DETAILSOF THE BELLS | |||||
BELL | FOUNDER | DATE | WEIGHT | DIAMETER | NOTE |
1 | Mears& Stainbank | 1908 | 2cwt1qtr12lb | 23' | A# |
2 | AbrahamRudhall II | 1721 | 3cwtapprox | 24' | G# |
3 | AbrahamRudhall II | 1721 | 3cwt1qtr approx | 243/4' | F# |
4 | Thomas Rudhall | 1766 | 3cwt 2qtr approx | 26' | F |
5 | Abraham Rudhall II | 1721 | 4cwt approx | 273/4' | D# |
6 | Abraham Rudhall II | 1721 | 5cwt 2qtr approx | 301/4' | C# |
Frame:
Iron lowsidemounted on a grillage of timber beams with third and fifth in an uppertier by Mears & Stainbank in 1908
Gear:
Elmheadstockswithplate gudgeons, ballbearings, traditional-type wheels, stays and sliders: ball bearingsfitted locally at various times, remainder by Mears & Stainbankin 1908
Tuning:
Notretuned, old style.
Centenary of the treble at Stone
Some time ago, Brian Banes passed a couple of photocopies of the Parish Magazine for Stone and Falfield from late 1908 through to January 1909. They contain some interesting little snippets of information about the new treble, the new organ, the dedication service and practices on the new ring of six.
The magazine of September 1908 confirms a total of over £100 raised towards the Bell Fund and information that the “Charity Commissioners intimated their willingness to allow the money in their hands for the “Church Repair and Restoration“ to be drawn upon for the bells.” The order for the work to be carried out was therefore expected to be given before the magazine was in the hands of its readers.
By the time of the October 1908 magazine, the order for the rehanging and the new treble bell had been given to Mears and Stainbank of Whitechapel. The order for the new organ had been given to Messrs Vowles Limited of Bristol. The completion of both projects was expected to be about the end of November and a dedication service was anticipated for early December. The magazine stated “over £70 has been already paid into the Bank towards the Bell Fund and with two or three exceptions only, every householder in the parish, even the poorest, have promised (and in most cases actually given some contribution.)”
In November, the dedication of the Bells and Organ was confirmed for Saturday, December 5th at 3:00p.m. and was to be performed by the Bishop of the Diocese. The magazine also included information that Mr Howell from Thornbury had promised to form a band of ringers for the occasion. Anyone wanting to join the Stone band was asked to give their name to Mr William Tayler.
The December magazine reported work was progressing rapidly and the dedication confirmed for December 5th. It also reports “Contributions towards the fund keep coming in-two have arrived from Australia-from members of the family of John Morse who originally gave one of the bells in 1741.
The first magazine of 1909 reports the visit of the Bishop of Gloucester on December 5th for the dedication service, where “everything passed off without a hitch.” The bells had been rung regularly on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays plus Christmas Day with a band comprising “some old hands with a good many recruits.” Mr George Sheppard was appointed tower captain with Mr F S Harding as his deputy, while Mr William Tayler promised to give as much help as he could teaching new ringers. The magazine also reports on the changes to the interior of the tower, the ringing chamber being moved from the ground floor to its present position.
The first peal on the bells was not rung until 22 January 1938.
Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Association
Stone, Glos. All Saints
5040 Plain Bob Minor
In 2 hours 52 minutes
Saturday, 22 January 1938
1. Mervyn Malpass
2. Douglas Luton
3. Frederick Roberts
4. Horace Robinson
5. Walter Smith
6. Donald Marsh
Conducted by Donald Marsh
First peal: 1.
First peal of Plain Bob Minor: 3,4,5.
The time for the peal of 2 hours 52 minutes is much slower than recent peal times. Peals now typically take about 2 hours and 20 minutes. The treble ringer Mervyn Malpass was a Stone ringer, his brother Richard (Dick) was a ringer at Stone in the late 1960’s when I started ringing. Mervyn’s name also appears on a peal board in Dursley tower. I am not 100% certain but Walter Smith may be the father of D Paul Smith a well known peal ringer and past master of the Ancient Society of College Youths.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the augmentation and rededication a band of ringers comprising six present and past members of the Stone band attempted a peal of Plain Bob Minor. Unfortunately, the attempt was unsuccessful, but a quarter peal was rung immediately after the failed peal attempt. We hope to meet again in the not too distant future to make a another attempt.
