s : r

Who may rightly be st iled the

pres ervers of st eipe l, 1",ll s & mens

lives . from im inent dan ger pre "

uenre-I by the maki ng . & h:lngillg

vI' of this bel l ; D o minvs provide bi t

Deo trib vite Iavdern ; gillria tribuat .. r l Ieu

Amen ;-

The ., Sixt bell " referred to is the present Tenor, which wasrehung in this year. I am unable to find any other record of theexistence of the Sanctus Bell. The two brass wheels have, how­

ever, come' into view before in the 4 and 5 Philip and Mary ,

when "It is ordered that the chwardens shall receive ij brasenpull eses and Irone pinnes and a hooke for theym." Perh aps theywere formerly used to suspend lamp s from the roof. The follow­

ing entries appear subsequently in the acco unts :-

1636 for mend y. first bel l " " . I 0 I 5 'I 21 6~t A key cotters an d roller s for treb le bd l . . ... ... .. . . . . I 0 1 4t670 (In J osiah Wh eeldon 's bill) fur ye ould little nell iron s

mendinge 00=01=001683-4 I'd Rog~r Morlaye . for. dra~ving up the 5' h nell and I .

puttmg a Gudgio n int o It. ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 00; 03 ; 06

The S IXT H Bell is 3 ft. 4 in. in d iameter at the mouth , and

bear s the following legend :-

* ~tc @ampana Satra Riat GEtrinitatr::mrata 1607 ( " May this bell be blessed by the H uly

Trinity ") , in one line round the haun ch in " l:lack letter ," with

very fine and elaborately ornamented Lomb ardic capitals. See

Figs. 10, 1 I, 12, 13, for the :bi cr {It and .0 . TheB and m also occur on the Treble be ll, At the comm en ce­

ment is the square rose, Fig . 8.On the waist of the bell are the following letters in pair s ;­

l: ;m :a.~ J3i €) ::til;m @';n '1' W. They an:

in small Lornbardic capitals, with the exception of the last pair,

52 AU. SAINTS' 13J~LLS.

such favourites with

r"bOt:tt 14.!l0 to

which are in Roman capitals. These are probably the initials ofthe principal personages connected with the church, but it IS

difficult to assign them with certainty to any individual. Possiblythe first pair should be E. ):3, for Edward Bennett, Vicar ,

:.Bt :F>, for Robert Parr, Churchwarden, J'ili €!) for J:oTh, ;:Gi),

the initials of Henry Deane, Churchwarden; J;j)~ ;L'l, for HenryBingham; @' ;El, for Gabriel Barber, or George Blagteave, the

Sexton. The last pair I am unable to assign.

There is nothing relative to the casting of this bell either in the

Book of Orders or the Accounts, but from the style of lettering,

&c., it is almost certain that it was from the foundry of Henry

Oldfmld, of Notting[l&\.m.,

Until 1677-8 this was the second bell, and the following entriesoccur in the accounts :-

1637 for trussinge y. 2d & 3d Bell , , . , ,., "1 ° I 1 I 4

1670 (In a bill of Josiah Wheeldon's, quoted in fuli further on)for mending a staple for y. 2 d Bell .... . . . . . 00= 00 =04

The splendid capitals on this bell were

belMounders that we find them on bells1786.

The SEVENTH is a remarkably fine toned and heavy bell. Itis 3 ft. 7 in. in diameter across the mouth, and bears the followinglegend:

NO~ NOBIS DmlIXE NON NOBIS SED NO~1EKI TYODA GLORIA,)1 .:E. WI" I 15 1629 (". ,,"at unto us. 0Lord, not unto us, but to Thy Name give the glory"), one lineround the haunch in Roman cap itals, excepting the initials beforethe date, which are of Lombardic character.

Encircling the crown is the fine moulding, Fig. 2, of which thereare three variations on these bells. It is also repeated beneath thelegend, except below the initials, where it is replaced by the word

"WARDENS in Roman' capitals, Edwa,rd Walker and JohnSharpe were churchwardens in 1628-9'

On the waist are the initials ~ ~m in Lombardic capitals,but I am unaware of a bell-founder bearing them, and the bellwas almost certainly cast by one of the Oldfields, at Nottingham.In all probability they stand for George Blagreave, who was

Fig. Ill.

Fig. is.

Fig. q .

1'1.\TE v,

hg. II.

Fig. 16.

1--- - --- - - - - - - - -- --- - --

BELL MARKS, ALL SAINTS', DERRY.

..\1.1. '; .-\I:\T S' HEl.I.'; . 53

sexton at the time . Th ere are luany entries relating to it In the

accounts. where it is termed th e " 3rd Bell." there being only six

until r67j ' S, Th e following are the item s ;-

1629

163616371639

Itrn the charges of Ca st ing and hangyng the Bell y' wa , :l.ro ken ,13 q 3

for mend : ye 3d Bell. . . . . . . ...... . . . . . . . .. ....... . 0 9 9for tru ssing ye 2 d & 3d Bell . . . . . . . . . . .. 0 I 4ffor a Gudgeon & 4 wedges for 3d Bell & ca rp ent : wages

a bou t ye 5 Bell & Iron \Vork about yOsa me bell 0 4 4Two caq;j ers wages about hangin~e yO3'd Bell &c. ... .. 0 2 6T u .\1r J{agge fur his work anti his mens ab out a newi

yoak for ye 3J .\: 6' Bell _.. __ ' 1 0 0

to Robert Smalley ,1','1' borde a nu to E d wa rd Ca rve r IToI"w.nJ,l ffor the 3" a nd 5'h bell wheels l.y bi ll . . . . . . 101 , 09

