Bell Historians' Email List



	The Bells of St Mary Magdalene, Taunton, Somerset Compiled by David Bryant St Mary's is the principal parish church of Taunton, and its highly ornate perpendicular tower, 163½' high to the top of the pinnacles, is one of the best-known examples of the exuberant Somerset towers financed by the prosperity created by the wool trade. The tower was in fact rebuilt in 1858-62, but is an exact copy of its predecessor. The church itself is also mostly perpendicular, and although dwarfed by its massive tower is nevertheless a large building. In 1993 a new extension, housing a new vestry, meeting room and toilets, was added onto the north-west corner of the building (architect Michael Stancliffe), this being an excellent example of a successful modern addition to a highly important church. The western tower contains twelve bells hung for ringing plus three accidental (semitone) bells hung for chiming. Details are as follows: Ringing Bells Treble inscription band: M & S. LONDON. 1922. (Whitechapel foundry mark) waist: TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF / HARRY VAN TRUMP / WILLIAM ALBERT FOWLER / WILLIAM FUDGE / SIDNEY ARCHIBALD PHILLIPS / MEMBERS OF THE ST. MARY'S GUILD OF RINGERS / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN / THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918 / THIS BELL WAS PRESENTED BY HENRY JOSEPH VAN TRUMP. J.P. (26 13/16", 5-3-7½, A^b) 2nd inscription band: MEARS & STAINBANK, FOUNDERS, LONDON. 1922. (Whitechapel foundry mark) (28 14/16", 5-3-26, G^b) 3rd inscription band: J : TAYLOR AND C^O. FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 1885. waist: PRESENTED BY JOHN MARSHALL, ESQUIRE, OF BELMONT TAUNTON. / SAMUEL ADAMS, VICAR. / CHARLES PAULL / E.R.YOUNG / ARTHUR STEEVENS / CHURCHWARDENS. (28 3/4", 6½ cwt approx., F) 4th inscription band: J : TAYLOR AND C^O. FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 1885. waist: PRESENTED BY JOHN MARSHALL, ESQUIRE, OF BELMONT TAUNTON. / SAMUEL ADAMS. VICAR. / CHARLES PAULL / E.R.YOUNG / ARTHUR STEEVENS / CHURCHWARDENS. (30 15/16", 7½ cwt approx., E^b) 5th inscription band: THOMAS MEARS FOUNDER. LONDON waist: PURCHASED & PLACED IN THIS TOWER OF / S^T MARY MAGDALEN TAUNTON. BY VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIPTION. A.D. 1840 / HENRY BADCOCK / ROBERT HEARN / JOHN TURLE / CHURCHWARDENS / THE PRAISES OF THE GOD OF GODS WE SING / THE BIRTH AND CORONATION OF THE KING (33 3/8", 7-3-11, D^b) 6th inscription band: THOMAS MEARS FOUNDER. LONDON waist: PURCHASED & PLACED IN THIS TOWER OF / S^T MARY MAGDALEN TAUNTON. BY VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIPTION. A.D. 1840 / HENRY BADCOCK / ROBERT HEARN / JOHN TURLE / CHURCHWARDENS / WE CELEBRATE THE HOLY FESTAL DAY / AND MARRIAGE RITES DEMAND OUR MERRY LAY (33 5/16", 7-0-5, C) 7th inscription band: T. MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1816W. LEVERSEDGE. C. SUTTON. M. HAVILAND C ^H. WARDENS. (37½" [skirted], 10-3-9, B^b) 8th inscription band: PEACE AND GOOD NEIGHBOVRHOOD 1725 waist: Recast By G. mears & Co. London 1865. (39 7/8", 11-3-9, A^b) 9th inscription band: .TAYLOR OF LOUGHBOROUGH CAST ME FROM THE OLD BELL IN THIS TOWER BEARING DATE 1816. waist: SAMUEL ADAMS. VICAR / C. PAULL / E.R. YOUNG / ARTHUR STEEVENS / CHURCHWARDENS. (42 3/8", 13½ cwt approx., G^b) 10th inscription band: THOMAS MEARS, FOUNDER. LONDON Waist: PURCHASED AND PLACED IN THIS TOWER / OF ST MARY MAGDALEN TAUNTON / BY VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIPTION. A.D. 1840 / HENRY BADCOCK / JOHN TURLE / ROBERT HEARN / CHURCHWARDENS / WE CALL THE PEOPLE AND CONVENE THE PRIEST, / AND FROM THE BODY MOURN THE SOULS RELEASE / RECAST 1955 / MEARS (Whitechapel foundry mark) LONDON (45", 14-2-15, F) 11th upper inscription band: M^r IOHN WHITMASH M^r RVFUS LANGLY M^r IOHN STANDERWICK CHURCH WARDENS 1748 (Bilbie foundry mark) lower inscription band: T (rose) BILBIE CAST MEE (Bilbie foundry mark) (rose) (50 3/8", 21-1-17, E^b) Tenor inscription band: ANNO DOMINI. 1861. DURING THE REBUILDING OF THE TOWER OF TAUNTON S^T. MARY MAGDALENE. / GEORGE MEARS & CO OF LONDON MADE ME FROM METAL OF THE OLD BELL WHICH WAS CAST IN 1647 AND BORE THIS LEGEND waist: COME WHEN I CALL TO SERVE GOD ALL / I SOUND TO BEID THE SICKE REPENT IN HOPE OF LIFE WHEN BREATH IS SPENT / W.R. CLARK VICAR / FREDERICK MAY / F.W. TODD / HENRY LIDDON / CHURCH WARDENS 1861 (57 11/16", 29-3-20, D^b) Chiming Bells Sharp 5th inscription band: J : TAYLOR AND C^O. FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 1885. waist: PRESENTED BY / S.C. ALLSOPP. ESQUIRE. M.P. FOR TAUNTON / SAMUEL ADAMS M.A. VICAR / CHARLES PAULL / EDWARD R. YOUNG / ARTHUR STEEVENS / CHURCHWARDENS / FEBRUARY 1885 (32 3/8", 7-3-0, D) Flat 6th inscription band: J : TAYLOR AND C^O. BELLFOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 1885. waist: PRESENTED BY JOHN MARSHALL, ESQUIRE, / OF BELMONT, TAUNTON. / SAMUEL ADAMS. VICAR. / CHARLES PAULL / E.R. YOUNG / ARTHUR STEEVENS / CHURCHWARDENS. (34½", 8-3-6, B) Sharp 9th inscription band: J : TAYLOR AND C^O. BELLFOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 1885. waist: PRESENTED BY JOHN MARSHALL, ESQUIRE, / OF BELMONT, TAUNTON. / SAMUEL ADAMS. VICAR. / CHARLES PAULL / E.R. YOUNG / ARTHUR STEEVENS / CHURCHWARDENS. (40¼, 13-0-10, G) Bells, framework and fittings The 11th is by Thomas Bilbie I of Chewstoke, the 3rd, 4th and 9th are by Taylor's of Loughborough, and the remaining bells all from the Whitechapel Bellfoundry in London. The treble, 2nd and 10th were cast with flat tops, and the canons have been removed from the remainder of the ringing bells. The three accidentals have angular canons of traditional layout. The profiles of the bells vary widely across the ring, with the majority being fairly short waisted except for the 3rd and 4th, which