SRFN Miscellany: Henry Burstow: Reminiscences of Horsham: Bells and Bellringing 1

http://folk-network.com/

SRFN: Miscellany:
Henry Burstow: Reminiscences of Horsham : Bells and Bellringing

	Recollections of Henry Burstow.	79

BELLS AND BELLRINGING. Soon after I was apprenticed, old John Vaughan, my master's father, the Sexton and head bellringer, came into the little room where we were at work and said to me, "Henry, I think you had better come and join the ringers, we've got a few jobs coming on and we shall want some new hands." I was very pleased indeed with the prospect thus unexpectedly opened to me, and agreed at once to learn the art of bellringing, and to devote my best attention to it. There was a little preliminary business to negotiate, viz., the payment of an entrance fee of 3s., which at this time was an utter impossibility to me. An alternative was offered of ringing for the first six months without receiving any payment for it; but as within this time one or two weddings would take place, at which the ringers would be engaged and paid for their services, an acceptance of this proposition did not strike me as being very business like; however, old John Vaughan came to my rescue by paying the fee, I agreeing to repay him from the first money I received. This matter thus settled, it was not long before I was up in the Belfry exercising my new hobby, handling the ropes with ardour and enthusiasm. When I offered to repay the old man from the first lump sum I ever received (7s.) he refused to take the money, generously telling me I might keep it. As I was badly in want of a new hat I straightway went up to Angus' shop, at the south-east corner of Middle Street, where Messrs. Tanner & Chart now are, and of my own initiative bought myself one, an act that greatly enhanced my self-importance and much pleased my dear old mother.

Reminiscences of Horsham.

Perhaps a little information respecting the Old Church bells and the old Bell Foundry at Horsham will be appropriate here, and of interest to the reader. The following extracts respecting the Foundry and the repairs to the Church Bells were taken by Mr. R. Garraway Rice, J.P., and published in Vol. 31 of the Sussex Archaeological publications.

From several parish registers it has been ascertained that at the end of the Sixteenth and beginning of the Seventeenth Centuries there was a bell foundry at Horsham, and that a considerable trade was carried on. In the Lindfield Parish churchwardens' accounts for 1594 are the following entries:-

Laid out for expenses at Horsam for ourselves and the weneman (waggoner) his s'vnt and his cattel	xiij^s iv^d
P'^d to one to carrye the moneye to Horsham to the bell founder	xii^d

In the Slinfold churchwardens' accounts for 1593 are the following entries:—

Item for takyng down the belles	xvii^d
Item for hangying vp the belles	xvi^d
Item the carridg of O'r bells to horsham	iij^s iiij^d
Item or charges ij days at horsham about the belles	iiij^s

In the same accounts for 1611:—

For castyng the grete Bell—

Imprimus for carrying the bell into Horsham	ij^s i^d
It. the Castyng of the seyd Bell	xlij^s viii^d
It. for carrying the Bell from Horsham	ij^s ij^d
It. stocking the Bell	ij^s
It. for makyng of the bond that the Bellfounder was bound to	vj^d

Again in 1618 there are similar entries.

In Mr. Tyssen's "Church Bells of Sussex" it is stated that one, Richard Eldridge, had a bell foundry in Sussex from about 1592 to 1623; and in the Horsham churchwardens' accounts there are many

Recollections of Henry Burstow.

entries that shew this same Richard Eldridge (and later his partner and successor, Bryan Eldridge, who about 1623 moved his foundry to Chertsey) was a tenant under the Horsham Churchwardens of a house and premises called the "Belle House," situate in the Normandy, at a rental of 10s. per annum. Here bells of all sizes were cast and repaired for various parishes near and far. There are still, according to Mr. Tyssen, 90 bells in the County of Sussex made by the Eldridge's. Most of those made by Richard Eldridge between 1592 and 1623 are inscribed, "Our hope is in the Lord, R E," and the date.