1

0 7

T o ~\~i;~~~~ b~~[il ~ (~l: .~l~ t ~~i~l.b .a l :~~ t. ~ I : ~ ~~ . ~~~I . ~ 'h . bell /co I14 01

It for th e th ird bd l wheel (t o E<lwd Daft) . . . . " _. . , . . 0 1 - 06 . 07(In J osiah \\'heeldon's bill, g iven in full further on )

for Iron e for yC 3d Be ll weighinge 12 pounds . . .. . 00= 04 = 04

1-4 - 4o - 1 - 60 -- I 2

o I I 0

~ ~ I ~

The EIGH TH Bell is 3 ft. 8 in. in diam eter, and bears the fol­

lowing legend round the haunch in one line, the lettering beingLombaruic capitals ;-

60:0 .5.fll-YE. W XiiE . ErXiV Xl (J')7i 16 32

In the last word the fourth letter is a X~ on the hell, and thesecond @" is upside down. The lettering is that used by the

Oldfields about this time. In the accounts are the following

entri es relating to this bell ;-

1623 Itm cha rges for a bell wh eel that was b roken . . . . .Itrn for yron worke up on the fall of th e fourth bell .Item fur a daies work to R agge about th e sa me Bell .

1642-3 Aug 6. ffor cottaringe 4'h Bell and help .Sep 27. To Ragge lIkesson lor 4'h Bell wheel & truss-

inge all ye Bells .D aft for 2 clypiss wedges and co llars _.

Th e following also occurs in the Book of Orders :-

April I I 6jS O rd ered y' ye sixt s: ye fort Bell in All S's steep le bee bot h

turned ' an d that j oh n R agg & H enry Itliuk greav e ~ J ohn SlIollg

sha ll ag ree with a workman for ye dooing th ereof & y' ye sail!

churchw a rdens shall paye ye sa me.

We now come to the history of this bell, which is rather curious

The original bell appears to have been cracked about the year

* After a bel ] has been hu ng many ye~Hs , it of ten beco mes necessary to turnthe be ll ro und. so that the dapper may st rike o n a fresh pl ace. T h is operat ionis techni call y te rm ed "(luartcr inl£. ))

54 ALL SAINTS' HELLS.

J712, and an agreement was entered into between the church­wardens on the one hand, and one John Halton on the other,that the latter gentleman's brother, Emmanuel Halton, shouldrecast it. This agreement was not fulfilled by the founder within

the stipulated period, so the parish determined to make him abideby it. He was therefore summoned to attend at a meeting calledfor the purpose, and explain the non-fulfilment of the bond; and

in order that he might not shirk it, the notice was served uponhim at his house. The resolution on this point is as follows :-

" Au a Parish Meeting held in the Parish Church "f All Saints in the

.. Borough of Derby the 4th day of March Anno Dni 1712

"It is ordered that the bond entred into by Mr John Halton to the

" Churchwardens of this Parish Church (with condicion that his brother" ImanueI Halton should new cast the eight bell belonging to this parish

" in such manner as in the condition of the Sd bond is expressed and sett" forth and which he hath not pformed) be putt in suite ag' the Sd !\II'

" John Halton, unlesse hee shall and doo appeare att a parish meeting to

" be held for this parish on Wednesday the 11 th day of this instant March" att one of the Clock and then and there show good reason to the con­" trary, Andit is further ordered that a coppy of this order be delivered to

"the sd John Halton or be left for him alt his dwelling house to p'vent

" his excuse."

What Mr. Halton did or said is not entered in the books, but

on June 24, I]12, we find :-" It is now also ordered that this" p'ish will allow the sum of seaven or eight pounds towards the

"new Castinge of the eight bell."The bell was accordingly recast, and the accounts say :-

1712 "Spent at Hangyng up the Eight Bell 00: 05 : 0"

There still remained the money question with the founder, andon Oct. 1 2, I i I 3, it is "Ordered that the matter Conceminge the

" Eight Bell belonging to this Plsh shall be Considered to night at"Benjamin Smith's about six a Clock, to send Mr Halton an" Account. And now tis ordered that Mr James Cock deliver up" Mr John Haltons bond & take in his bill of ro" Concerninge" the eight bell."

ALL 5 .-\1:\1'''' BEI.LS. 55

The matter appears to have been finally settled shortly after ­

wards, for in [7 I 3 the entry occurs :-

" pd when y" matter was decided with :'-1 r H alt on

"about the hell " . " . . . . . . . . . .. 00 : 0 6 : 0 6 : '

It is now necessary to explain the di screpancy between the

date on the bell, and that when it is stat ed to have been recast.

Tradition says that the 17 I 2 bell was exchanged about 70 yearsago for the tenor at Ashbourn, but as the whole of the bells in

that church bear date [8 [5 , there seemed to be no way of clea ring

up the matter. Reference was however made to the Ashbourn

parish records, and from particulars there given , we are abl e to

settle the question. Until 1815, Ash hourn Church "possessedbut six bells, and as the tenor app ears to have been crackedabout that time , the question arose whether they should have itrecast, or have a new ring of eight bells. The parishioners

resolved to adopt the latter plan, and accordingly agreed with

Wm. Dobson, of Downham Market, in th e county of Norfolk,

to exchange the old ring of six for a new one of eight bells.The new ring was hung in October. 18 [5 , and the old bellstaken away by Dobson. Fortun ate ly th e inscriptions and dates

on them were recorded in the books. and the fifth bell (not the

tenor) is descr ibed as bearin g " God save the Church, 16 32,"

whicb.we have already seen is the legend on the eighth bell now

in All Saints' tower. The true state of the case appears to be

this,that an exchange was arranged with Dobson, the parish

receiving the old Ashbourn fifth, and Halton's 1712 bell beinghanded over to him. There is no record in the books of thistransaction. I have mad e a search through most of the pub­

lished work s on Church Bells, but cannot find that th e latt er

bell was rehun g elsewhere.The Ash bourn Records are as follows :-

" At a vestry meet ing this day held (31st J anuary, [ 815) pursuant to

"the following Notice given on Su nday the 22d day of Jannary instant

"The Inhabitants of the T own are requ ested to attend at the Vestry

" on Tuesday th e 3 [ In stant at 3 oclock in the afternoon to take

" into consideration the propriety of reca sting the Great Bell , or

" having a ne w peal of Eight Hells

ALI, SAI NTS' IlELJ ~".

