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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Have has an interesting afternoon in Surbi=
ton - may=20
sound implausible, but it's true!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I visited St.Matthew's because I wanted to=
check up=20
on a bell of 1734 in an 1875 church. GPE visited in 1974 but wasn't sure of=
the=20
founder, but from his notes it looked to me like a bell by Joseph Smith of=
=20
Edgbaston. In fact, it was a bell by Smith from Kenilworth - saved when the=
=20
front bells there were recast by Taylors in 1875. Typical Smith bell =
-=20
lovely casting, though tonally a bit disappointing for a founder who could =
be so=20
good.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The bell is listed, and (GAD) the list ent=
ry needs=20
amending to show Joseph Smith as the founder. It's 32.875", 7-0-23 in C. It=
was=20
the second at Kenilworth.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Also at St.Matthews is a chime (MC and DLC=
) of=20
hemisphericals - 8 (not 6 as noted by GPE - distracted and excited by his f=
ind=20
of the other bell, I guess!), tenor 34.125" a little flat of E. Should be 4=
.5=20
cwt according to the tables in Warners' catalogues. Completely blank=
=20
inside and outside, and nothing in the church to indicate their date - exce=
pt=20
the Vicar is pretty sure (he's going to check) that a report of the consecr=
ation=20
in 1875 mentions the bells being played. Hung in a fieldgate frame on 6 lev=
els -=20
3-8 from top to bottom, with 1 and 2 sharing beams with 6 and 5=20
respectively. Chimed from an Ellacombe manual - a modern replacement =
of=20
c.1975, like the hammers upstairs. So, Warner 1875?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Had hoped to visit Chessington - another m=
ystery=20
chime - but the Vicar was going out. He told me, though, that the bells - 8=
, 6=20
cwt in B according to old editions of Dove - are by Warner 1894.</FONT></DI=
V>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Talking of Warner, am expecting some furth=
er info=20
by post from the Mayor on the clock bells at Morley Town Hall. Will post de=
tails=20
here if there's anything interesting</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>CP</FONT></DIV>
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