In the Horsham accounts are many other interesting entries showing expenditure upon the bells.Thus in 1611:—

Item. Richard Eldridge owed to the ould wardens p^t of his rent for there yeare	iij^s iiij^d
Item. Received of him for his rent this year the Casting of a pare of Brasses for the great Bell	xj^sviij^d
So the sayd Richard oweth the pish in mony and for 1 lb of Brasse mettell	xx^d

On August 19th, 1615, during a severe storm, the steeple was struck and set afire by lightning, and a poor girl, Elizabeth Stroode, who was standing by the belfry door, was killed. The lightning did a great deal of damage, necessitating the re-casting of the big bell, new shingling of the steeple, and many other repairs, according to the following entries in 1616:—

Imprimus laid out to William Dean and Helpers to new trusse the great bell	xij^d
Item payd to William Dean for mending the Steeple	iiij^li
Item payd to the Shingler for shingling the Steeple	x^li
It. spent on them that put out the fires of the steeple	xiiij^d
It. spent upon the Shingler when they came to take the work	viij^d

Reminiscences of Horsham.

Item spent upon helpers to pull up and downe the bell	viij^d
Item Layd out for Ironwork about the bell, Steeple, chimes and the howse in the Normandy	xvij^s
It. spent upon the bell Fownder in coming to take the bell	vj^d

Bellfounding just about this time appears to have been in a prosperous state at Horsham, for the Bell-house, or Foundry, was enlarged or re-built, and was afterwards known as the New Bellhouse.

Amongst the payments for the same year (1616) are the following:—

Imprimus paid to Richard Eldridge the mony remayning due to him for casting of the great bell	xj^li x^s
Item payd him for casting of a brass for the 4th bell	iij^s
Item payd to George Lullingstone for timber and mending of the Bellframe and for new stocking of three of the bells and other work about the Bells	iij^li xvj^s ix^d
Item payd for fetching of weights and for drawing of the Bell to the pitt and from the pitt	iiij^s
Item pay'd to Stephen Russell for Iron Coales and workmanship and mending the gret bell Clapper	v^s vi^d
Item pay'd to Thomas Tanner for timber and work to make a Jyne to weigh the Bell	iiij^s iiij^d
Item payd to Roger Wood for making a band (i.e., bond) for the Bell	vj^d
Item for 1 hundredweight of mettell to put in the great bell	iiij^li
Item payd for careing ij^l of mettell	vj^s viij^d
Item payd in earnist to George Marlen to stock and hang the great bell	xij^d
Item payd to William Dean for 2 dayes work with the bell hanger	iij^s

Recollections of Henry Burstow.

Item pay'd to Philip Ginden and Thomas Morgins for puting out of the fier in the Steeple	x^s
Item payd to Robert Honiwood for an Iron hooke to weigh the great bell	xij^d

In 1619 the Horsham Bell Foundry again underwent alterations and repairs, as will be seen from the following:—

Item payd for timber and stone for the new bell house	xxx^s
Item payd for Lime and Mull (Marl)	iij^s vj^d
Item payd to Thomas Clarke for nailes and a dogge of Iron for the same howse	iij^s vj^d
Item payd for 3 ridge tilles	iij^d
Item payd to William Deane for his work about the new bell house	x^s
Item payd to Henry Salter for his work about the new bell house	x^s
Item payd to Richard Mitchell for his work about the Church and the new bell howse	x^s

There appears to have been a running account between Richard Eldridge and his successor on the one hand and the Horsham Churchwardens on the other for many years; sometimes the Churchwardens owed a balance for re-casting or repairing bells, and then it would seem that the bells being in order and requiring no attention, Eldridge would get behind with his rent. Thus in 1619 appears:—

Arreareges Richard Eldridge for the new bell Howse

x^s

Again in 1620:—

Item received of Richard Eldridge for 2 yeares rent of the new bell howse

xix^s

Then on the other side:—

Item payd to Richard Eldridge for casting of 3 payer of Brasses and for more mettell to put to them

xxix^s 8^d

Reminiscences of Horsham.