" I t was unanimously resolved at th e said meet ing that th ere should be a

"new peal of Bells according to the following statement produced at"the said Meetin g from W illiam D obson of D ownham in th e coun ty

" of Xorfolk.".. Stat ement

"\Yilliam Dobson of Downham in the County of X orfolk

"will engage to exchange the old Peal of six Bells

"in th e Parish Church of Ashhourne D erbyshire for a

"new Musical peal of eight Bell s which shall weigh

"abl 64 cwt the T enor in the key of F: &c &c"

rath February, 1815. At a Vestry Meeting. &c.-.. The Parishioners are requ ested to att end &c in order to finally

"determine upon the recastin g of the old T enor Bell or ha ving a New

" peal o f 8 Bells."

It was resolved that both Resoluti ons passed at the Meeting on th e 31st of

January, 1815, should be forthw ith carried into effect.

"In the month of October 1815 a new Peal of 8 bells was put up and

"the six old bells were taken down on which were the following

" Inscriptions and da tes " :-

(Here follow the inscriptions).

"65· I· 6 w t of old BeIls

"62' 3" 6 w' of ne w D o

" 2· 2· 0 less WI than th e

" old Bells. Quere.. are they mended?

(in pe ncil) "Certainly not.

"Oct. 27, 1815"John H obson."

For these particulars I must express my thanks to the Rev.Francis Jourdain, Vicar of Ashbourn.

The NINTH Bell is 3 ft. 10 in. in diam eter at the mouth, andbears the following legend round the haunch in Roman capitals :­

GLORY (Om. Fig. 4) BE (Fig. 4) TO (Fig. 4) GOD (Fig. 4)

ON (Fig. 4) HIGH (Fig. 4), mark of George Oldfield, Fig. 9(Fig. 4), 1655 (F ig. 4).

Encircling the .waist is the fine mould ing, Fig. L

The following entries contain all furth er particulars :­

1639. ffor a Gudgeon & 4 wedges for 3d bell & carpe nt . wages

ab out ye 5 BeIl & 1ron work about ye same bell . . . . . a 4 4

1655. Itm Paid To Mr Oul dfeild of Nottingham for new castinge

the fifth Bell & for over weight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 I : 07 : 00

5i

0 2 : 01 : 00

00 : oS : 00

00 : 05 : 600 : c6 : 8

01 : 04 : 00

00 : 10 : co

0 5 : 0 4 : 06

Itm for carnage of it to ~ottm I\: back aga in two nighb

layinge there 0 0 0 • • •••• • • • ••• •• 0

Itrn Churchwardens charges at casringe of it. 0 0 • • • • ••••

Itrn to Ge orge Ragg e for hang inge the Bdle 0 • 0 • • •

Itm to Edward Daft for Iron work e 0 • 0 •• • •

Itm for old wood that lined two yokes and for Sawcinge

them 0 • • • • • • • • • • • •• •• 0

I trn for helpe to gett up the Bell 0 •• • •• • •

Itrn for a piece of wood that made two yokes .

I tm to J ohn Page for cotte rs and ba ruls . 0 • • • • • • • • • • • • • 00 : 0 2 : 4

Itm to :\11' Ouldfield for ca:;tinge t pa re brasses &: for

carriage of I pare to Nott ingham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 00 : [7 : °1639. to Rubert Smalley ffor borde and to Ed ward Ca rve r ffor

wood froI' the 3d and 5th bell wheels by bill 0 1 09 07

T o Edward Daft for rnaterialls abo ut the 3d an d 5' h bell

wheels by bill 0 • • • • • 0 • • • • • • 0 • • • • • ••• •••• 0 00 14 0 1

1670. ( In Jo siah Wheeldon's bill)

for filinge two Goodgins for the fivfih ne ll & fiu inge

them for y' Bras ses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 00=02 =06

Tradition says th is was one of the be lls brought from Beauchieff

Abbey at the Dissolution, but thi s is vcry doubtful.

The TENOR Bell is a remarkably fine-toned one, measuring

4 ft. 3 in. across the month. I t is traditionally asserted to havebeen the trebl e of the six at Dale Abbey before the Dissolution ;

bnt as the Dal e bells weighed 47 CWI. , and this alone weighs 32

CWI., this seems absurd. It bears the following legend, in old

black letter, in one line round the haun ch ;-

(Shield, Fig. IS) alt'rinitate ~ca fi.lt I)ec campana(Crown, Fig. 14) beata ( ~lay th is bell be blessed by the H oly

Trinity ).The same legend, in different order of words. occurs on the

sixth bell. The initi al of the first word is engraved in Fig. 7.As the T enor is of fourteenth or fifteenth century date, I am

unable to say where, or by whom, it was founded, the record s not

extending so far back. The following charges for repairs, &c.,occur in the accounts :-

1623 Itm to Thomas Pegg for men din g the great bell 0 ° 0

163° I trn for trussi ng th e Great Dell and mending the whee le 00 3 2

1633 pel J ohn Ragg- for a gudging for gr eat Hell 14d

1635 ffor mendin y' great bell's claper 0 0 • •• 0 0 • 0 0 • • • 0 0 •••••• 0 2 6

0 0

3 0

0 4 0

0 2 8

00=06=00

..\LL ~AI:\'h' BELL~,

1C40 To :\Ir Ragg for his work & his mens about a new yoak

for y" 3d & 6' Bell", ... "" . , ..... , . , , . , . , , , , .