are very long waisted and have high, domed crowns. The weights of the 3rd, 4th and 9th as supplied were 6-3-16, 7-3-23 and 14-0-20 respectively, but these bells have not been weighed since the removal of their canons in 1922, and will now be approximately half a hundredweight lighter. Whitechapel's records indicate that 2-0-21 of old canons were received as part payment for the 1922 work. This will include the canons of the 3rd, 4th and 9th, and at least one and possibly two other bells, but which these are is unknown. Therefore, the weights given for the back ten (except for the recast 10th) may not be accurate, as the bells have not been weighed since they were tuned and rehung by Taylor's in 1885. The twelve ringing bells are hung in a cast-iron lowside frame all on one level. The frame is by The Whitechapel Bellfoundry, 1922. The three accidentals hang in a chiming framework supported on two RSJs above the ringing bells, consisting of chiming-scale high-sided 'A' frames, installed with the bells by Taylor's in 1885. The twelve ringing bells are hung from cast iron hollow-box section headstocks with cast-in steel gudgeons. The nine smaller bells swing in self-aligning ball bearings, the back three having roller bearings. All twelve have traditional wooden wheels and stays. The fittings are by Whitechapel and date from 1922 with the exception of the wheel of the 8th which was replaced some years ago after it became broken in an accident with the chiming hammer. The clappers are all of the SG cast iron type, hanging from independent staples. The tenor's clapper is a counterbalanced type by Whitechapel, dating from the mid 1980s and fitted by Robert Parker. The clappers to the front eleven are by Taylor's, dating from the mid 1990s and fitted by Tim Collins. The three accidentals are fitted with elm headstocks and strap gudgeons, these resting in cast iron retainer plates bolted to the cross bars of the 'A' frames. The fittings of these three bells are all by Taylor's and date from 1885. All fifteen bells are fitted with electro-pneumatic chiming hammers, the air for these being supplied by a compressor housed in the middle chamber of the the tower, between the ringing and bell chambers. The hammers are controlled by a computerised unit housed in the vestry. This was manufactured in Holland ten years or so ago, and replaced a brass barrel type tune player, parts of which can still be seen in the middle chamber of the tower. History The early history of the bells in the beautiful tower of St Mary's is, unfortunately, rather vague and full of doubts and unproven possibilities. The church, being a significant one, probably possessed six bells from medieval times, but there is no proof of this. The first definite evidence we have of there being six bells dates from 1633. In this year a book entitled 'The Particular Description of the County of Somerset', by Thomas Gerard of Trent, was published. From this the following passage is taken (the spelling has been modernised in many places): The church of this town (for they have but one, but it seems to have two by reason of a parish joins so close unto it that it seems part of the town), is exceeding large and so it had need, somewhat low built, but of its breadth that within a few feet it equals St Paul's in London, which is the cause they have sustained the roof with four ranks of pillars, but what the church wants in height the bell tower at the west end hath with advantage, for for exceeding height, largeness, curious workman-ship even from bottom to the highest pinnacles top, it exceeds any that hitherto I have seen, and a kind of wonder it is to see how strangely it gages when the bells are rung, being six heavy bells. I desire it may not be thought a greater vanity in me to specify a good ring of bells, than in another in a treatise of this nature to mention a worse, namely Hinckley in Leicestershire but it seems that good rings were scarce in that county. I am sure they are not here seeing almost every parish have five or six, and the towns rather more than less.... Apparently Gerard was a reliable author, so it seems certain that St Mary's had six bells by 1633. From the extract it appears that the tower swayed considerably when the bells were rung. There are now twice the number of bells that there were then, and, unsurprisingly, the tower still sways considerably during ringing. We know little of the bells in this ring other than the third. This bell, the predecessor of the present ninth, is recorded in Ellacombe's 1874 book on Somerset bells. It was cast in 1616 by George Purdue of Taunton, who was one of a famous family of bell founders. The bell was inscribed: ANNO . DOMINI : 1616 : : G. : P : It had a diameter of 42 inches and would have sounded the note F-Sharp, as its successor does. The next bell we have any definite knowledge of is the tenor. We know from the inscription of the present bell that its predecessor was cast in 1647. The inscription of the old bell, which was reproduced on its successor, was frequently used by Robert Austen I of Compton Dundon, so the old tenor was probably by him; it would have been his largest bell. When scrapped in 1861 it was found to weight 30-1-9 including the staple of 0-1-2. Austen's bell must have replaced one existing in 1633, but unfortunately we have no details of this earlier bell. During the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries there was a notable bell foundry in Gloucester, operated by the Rudhall family. The Rudhalls produced several catalogues listing bells they had cast, and 'Taunton Magdalen Parish' appears for the first time in the 1751 catalogue. According to this catalogue two bells were supplied and as the church is not mentioned in the previous catalogue, published in 1715, we can deduce that the two bells were cast