Bexleyheath, Christ Church

BEXLEYHEATH, Christ Church
and Bexleyheath Clock Tower

Photo DrL 14th Aug, 2004

	1 bell hung for ringing + 2 hung dead
	Tenor of ring: 5 cwt approx. in D (-38 cents)
	Tenor of chime: 6ž cwt approx. in D flat (-47 cents)
	Grid Ref. TQ488753
	Lewisham District
	Frame: 1887 John Warner & Sons, extended 1889 John Warner & Sons along the eastern side of the tower just above the stone vault of the chancel crossing.
	Retuning: Never subsequently retuned
	Minor 3
	Ground Floor
	Chimed using Ellacombe apparatus. Wheel of ringable bell pinned to prevent ringing.
	Ż SOUND CLIP of the treble (Recording by Dickon R. Love, 14th August, 2004)
	Ż SOUND CLIP of the 2nd (Recording by Dickon R. Love, 14th August, 2004)
	Ż SOUND CLIP of the tenor (Recording by Dickon R. Love, 14th August, 2004)

DETAILS OF THE BELLS

Bell Weight Diameter Pitch Cast Founder

1
4˝ cwt approx. 27"
E (-8)

1889

John Warner & Sons

2
5 cwt approx. 29"
D (-38)

1887

John Warner & Sons

3
6ž cwt approx. 33"
D flat (-47)

1889

John Warner & Sons

INSCRIPTIONS

1. CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONS LONDON 1889.

2. CAST BY JOHN WARNER AND SONS LONDON 1887.

3. CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1889.

The lettering on 1 and 3 are ⁵/8" high, those on the 2nd (gothic lettering) are 1¹/8" and ⁵/8" high.

FORMER BELL

Bell Weight Diameter Cast Founder Fate

1
19˝"
1836

Thomas Mears II

Recast 1887.

3. THOMAS MEARS OF LONDON FOUNDER 1836

HISTORY

1836 Bell cast by Thomas Mears.

1841 Brick church with a tall spire completed by Robert Palmar Browne.

1866 Parish created from that of St Mary, Bexley.

1877 The church was rebuilt by William Knight, although the substantial tower and spire was never completed.

1887 Bell recast and hung for ringing under the roof over the crossing.

1889 Two more bells cast and hung dead with the existing bell. It is likely that the ringable bell was never rung again from this time as there is no separate hole in the stone vault. All 3 are chimed from an Ellacombe rack with space for 8 ropes. The result is a minor 3.

GALLERY

How the church might have looked were the original design realised. The ringing room would have been where the bells are now, just above the stone vaulted central crossing. The middle bell, which is hung for ringing.

The treble (right) and tenor (left) hung dead side by side. The middle bell with its ringing fittings can be seen in the background. The tenor is in the foreground. The treble and tenor viewed from above (tenor below).

The tenor in the foreground. In the background the large area of tower plan can be seen. In the middle is the trap door above a curved vault that leads directly into the church. In the distance, the thick walls stop abruptly indicating where work on the tower stopped. Downstairs, John Warner and Sons provided Ellcombe chiming apparatus for 8 bells. The three ropes are drawn through this frame (albeit back to front).

Bexleyheath Clock Tower

1 clock bell, 4˝ cwt approx.

The 3 bells of All Saints, Canterbury were recast by Joseph Hatch in 1627. In 1903 All Saints church closed for worship. During alterations on the church the 1627 bell was removed. Mr E Barnett of Crayford rescued the bell which was on the ground, Funds were raised by parading it through the streets & it was hung in the new Bexleyheath Clocktower by S.B. Goslin.

Bell

Weight
Diameter
Cast

Founder

Clock

4˝ cwt approx.
30"
1627

Unknown

ioseph hatch made me 1627

Bell	Weight	Diameter	Pitch	Cast	Founder
1	4˝ cwt approx.	27"	E (-8)	1889	John Warner & Sons
2	5 cwt approx.	29"	D (-38)	1887	John Warner & Sons
3	6ž cwt approx.	33"	D flat (-47)	1889	John Warner & Sons

1.	CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONS LONDON 1889.

2.	CAST BY JOHN WARNER AND SONS LONDON 1887.

3.	CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1889.

1836	Bell cast by Thomas Mears.
1841	Brick church with a tall spire completed by Robert Palmar Browne.
1866	Parish created from that of St Mary, Bexley.
1877	The church was rebuilt by William Knight, although the substantial tower and spire was never completed.
1887	Bell recast and hung for ringing under the roof over the crossing.
1889	Two more bells cast and hung dead with the existing bell. It is likely that the ringable bell was never rung again from this time as there is no separate hole in the stone vault. All 3 are chimed from an Ellacombe rack with space for 8 ropes. The result is a minor 3.


How the church might have looked were the original design realised. The ringing room would have been where the bells are now, just above the stone vaulted central crossing.	The middle bell, which is hung for ringing.

The treble (right) and tenor (left) hung dead side by side.	The middle bell with its ringing fittings can be seen in the background. The tenor is in the foreground.	The treble and tenor viewed from above (tenor below).

The tenor in the foreground. In the background the large area of tower plan can be seen. In the middle is the trap door above a curved vault that leads directly into the church. In the distance, the thick walls stop abruptly indicating where work on the tower stopped.	Downstairs, John Warner and Sons provided Ellcombe chiming apparatus for 8 bells. The three ropes are drawn through this frame (albeit back to front).