To ffrierson for Iron Work about yC sayd worke .

ffor fetchinge ye wood wch made ye great Bell yoake from

Marton (Markeaton) & for help to draw it up into

stea pIe &: neales . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .., ,.-

ffor mendinge ye great Bell-wheele . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ..

16iO (In Josiah Wheeldon's bill)

for peicinge ye great Bell Clapper , .

for Lainge more Iron uppon ye great Bell Clapper to

make it Heavier , 00= 03 =06

1675-7 To Rodger Wheldon for mending ye great Bell Clapper.. 00= 02 =06

1680-1 The Great Bell wheelc 11 8 ,........ I 8 0

It was also rehung in 1620-see particulars under the fifth bell

-and was " quartered," together with the eighth, in 1678.

The entries relating to repairs to the bells and bell-frames, both

in the Accounts and Books of Orders, are very numerous. The

following are some of the most interesting :-

" 4th May 1628." Memorand it is agreed the daie & yere above written that the church­

" wardens of All Sts shall get fforward w'h the repaire of the Leads at the" Top of the Steeple &: that timber for the repaire of the fframe of the"Bells shall be p'vided for & the church repared And that the sessm! by" the gen'ral consent of the snide pishe weh was formerly made shalbe"gathered by the now churchwardens for &: towards the repares aforesaid"the one half to be paid pse'tly S: the other half after the leads of the"said steeple shalbe repared."

Copy of a letter from George Oldfield, 1670:-" Nottingham Octo 22

"Mr Worden my kind love and Respects" pesented this is to give you accompt" of the charge for the Brasses" and als.. which you sent from your church"the 5 pare of auld brasses wa yed 0-2., .."the 5 pare new brasses wayed --{)-2 ....

£"the casting the auld comg to -1­

"the new mettelle aded comg to -0-1., ..

2-6 .. [I]"this from your friend Geo. Old[field]."

This is endorsed :-This for Mr Worden

Churchwarden ofAll Sants in

Derby.

(part is torn off here)

------~ ._,.. ' ~-_._--~----- -----

·\1.1. S.\I~T';· BELL:-. 5')

There is also a most interesting bill for repairs done to thedifferent bells In 1670, by one Josiah Wheeldon, which we give infull :-

00 = 02 =06

00 = 02 =°4

00 =00 = 06

OO =OO = C2

00 =06 =00

£ s. d.

00 =00 =06

00 =00 =08

00 = 01 = 0 8

00 =12 = 06

00 =03 = 06

00=01 =04

00 =01 =02

00=01 =06

00 = 02 = 00

00=0~=c8

00 =00 =04

oo =oo=o~

00 =00 =°4

00 =02 =°4

00=0~=04

00 =01 =00

00 =°4 =00

00 =00 =08

00 =00 =08

00 =02 =04

00 =00 =°4

00 =00 =06

00 =01 = 0 8

00 =00=06

00=01 =00

00 =01 =04

00 =00 =04

Imp' for six Cott ers" .. . . . ... . . . . • • • . . .. . . . . . . . .for eight Ca llers . . .. .... . . . ... .. • . .for Irone wayin ge five pound s .for five daies worke uppon theire Own IrOIl •••... .. ..

for pinns and plates weigh inge i b & a halfe .for a payre of Clirie weighi nge one stone .for alteringe pinnes . . . .. . . . .{or foure Cotlers . .for alteringe more Irons _ '" .for nailes fatcht of daniel wagstaffe , . .for I rone for y< 3d Bcll weighill l;e 12 poundsfor one River and 4 Cotters .for makinge y< Clock hammer . . . . • . . . • . . .. . .for a staple and layinge Iron of a pine .for a goodgin pinn wcighinge two pound s .for a Cannon staple weighinge i b • • • . • •• • • • . • • • • . .

for peicinge pinns & layinge on I ron .for peicinge a Cannon St aple and laying on of Iron . .for 20 Cotle rs . . . . . . .. . . • . _. .. . . . . ... • . . . . . . . . . .for thre e Verrills _. . . . . . . . . . .for ye ould lillie Bell Irons mendingc .for eight Ringes _ .for mending a staple for y< 2 ° Bell .for filinge two Goodgings for the fivfth Bell, and

fittinge them for ye Brasses _ _for tw o staples weighing i b •• •••. • • - • • • . • . • . . . __.

for six Cotters , _ .for alteringe two pinns _.for peicingc ye great Bell Clapper . .for Laing e more Iron upp on ye great Bell Clappe r to

mak e it Heavier .for Bushinge three Rouler s and one pinn .for foure staples & Braggs .fur six verrils & two pinn s ma king longer _.. _.

J osiah Wh eeldon his Bill for his work e donne at ye ffa Augu st y< Srh 16jo.

By J osiah. Wh eeldon

£ s. d.

_____ _ ___ _ _ _ _.. . -0

• A Cott er is a small strip of iron put thr ough a rod to prevent a nutcoming off. The term is still in use,

60 .-\LL ';.\t~T';' gELL".

