 East Drayton
St Peter
Bells
A western tower containing a ring of six bells.
| |
Inscription |
Size |
Weight |
| 1 |
JOHN TAYLOR & CO * LOUGHBOROUGH *
A.M.D.G.
GIVEN BY
THE PEOPLE OF EAST DRAYTON
IN MEMORY OF
GEORGE WILLIAM DAVISON
AND
FRANCIS CYRIL PINDER |
27" |
4.1.9 |
| 2 |
JOHN TAYLOR & CO * LOUGHBOROUGH *
IN MEMORY OF CHARLES, MABEL, AND EDMUND
WILKINSON AND THEIR PARENTS.
THE GIFT OF THE FAMILY
A.W., C.S., & R.F.W.
A.D. 1952 |
29" |
5.0.9 |
| 3 |
IESVS BE OVR SPEED D H 1744 |
31.25" |
5.3.4 |
| 4 |
J. TAYLOR & CO. LOUGHBOROUGH 1873 |
32.75" |
5.1.23 |
| 5 |
I sweetly toling men do call to taste on meats that feeds the soole
1606 |
35" |
7.0.17 |
| 6 Tenor |
* JOHN TAYLOR & CO *
RECAST 1952
THE GIFT OF
M.R.C.L. AND A.F.L. BURGESS
IN MEMORY OF
REVD. A.F.L. & F.M. WILKINSON |
40.5" |
12.2.22 |
 The bells are hung in the low-sided cast iron frame for 6 bells, with cast
iron headstocks and ball bearings all by Taylors in 1952.
The older 4 were
restored, the tenor recast and the peal augmented to 6 in 1952.
The old tenor
(40"
11.1.18) was inscribed:
| J TAYLOR & C. LOUGHBOROUGH 1873 |
Daniel Hedderly, who was living in London in the Parish of St Paul-in-the-Bail
in 1744, cast the third bell.
The fifth bell is the work of Henry II Oldfield.
 The
inscription on the fifth bell |
 Detail
of the maker’s mark |
Prior to 1873 the old second and fourth bells were:
| |
Size |
Weight |
| 2 |
32.75" |
6.1.22 |
| 4 |
37.75" |
10.0.0 |
Unfortunately details of the inscriptions do not survive.
 Wilkinson
records the unusual custom here of painting ‘cheeses’ on the tower
walls to mark the occasion of weddings.
The “Pancake” bell was rung formerly on Shrove Tuesday at 11 am.
The Passing Bell was rung 3X3 for a man and 3X2 for a woman.
In 1505 Lambert Lambe left 4 marks for new bells.
A church account book contains the following references to the bells. (Being
a bell ringer was obviously thirsty work)
| |
|
|
|
s |
|
d |
| 1738 |
|
For ale the Ringers had |
|
7 |
|
6 |
| 1757 |
|
A piece of Leather for ye great bell |
|
0 |
|
6 |
| |
|
For ale at mending ye bells at ye church |
|
0 |
|
6 |
| |
|
For ale for ye Ringers for Christmas and Gunpowder Plot |
|
7 |
|
6 |
| 1770 |
|
Pd for ale for the Towns Ringers moneys allowed by the town
for Christmas
and Gunpowder Plot |
|
7 |
|
6 |
| 1773 |
|
½ pound candles for the ringers |
|
0 |
|
3 |
| |
|
Mending great Bell wheel |
|
4 |
|
0 |
| |
|
Mending little bell wheel and new pully block |
|
3 |
|
0 |
| 1775 |
|
Pd Thos Stanniland for ringing ale |
|
3 |
|
9 |
| 1776 |
|
To George Whitlam for a bell clapper |
|
0 |
|
2 |
| 1783 |
|
Pd to John Durham a bill for oil for the bells |
|
2 |
|
3 |
| 1789 |
|
Pd Mich. Holmes a bill for work mending the bells |
|
5 |
|
9 |
| 1792 |
|
Ringing ale |
|
7 |
|
6 |
| 1794 |
|
Ringing ale to Wm Harpham |
|
11 |
|
5 |
| 1799 |
|
Rich. Harpham mending the Bells |
|
3 |
|
0 |
| 1800 |
|
Pd Thos. Bellamy for mending bell wheels |
|
2 |
|
6 |
| 1803 |
|
Pd Thos. Bellamy for mending bell wheels |
|
10 |
|
6 |
| |
|
Richard Harpham for mending bell tongue |
|
7 |
|
6 |
| 1805 |
|
Mr Fletcher for mending bells |
|
7 |
|
6 |
| 1807 |
|
1st bell wheel 2/6. Third Bell Wheel 7/- |
|
9 |
|
6 |
| 1810 |
|
Ale for ringing |
|
17 |
|
5 |
| 1811 |
|
Pd to Joseph Whitlam for 2 pulley wheels |
|
1 |
|
6 |
| 1819 |
|
Pd to Robt Rowson for mending bells |
|
14 |
|
9 |
| |
|
Pd to Richd. Harpham for mending bells |
|
26 |
|
0 |
There was a small field up a lane called Long Ridding which bears the name
Bell-String Close. The tenant, who was usually the parish clerk, had it rent
free on the condition that he provided new bell ropes when necessary.
The restoration of the bells in 1952 cost £1600, raised through the
usual route of whist drives, dances and various sales of work.
| 
