Bell Tower - St Mary - Bluntisham, Cambridgeshire
Posted by: SMacB
N 52° 21.063 E 000° 00.800
31U E 296595 N 5804282
Bell tower of St Mary's church, Bluntisham, with a ring of 8 bells.
Waymark Code: WM11N26
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 11/17/2019
Views: 3
Bell tower of St Mary's church, Bluntisham, with a ring of 8 bells.
Bluntisham, Cambridgeshire
S Mary |
Bells |
Bell |
Weight |
Nominal |
Note |
Diameter |
Dated |
Founder |
Canons |
Turning |
1 |
3-1-18 |
1464.0 |
F# |
24.50" |
1910 |
John Taylor & Co |
F |
|
2 |
3-3-22 |
1388.5 |
E# |
26.00" |
1910 |
John Taylor & Co |
F |
|
3 |
4-1-16 |
1229.5 |
D# |
28.38" |
1832 |
William Dobson |
Y |
|
4 |
4-2-12 |
1096.0 |
C# |
29.25" |
1632 |
Miles I Graye |
Y |
|
5 |
6-0-9 |
976.0 |
B |
31.88" |
1910 |
John Taylor & Co |
F |
|
6 |
7-0-23 |
922.0 |
A# |
34.50" |
1716 |
Thomas Newman |
Y |
|
7 |
10-0-10 |
821.5 |
G# |
37.88" |
2004 |
John Taylor Bellfounders Ltd |
F |
|
8 |
13-2-10 |
731.0 |
F# |
42.38" |
1910 |
John Taylor & Co |
F |
|
Service |
9-2-14 |
821.0 |
G# |
38.75" |
1801 |
Robert Taylor |
R |
|
SOURCE - (Visit Link)
"The Church of ST. MARY consists of a chancel (37 ft. by 18 ft.), north vestry (9½ ft. by 10½ ft.), nave (51½ ft. by 16½ ft.), north aisle (11¾ ft. wide), south aisle (11¾ ft. wide), west tower (13¼ ft. by 12 ft.), and north and south porches. The walls are of rubble with stone and clunch dressings, and the roofs covered with tiles and lead.
Of the church mentioned in the Inquisitio Eliensis and in the Domesday Survey (1086) nothing now remains, the earliest parts of the existing building being the chancel with its north vestry or chapel built about 1330, and the west tower built about 1370–1380.
About 1450 the nave and aisles were rebuilt, the aisles being extended to the west wall of the tower, the side walls of which were pierced with arches; and the chancel arch rebuilt. The south porch was built at the same time as the aisle, but the north porch was added slightly later, as is shown by the plinth of the aisle running through the porch wall.
The church was restored in 1850 when the chancel was much altered, the north wall and the vestry being largely rebuilt and a gallery removed. The weathering of the earlier and lower roof of the nave remains on the east face of the tower.
The west tower was restored in 1903–1905, the south aisle in 1904, and other works in 1912–1913.
The west tower is of three stages with a moulded plinth and embattled parapet. The eastern arch is original, two-centred and of three orders. The north and south arches are of clunch and were inserted in the 15th century, and the west door and three-light window are of the same date. The second stage has a single pointed light on each side, and the belfry windows are two-lights with restored mullions and tracery. The octagonal spire rising from within the parapet is 122 ft. high from ground to the top; it has three tiers of lights, the first and third on the cardinal faces. The stair turret at the north-east corner is finished at the top with a stone vault.
There are eight bells, inscribed: To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Thomas Edwards, MCMX; Quinque natu majoribus sum addita, MCMX, John R. Wormsley and Alfred King, Churchwardens; Willm. Dobson, Founder, Downham, Norfolk, 1832; Miles Graye made me, 1632; Thomas Newman made me, 1717, recast MCMX; Thomas Skeeles, Tho. Hovson, Churchwardens, 1716; Geo. Key and Aron Brown, juner, Churchwardens, 1801, Robt. Taylor, St. Neots, Founder; Gloria in excelsis Deo. Henry Sayers, Rector, and Arthur David Godfrey, sometime warden, gave me, MCMX.
In 1552 there were three bells. All were repaired in 1910, but they have no wheels and are only chimed."
SOURCE - (Visit Link)