These two bills were passed at a parish meeting shortly after, of

which the following is the minute :-Oct. 26, 16jo. At a parish meeting it is ordered inter "Iia­

...And allsoe pay: 2\ : 6' : 1'\ to :\Ir Oldfeild

.. for Ca'ting Hrasse-. for y. old Bdls" And allsoe pay: 3\ : 3' : Sd to j osyah" \Yheddon for Iron worke a l-out Y' old Belles" An.: a.lsoe pay to Joseph Hall X

O

x xU Carpenter for worke in removing" and altering y' old Bell frame,"41 : IO~ : Od \..\ xS to Gt:orge BlagraveU for drincke for ye workmen. ,.

In the Accounts for 1671,2, these are entered as follows 0­"payd Josiah Wheeldon for worke 00... 03-03-08"payd :\Ir Oldfield .. 0 •••••• 0 ••••••••••••••••• 0 • • • 02-06-01"papl joseph Hall for work 0 •••••••• 0.0. ° 04-10-00" I'd George BIa;:rav" for .lrinke by a parish order .0... 00--10-00

also" :-pent wtn :\1r. Ol.ilidd 0 •••••• 0 •••••• 0 OC-OI-00

From the Accounts :-

6

3o

o

60'3

o 4 500- 13-030= 2= 0

0= 4= 00= 3 = 0

co-oS-oo00-01-0400 :11 :, oo 6 110o 018

o 0 14

01000 :02 :06

I

0- 0 - 6O! 3 6o 2 6

00 15

° I0' 4

163316 351636164 7

1631 Itm fur mending the C;udgLon of a bell 0 ••••••

1632 It I'd Ragg .\: one to hdp him to trusse y' bells ',It for a clapp [clapper] mending .I'd \\"ill TurnCf for 5 Bell yokes V\ch Iy in y' belfry. 0 • !

Paid tTl i- rson fur wtdges ~ colters about bells at 'sizes '1to J ob ~orear,on for mend y' Bdl claper 0 • '1It to Edward Daft for mending a clapper IiL a chyme

I hamer 0000 •••••••• 0.1 0 4

I It to de~~e~ ~~ow~. ~~r a..J.~~s.t ° ~ .I:~~de .\~~.:. ~s..a.b.~~t. ~hel1664 It I'd John Jaques I' btl! fur worke about y' bells .167°- 1 Josiah \Vheddon for a new Bauldricke * 0 °

To Josiah \Vheeldon fur makeinge a clapper " .ffor leather to line the Haudrick of the Hells .

1671-2 fur leather to line the the (sic) hclis and bawdrick .for cotters and rollers for the bells .

1677-8 To Jno Ragg fur 2 Brasses for Bells °

16j 8-9 I'd for the exchange of 2 Brasses for the bells .I'd the Sexton for let her for the bells 0 ••• 0 •••• 0 0 ••••

Alowd John Rag to give with fframes .I'd the Sexton fur let her for the Balltrix 0 0 ••••••

1683-4 I'd Samuel Roberts fur a (;ugion for a Bell ° 0 •••• 0 •••

paid John Ragg for Leather and to other workmen totake up s: bells .. 0 •••••• 0 ••••••••••••••••••••••

Bells cannot be rung without ropes, consequently we find

many records relating to them :-Aug. 24, 1653. "The Churchwardens are ordered to pay unto Mr

"Thomas Greaves fa' A bell rope & A pad luck formerly Delivered for

"y' use of this E'ish xis."

* The Bauldrick was a leather thong hy which the clapper was suspendedfrom a staple in the crown of the hell. It has since been superseded by awooden block.

ALL 5A[,\1',,' BEll.". 61

Accounts for 1654, Itm to ~Ir. Greaves for a bell rope 0-10-00

Art A parish meeting y" 9th Day of May: 1663

"Itt is ordered that George Blagrave shall have fro' Faster Day

"twenty shillings.l' Ann' to fynde Bell Roapes payable by ye Church­

" wardens."

Nov. 25 1718 "Ordered that Jacob Hall shall have the summe of

"Thirty Shillings allowed & paid to him for Bell Ropes for the Ten

"Bells to he paid ycarely and the time to begin at our Lady's day next,

"and the said Jacob Hall is to get them made well and substantially."

In the Accounts :-

1631 Itm for one Belrope allowed by the yeare .. _. . . . . . . . . . . 0- 5-01632 It given G. Blagrave to buy a bell-rope I 0 I 51 01633 I'd Clem: Spicer for a bell rope. . . . . . . . . .. . ..•.•...... I00 06 8

A charge for a bell rope occurs for many successive years.

1647 It for a bellroape & houre glass _- _ 0-11- 01657 ffor Ropes for the Bells and a Shovel! In Snow tyroe I00 17' 01659 To Robert Burne ffor bell Ropes 00 13, 001664 It I'd George Blagrave for bellroapes (as per order) OJ -- 00--00

This entry occurs for several years.