Stone, Gloucestershire,All Saints
Saturday, 20 December 2008
1260 Doubles (1m; 1p)
Comprising 60 Stedman and 1200 Plian Bob
1. John H Taylor
2. Ed Sargent
3. Andrew J Binstead
4. Rev Patrick C F Wooster
5. Roger G Booth
6. John Cornock
Jointly conducted by 1-5.
Rung following a failed peal attempt to commemorate the anniversary of the rehanging and augmentation of the bells to six in 1908. The dedication service took place on 5th December 1908.
By a band comprising past and present members of Stone tower.
The magazine of September 1908 confirms a total of over £100 raised towards the Bell Fund and information that the “Charity Commissioners intimated their willingness to allow the money in their hands for the “Church Repair and Restoration“ to be drawn upon for the bells.” The order for the work to be carried out was therefore expected to be given before the magazine was in the hands of its readers.
By the time of the October 1908 magazine, the order for the rehanging and the new treble bell had been given to Mears and Stainbank of Whitechapel. The order for the new organ had been given to Messrs Vowles Limited of Bristol. The completion of both projects was expected to be about the end of November and a dedication service was anticipated for early December. The magazine stated “over £70 has been already paid into the Bank towards the Bell Fund and with two or three exceptions only, every householder in the parish, even the poorest, have promised (and in most cases actually given some contribution.)”
In November, the dedication of the Bells and Organ was confirmed for Saturday, December 5th at 3:00p.m. and was to be performed by the Bishop of the Diocese. The magazine also included information that Mr Howell from Thornbury had promised to form a band of ringers for the occasion. Anyone wanting to join the Stone band was asked to give their name to Mr William Tayler.
The December magazine reported work was progressing rapidly and the dedication confirmed for December 5th. It also reports “Contributions towards the fund keep coming in-two have arrived from Australia-from members of the family of John Morse who originally gave one of the bells in 1741.
The first magazine of 1909 reports the visit of the Bishop of Gloucester on December 5th for the dedication service, where “everything passed off without a hitch.” The bells had been rung regularly on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays plus Christmas Day with a band comprising “some old hands with a good many recruits.” Mr George Sheppard was appointed tower captain with Mr F S Harding as his deputy, while Mr William Tayler promised to give as much help as he could teaching new ringers. The magazine also reports on the changes to the interior of the tower, the ringing chamber being moved from the ground floor to its present position.
The first peal on the bells was not rung until 22 January 1938.
Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Association
Stone, Glos. All Saints
5040 Plain Bob Minor
In 2 hours 52 minutes
Saturday, 22 January 1938
1. Mervyn Malpass
2. Douglas Luton
3. Frederick Roberts
4. Horace Robinson
5. Walter Smith
6. Donald Marsh
Conducted by Donald Marsh
First peal: 1.
First peal of Plain Bob Minor: 3,4,5.
The time for the peal of 2 hours 52 minutes is much slower than recent peal times. Peals now typically take about 2 hours and 20 minutes. The treble ringer Mervyn Malpass was a Stone ringer, his brother Richard (Dick) was a ringer at Stone in the late 1960’s when I started ringing. Mervyn’s name also appears on a peal board in Dursley tower. I am not 100% certain but Walter Smith may be the father of D Paul Smith a well known peal ringer and past master of the Ancient Society of College Youths.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the augmentation and rededication a band of ringers comprising six present and past members of the Stone band attempted a peal of Plain Bob Minor. Unfortunately, the attempt was unsuccessful, but a quarter peal was rung immediately after the failed peal attempt. We hope to meet again in the not too distant future to make a another attempt.
Stone, Gloucestershire,All Saints
Saturday, 20 December 2008
1260 Doubles (1m; 1p)
Comprising 60 Stedman and 1200 Plian Bob
1. John H Taylor
2. Ed Sargent
3. Andrew J Binstead
4. Rev Patrick C F Wooster
5. Roger G Booth
6. John Cornock
Jointly conducted by 1-5.
Rung following a failed peal attempt to commemorate the anniversary of the rehanging and augmentation of the bells to six in 1908. The dedication service took place on 5th December 1908.
By a band comprising past and present members of Stone tower.