THE ABBEY BELLS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 172, 15 April 1919, Page 10

THE ABBEY BELLS

TO BE IM2STORHI) FOR PEACE BAY. : "With peace prospoots not 100 remote, it is interesting to learn (says the "Morning Post") thiit, the nix old bells at Westminster Abbey lire to be thoroughly restored ami augmented, to t:iko pnrt in any public celebiation. Those old bells are themselves of great hi.storie .ntereat. All, says the Central News, ixcept tno treble (or .smallest), were cast at the old Whitechapi'l Bell Foundry; the teuor (or largest), weighing one lon and <1 half, iu 17.18; the fifth, in 1598; I lie fourth and second, in 171-1; and the third, in 1583. The treble i« an Early Fourteenth Century bell, cast probably by Richard de Wymbish, who had n. foundry in■ ™ B parish of Aldgate (adjoining Whiteehapol) at the end of the Thirteenth and Itcginnjnsr of the Fourteen I h C*nturies. Tho treble and third unist, therefore, have mug out to celebrate the great victory over the Spanish Armada in 1568, and nnless Ihe f ' i'blo is a rest, soon these two l>clls will now ring out: in celebiation of the greatest victory, in history. When the A'bbey authorities asked the foundry to overhaul the bells, at. very short notice, for rinsing to celebrate .the signing of the armistice, it was found that thev were in -=uch poor ..ondition that only the smaller bells could bo rung, the heavier ones having to bo chimed. Messrs. Hears and Stainbank, directors of the foundry, were asked to submit a report on their condition, ami also an estimate of the cost of restoration.. The verdict was that nothing less than: entire rehanging would be. of service. It was also suggested that two smaller bells should be added to complete the octave. This meant an expense that the Dean and Chapter were not'in a pos'tion lo undertake, but fortunately two benefactors, who wish to remain iuiouymou.3, very generously- came forward ana oifered to bear the cost. Thanks, to this munificence, Westminster Abbey _ bells will one? again bo in first-class ringing order. The two smaller bells to_ be added will complete the octave, and the old bells will 'be retimed, the whole ring being rohung with entirely new fittings and frumeworii. 'fro old Fourieemii Lentury .treble, while too small to. tako its place successfully in the octave, will, at the suggestion of the founders, be preserved, and a new bell cast in its place. It is interesting to note that the AYhitcchapel foundry, which has been running continuously since 1570, has been entrusted with the restoration work, and the casting of the new; bells, and its .onnection with Westminster Abbey after nearly 30 years is thus being continued. "Westminster Abbey will possess the heaviest ring of eight in London. There are, however, heavier peals iu the City. St. Paul's Cathedral contains a- ring of, twelve —tenor, G2cwt.; St. Mary-le-BoW, Chcapside. twelve bells—tenor 53owt. (the famous "Bow Bells" east atr -Whitechapel); Southwark Cathedral, twelve bells—tenor, Mlcwt.; ami St. Michael's on C'ornhill, twelve bells—tenor, 41cwt.