In 1672, Economy appears to have been the order of the day,since we find-

16 76- 71678--91685-61695- 6

1',1 for 3 new bellropes and peecing 2 old ones __ . __ .. --00 - 14-00To Will Jebb for 6 Bell Ropes ..... _ . .. . . .. 01 = OJ = 08I'd for 10 Bell Ropes 'laying 57 pownd . . . . . .. • I I I 8 6Paide for a sett of Bell Ropes and a clock rope. . . . .. I I: 14, 6Jacob Bourne for Bell ropes ......... .. ........ _ 01: 03 : ,,6

Some curious miscellaneous entries occur, of which we select

a few:

o I 0 I 7!0---- 1- 0

i 00 I 01 I ao 6- 0

Itm for powder and shott to kill pigions in the church __Itm for stopping the pigeons out of church (i.e the Tower}I'd Blagrave for keeping out pig-eOll' . . . . . . .It for I gallun of sack of Ringing III ~lr. Hearvey . _.It I'd Rich: Sheapard for getting clods out of yO bell-

house .. _ _. _ _. . . .. . . . 00--01-00To Alexander Jud for Edward Marshall for taking

down Bell and- hanging it up againe and mendingthe turnegates ................................\ 0 I II I 4

for wire for the Chimes and shooting the Ropes (i.e.through the floors) _ _ .. _. .. 00: I 03: I 06

for Ale at taking up a bell 0-- 0- 6I'd Elias Grice for poynting ow" ye Bellhouse door 0- 2- °For casringe the Chime \\eight 0 I 6 I 6

1685-61690--1170 7

16271631

163316461664

1680-1

There arc many interesting particulars of the Clock and

Chimes from 1510 upwards, which we hope to enter into Il1 a

future article.

62

It was the custom at All Saints ' to ring a bell at 5 o'clock in the

morning, and another at 8 o'clock in the evening, The former

was intended to rouse the people from their beds, in order that

they might get to work punctually-at least such is the received

account. \Ye are, however, inclined to think it was the sole relic

of the early mass of the Trinity Guild, which, before the "R~­

formation," was sung at that early hour. \\'e say" was," because

this bell is now discontinued. A yearly allowance was made to

the sexton for candles on dark mornings.

The eight o'clo ck is still rung nightly; it goes by the name of

the Curfew, but is probably a relic of the time when All Saint s' was

a Collegiate Church.

At a parish meeting, held Nov. 6th, 1663, it was agreed :--;

" that George Blagrave sha ll have of the Pa rish twentie sh illings for the

"ringing of the eight a Clock bell Sic live a Cl ock bell for the year past

"and also to have twentie shill ings at next ladie daie and be payed also

"after ladie da ie next ffourtie shillings P Ann at March (?) & Ladiedaie."

May the 4th, 1664 .. At a p'ish meet ing

" It to Geor ge Blagrave webwas d ue to him at Ladie day

"last Ly order 2-00-00."

In the accounts :-

(1620) December.20 Paid to Richard Baggclow clark for candels I I Ito nng the 5 a clock hell __ _ __ I'. 21 6

1634 Itt t~I!~~~~e ~~~~~~ . ~~~ ~ ,~I~~ . ~~ . :.,,_n.d.I~~ , ~~r.. ~,e~~~~ 00 I 02 6

1647 It for half a dozen of ca nd les for George BI"grave..... . . 0- 3- 61664 It pd Blagrave for ringing yC 5 Sic 8 of clock hell. . . - 01 - 00- -00

It to Blagrave for ringing 5 & 8 a clock bell -02-00---00

1665 flor Ringing 5 & 8 a cloacke bell,.... . 01-00 -00

These last entries are repeated for many years.We may be sure that such a fine ring of bells would be heard on

every publ ic occasion, and the entries in the accounts composequite a chr onological series of historical events.

The following are instances : -

1624 Itm for ringing at the ncwes of the co ntrac t w tb ffrau ce " 1 0 II 1 01630 Itm paied f(~ r ringing a t th e Birth of the pr ince (after-

wards Cha rles 11.) , . , ,. .. 0 6 81633 pd for ringing at Y.' birth of Y' Duke of Yorke [afterwards I I I

j arne s 11.) 00 05 01641 ffor ringing for joy at Y' peac e , , 0 .6 81642-3 Sep 16 T o .Geor g Hlag: for ]{inging for y' Kinge (Uattlc I I I

of Ed gehill) _. . _. . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 13 4

00 : 10 : 00

00-05-00

01 5' 0

o i 161 0

0110 I 0

00-05-00

O! 10 I 001 51 00110 0

00-10-0001-00-00

00-05-0000 2 600 : 03: 00

00 : 03 : 0000':10:00

0= 10= 0

00-05-00

1647 It for Ringinr; on a thanksgiving for Ireland by "IrMayors appoyntment 0- 6- S

16-J.9 It fOI" Ringin~ for a Victory in Ireland..... . . . . . . . 0- 5- 01659 To the Ringers ffor Ringing the 15th and 16th and the

2-J.th and 25th of ffeb : ffor the Lord. II Court parlia-ment (Dissolution of Parliament) and Sityss uniting i 01 ; 00 I 00

1660 It Gave George Blagrave for ringing at ye proclaimingethe ],;:inge .

"lay 2-J. Gave ye ringers lOS Mny 29th 'gave them more.It Gave ye ringers at setting up ye Kinges Armes .....

1666 I'd Ringers for victory at seay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . ..1667 It Mr "Iajor's order for ringing 7th June for sea victory ..

It for newes of a victory 2 A ugust at sea .It Ringers, for a thanksgiving 23rd August , . .

1670-1 ffor Ringinge Coronation Day .1673 ffor Ringeing for agreem t wh v: Dutch .1683-4 Given John Ragg for Ringing on ye Thanksgiving Day

(for failure of Rye House Plot) .1685--6 Given ye Ringers at the rout of ye Rebells in ye West

(Battle of Sedgmoor) .Given them more at ye taking of m " .Given Y" Ringers on ye day of Thanksgiving .

1688-9 I'd ffor Ringing upon the happy news of the Birth of thePrince of Wales by Vlr "Iayor's order (James Stuart,"The Pretender") . . . . .. . .

I'd the Ringers when I' was proclaimed hing (WilliamIlL). .. .. .. . . . . . .