between 1715 and 1751. The present eighth bell bears the inscription and date of its predecessor, and as the inscription is one which was often used by the Rudhalls it is safe to assume that the old bell was one of those cast by them. The date, 1725, would indicate that it was cast by Abraham Rudhall II. The original bell would probably also have had his initials and stamp on it, but these have not been reproduced on the present bell. From Whitechapel's records, we know that Rudhall's bell weighed 12-1-2 including the staple of 0-1-9 when it was scrapped in 1865. The other Rudhall bell may also have been cast in 1725, or it may have been cast at some other time between 1715 and 1751. It was a predecessor of the either the seventh, tenth or eleventh. There is no way of knowing which, as the inscriptions on these bells give no clue. In 1748 the eleventh, now the oldest bell in the tower, was cast by Thomas Bilbie I, of Chewstoke. The Bilbies, like the Rudhalls, were a notable bellfounding family. Nothing is known of the bell's predecessor, although there undoubtedly was one. The bells then remained as they were for over half a century, until in 1816 the treble of the ring, the present seventh, was recast by Thomas Mears II of The Whitechapel Bell Foundry, London. As with the eleventh, we know nothing of the bell's predecessor, although we know that one existed. The next event in the history of St Mary's bells was the augmentation to eight, which occurred in 1840. The augmentation was effected in the usual manner, namely by adding two trebles to the ring. These were cast in May 1840 by Thomas Mears II, who had cast what is now the seventh twenty four years earlier. The two bells still survive, as the fifth and sixth of the present ring of twelve. At the same time, the sixth bell (of the eight) was recast. We know that it was a recast, (i.e. it replaced an older bell), but we have no definite details of this older bell other than its weight, which Whitechapel's records tell us was 15-2-18 including the 9½ lb staple. The 1840 bell survived until the 1950's, when it became cracked and was recast (details of this are given later). Its weight as supplied is not recorded, but after canon removal and tuning in 1885 it weighed 15-2-9 and had a diameter of 44½" In 1858 the tower of St Mary's was judged to be unsafe, and was completely demolished. The tenor bell, which was cracked, was sent to The Whitechapel Bell Foundry, where it was recast in 1861 by George Mears & Co. The new bell, as supplied, weighed 31-1-14 and cost £79-8-3. The weight has since been reduced by canon removal and tuning. Work on building the new tower, which is a facsimile of its predecessor, commenced immediately (architects George Gilbert Scott and Benjamin Ferrey) but whilst the church was awaiting its completion they needed bells to summon the faithful to worship. The problem was solved by constructing a wooden belfry over the south porch, into which were hung (for chiming only) the three smallest bells of the octave, the present fifth, sixth and seventh. The remaining four bells were stored pending completion of the tower. The new tower was finished in 1862 and a local man was given the contract to supply a new bell frame and hang the eight bells (the tenor had by this time returned from the foundry). The work was done immediately, and the new tower was opened amid much rejoicing on 8th September 1862. Further work was necessary in 1865, when the present 8th bell was cast. Details of its predecessor have already been given. The new bell cost £26-15-7. Apparently the 1862 bell hanger didn't do a very good job, as within ten years the bells had become unringable. They remained so for a couple of years, at which point Taylor's of Loughborough were called in to make recommendations. However, in the event the parish ignored the recommendations made, and strengthened the existing bell frame and rehung the bells. This patch up job lasted little more than ten years. The beams supporting the bell frame sunk, and the bells again became unringable. Following this, it was decided to accept expert advice, and the Loughborough firm of Taylor was again called in. John William Taylor, head of the firm, advised the removal of the old bellframe and fittings, as any more money spent on them would be wasted. This work was carried out in 1885, and in addition to the bell frame and fittings the four supporting beams wee also removed. These were in pairs, one set running east-west and the other north-south. They were all considerably weakened at the centre. The beams were replaced by two large RSJs, and on these the new bell frame was built. This was typical of the type constructed by Taylor's at that time, consisting of an oak foundation, cast iron high-sided 'A' frames, made at Loughborough, and oak heads. A surviving example of this type of frame can be seen at St Cuthbert's church, Wells. The ten ringing bells were accommodated on one level, with the four chiming bells in a smaller, chiming-scale, cast iron high-sided 'A' frame supported on two RSJs above the ringing bells. The three surviving chiming bells are still hanging in this frame. Before being hung in the new frame, the bells were taken to Loughborough for tuning. Unfortunately the oldest bell, the fifth of the octave, was found to be so flat that it couldn't be satisfactorily tuned to match the other bells, so it had to be recast. When this was done, a mistake was made in copying the date of the old bell onto the new one. '1816' was given, instead of '1616'. There were also six new bells cast at this time. Two of these were trebles to augment the ring to ten bells. The other four were for the new tune playing mechanism (the old tune playing mechanism and clock having been removed along with the old bell frame), and were hung for chiming