Item payd to William Deane and his man for 2 dayes work taking out of the bell brasses and laying of them in againe	v^s
Item payd to William Streate Carpenter for his journie and his Charges to take the worke about the bells	v^s vi^d
Item payd to Hamlet Borer for carreing of a load of Timber to mend the bells	iiij^s vi^d
Item payd to William Streate Carpenter in pte of payment for his work about the bells	x^s
Item paid him more for his work in pte	xxx^s

In 1621:—

Item received of Richard Eldridge for one years rent of the new Bellhouse eanded at the Anounciation last past

x^s

In the same year, on the other side:—

Item payd to Richard Eldridge in p^t of payment for the casting of the fourth bell accordinge to his bargain as appeereth by a noate	iiij^li
Item layd out to William Streate for comming and taking downe the 4th bell and for hanging of hir vp againe and to John Mulford for his help and his Tackling	xv^s iiij^d
Item payd for sending one for William Streate	xij^d
Item layd out and spent vpon Helpers to take down the bell, and drawing of the bell to the Pitt and from the pitt, and for pulling of the bell up againe	xij^s vi^d
Item paid for 18 new hoops for the new bell wheels	xviij^d

In 1622 appears the last entry respecting Richard Eldridge's tenancy of the Bellhouse, his rent being apparently then in arrear:—

Richard Eldridge, for the new bell howse, his rent

x^s

In the same year, on the other side:—

Item payd to Richard Eldridge toward the casting of the Fowth bell

x^lix^s

Recollections of Henry Burstow.

Item payd to John Mulford and helpers, and for his tackling and new waying of the 4th bell	xj^s
Item payd fir sending of the Beame to Warnham Fornaise	iiij^d

It is an important and interesting fact that the period up to which bells cast by Richard Eldridge are found in 1623, being the same year that he disappears from Horsham, and it seems highly probable that it was at that time — or two or three years before — that Brian Eldridge, the successor of Richard, established or took the Chertsey Foundry.

In 1633 the Horsham Churchwardens decided to make the big bell much heavier, for in the accounts that year appear:—

Imp^rs payd to Bryan Eldridge, the Bellfounder, for casting the great Bell, and for mettell added to her, for wee agreed with the said Bellfounder at 12^s y^e hundred for the mettall added to her. The said great bell before she was cast weighing five and twentie hundreds and a quarter, and now weighing twentie seven hundreds and three qte^rs as neere as could be ghessed	xxiiij^li j^s
Itm paid to William Lintott for carrying the bell to and from Chertsey and his charges there	xij^l xv^s iiij^d
To y^e Bellhangers for taking downe the Bell: hanging her vp and theire other worke about the rest of the Bells, for their coming, horse hire to bring their Pullies and tooles and their helpers at divers times about the loading, weighing, and hanging the said bell	iij^li
Out charges for o^r selves and o^r horses at Chertsey to see the bell cast and weighed, being 4 of us and 3 daies out	i^li ix^s vj^d
For a bond from the Bellfounder to the Churchwardens for y^e warrant of the bell	j^s

Reminiscences of Horsham.

For a piece of Timber to make a Beame to weigh the bell, for making and carrying the same, for other timber and paile and raile to mend the Churchyard fences	x^s
To Richard Clerke for his worke and yron for the beame to weigh the bell, as about all the bells, theire clappers and other furnitures, as also about the clock and chimes	j^li vj^s viii^d

In 1645 the big Bell, which seems to have had more attention given to it than all the others together, was again sent to Chertsey to be again made heavier, and the following entries appear:—

Received for 8 pound of bell mettle hewed from the bell	xiij^s
Of the Batchellors of the pish toward the casting the bell	j^l xviij^s vij^d
Paid to Evans Prise for fetching and careing the ffornace Beame and waites severall times	j^s xj^d
Paid the helpers when the bell was taken down	ij^s vj^d
Paid to Mr. Thomas Sheppard for making the bonds for the security for the bell	xviij^d
Paid for helping loade the bell	ij^s
Paid for James Mulford for taking downe the bell and hanging vp	xxx^s
Paid to John Rowland fore careing the bell to Chertsey and back againe	xii^l x^s
Paid for o^r expense for our horse meate Goinge to Chertsey, and to the bellfounders helpers there	j^l xvij^s vj^d
Paid to the bellfounder for his work and for 3 hundred and 3 quarters of Mettle put into her more, the bell waing 32 hundred	xxxiij^l viij^s
Paid to William Wheeler for mending the greate bell clapper	x^s

In 1652 the 3rd bell was taken down and recast:—

Imprimis paid to Bryan Eldridge for casting y^e 3rd bell

x^li

Recollections of Henry Burstow.

