WESTMINSTER
ST MARGARET OF ANTIOCH

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A ring of 10 bells
Tenor: 26-0-26 in D
Frame: 1739 Robert Catlin
Retuning: Not subsequently retuned (?)

Tower stages:
1. Ground floor
2. Spiral staircase (in SE corner) to music room
3. Same staircase to ringing room
4. Spiral staircase (internal timber NE corner) to intermediate chamber
5. Same staircase to belfry
Grid Ref: TQ301795
Peals

DETAILS OF THE BELLS

Bell

Weight

Diameter

Note

Cast

 Founder

1

 5-2-8 28¼" F sharp 1939 Gillett & Johnston

2

 5-3-26 29½" E 1939 Gillett & Johnston

3

 6-2-8 311/16" D 1939 Gillett & Johnston

4

 6-3-18 32" C sharp 1939 Gillett & Johnston

5

 7-3-24 34" B 1739 Samuel Knight

6

 9-1-8½ 36⅝" A 1939 Gillett & Johnston

7

 11-1-13 39½" G 1739 Robert Catlin

8

 12-0-27 41¾" F sharp 1773 Thomas Janaway

9

 14-1-19
(supplied 16-2-12)		 45⅜" E 1834 Thomas Mears

10

 26-0-26 5115/16" D 1939 Gillett & Johnston

EARLIER BELLS
A set of 3, augmented to 5 in 1516, to 6 in early 16th Century and later to 8.  This 8 and its recasts are as follows:

Bell

Cast

 Founder Fate
1 (of 8) 1739 Samuel Knight Recast 1939 by Gillett & Johnston
2 (of 8) 1739 Samuel Knight Recast 1939 by Gillett & Johnston
3 (of 8) 1739 Samuel Knight Still there
4 (of 8) 1739 Samuel Knight Recast 1939 by Gillett & Johnston
5 (of 8) 1739 Robert Catlin Still there
6 (of 8) 1739 Samuel Knight Recast 1773 by Thomas Janaway
7 (of 8) 1739 Samuel Knight Recast 1834 by Thomas Mears
8 (of 8) 1739 Samuel Knight Recast 1939 by Gillett & Johnston
8 (of 8) 1761 Samuel Knight Recast 1939 by Gillett & Johnston
1 (of 10) 1761 Lester & Pack Recast 1939 by Gillett & Johnston
2 (of 10) 1761 Lester & Pack Recast 1939 by Gillett & Johnston

The ring of 8 in 1739 were as follows (as recorded by Trollope)
1.
S K 1739
 
2.
S K 1739
 
3.
S K 1739
 
4.
S K 1739
 
5. ROBERT CATLIN FECIT 1789 [border]
 
6. [inscription unknown - probably as treble]
 
7. [inscription unknown - probably as treble]
 
8. [inscription unknown]
 

The 1761 inscriptions (according to Trollope):
1. LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1761
 
2. LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1761
 
10. DR THOS WILLSON MINESTER  SAML PEIRSON & WM IELFE CH:WARDENS  LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT (shield)
 
 

HISTORY

In the reign of Edward I, the church was rebuilt.  The tower was at the west end and is said to have contained 3 bells.
1516 The foundation stone of a new tower was laid, which was also to be a porch.  The three bells were augmented to five.  One was given by Master Pomfrey, and for the second, gifts of money and metal were collected in the parish.  The old metal collected was "by the Commandment of the worshipful of the parish, delivered to Williams Smith, founder, in part payment of the new bell, two brasses and a clapper)."
1527 Record of 5 bells in the Churchwardens' Account giving their weights: 500 lbs, 621 lbs, 906 lbs, 1010 lbs, and 1613 lbs (total 4702 lbs).  There was also a saunce bell.
1565 The 2nd (of 5) was recast at the expense of Mr Fisher, the Churchwarden.
1592 A new ring was made by Valentine Trevor, but the bells were "very falsely and deceitfully made" [CW's accounts].
1593 The bells were replaced by Robert Mot.  The Accounts state that the tenor was 2100½ cwt.
1597 The 4th (of 5) was recast by Robert Mot.  Some time in the next decade or so the ring was augmented to six.
1670 Two new bells were cast by Mr Darbie, costing £47.10.0.  Trollope thinks this would have been John Darbie from Ipswich.  He also believes that this represents an augmentation to 8, although in 1714, only 6 bells are noted.
1714 Record of "six large bells" [Paterson].
1739 A ring of 8 was cast by Samuel Knight just before his death.  The job was completed by his foreman and successor, Robert Catlin (the 5th bearing his name).
1761 The tenor was recast and two trebles were added by Lester & Pack.
1773 The 8th (of 10) was recast by Thomas Janaway.
1834 The 9th (of 10) was recast by Thomas Mears.
1939 Six of the bells were recast and rehung in the old frame by Gillett & Johnston.