Editor: Dickon R. Love

LATEST SITE ADDITIONS Chislehurst Discovery Another bell has been discovered hung for ringing in Kent - in the tower of Christ Church, Chislehurst.  There is no known survey of the bells in this area of Kent, so the discovery of a Warner bell hung with frame and fittings was exciting, despite being derelict. Maidstone Towers Two discoveries have been recently made in Maidstone - two towers with one bell hung for ringing. Read about the installations at St Faith's (pictured here) and St Luke's. The fittings at the latter are in good condition. Inspections have also been made at other Maidstone towers including St Philip's and the Gillett & Johnston bell given by the County to HMS Kent has also been discovered on display in County Hall. Holy Trinity, Margate This was nearly a "Name that Tower" church. It is one of those magnificent towers that used to be there, but isn't any longer. Nor did the tower ever receive the ring of 8 bells that was promised. Read about it here. Ramsgate towers Read about two unringable "1 bell" towers in Ramsgate, both with interesting additions to the tower. St George's has a tubular chime, Christ Church has another bell. Latest Full Pages 14th Oct - Shortlands, Chislehurst (Christ Church), Mottingham (Our Lady Help of Christians RC), Mottingham (St Andrew), Deal (St Thomas RC) 14th Oct - Seal Chart 31st Jan - West Farleigh 29th Jan - Maidstone (St Luke), Maidstone (St Faith), Maidstone (St Philip), Maidstone (County Hall) 14th Dec - Greatstone, Brasted Project Comes of Age 11th Dec - Herne Bay (St John the Evangelist), Herne Bay (Christ Church) 8th Oct - Upstreet (Grove Ferry Inn) 24th Mar - Plumstead (St Margaret), Broadstairs (Holy Trinity) 22nd Mar - Denton 21st Mar - Nettlestead, Reculver, Christ Church, Erith 27th Feb - Canterbury (St Augustine's Abbey) 15th Jan - Plumstead (St Nicholas) 2nd Jan - Brenchley 4th Dec - Ramsgate (Christ Church), Ramsgate (St George), Ringwould 30th Nov - Margate Holy Trinity (Old Church), Margate Holy Trinity (New Church), Whitstable St Peter Latest Partial Pages 21st Mar - Lamberhurst, Lydd, Minster in Sheppey, Queenborough 27th Feb - Nettlestead, Rochester (St Margaret) Other amendments/additions 19th May - Elmstead 18th May - Eastry, Chislehurst Annunciation, Frittenden, Deptford (St John) 31st Dec - Chevening 5th Nov - Lynsted 14th Oct - Horton Kirby, Lynsted, Whitstable (St Peter), Grain, Mereworth, Little Chart, Maidstone (St Michael), Eastwell, Gillett Lists, Ickham, Ightham, Stansted, Wickhambreaux, Snave, Kingsnorth, Godmersham, Waltham, Chartham, Addington, Ash-next-Sandwich, Aylesford, Boxley 31st Jan - Plumstead (St Margaret) 11th Jan - Bromley Common, Farnborough 30th Dec - Bekesbourne, Cudham 14th Dec - Murston, Graveney, Sundridge, Bekesbourne, Sidcup 13th Dec - Photos of the Upstreet (Grove Ferry) bells 11th Dec - Photos for Frittenden, Bickley, Perry Hill, Thanington, Ivychurch (DLC) 3rd Dec - Lydd - Stedman Triples recorded by Nick Davies, May 1981. 18th Oct - Eastry 14th Oct - Murston, Bromley 8th Oct - Gillett lists 4th Aug - Pictures of: Crundale, Canterbury (St Paul), Canterbury (St Mary Bredin new church), Harbledown (St Michael), Harbledown (St Nicholas), Graveney, Murston, Wittersham, Tonge, Preston by Faversham, Orlestone, Petham, Smeeth, Warehorne, Little Chart Old Church (RCO)

BELL RESTORATION NEWS St Mary, Horton Kirby The light ring of 6 bells has now been augmented to 8. St Mary, Eastry The 5 bells have been restored and augmented to 8. Ss Peter & Paul, Lynsted The 5 bells here have been augmented to 6 with the addition of the clock bell from the old church of St George, Perry Hill (now demolished and rebuilt). Ss Botolph, Chevening This pleasant ring of 6 has now been augmented to 8 with the addition of 2 Whitechapel trebles. Details of the new bells now on the Chevening page. St Nicholas, Otham The 3 bells here are to be augmented to 6.  Negotiations are taking place with the Keltek Trust to acquire the extra bells. (2 of them are already secured.) St Mary, Stone by Dartford There is a plan to restore a ring of bells to this tower. The original ring of 5 was destroyed in 1638. Investigations are taking place with the Keltek Trust to find a suitable second hand ring. St Nicholas, Deptford The project to install new bells in this church has been sadly abandoned. GILLETT BELLS from CROYDON I have been doing a special study of all bells in Kent from the Gillett & Johnston Foundry in Croydon. This is on-going research and may be seen here. SOURCES OF INFORMATION Most of the information has come from my own research in the ringing press, bell foundry records and other published sources, as well as from visits that I have undertaken to individual belfries. Also, help has been provided by various ringers, special thanks are given below. Virtually all the photographs are my own. PARTICULAR THANKS GO TO Rev'd David Cawley (Leicester) Richard Offen (Perth, WA) Chris Pickford (Stourbridge) Brian Butcher (Hythe) Peter Romney (Hadlow) and the late Nick Davies (Lydd) for providing and QAing information. Also to those who provide positive feedback from the site which helps make it such a pleasure to maintain. Also to the two Bell Foundries: Taylors, Eayre & Smith Loughborough The Whitechapel Bell Foundry

LINKS

From the same Webmaster Church Bells of the City of London Church Bells of the City of Westminster Ancient Society of College Youths

Other Sites The Diocese of Canterbury Church Net UK

To Contact the Web Master

This information is taken from a more complete database, all of which is hoped to become available on this site. Any corrections, comments or additions would be gratefully received by Dickon R. Love.

Maidstone Towers
	Two discoveries have been recently made in Maidstone - two towers with one bell hung for ringing. Read about the installations at St Faith's (pictured here) and St Luke's. The fittings at the latter are in good condition.