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Hi<br>
I don't normally contribute to this group - and I'm not Robert - but I
have always been interested in the Westcroft Park bells and tower. 
The tower still stands today and appears to be in good condition. I go
and look at it occasionally.  It can be seen through the ornamental
gates standing in a very well kept garden.  It is rumoured that the
house is now in the hands of an Arab sheik, but then such a rumour is
attached to every large house in this area because of the racing and the
polo nearby.<br><br>
Jackie Roberts<br>
(Acting Ed)<br><br>
At 11:36 26/10/2004, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite><font face="arial" size=2 color="#0000FF">I'm
presuming that Chris Pickford has been away from his PC for a while, in
which case I hope he will forgive me for reproducing an extract from his
notes:<br>
</font> <br><br>
<b>Chobham, Westcroft Park</b>  (Surrey - just outside
M25)<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><br><br>
[Carillon in tower on Lord Cowdray's estate, 28 bells (?) by Gillett
& Johnston, 1932?]<br><br>
Croydon Foundry records: Carillon of 23 bells, cast
Oct.-Dec.1932<br><br>
23. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4631                               
43½"                               
15-0-26                               
F sharp<br><br>
22. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4630                               
39
"                               
11-0-17                               
G sharp<br><br>
21. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4629                               
35"                               
7-3-0                               
A sharp<br><br>
20. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4628                               
33"                               
6-2-13                               
B<br><br>
19. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4627                               
31½"                               
5-3-14                               
C<br><br>
18. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4626                               
30"                               
5-0-17                               
C sharp<br><br>
17. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4625                               
28½"                               
4-2-3                               
D<br><br>
16. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4624                               
27"                               
4-0-3                               
D sharp<br><br>
15. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4623                               
26"                               
3-2-4                               
E<br><br>
14. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4622                               
24
"                               
3-0-10                               
F<br><br>
13. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4681                               
23½"                               
2-2-27                               
F sharp<br><br>
12. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4620                               
22¼"                               
2-1-8                               
G<br><br>
11. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4619                               
21"                               
1-3-18                               
G sharp<br><br>
10. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4618                               
20"                               
1-2-15                               
A<br><br>
  9. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4617                               
19"                               
1-1-20                               
A sharp<br><br>
  8. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4616                               
18"                               
1-0-20                               
B<br><br>
  7. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4615                               
16¾"                               
1-0-8                               
C<br><br>
  6. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4690                               
15<sup>15</sup>/<sub>16</sub>"                               
0-3-10                               
C sharp<br><br>
  5. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4613                               
15<sup>15</sup>/<sub>16</sub>"                               
0-2-27                               
D<br><br>
  4. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4612                               
14½"                               
0-2-15                               
D sharp<br><br>
  3. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4611                               
13¾"                               
0-2-6                               
E<br><br>
  2. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4676                               
13¼"                               
0-2-4                               
F<br><br>
  1. Gillett & Johnston,
1932                               
4703                               
12
"                               
0-1-21                               
F sharp<br><br>
Gillett & Johnston purchased most of the bells from this carillon in
December 1945.  Three bells (nos.15, 17 and 19) afterwards became
the back three of the light chime of six bells at Gidea Park (Essex),
installed in August 1947<br><br>
"Dove" 1st.ed. (1950) lists a carillon of 23 bells, 15-0-26 in
F sharp; 2nd.ed. (1956) refers (p.188) to the removal of the bells -
"on the death of the owner of Westcroft Park, Surrey, all the bells
except those required for the clock chimes were disposed
of".<br><br>
Gillett & Johnston catalogue, October 1928: "Carillons" -
Chobham, Westcroft Park (1923) 18 bells, 9 cwt<br><br>
Croydon Foundry records vol.3 pp.101-5: Bells for Chobham, 7-29
Nov.1922<br><br>
18. Gillett & Johnston,
1922                               
535                               
36½"                               
9-0-14                               
A<br><br>
17. Gillett & Johnston,
1922                               
512                               
32
"                               
6-3-17                               
B<br><br>
16. Gillett & Johnston,
1922                               
58                               
29"                               
4-1-18                               
C sharp<br><br>
15. Gillett & Johnston,
1922                               
57                               
28"                               
4-0-23                               
D<br><br>
14. Gillett & Johnston,
1922                               
56                               
27"                               
3-3-1                               
D sharp<br><br>
13. Gillett & Johnston,
1922                               
55                               
25"                               
2-3-25                               
E<br><br>
12. Gillett & Johnston,
1922                               
54                               
23"                               
2-1-3                               
F<br><br>
11. Gillett & Johnston,
1922                               
52                               
22"                               
2-0-7                               
F sharp<br><br>
10. Gillett & Johnston,
1922                               
51                               
21"                               
1-3-0                               
G<br><br>
9. Gillett & Johnston,
1922                               
151                               
20"                               
1-2-4                               
G sharp<br><br>
8. Gillett & Johnston,
1922                               
53                               
19"                               
1-1-15                               
A<br><br>
7. Gillett & Johnston,
1922                               
48                               
18"                               
1-0-16                               
A sharp<br><br>
6. Gillett & Johnston,
1922                               
136                               
17"                               
0-3-27                               
B<br><br>
5. Gillett & Johnston,
1922                               
45                               
16½"                               
0-3-18                               
C<br><br>
4. Gillett & Johnston,
1922                               
44                               
16"                               
0-3-12                               
C sharp<br><br>
3. Gillett & Johnston,
1922                               
141                               
15¼"                               
0-3-0                               
D<br><br>
2. Gillett & Johnston,
1922                               
42                               
14½"                               
0-2-22                               
D sharp<br><br>
1. Gillett & Johnston,
1922                               
41                               
13
"                               
0-2-1                               
E<br><br>
Later taken back - no.17 to Swaton S.O. 6701; no.14 to Newfoundland S.O.
6737; no.13 and no.4 to F. Sheffield & Sons Ltd; no.10 to Saughton
Hall<br><br>
Correspondence between Alan Buswell and Michael Boyd, following enquiries
about the Westcroft Park Carillon from Mr. P. Roy Collins of Farnham,
1996 - Westcroft Park was the home of Mr. H.O. Serpell, a biscuit
manufacturer with a factory at Reading. There were 23 bells with
Guildford clock chimes, and on which the bailiff (Mr. Percy Rolph) and
his daughter (Gwen) gave concerts on Sunday afternoons. They had been to
Belgium to learn how to play the instrument. When Mr. Serpell died the
bells were sold except for the fourth, on which the clock still strikes.
Mr. Serpell's daughter is believed to have married into the Johnston
family. Serpell had divorced his first wife under the mental health act
and married his secretary. When he died Mrs. Serpell broke up the
carillon and let the house and gardens go to pot. Part of the farm was
sold to Lord Trefgarne who built a large house called Pembroke Lodge. The
bell tower is still [1996] standing. The estate was sold to Sir Raymond
Brown when Mrs. Serpell died. [Information from this correspondence was
published in the British Carillon Society newsletter no.42,
Sept.1996]<br><br>
 <br>
<font face="arial" size=2 color="#0000FF">Andrew Bull<br>
</font> <br>