only. Three of these four bells still exist. They are a sharp fifth, a flat sixth and a sharp ninth, so they sound the note a semitone sharp of the fifth, flat of the sixth and sharp of the ninth respectively. The other bell supplied at this time was equivalent in note to the present second. It was inscribed: J : TAYLOR AND C^o. FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 1885. / PRESENTED BY WILFRED G. MARSHALL, ESQUIRE. / SAMUEL ADAMS M.A. VICAR. / CHARLES PAULL E.R. YOUNG ARTHUR STEEVENS CHURCHWARDENS / FEBRUARY 1885. The bell had a diameter of 27½", weighed 5-3-6 and sounded the note F-Sharp. It was recast into the present second in 1922. In 1922 the bells were augmented to twelve, the present number. Initially, it seemed as if this would not go ahead as the Chancellor of the Diocese was afraid that two extra bells would place too much strain on the tower. Although prepared to give permission for rehanging the existing ten bells, he refused to grant a faculty for augmentation to twelve. The church didn't accept this as final, and called in Mr G.H. Phillott of Cheltenham, a well-known ringer who was also an experienced architect. He examined the tower and gave a favourable report on the proposal for augmentation. The church re-submitted for a faculty, backed up by this expert opinion, and this time it was granted. A committee was elected to see to the work being carried out. This committee consisted of the clergy, the churchwardens, the organist and five of the ringers. The job was given to Mears & Stainbank of Whitechapel, London, and the eventual total cost was £1279-9-5. The old frame was removed and replaced with a new cast iron low sided frame, holding all twelve ringing bells on one level and supported by two pairs of RSJs, one pair running east-west, the other north-south. The frame is really positioned too high in the tower, which is not particularly strong. The Whitechapel foundry (along with Taylor's and Gillett and Johnston, who also quoted) recommended hanging the bells on two levels lower in the tower, but certain local 'experts' who thought they knew better insisted that the bells all be hung on one level. The only way this could be accomplished was by hanging them near to the top, above the offset, where the internal dimensions of the tower are greatest. The ten ringing bells were hung into the new frame, together with the two trebles. The smallest was new, given as a memorial to four St Mary's ringers killed serving in the Great War. The second was cast from the metal of the smallest of the chiming bells. New fittings were provided for all twelve bells. The three larger chiming bells were not rehung, and to this day are still hung 'dead' in their framework above the ringing bells. The brass barrel type chiming machine, installed in 1885, was retained when the bells were rehung and augmented, but has been modernised since. The wires operating the hammers were replaced about thirty years ago by an electro-pneumatic piston on each hammer, operated by a compressor installed in the middle chamber of the tower. Ten years or so ago the chiming machine was replaced by a computerised unit, manufactured in Holland and housed in the vestry. Parts of the old machine remain in the middle chamber of the tower. All fifteen bells are used for playing tunes and imitating change ringing, and the Westminster quarters are struck on the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 8th, with the tenor being the hour bell. In the 1950's the tenth bell became cracked due to the action of the chiming hammer. It was recast in 1955, with the same inscription, by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. The old bell had a diameter of 44½" and weighed 15-2-9. Only minor works to the bells have been carried out since the tenth was recast. These have included the replacement of all the clapper assemblies during the 1980s/90s, the tenor initially by Robert Parker using Whitechapel components, and the front 11 subsequently by Tim Collins using Taylor components. Most recently, the heavily corroded residual roots of the former cast-in crown staple were removed from the 11th by Nicholson Engineering in 2000. Sources Asquith, Ven. W. H. 1908. The Church of St Mary Magdalene, Taunton, 1508 - 1908. Alfred E. Goodman (E. Goodman and Son), The Phoenix Press, Taunton. Dunning, Robert. 1996. Fifty Somerset Churches. Somerset Books, Tiverton Ellacombe, Rev H. T. 1874. The Church Bells in the Towers and Turrets of all the Parish Churches of Somersetshire. Published in the Transactions of the Exeter Architectural and Archaeological Society for 1874. Gerard, Thomas. 1633. The Particular Description of the County of Somerset. Taylor's foundry records. The Ringing World. Article on p.681 of the issue dated October 27th 1922 and article on pp. 557-8 of the issue dated July 19th 1968. Walters, H. B. c.1922.Church Bells of Somerset. Unpublished manuscript lodged in the Somerset Record Office. Whitechapel foundry records. Acknowledgements Thanks are due to the following, who have helped in the preparation of this history: David Bromwich, (Taunton Local History Librarian); Dr John Eisel, (Librarian of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers); Jed Flatters and Andrew Higson (Taylor's Bellfoundry, Loughborough); Matthew Higby (Bellhanger); Alan Hughes (Director of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry); Sam Lander (Local Ringer); George Massey (DAC Bells Adviser and Bell Historian); Chris Pickford F.S.A. (Bell Historian). Last Updated 21st May 2003. This article is based on the text of a pamphlet about the bells which I wrote for sale in the church several years ago. The information has been rearranged, expanded and illustrations added for the purpose of this web site. Any comments, queries or suggestions should be sent to .