1689-90 At ye birth of ye prince of Denmark .I'd to John Ragge for ringeinge At ye Corowneat ione

Day .I'd for wringing ye ffirst Corowneation Day .

1690-1 I'd for ringing for ye joyfull newes out of Ireland (Paci­fication of Limerick, Battle of the Boyne).. .. .... 0- 5- 0

1694-5 I'd for wringing at the (2ueen's Funerall . . . . . . . . . .. 00 I 10 1 01695-6 I'd him (John Ragg) for Ringing the taking Namure 00 : 08: 6

The bells were also rung on the capture of the Spanish Fleet in

Vigo Bay, 1702 ; at the news of the Battle of Blenheim, 17°4 j at

the Capture of Barcelona, 17°5; at the taking of Douay, IjIO,

etc. The truly Protestant festival of the Fifth of November, of

course, occurs, from 1623; also the King's Birthday, the 29th of

May, and S. George's Day, April 23rd. The Bishop's and Arch­

deacon's visitations are also duly recorded by the payments to theSexton and Ringers:-

"151~•. 2

01 21 00440- 6- 80- 3- 0

June 8.

1620. Septemb' 5 Paid to the ringers for ringing at my LdBushops coming to visit & i e /

Paid for ringing at Mr Chauclors coming totowne the some of .

Itm for ringing the sixth Bell * the 5th of November 1

Itrn paied for ringing twise for the Bishop .It for Ringing the 5th of N ovemb .It for mending a bell gudgeon broken that day .

162316301647

* This is the present Tenor hell.

.-\1.1:. ~,-\l:\ I'; I::I:.1.LS,

1662 Item To George BJagra...: for ringinge the 23 of Aprill29th of May .. , ' , . , , , ' .. , ' , . , , , , , ' , , , . , , . , 00 : 10: 0

Item To George Bl:l:;rave fur ringinge the 5th of Xovern oer 00: 10: 0

1673 I'd for Ringeing on y' S'h of 9 her ""'" '" .. " .,." 00-10-00I'd for l<.ingeing y. Bishop in towne . , .. .., ... ,. 00-10-00

1685-6 paide to John Ragg for ){ingillg on the Kings Birthday 0- S~ 016SIS-9 for Ringers on the Kings BIrthday by :\lr Xlayors order oo-oS-oo1693 -4 for wringing at yO bishops comillg , , " i-, 51-

I'd for ringing at yo polle and 29'h May .. , ' , , .. I 00 . 13 -

The annual perambulation of the parish boundaries is duly

notified by the entries in the accounts. I quote a few :-

1631 Itm at the perambulation for ringing .. ", ".. 0 6

16~0 ffor,Ringinge at pa~l.tl)Un .,", '. . . .... , .. , . , . . . .. I 0 I ~ I 616iSo-1 RlOgmg the Proce-sior, weeke , .. ,..... .. . ., "". 0 I .) 141689-90 I'd John, Ragg for Ringing y' 29t h of ~lay and att y< I

prose,S1olling .. " .... ,' ... ,' .. '" . , , , ... , , , .... , 0 I I j 4

From the entries in the Books 01' Orders and the accounts, we

gather that at one time the ringing loft was on a level with the

sill of the great West window, instead of being higher up the

Tower as at present, and that it was separated from the gallery

by an iron railing. It appears, however, to have been a nuisance,

etc., as in 1635 is the following item :-Paid at y. Surrogates Court being psentcd for y. Hellhouse I 0 I I I 6

and a few years afterwards it was removed.

The following are the entries relating to it;-

1640 ffor iron pikes betwixt SUltOIl'S loft and Isellhouse .. ·····1 0 I 21 81657 I'd \\' oodcock ,\: other, for stuff and workman shipp about

a tloor over the ringing loft.... " ."",..... .... 02 01 OS1664 It for making a paire of Staires and other worke in y. bell

house ' , , . , , 02 04 00

Sept. II 1665 "At a rish meeting by the J:'ishioners of the "i,h of

" All st, in Derby It is ordered that the bards of the middle loft where

"the now ring be taken upI' and an account of the bords bee entered

"& that there be noo ringing but upon the nethermost loft where they

"anciently used to Ring."

1666 for takei nge downe y. Ring-ers loft ,., .... ,.,.... 00 - 1-- 61672-3 pd to yc Kingersacconlingtoanagreemt mrule with them

to set up a new loft in ye Steeple the sum of oS-oo-oo1690-1 pd Elias Grice for poynting ow' yO Bcllhouse door .. 0- 2- 0

It still remains to give what is recorded of the Sexton, who isthe guardian of the bells-

1620 October I ")'aid to George Blagrave for a quarters

"wages 25/'6 wheh in the whole yeare for keeping the hells clock

" and chimes comes to 5" .. I s I 1-

ALL SA INTS' BELLS.

May 30 1635 Ord ered inter alia"Itm tha t George Blagrave sha ll presently give to the now Chu rch­" warde ns a par ticular of his dema nds for keeping th e clock hells, and all

" otber business he doth and sha ll p' forme in 0 ' about the Ch urch an d

"thereup pon an agr eement is to be made by the parish ioners at a genera l

" meeti ng."

Apr il 15 1637 " I t is this day ag reed upp on att a parish meeting th at" th e Churchwarde ns of th is pa rish shall pay to George Blagrave

" five markes in discharg e of all such money in his care .

" pari sh dialJ and have of the outside of the s teep le

.. . . .. . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . thereof he said Blagr eave having undertak en

"to maintain a regi ster require during his life .

