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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>The old church had a ring of six bells by
Evan Evans of Chepstow, 1720, tenor about 14 cwt. It would appear that these
bells were at sometime augmented to eight by the addition of two trebles,
though I have been unable to establish when and by whom. A peal of Double
Norwich was rung on this eight by Gloucester ringers in August 1897; the tenor
weight was given as 14 cwt in F. Intriguingly, by the time this peal was rung,
demolition of the church had already started, working westwards from the east
end.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>The church was completely rebuilt on a
much larger and grander scale, and as part of this it would appear that the
bells were remodelled into a heavier eight in 1899 by Mears & Stainbank.
The two mystery trebles were scrapped, and a tenor (19-3-1) and treble (5-3-22)
were added, the old 4 of 6 being recast (9-1-13).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>In February 1941 the church suffered
extensive damage from incendiary bombs. Arthur Wright notes in his Church Bells
of Glamorgan manuscript that when he visited the church on September 21 1948,
all that was left were parts of the seventh and tenor, stored in the base of
the tower.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Andrew Bull<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
Bell-historians [mailto:bell-historians-bounces@lists.ringingworld.co.uk] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>oliver Lee via Bell-historians<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> 27 May 2026 16:41<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b>
bell-historians@lists.ringingworld.co.uk<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Cc:</span></b> oliver Lee<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [Bell Historians] St Mary
Swansea pre 1941</span></font><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>At the moment I'm holidaying in north
wales and whilst it is quite a way from where I am currently I was wondering if
anyone might know anything about the pre 1941 eight at st Mary Swansea?. As far
as I can work out the tower wasn't totally destroyed and seeing that the
louvers is missing on some of the photos taken after the bombing, I can imagine
the bells must have suffered some form of damage. I think I read somewhere that
they were a Warner eight ( which wouldn't surprise me seeing that they also supplied
rings at Porthmadog and burry port) but that's about all I know. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Many thanks <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Oliver Lee<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>P/s I had the pleasure of ringing on the
new eight at betws y Coed last night, Taylor's have really done a fine
job with the Porthmadog bells and apparently, they are miles better than what
they were before!. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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