<dl>
<dd><font face="tahoma" size=2>-----Original Message-----<br>

<dd>From:</b> David Cawley
[<a href="mailto:dcawley@w..." eudora="autourl">mailto:dcawley@w...</a>]<br>

<dd>Sent:</b> 25 October 2004 22:15<br>

<dd>To:</b> bellhistorians@yahoogroups.com<br>

<dd>Subject:</b> Re: [Bell Historians] G & J<br><br>
</font>
<dd><font face="arial" size=2>It is the former carillon tower at
Westcroft Park, Surrey. Don't know anything about the bells other than
that they were by G&J and according to Dove were disposed of when the
owner of the park died. Presumably there were 23 at least to qualify
numerically as a carillon; but how were they played.<br>
</font>
<dd> <br>

<dd><font face="arial" size=2>DLC<br>
</font>
<dd>----- Original Message ----- <br>

<dd>From:</b> <a href="mailto:colin@p...">Colin Turner</a>
<br>

<dd>To:</b> <a href="mailto:bellhistorians@yahoogroups.com">bellhistorians@yahoogroups.com</a> <br>

<dd>Sent:</b> Monday, October 25, 2004 10:35 PM<br>

<dd>Subject:</b> [Bell Historians] G & J<br><br>

<dd><tt>Whilst browsing through a Gillett & Johnston catalogue I noticea<br>

<dd>picture described as "A Bell Tower on a Country Estate".<br>

<dd>Does anyone know where this is, or is it simply an artists impression of<br>

<dd>what might be done?<br><br>

<dd>-- <br>

<dd>Colin Turner<br><br>
</tt><br><br>
<br>

<dd>This email originated externally and has been scanned by MessageLabs<br><br>

</dl><br>
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