It. paid to him for Mettle to put in the bell	1^li 15^s 0^d
It. paid for o^r Journey to Chertsey and o^r expences	1^li 2^s 4^d
It. paid for Smith's worke about the belles	ij^li ij^s 4^d
It. paid to William Brigs for taking doune the belle and hanging vp	j^li xv^s
It. paid for the hier of 2 horses for o^r journey to Chertsey	9^s
It. for expences vppon the Bellfounder and the helpers in hanging vp the Bell	xj^s iiij^s
It. to Robert Tylor for careing the bell to Chertsey	ij^s iiij^d
It. paid for work about the Chimes and Belles	j^li iiij^s vj^d

In 1717 and 1718 the bells again gave trouble, and were repaired at a cost of over £60. In 1748 and 1751 the great bell gave further trouble, and at a Vestry Meeting, held June 6th, 1751, it was agreed: "That the Great Bell should immediately be taken down and sent to London to be new Cast by Thomas Lester Bellfounder in White Chapple." Up to this time there were six bells only, these I was told by old Michael Turner, of Warnham (born 1796), were the heaviest set in Sussex, the tenor weighing 36cwt.; but on March 8th, 1752, at a Vestry Meeting the momentous resolve was made: "That the remaining 5 Bells should be taken down and sent away with all convenient speed to Thomas Lester at his Foundry in White Chapple, London, in order (with the Tenor which has been sent some time agoe) to be cast into 8 bells according to articles which are to be entered into, By the Churchwardens with the said Thomas Lester."

On New Year's Eve, Dec. 31st, 1814, the ringers had been down early in the evening to ring the bells, and had adjourned to the "Anchor," as usual on New Year's Eve, for supper; whilst there a fearful storm raged over the town, and on their return journey to the Church, after 11 o'clock, to ring the old year out and the new one in, they found the lightning had

88	Reminiscences of Horsham.

struck down two of the large elm trees that then lined the Causeway, and when they got back to the belfry they further found that the steeple had been also struck by lightning, that the seats fixed to the belfry wall had been torn away and scattered about the room, and that the second and seventh bells were cracked. The cost of repairing these two bells, by Thomas Mears, of Whitechapel, was £65 13s. 8d. The last disasters in the belfry happened in 1838. John Vaughan and his sons Jim and Joe were pulling up the big bell for a funeral when, somehow or other, the clapper went the wrong way. Old John told Joe to go up and turn her; just about as Joe got up to the bells the others heard a tremendous bang, then all was silent. Old John and Jim were much frightened, thinking Joe must have got hurt, perhaps killed: they shouted up the stairs, but got no reply; trembling they went up to the bells, and there, to their intense relief, sat Joe in silent contemplation. "Why, what's the matter," they asked; "That's what I want to know," replied Joe. An examination showed that whilst Joe was unhurt, the bell was cracked right down one side, and therefore rendered quite useless. The re-casting of this bell by Thomas Mears cost £45 15s.; taking down and re-fixing, by Jas. Ridge, £12; and the carriage to and from London, by Jas. Lloyd, the carrier, £5 7s. A further accident on November 15th, the same year, resulted in no damage to the bells, but considerable damage to the Sexton. Poor old John was seeing to his duties, oiling the bearings of the bells, &c., when he pitched headlong amongst them; he was laid up a long time, with two broken ribs and a broken collar-bone. From this time the bells worked satisfactory for over 50 years. In 1890 the whole of them were re-tuned and re-hung, and the belfry ceiled at a cost of £140, raised by public subscription. The

Recollections of Henry Burstow.

weights of the bells, tuned in E flat major, and their inscriptions, are now as follows:—

1 — 6cwt.

3qrs.

10lbs.

