[Bell Historians] Stolen bells

[A Willis]

Given the ease with which the Edvin Loach churchwarden's husband picked up
the bells, the theft could have been carried out by one reasonably strong
person.

At Broughton Gifford in 1849 someone stole the metal from a smashed-up
bell. Some was found under a hedge, the remainder at a Marine Merchant
(scrap metal dealer) in Trowbridge. The thief was sentenced to 4 months
hard labour in Devizes Gaol.

Anne Willis