[Bell Historians] Lichfield bells and Elias Ashmole

[John H Allen]

And the Freemasons paid for the new bells at Lichfield in 1947 and would
have paid for a new frame too if the Dean and Chapter had not been badly
advised by the then Cathedral Architect.

 

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From: bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com [mailto:bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Jim Phillips
Sent: Tuesday 10 July 2012 21:26
To: BellHistorians
Subject: [Bell Historians] Lichfield bells and Elias Ashmole

 

  

John Camp's posting on Tuesday 10 July 2012 at 18.18 is fascinating and
perhaps Dr William Poole can establish if there was a link between Elias
Ashmole and William, the Second Lord Brereton.  They were both Loyalists,
lawyers and were both under siege in Biddulph Hall during the civil war.  It
is possible that the "Loyal Youths" were College Youths who were established
in 1637.
I wrote an article for 'The Ringing World' of 15/1/2010 and enclose a
relevant extract from that article.


"Bellringers and freemasons have mingled together over many centuries and
indeed many ringers have become freemasons. An example of this mixing
occurred during the civil war when in 1643 a well known ringer and Royalist
of his day, William, the Second Lord Brereton, fled with his family to the
garrisoned Biddulph Hall, Staffordshire following his defeat at the battle
of Nantwich. Also holed up in Biddulph Hall was a budding young lawyer and
fellow Royalist Elias Ashmole (born Lichfield 1617) who later became the
most well known freemason of all. Biddulph Hall was thought to be a centre
for freemasons in those days. The Hall was under siege from the
Parliamentarian forces led by Lord Brereton's cousin Sir William Brereton of
the Malpas family line. The siege lasted some three months before the
Parliamentarian forces brought up 'Roaring Meg' a mighty cannon from
Stafford that reduced the Hall to ruins and brought about the surrender of
the Royalists. The holes made by this huge cannon can be seen to this day
punched into the walls of the ruined Hall. "



           
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