— Thomas Lester and T. Pack made us all 1752

2 — 7 "

0 "

2 "

— Mears, of London, fecit 1815

3 — 7 "

0 "

8 "

— T. Lester, fecit

4 — 9 "

0 "

25 "

— Thomas Lester and Thomas Pack, of London, fecit 1752

5 — 11 "

1 "

9 "

— Thomas Lester, of London, made me

6 — 14 "

1 "

20 "

— Thomas Lester and Thomas Pack, fecit 1752

7 — 16 "

1 "

12 "

— Thomas Mears, of London, fecit 1815

8 — 23 "

1 "

7 "

— Thomas Mears, founder, London, 1838

Rev. H. W. SIMPSON,
John THORPE,
RICHARD WALDER,
PETER WILSON,

Vicar.

Churchwardens.

Up to 1789 the bells were always rung from the floor of the Church, but in that year a belfry was made (at the ringers' expense of £20) about 8ft. above ground, a position much more convenient alike for ringers and churchgoers. It was fitted up with every convenience and necessary comfort. In 1864, at the restoration of the Church, the belfry was raised again and taken to its present position, level with the clock. It is a matter of pride to me that in regard to this further removal the then vicar, Rev. J. F. Hodgson, most courteously consulted the interests of the ringers in every respect. Apropos of the restoration of the Church, begun April, 1864, and finished November, 1865, the following lines "composed" on the occasion may interest the reader:—

About two years ago our Parson declared—
The Church is in danger and must be repaired:
A committee was formed and the money got in,
With pence from the poor, which I think was a sin.
London builders were asked to send tenders down,
Not a man was invited of our ancient town;
One was selected — a great city swell, —
And how he sold townsmen I'll very soon tell.
The time flew away, near a twelvemonth went round,
Since this clever builder to Horsham came down;
He was courted by tradesmen, the great and the small,

Reminiscences of Horsham.

And to keep in their graces he dealt with them all;
This one for paint, for glass, and for lead,
That one for meat and another for bread;
The grocer, the draper, the trader in gin,
And the dealer in game, cunning Jack, were let in.
The snob and the tailor for boots and for clothes,
The Parsons for cash, the amount no one knows.
The man at the bank when too late, alas, found
He had given too much credit by eleven-hundred pound.
Those who supplied him with timber and rope,
Alike all are duped; for their cash they've no hope.
Other victims in Horsham this builder had many,
For now he's a bankrupt, and won't pay a penny.

It was in 1667 that the possibility of ringing 5040 changes was recognised, but a method of producing these changes was not invented till 1715, when a poor lad — John Holt — solved what had been a difficulty to campanologists. In 1766, some 14 years after they had the requisite number of bells, the Horsham ringers achieved the glory of their first 5040 changes. As this was 99 years after the discovery of its possibility, it must, I suppose, be admitted as evidence in favour of those smart people who so frequently assert that Horsham is 100 years behind the times. This belated achievement was thought highly of at the time, and a board upon which particulars of the event with the names of the ringers was then painted, still adorns the belfry wall. Any reproach that may have attached to these Horsham ringers on account of their dilatoriness was completely wiped out by their subsequent successes, for between 1766 and 1798 they got ahead of all the ringers in the Kingdom on two occasions, and established no less than nine records, particulars of which I give.

The Horsham Ringing Society was affiliated to the National Society of Ringers called the Cumberland Youths. On Friday, April 11th, 1766, rung at Horsham 5040 Grandsire Triples, the first 5040 changes ever rung in that steeple. Performed in

Recollections of Henry Burstow.

3 hours and 8 minutes, by Horsham Ringers, as follows:—

Harry Weller	treble
Thomas Lintott	2
William Tyler	3
John Foreman	4
Anthony Lintott	5
John Morth	6
Thomas Bristow	7
Thomas Aldridge	tenor
The bobs were called by Thomas Bristow.

On Tuesday, May 2nd, 1775, rung at Bolney, in Sussex, by the Horsham Society, a true and complete peal of 5040 changes of Union Triples, the first peal ever rung in the County of Sussex in that method. Performed in 3 hours and 6 minutes, as follows:—

Thomas Jones	treble
William Tylor	2
Benjamin Hall	3
Edward Aldridge	4
Harry Weller	5
Thomas Lintott	6
Thomas Bristow	7
Thomas Aldridge	tenor
The bobs were called by Thomas Bristow.