The Bells of St Mary Magdalene, Taunton, Somerset

Compiled by David Bryant

St Mary's is the principal parish church of Taunton, and its highly ornate perpendicular tower, 163½' high to the top of the pinnacles, is one of the best-known examples of the exuberant Somerset towers financed by the prosperity created by the wool trade. The tower was in fact rebuilt in 1858-62, but is an exact copy of its predecessor. The church itself is also mostly perpendicular, and although dwarfed by its massive tower is nevertheless a large building. In 1993 a new extension, housing a new vestry, meeting room and toilets, was added onto the north-west corner of the building (architect Michael Stancliffe), this being an excellent example of a successful modern addition to a highly important church.

The western tower contains twelve bells hung for ringing plus three accidental (semitone) bells hung for chiming. Details are as follows:

Ringing Bells

Treble

inscription band: M & S. LONDON. 1922. (Whitechapel foundry mark)
waist: TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF / HARRY VAN TRUMP / WILLIAM ALBERT FOWLER / WILLIAM FUDGE / SIDNEY ARCHIBALD PHILLIPS / MEMBERS OF THE ST. MARY'S GUILD OF RINGERS / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN / THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918 / THIS BELL WAS PRESENTED BY HENRY JOSEPH VAN TRUMP. J.P.
(26 13/16", 5-3-7½, A^b)

2nd

inscription band: MEARS & STAINBANK, FOUNDERS, LONDON. 1922. (Whitechapel foundry mark)
(28 14/16", 5-3-26, G^b)

3rd

inscription band:
J : TAYLOR AND C^O. FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 1885.
waist: PRESENTED BY JOHN MARSHALL, ESQUIRE, OF BELMONT TAUNTON. / SAMUEL ADAMS, VICAR. / CHARLES PAULL / E.R.YOUNG / ARTHUR STEEVENS / CHURCHWARDENS.
(28 3/4", 6½ cwt approx., F)

4th

inscription band:
J : TAYLOR AND C^O. FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 1885.
waist: PRESENTED BY JOHN MARSHALL, ESQUIRE, OF BELMONT TAUNTON. / SAMUEL ADAMS. VICAR. / CHARLES PAULL / E.R.YOUNG / ARTHUR STEEVENS / CHURCHWARDENS.
(30 15/16", 7½ cwt approx., E^b)

5th

inscription band: THOMAS MEARS FOUNDER. LONDON
waist: PURCHASED & PLACED IN THIS TOWER OF / S^T MARY MAGDALEN TAUNTON. BY VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIPTION. A.D. 1840 / HENRY BADCOCK / ROBERT HEARN / JOHN TURLE / CHURCHWARDENS / THE PRAISES OF THE GOD OF GODS WE SING / THE BIRTH AND CORONATION OF THE KING
(33 3/8", 7-3-11, D^b)

6th

inscription band: THOMAS MEARS FOUNDER. LONDON
waist: PURCHASED & PLACED IN THIS TOWER OF / S^T MARY MAGDALEN TAUNTON. BY VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIPTION. A.D. 1840 / HENRY BADCOCK / ROBERT HEARN / JOHN TURLE / CHURCHWARDENS / WE CELEBRATE THE HOLY FESTAL DAY / AND MARRIAGE RITES DEMAND OUR MERRY LAY
(33 5/16", 7-0-5, C)

7th

inscription band: T. MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1816W. LEVERSEDGE. C. SUTTON. M. HAVILAND
C ^H. WARDENS.
(37½" [skirted], 10-3-9, B^b)

8th

inscription band: PEACE AND GOOD NEIGHBOVRHOOD 1725
waist: Recast By G. mears & Co. London 1865.
(39 7/8", 11-3-9, A^b)

9th

inscription band: .TAYLOR OF LOUGHBOROUGH CAST ME FROM THE OLD BELL IN THIS TOWER BEARING DATE 1816.
waist: SAMUEL ADAMS. VICAR / C. PAULL / E.R. YOUNG / ARTHUR STEEVENS / CHURCHWARDENS.
(42 3/8", 13½ cwt approx., G^b)

10th

inscription band: THOMAS MEARS, FOUNDER. LONDON
Waist: PURCHASED AND PLACED IN THIS TOWER / OF ST MARY MAGDALEN TAUNTON / BY VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIPTION. A.D. 1840 / HENRY BADCOCK / JOHN TURLE / ROBERT HEARN / CHURCHWARDENS / WE CALL THE PEOPLE AND CONVENE THE PRIEST, / AND FROM THE BODY MOURN THE SOULS RELEASE / RECAST 1955 / MEARS (Whitechapel foundry mark) LONDON
(45", 14-2-15, F)

11th

upper inscription band: M^r IOHN WHITMASH M^r RVFUS LANGLY M^r IOHN STANDERWICK CHURCH WARDENS 1748 (Bilbie foundry mark)
lower inscription band: T (rose) BILBIE CAST MEE (Bilbie foundry mark) (rose)
(50 3/8", 21-1-17, E^b)

Tenor

inscription band: ANNO DOMINI. 1861. DURING THE REBUILDING OF THE TOWER OF TAUNTON S^T. MARY MAGDALENE. / GEORGE MEARS & CO OF LONDON MADE ME FROM METAL OF THE OLD BELL WHICH WAS CAST IN 1647 AND BORE THIS LEGEND
waist: COME WHEN I CALL TO SERVE GOD ALL / I SOUND TO BEID THE SICKE REPENT IN HOPE OF LIFE WHEN BREATH IS SPENT / W.R. CLARK VICAR / FREDERICK MAY / F.W. TODD / HENRY LIDDON / CHURCH WARDENS 1861
(57 11/16", 29-3-20, D^b)

