[Bell Historians] Further information

[David Bagley]

I think your bell is rather interesting.

There are two bells by Barrett at Holy Trinity in Malvern (Link Top) which the late Arthur (Bill) Berry rehung in 2010 and which are inscribed.
1.           ALFRED BARRETT FOUNDER BISHOPSGATE ST LONDON 1851             17”        1-1-0 approx
2.           ALFRED BARRETT BISHOPSGATE FOUNDRY LONDON 1851   21½”     2-1-0 approx

I’ve been collecting information on the bells of Malvern, and Chris Pickford in 2010 provided me with more information :-

Bells by Alfred Barrett alone are rare and only one other (at St.Leonard’s on Sea, Sussex, dated 1852) is known.

In 1852 Barrett entered into partnership with C.S. Osborne. By 1854 Osborne – who continued casting bells until 1858 – was trading alone.

The only other bell by both of them on Dove is at Mark Beech, Kent, dated 1852.
https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/founder/1353

Therefore your bell at Birchwood doubles the number of known bells by both of them together!

Barrett appears to have been a member of the Barrett family of Hope End, Colwall (near Malvern), made famous by the 1934 film “The Barretts of Wimpole Street” about the love affair and clandestine marriage of the poets Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning. Alfred Barrett is listed in the family home in Wimpole Street, Marylebone, in the 1851 census where he appears as a brassfounder, aged 30 (born at Colwall).

David



From: Bell-historians <bell-historians-bounces at lists.ringingworld.co.uk> On Behalf Of Joanne Docherty via Bell-historians
Sent: 23 August 2025 09:35
To: bell-historians at lists.ringingworld.co.uk
Cc: Joanne Docherty <docherty4 at btinternet.com>
Subject: [Bell Historians] Further information

Dear All

In our church in Derbyshire, we have discovered more information about the bell in our tower which has not rung for more than 50 years and is difficult to get to.

It was made by Barrett and Osborne in 1853 and we wondered where we could find out more information about Barrett and Osborne.

If you could guide me to where we might find out more, we would be very grateful.

Many thanks
Joanne Docherty
Birchwood Methodist Church

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