On Sunday, May 26th, 1776, rung at Horsham, by the Society of Cumberland Youths, a true and complete peal of 5152 changes Bob Major, the first ever rung by this method in this steeple. Performed in 3 hours and 17 minutes, as follows:—

William Tylor,	Horsham	treble
Thomas Lintott,		2
James Wilson,	Cuckfield	3
Samuel Beeching,	Bolney	4
Samuel Wood,	London	5
Francis Wood,	"	6
George Grose,	"	7
Samuel Muggeridge,	"	tenor
The bobs were called by George Grose.

On Sunday, Nov. 16th, 1777, rung backwards, at Horsham, by the Society of Cumberland Youths (all of whom were inhabitants of Horsham), a true and complete peal of 5040 changes of John Holt's Grand-

Reminiscences of Horsham.

sire Triples, being the first peal ever rung reversed in this method by any men in the Kingdom. Performed in 3 hours 15 minutes, as follows:—

Thomas Jones		treble
Thomas Lintott		2
Benjamin Hall		3
Edward Aldridge		4
Harry Weller		5
John Foreman		6
Thomas Bristow		7
Thomas Aldridge		tenor
The bobs were called by Thomas Lintott.

On Monday, Feb. 15th, 1779, rung at Horsham, in homour of Admiral Keppel, by members of the Society of Cumberland Youths (all of whom were inhabitants of Horsham), a true and complete peal of 5040 Union Triples, being the first peal ever rung in this steeple by this method, in 3 hours 12 minutes, as follows:—

Harry Weller		treble
Thomas Jones		2
Benjamin Hall		3
Edward Aldridge		4
Thomas Lintott		5
John Foreman		6
Thomas Bristow		7
Thomas Aldridge		tenor
The bobs were called by Thomas Lintott.

On Monday, June 13th, 1785, rung at Uckfield, by members of the Society of Cumberland Youths, a true and complete peal of 5040 Grandsire Triples, being the first peal ever rung in that steeple. Performed in 2 hours 57 minutes, as follows:—

Thomas Jones,	Horsham	treble
Thomas Lintott,	"	2
Benjamin Hall,	"	3
Edward Aldridge,	"	4
Harry Weller,	"	5
John Foreman,	"	6
Thomas Bristow,	"	7
James Wilson,	Cuckfield	tenor
The bobs were called by Thomas Lintott.

On Monday, Sept. 12th, 1792, rung at Leatherhead, by the Horsham Society, a true and complete peal of

Recollections of Henry Burstow.

5040 changes of Grandsire Triples, the first peal of Grandsire Triples ever rung in that steeple. Performed in 3 hours 1 minute, as follows:—

Thomas Jones		treble
Thomas Lintott		2
Anthony Lintott		3
Edward Aldridge		4
Harry Weller		5
John Foreman		6
Thomas Bristow		7
William Oakes		tenor
The bobs were called by Thomas Lintott.

On Sunday, Jan. 5th, 1794, rung at Horsham, by the Horsham Society, a true and complete peal of 5040 changes of Grandsire Triples, performed in 2 hours 59 minutes, the quickest performance of the kind ever known on bells of the same weight, the tenor being 24 cwt., as follows:—

Alexander Luxford		treble
Anthony Lintott		2
Thomas Lintott, sen.		3
Edward Aldridge		4
Thomas Lintott, jun.		5
Thomas Jones		6
Thomas Bristow		7
William Oakes		tenor
The bobs were called by Anthony Lintott.

On Tuesday, May 1st, 1798, rung at Horsham, by the Horsham Society, Mr. Holt's original peal of 5040 changes of Grandsire Triples. This was known as "the highest and most accurate peal ever composed." The method of calling it was invented by James Bartlett, who on this occasion rang fifth bell. Performed in 2 hours 55 minutes, as follows:—

Thomas Jones,	Horsham	treble
Charles Barber,	Kensington	2
James Lintott,	Horsham	3
Richard Downe,	"	4
James Bartlett,	Kensington	5
William Bottomley,	Halifax, Yorks	6
Anthony Lintott,	Horsham	7
John Foreman	"	tenor
The bobs were called by James Bartlett.

Previous: Pages 72 - 78 Next: Pages 94 - 106

Contents