Chiming Bells

Sharp 5th

inscription band: J : TAYLOR AND C^O. FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 1885.
waist: PRESENTED BY / S.C. ALLSOPP. ESQUIRE. M.P. FOR TAUNTON / SAMUEL ADAMS M.A. VICAR / CHARLES PAULL / EDWARD R. YOUNG / ARTHUR STEEVENS / CHURCHWARDENS / FEBRUARY 1885
(32 3/8", 7-3-0, D)

Flat 6th

inscription band: J : TAYLOR AND C^O. BELLFOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 1885.
waist: PRESENTED BY JOHN MARSHALL, ESQUIRE, / OF BELMONT, TAUNTON. / SAMUEL ADAMS. VICAR. / CHARLES PAULL / E.R. YOUNG / ARTHUR STEEVENS / CHURCHWARDENS.
(34½", 8-3-6, B)

Sharp 9th

Bells, framework and fittings

The 4th The 11th is by Thomas Bilbie I of Chewstoke, the 3rd, 4th and 9th are by Taylor's of Loughborough, and the remaining bells all from the Whitechapel Bellfoundry in London. The treble, 2nd and 10th were cast with flat tops, and the canons have been removed from the remainder of the ringing bells. The three accidentals have angular canons of traditional layout. The profiles of the bells vary widely across the ring, with the majority being fairly short waisted except for the 3rd and 4th, which are very long waisted and have high, domed crowns. The weights of the 3rd, 4th and 9th as supplied were 6-3-16, 7-3-23 and 14-0-20 respectively, but these bells have not been weighed since the removal of their canons in 1922, and will now be approximately half a hundredweight lighter. Whitechapel's records indicate that 2-0-21 of old canons were received as part payment for the 1922 work. This will include the canons of the 3rd, 4th and 9th, and at least one and possibly two other bells, but which these are is unknown. Therefore, the weights given for the back ten (except for the recast 10th) may not be accurate, as the bells have not been weighed since they were tuned and rehung by Taylor's in 1885.

The twelve ringing bells are hung in a cast-iron lowside frame all on one level. The frame is by The Whitechapel Bellfoundry, 1922. The three accidentals hang in a chiming framework supported on two RSJs above the ringing bells, consisting of chiming-scale high-sided 'A' frames, installed with the bells by Taylor's in 1885.

The twelve ringing bells are hung from cast iron hollow-box section headstocks with cast-in steel gudgeons. The nine smaller bells swing in self-aligning ball bearings, the back three having roller bearings. All twelve have traditional wooden wheels and stays. The fittings are by Whitechapel and date from 1922 with the exception of the wheel of the 8th which was replaced some years ago after it became broken in an accident with the chiming hammer. The clappers are all of the SG cast iron type, hanging from independent staples. The tenor's clapper is a counterbalanced type by Whitechapel, dating from the mid 1980s and fitted by Robert Parker. The clappers to the front eleven are by Taylor's, dating from the mid 1990s and fitted by Tim Collins. The three accidentals are fitted with elm headstocks and strap gudgeons, these resting in cast iron retainer plates bolted to the cross bars of the 'A' frames. The fittings of these three bells are all by Taylor's and date from 1885.

All fifteen bells are fitted with electro-pneumatic chiming hammers, the air for these being supplied by a compressor housed in the middle chamber of the the tower, between the ringing and bell chambers. The hammers are controlled by a computerised unit housed in the vestry. This was manufactured in Holland ten years or so ago, and replaced a brass barrel type tune player, parts of which can still be seen in the middle chamber of the tower.

History

The early history of the bells in the beautiful tower of St Mary's is, unfortunately, rather vague and full of doubts and unproven possibilities. The church, being a significant one, probably possessed six bells from medieval times, but there is no proof of this. The first definite evidence we have of there being six bells dates from 1633. In this year a book entitled 'The Particular Description of the County of Somerset', by Thomas Gerard of Trent, was published. From this the following passage is taken (the spelling has been modernised in many places):

The church of this town (for they have but one, but it seems to have two by reason of a parish joins so close unto it that it seems part of the town), is exceeding large and so it had need, somewhat low built, but of its breadth that within a few feet it equals St Paul's in London, which is the cause they have sustained the roof with four ranks of pillars, but what the church wants in height the bell tower at the west end hath with advantage, for for exceeding height, largeness, curious workman-ship even from bottom to the highest pinnacles top, it exceeds any that hitherto I have seen, and a kind of wonder it is to see how strangely it gages when the bells are rung, being six heavy bells. I desire it may not be thought a greater vanity in me to specify a good ring of bells, than in another in a treatise of this nature to mention a worse, namely Hinckley in Leicestershire but it seems that good rings were scarce in that county. I am sure they are not here seeing almost every parish have five or six, and the towns rather more than less....

Apparently Gerard was a reliable author, so it seems certain that St Mary's had six bells by 1633. From the extract it appears that the tower swayed considerably when the bells were rung. There are now twice the number of bells that there were then, and, unsurprisingly, the tower still sways considerably during ringing. We know little of the bells in this ring other than the third. This bell, the predecessor of the present ninth, is recorded in Ellacombe's 1874 book on Somerset bells. It was cast in 1616 by George Purdue of Taunton, who was one of a famous family of bell founders. The bell was inscribed:

ANNO . DOMINI : 1616 : : G. : P :

It had a diameter of 42 inches and would have sounded the note F-Sharp, as its successor does.

