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Has anyone ever heard or read of bells at a place called Darlaston
Hall (or Darleston Hall)? - NOT Darlaston in Staffordshire - but a
house on the main road at Meriden, Warwickshire.<br>
<br>
Demolished in the 1960s, it was first a country house (belonging to
Clement Fisher), then in the C18 a noted inn called the Bull's Head
and from about 1835 a house - the home of the Blakesley family by
1841 - known as Darleston or Darlaston Hall. <br>
<br>
According to an 1874 directory<big>, </big><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma" lang="EN-GB"><big>“Darlaston
Hall is an ancient
mansion, a little to the east of which is a belfry containing 16
bells which
form one of the most beautiful set of chimes in the kingdom.”</big><o:p></o:p></span>
The building with the belfry is shown in a splensis watercolour
dates 1762 which shows that this was an inn (proprietor John
Reynolds) of some size and substance, with more turrets on the
stable block and on a building at th back of the inn yard. Sale
particulars of 1920 mention the separate building with a clock.<br>
<br>
I've never seen any other reference to thses bells, but it sounds as
though it was the sort of feature that might have been mentioned in
travel diaries and topographical works. <br>
<br>
Does anyone have any further information?<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
Chris Pickford
4 Walmsley Court, High Street, Kinver, DY7 6HG
Tel: 01384 878435 or (mobile) 07811 453525
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