LEEDS (St. Peter). Thirteen bells. I. THE GIFT OF WILLIAM GEORGE AND SAMUEL SMITH (Key G.) THESE BELLS WERE CAST FROM A DESIGN OF MR W 2. 21. (Key F.) [GAWKRODGER OF LEEDS BEING THE FIRST PEAL OF [13 BELLS EVER CAST IN THIS KINGDOM THE GIFT OF JAMES RHODES ESQ. OF KNOSTROP [REVD G ELMHURST B.A. CURATE REVD E. BROWNE M.A. CLERK [IN ORDERS REVD W. D. MORRICE BA ASSISTANT CURATE (Key C.) The ring cost £1,203 16s. 4d., and the weights are as follows: According to Thoresby (Ducatus Leodiensis, 2nd edition, pp. 40 and 58) the inscriptions on the old bells were as follows: Passing Bell. all men that hear my mournfull sound repent before you ly in ground 1623 GOD SAVE HES CHURCHE 8851 A cross floree, with "GOD" and the characters for Jesus and 6. Thoresby says that the passing bell was taken down in 1778, being out of tune and too heavy, viz. 1,800 lbs., and that No. 6 was recast in the same year as being too light. In 1778 was also recast No. 10. LEEDS (St. John). Four bells. Three bells by Thomas Mears, dated 1837, and a bell, about 12 in. diameter, without inscription or mark. Thoresby says that the inscription on the great bell, which was ordered by his father, on its being recast, was— WHEN I THE LOVDEST RING THE FOVNDERS PRAISE I SING Which inscription went exactly round the bell, whilst that of Dr. Ant. de Weever (which Thoresby does not give) went twice round the second bell. (Ducatus Leodiensis, 2nd edition, p. 58.) (This bell is about 15 in. diameter, and very much corroded.) 2. GLORIA IN ALTISSIMIS DEO 1728 Ebor E Seller) 30 in. dia. (d) Deanery of Otley. ADDINGHAM (St. Peter). Six bells. I. KIND HEAVEN INCREASE THEIR BOUNTEOUS STORE LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1759 BOLTON ABBEY (St. Mary and St. Cuthbert). One bell, about 2 ft. diameter. FARNLEY NEAR OTLEY (All Saints). One bell, about 20 in. diameter. Without inscription, but appearing to be of early eighteenth century make. FEWSTON (St. Michael). Four bells. On each LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1808 GUISELEY (St. Oswald). Eight bells. I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8. C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON 1846 8. (lower) w CLARK MD VICAR JH F KENDALL CURATE HORSFORTH (St. Margaret). One small bell, without inscription or mark. ILKLEY (All Saints). Eight bells. I. JOHN TAYLOR & CO FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 1873 2. THIS PEAL WAS CAST BY J TAYLOR & SON OF LOUGHBOROUGH 3. (lower) OS MEUM ANNUNCIABET LAUDEM GOD SAVE THE QUEEN AND PRESERVE OVR PEACE A.D. 1845 (lower) HESYS BE OUR SPEED [TUAM 4. JOHN TAVLOR & SON FOUNDERS [LOUGHBOROUGH A.D. 1845 J. TAYLOR & CO FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH RECAST ME 1873 5. 6. JOHN TAYLOR & SON FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 7. Tenor. 1845 THIS PEAL OF SIX BELLS WAS RECAST A.D. 1845 FROM [THREE DATED 1600 1636 1676 JOHN SNOWDON M.A. VICAR THOS BEANLANDS JAMES CRITCHLEY NIMROD WM HOWDEN CHURCHWARDENS JOHN TAYLOR & SON FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH LATE OF OXFORD & ST NEOTS 1845 J TAYLOR & CO BELLFOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 1873 (lower) THIS PEAL OF BELLS WAS AUGMENTED TO EIGHT BY [THE ADDING OF A TREBLE AND TENOR A.D. 1873 The old bells referred to in the inscription on No. 7 had The ring of six of 1844 weighed 41 cwt. o qrs. 24 lbs., with a tenor of 10 cwt. 3 qrs. 18 lbs. They were first rung on 13th January, 1846. The inscription on No. 5 (No. 4 of the 1844 ring) was— HOLINESS TO THE LORD JOHN TAYLOR & SON FOUNDERS 1845 The new ring weighs 66 cwt. I qr. 23 lbs., and was opened on 23rd November, 1873. LEATHLEY (St. Oswald). Four bells. I. 2. LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1760 (lower; incised) EDONO HENRICI HITCH DE LEATHLEY [ARMIGER ANNO DOMINI MDCCLX (55) Sancte (4) Johannes Ora Pro (84) Dobis 3. (55) Scancta Maria Ora Pro Hobis (~) En (coin) Encunditate (coin) soni sonabo tibi (coin) 4. (lower) WO (32) [dne (coin) 1610 Mr. George Benson, of York, who has made a special study of the York bellfounders and their work, thinks a bell at St. Michael's, Spurriergate, in that city (which has the mark (84)), to be by Thomas Innocent, of York. At (a) on the third bell are three lions similar to (84), but without the crowns, and the lower lion is inverted. The inscription on this bell is a good deal broken in casting, but the capitals are fine and crowned, and similar, although not identical, with those on the second bell. The lions I have not found elsewhere, except at St. Michael's, York, but the capitals I have found at Bentham and Cawood. See (71). Henry Hitch was the son of Robert Hitch, of Leathley, who was M.P. for Knaresborough 1715-22, and great-grandson of Robert Hitch, Dean of York. The Hitches intermarried with the Hoptons of Armley (Thoresby, Ducatus Leodiensis, p. 188). OTLEY (All Saints). Eight bells. 6th June, 1748. Sir Walter Calverley subscribed and paid £3 35. towards the new bells at Otley Church, which (excluding the old metal) cost £230. (Yorkshire Diaries, Surtees Society, ii, 47.) This Sir Walter was the great-grandson of the Walter Calverley of the "Yorkshire Tragedy." He built Esholt Hall, and married Julia, daughter of Sir William Blackett. RAWDON (St. Peter). One bell. THE GIFT. OF. FRAVNCIS. LATON. OF. RAWDEN. ESQVIER. 1661 Lower on the bell there is a founder's mark, having three bells, one and two, the upper one surmounted by a crown. These are encircled with an inscription, "THOMAS BARTLET MADE ME," and outside all is a circle of cable ornament. Francis Layton was the son of Francis Layton, of West Layton and Kirkby Hill, by Anne, daughter of John Layton, of East Layton. He was one of the Masters of the Jewel House to Charles I and Charles II, and died 23rd August, 1662, aged 84. He was the founder of Rawdon Church, which was built by his eldest son Henry, and a graveyard, surrounded by a wall, was provided by his second son Thomas. An old stone over the tower door in the present (rebuilt) church has "T. L. 1706." In the Register of the mother parish church of Guiseley is the following note:-"Memorandu, on Friday, the second of May, 1684, John, Ld Archbishop of Yorke (Archbishop John Dolben), came from his primary visitation at Otley to Guiesley, and laid that night at ye Parsnage house, Dr Will. Brearey, Archdeacon of ye East Riding, being then Rector of Guiesley, where the next day his Grace confirmed at morning and evening prayer about three hundred and fifty persons |