The next bell we have any definite knowledge of is the tenor. We know from the inscription of the present bell that its predecessor was cast in 1647. The inscription of the old bell, which was reproduced on its successor, was frequently used by Robert Austen I of Compton Dundon, so the old tenor was probably by him; it would have been his largest bell. When scrapped in 1861 it was found to weight 30-1-9 including the staple of 0-1-2. Austen's bell must have replaced one existing in 1633, but unfortunately we have no details of this earlier bell.

During the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries there was a notable bell foundry in Gloucester, operated by the Rudhall family. The Rudhalls produced several catalogues listing bells they had cast, and 'Taunton Magdalen Parish' appears for the first time in the 1751 catalogue. According to this catalogue two bells were supplied and as the church is not mentioned in the previous catalogue, published in 1715, we can deduce that the two bells were cast between 1715 and 1751. The present eighth bell bears the inscription and date of its predecessor, and as the inscription is one which was often used by the Rudhalls it is safe to assume that the old bell was one of those cast by them. The date, 1725, would indicate that it was cast by Abraham Rudhall II. The original bell would probably also have had his initials and stamp on it, but these have not been reproduced on the present bell. From Whitechapel's records, we know that Rudhall's bell weighed 12-1-2 including the staple of 0-1-9 when it was scrapped in 1865. The other Rudhall bell may also have been cast in 1725, or it may have been cast at some other time between 1715 and 1751. It was a predecessor of the either the seventh, tenth or eleventh. There is no way of knowing which, as the inscriptions on these bells give no clue.

The 7th In 1748 the eleventh, now the oldest bell in the tower, was cast by Thomas Bilbie I, of Chewstoke. The Bilbies, like the Rudhalls, were a notable bellfounding family. Nothing is known of the bell's predecessor, although there undoubtedly was one. The bells then remained as they were for over half a century, until in 1816 the treble of the ring, the present seventh, was recast by Thomas Mears II of The Whitechapel Bell Foundry, London. As with the eleventh, we know nothing of the bell's predecessor, although we know that one existed.

The next event in the history of St Mary's bells was the augmentation to eight, which occurred in 1840. The augmentation was effected in the usual manner, namely by adding two trebles to the ring. These were cast in May 1840 by Thomas Mears II, who had cast what is now the seventh twenty four years earlier. The two bells still survive, as the fifth and sixth of the present ring of twelve. At the same time, the sixth bell (of the eight) was recast. We know that it was a recast, (i.e. it replaced an older bell), but we have no definite details of this older bell other than its weight, which Whitechapel's records tell us was 15-2-18 including the 9½ lb staple. The 1840 bell survived until the 1950's, when it became cracked and was recast (details of this are given later). Its weight as supplied is not recorded, but after canon removal and tuning in 1885 it weighed 15-2-9 and had a diameter of 44½"

The tower under reconstruction. Note
the remporary timber tower over the south porch in which three of the bells were hung
whilst the tork was in progress In 1858 the tower of St Mary's was judged to be unsafe, and was completely demolished. The tenor bell, which was cracked, was sent to The Whitechapel Bell Foundry, where it was recast in 1861 by George Mears & Co. The new bell, as supplied, weighed 31-1-14 and cost £79-8-3. The weight has since been reduced by canon removal and tuning. Work on building the new tower, which is a facsimile of its predecessor, commenced immediately (architects George Gilbert Scott and Benjamin Ferrey) but whilst the church was awaiting its completion they needed bells to summon the faithful to worship. The problem was solved by constructing a wooden belfry over the south porch, into which were hung (for chiming only) the three smallest bells of the octave, the present fifth, sixth and seventh. The remaining four bells were stored pending completion of the tower. The new tower was finished in 1862 and a local man was given the contract to supply a new bell frame and hang the eight bells (the tenor had by this time returned from the foundry). The work was done immediately, and the new tower was opened amid much rejoicing on 8th September 1862. Further work was necessary in 1865, when the present 8th bell was cast. Details of its predecessor have already been given. The new bell cost £26-15-7.

Part of the inscription on the
present (1861) tenor bell Apparently the 1862 bell hanger didn't do a very good job, as within ten years the bells had become unringable. They remained so for a couple of years, at which point Taylor's of Loughborough were called in to make recommendations. However, in the event the parish ignored the recommendations made, and strengthened the existing bell frame and rehung the bells. This patch up job lasted little more than ten years. The beams supporting the bell frame sunk, and the bells again became unringable. Following this, it was decided to accept expert advice, and the Loughborough firm of Taylor was again called in. John William Taylor, head of the firm, advised the removal of the old bellframe and fittings, as any more money spent on them would be wasted. This work was carried out in 1885, and in addition to the bell frame and fittings the four supporting beams wee also removed. These were in pairs, one set running east-west and the other north-south. They were all considerably weakened at the centre. The beams were replaced by two large RSJs, and on these the new bell frame was built. This was typical of the type constructed by Taylor's at that time, consisting of an oak foundation, cast iron high-sided 'A' frames, made at Loughborough, and oak heads. A surviving example of this type of frame can be seen at St Cuthbert's church, Wells. The ten ringing bells were accommodated on one level, with the four chiming bells in a smaller, chiming-scale, cast iron high-sided 'A' frame supported on two RSJs above the ringing bells. The three surviving chiming bells are still hanging in this frame.

