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TUNBRIDGE WELLS, St Luke

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8 bells (formerly ring of 1)
Tenor: 14-1-9 in G flat
Grid Ref. TQ588408
Tonbridge District
Hung Dead
Clavier Chime with ringing clappers

DETAILS OF THE BELLS
Bell Weight
(according to
Tuning Book)		 Weight
(according to
tower notice)		 Cast
Weight		 Diameter Cast Founder

1

3-3-12

3-3-6

4-0-24

25⅛"

1919

Gillett & Johnston (78)

2

3-2-24

3-2-17

3-3-10

25½"

1919

Gillett & Johnston (79)

3

4-0-5

4-0-8

4-0-18

273/16"

1919

Gillett & Johnston (80)

4

4-2-19

4-2-22

4-3-26

29"

1919

Gillett & Johnston (81)

5

6-0-3

5-3-25

6-1-20

31½"

1919

Gillett & Johnston (82)

6

6-3-22

6-3-16

7-2-1

33½"

1919

Gillett & Johnston (83)

7

9-0-7

8-3-25

9-1-26

3615/16"

1919

Gillett & Johnston (84)

8

14-1-9

14-0-25

14-3-19

42"

1919

Gillett & Johnston (85)
It is very strange to see two lots of weights quoted for a chime like this supposedly from the same source. The tuning book gives the above weights and diameters. The notice on the wall of the "ringing chamber" (i.e. where the clavier is) has a different set of weights and more approximate diameters. The reader can do no more than the Editor can, so take your pick! It is not usual to quote cast weights, but these are quoted here to remove any further confusion.
1. CAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1919.
  1
2. CAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1919.
  2
3. CAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1919.
  3
4. CAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1919.
  4
5. CAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1919.
  5
6. CAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1919.
  6
7. CAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1919.
  7
8. CAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1919.
 

IN MEMORY
OF THOSE WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR
1914 - 1919.
A.D. FERRIER-ROWE. M. A. VICAR.
         E. M. KELSEY
          J.GRESSWELL		 } CHURCHWARDENS.
     

8

GULIELMO W. STARMER-CAMPANIS PERITO

Each of the bells have decorations according to the following typical Gillett & Johnson forms (the treble being given as an example.

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  CAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1919.
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  1
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  g&j_border.jpg (38782 bytes)g&j_border.jpg (38782 bytes)g&j_border.jpg (38782 bytes)

The bells are tuned to the Just Tuned scale.

EARLIER BELL
Bell Cast Weight Diameter Cast Founder Fate

1

14cwt approx.

41¾"

1910

John Warner & Sons

Removed 1910.

HISTORY

1910

Church built and bell cast by John Warner & Sons, hung for ringing.

1910

16th May

The Taylor inspection notebook (EDT 47 pg 77) records "One Warner bell, 1910, 41.75".

1919

Gillett & Johnston cast a new chime for the church. There is no trace of the Warner bell left. The bells were installed 12th October 1919. Interestingly they are a twin of the ring cast for St Peter's Tunbridge Wells a few months earlier. Also of interest is the fact that they were provided with ringing clappers. The tenor is inscribed with the name of "William W Starmer". He was organist at St Peter's Tunbridge Wells and lecturer in campanology at Birmingham University. He is described on the bell as "Campanis Perito" (="Expert on Bells") on both tenors. However he was a huge fan of Taylors which leads one to wonder how Gillett & Johnston got these two jobs, particularly in his own town.

GALLERY
Photo DrL 29th Jan 2005 Photo DrL 29th Jan 2005 Photo DrL 29th Jan 2005
Photo DrL 29th Jan 2005 Photo DrL 29th Jan 2005 Photo DrL 29th Jan 2005
The tenor bell.   Michael Royalton-Kisch plays the bells using the clavier. On the wall is the founder's framed notice which gives a different version of the weights.