" t a pish meeting Y" 5 J une 1637" ings followin g are agreed on

" greed that George Blagrave

(tom off) '~nothinge for making -r chu rehe" . . .. . ,. . •. .. . . . offrings but as it is a worke

.. . . . . . . . . . .. . y hee shal l for charity make }~ do re

, agreed th at hee shall have 55 6

" buy a bell rop e 'p annum

"3d H e shall have for ringing at a buriall

" 5s of ye better sort of p'i sbi oners and 35 4d

" of y. porer"

Sept: 1 I 1665 "And it is further orde red th at George Blagrave hath

"care to keep the chim es in orde r & constantly going at th e usuall

"houres S: that he take care to ring the eight a clocke bell dilige ntly in.. tim e everyday in the weeke except the Lords day & tha t George.. Blagrave suffer S: assist young men &: boys to Ring every Saturday

.. at night & on any holyday even at seven of the clock. "

Au gust 27 1694 "Whereas itt appeares by ye late officers A ccoun ts

"that th ey ha ve allowed to the Sexton an d Clarke for ringing oute

" and bu ria ll off paup ers I tt is therefore ord ered this day tha t by reason.. the Clerke and Sexton are excus ed from payment to y. Church an d

.. poore that th ey in case of pau pers perform e theire offices grat is."

J une 12 1704 " I t is also ordered th at H enry Goulding sha ll pay

"John Ragg sex ton fforty shilli ngs for six years sa llary oweing last Easter

.. for finding oyle and wire for th e Chimes and other necessary s. '

In the Ri nging Chamber are the following records of pealsrung on these bells :- '

On T uesday 15th Feb 1763 ,. • . . . .P eal of Grand sire

Tripples of 5°40 was comple ated in three hours seven minutes and forty eig ht

second s by a Soc iety of Youth s from nin eteen to under twenty two years of6

66 ALL SAINTS' BELLS.

age after six months practice without the assistance of a T utor ; the sa id Peal

not known to have been compleated here before: performed by

WILLlA~ BROW:';

THO~IAS COPE

JOHX STO:\E

JOH:-1 WRIGHT

THO~IAS Dl-DLEV

JOI\:" CHATTERTO:X

JOIIX FARXSWORTH

and

ISAAC BREXT:"ALL.

SAMUEL FOX I Churchwardens.GEORGE RI CHARDSON \

JOSEPH FROST Sexton

~Ionclay Jan 24 1805 Holts Peal of Grandsire Tripples consisting of

5040 Changes wa s com pleated here in the most masterly stile in th ree hours

and fifty five minutes by the Society of Ch ange Ringers of th is Town wh ose

names arc as follo ws

RICH. WARD TrebleClIAs HARLOW znd

JO SE PH FORD 3rd

CALEB COCKAYNIt 4LUKE SHARP 5th

EDW" WOODWARD 6 th

JOli N SILLS 7th

·SAM L JOHNSON } T enorW IL L" REESBV

On a board-

J OHX CHATTERTON! ChurchwardensWILLlA~1 H UBBALL \

WiLL Jf CUBLEY Cl erk and Sex ton.

SATURDAY

MA RC H 18 1826/

W as Rung by the De rby Society an Abstract of A

Peal of Bob Major Containing 5040 Ch anges

in three hours and 45 Minutes N ever attempted here

before. Names as follows-

-,1

Treble THOMAS STUB IJS

and JOHN SI LLS J u R

3rd JOHN HO \'"E . • .. ... .

4th THOMAS H OWE • • . .. ,

5th RIC H AR D REDGATE ••

6th W" BROCKLESBV • • .

7th JOS E PH FORD •.• . • • . .

Tenor J O H X SILLS SE R

p;o HARRISO'S" SEXTO N

---- -- _._ _ .. _ - - -

On Tuesday Feb!' 23'd 1830 the first P eal of Grandsire Cators rung by a

Derby Society of Change Ringers containing 5093 changes was co mpleted

ALL SAINTS' BELLS.

here in three hours and forty two minutes being the greatest extent of changes

ever rung on these Bells.

JOSEPH HARRISO,\ TrebleWILLIA~I PARKER znd

JOSEPH FORD ••.•• 3rdRICHARD REIJGATE 4thTHOMAS STUBBS _ 5th

JOHK HOWE ••••• 6th

LI:KE SHARP _ ••••. 7thW" BROCKI.ESBY 8th

THOMAS HOWE 9th

GEORGE BATE}.IAN ~

and TenorjNO HARRISONjUNR '

WILLL\,)! ABBOTT (ChurchwardensTHO~I.·\.s HACKETT \

JOHN HARRISON SE::\R SEXTO::\

In conclusion, it is to be remembered that few churches canproduce such a complete series of books and papers as thosepreserved at All Saints', through the care of successive church­wardens. Most churches have none at all; and if by any chance

a few have escaped destruction, they may often be found lyingabout loose in a chest without locks, affording a ready means oflighting fires, &c. It is owing to their value, when complete, thatI have been so diffuse in this case, and must therefore apologise

if successive entries have seemed wearisome.

My thanks are due to the present Churchwardens of All Saints',Messrs. Husband and Cooling, for the kind way in which theyhave facilitated my researches by allowing me access to the booksand papers under their care, and also to my friend, Mr. J. CharlesCox, for much valuable assistance in deciphering the earlie

records.

I must also mention the kind courtesy of the Sexton, Mr.Thomas Harrison, in allowing me access to the bells themselveson numerous occasions.

As has been previously mentioned, I hope to be able to submit

to the Society on a future occasion the equally interesting history

of the Clock and Chimes.

This document is provided for you by

The Whiting Society of Ringersvisit

www.whitingsociety.org.ukfor the full range of publications and articles

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