The 9th Before being hung in the new frame, the bells were taken to Loughborough for tuning. Unfortunately the oldest bell, the fifth of the octave, was found to be so flat that it couldn't be satisfactorily tuned to match the other bells, so it had to be recast. When this was done, a mistake was made in copying the date of the old bell onto the new one. '1816' was given, instead of '1616'. There were also six new bells cast at this time. Two of these were trebles to augment the ring to ten bells. The other four were for the new tune playing mechanism (the old tune playing mechanism and clock having been removed along with the old bell frame), and were hung for chiming only. Three of these four bells still exist. They are a sharp fifth, a flat sixth and a sharp ninth, so they sound the note a semitone sharp of the fifth, flat of the sixth and sharp of the ninth respectively.

The other bell supplied at this time was equivalent in note to the present second. It was inscribed:

J : TAYLOR AND C^o. FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 1885. / PRESENTED BY WILFRED G. MARSHALL, ESQUIRE. / SAMUEL ADAMS M.A. VICAR. / CHARLES PAULL E.R. YOUNG ARTHUR STEEVENS CHURCHWARDENS / FEBRUARY 1885.

The bell had a diameter of 27½", weighed 5-3-6 and sounded the note F-Sharp. It was recast into the present second in 1922.

In 1922 the bells were augmented to twelve, the present number. Initially, it seemed as if this would not go ahead as the Chancellor of the Diocese was afraid that two extra bells would place too much strain on the tower. Although prepared to give permission for rehanging the existing ten bells, he refused to grant a faculty for augmentation to twelve. The church didn't accept this as final, and called in Mr G.H. Phillott of Cheltenham, a well-known ringer who was also an experienced architect. He examined the tower and gave a favourable report on the proposal for augmentation. The church re-submitted for a faculty, backed up by this expert opinion, and this time it was granted. A committee was elected to see to the work being carried out. This committee consisted of the clergy, the churchwardens, the organist and five of the ringers. The job was given to Mears & Stainbank of Whitechapel, London, and the eventual total cost was £1279-9-5.

The old frame was removed and replaced with a new cast iron low sided frame, holding all twelve ringing bells on one level and supported by two pairs of RSJs, one pair running east-west, the other north-south. The frame is really positioned too high in the tower, which is not particularly strong. The Whitechapel foundry (along with Taylor's and Gillett and Johnston, who also quoted) recommended hanging the bells on two levels lower in the tower, but certain local 'experts' who thought they knew better insisted that the bells all be hung on one level. The only way this could be accomplished was by hanging them near to the top, above the offset, where the internal dimensions of the tower are greatest.

The treble The ten ringing bells were hung into the new frame, together with the two trebles. The smallest was new, given as a memorial to four St Mary's ringers killed serving in the Great War. The second was cast from the metal of the smallest of the chiming bells. New fittings were provided for all twelve bells. The three larger chiming bells were not rehung, and to this day are still hung 'dead' in their framework above the ringing bells. The brass barrel type chiming machine, installed in 1885, was retained when the bells were rehung and augmented, but has been modernised since. The wires operating the hammers were replaced about thirty years ago by an electro-pneumatic piston on each hammer, operated by a compressor installed in the middle chamber of the tower. Ten years or so ago the chiming machine was replaced by a computerised unit, manufactured in Holland and housed in the vestry. Parts of the old machine remain in the middle chamber of the tower. All fifteen bells are used for playing tunes and imitating change ringing, and the Westminster quarters are struck on the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 8th, with the tenor being the hour bell.

In the 1950's the tenth bell became cracked due to the action of the chiming hammer. It was recast in 1955, with the same inscription, by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. The old bell had a diameter of 44½" and weighed 15-2-9.

The 11th, dismantled for staple root removal Only minor works to the bells have been carried out since the tenth was recast. These have included the replacement of all the clapper assemblies during the 1980s/90s, the tenor initially by Robert Parker using Whitechapel components, and the front 11 subsequently by Tim Collins using Taylor components. Most recently, the heavily corroded residual roots of the former cast-in crown staple were removed from the 11th by Nicholson Engineering in 2000.

Sources

Asquith, Ven. W. H. 1908. The Church of St Mary Magdalene, Taunton, 1508 - 1908. Alfred E. Goodman (E. Goodman and Son), The Phoenix Press, Taunton.

Dunning, Robert. 1996. Fifty Somerset Churches. Somerset Books, Tiverton

Ellacombe, Rev H. T. 1874. The Church Bells in the Towers and Turrets of all the Parish Churches of Somersetshire. Published in the Transactions of the Exeter Architectural and Archaeological Society for 1874.

Gerard, Thomas. 1633. The Particular Description of the County of Somerset.

Taylor's foundry records.

The Ringing World. Article on p.681 of the issue dated October 27th 1922 and article on pp. 557-8 of the issue dated July 19th 1968.

Walters, H. B. c.1922.Church Bells of Somerset. Unpublished manuscript lodged in the Somerset Record Office.

Whitechapel foundry records.

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to the following, who have helped in the preparation of this history: David Bromwich, (Taunton Local History Librarian); Dr John Eisel, (Librarian of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers); Jed Flatters and Andrew Higson (Taylor's Bellfoundry, Loughborough); Matthew Higby (Bellhanger); Alan Hughes (Director of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry); Sam Lander (Local Ringer); George Massey (DAC Bells Adviser and Bell Historian); Chris Pickford F.S.A. (Bell Historian).

Last Updated 21st May 2003. This article is based on the text of a pamphlet about the bells which I wrote for sale in the church several years ago. The information has been rearranged, expanded and illustrations added for the purpose of this web site. Any comments, queries or suggestions should be sent to
.