| Location | Belfry. |
|---|---|
| Diameter (in cm) | 79.38 |
| Actual weight (in kilograms) | 310 |
| Bellfounder | MEARS, THOMAS II |
| Casting year | 1843 |
| Description |
The bell has a simple inscription, in the third, between four cords, which mentions its manufacturer, the place and the year in which it was made: "THOMAS MEARS FOUNDER LONDON 1843". In the midfoot, there are three equidistant cords. Finally, in the middle foot, there are two cords. |
|
(Two belts). (Inscription): “THOMAS MEARS FOUNDER LONDON 1843”. (Two belts). | |
| Half foot (MP) | (Three belts). |
| Foot | (Two belts). |
| Prime | C#5 -4 |
| Hum | D3 -6 |
| Third | E5 -19 |
| Quint | G#5 -37 |
| Octave | C#6 -25 |
| Traditional bell ringing | Change ringing, Muffles: in funerals, Holy Week, All Saints’ Day. |
| Current bell ringing | Change ringing, Muffles: in funerals, Holy Week, All Saints’ Day. |
| Yoke | Iron JOHN TAYLOR |
| Current Status | Excellent. The bell has its traditional features, including the wheel, rope, stop, stay, and top pole of the stop. |
| Mechanisms to ring | Iron clapper, wooden wheel and rope. |
| Interventions |
The bell was cast in 1843, along with all the bells made by its manufacturer, for the tower. In 1844, specifically on January 13, the bell was billed next to the Treble, in Whitechapel. In 1950, the bell was re-tuned along with all the others, by Whitechapel Bell Foundry. In 1974, this bell was restored by John Taylor & Company. |
| Protection | Protected under UK heritage law due to the church being under the National Heritage List for England as a Grade II listed building |
| Assessment | Interesting bell, can be recast in case of breaking. |
| Installation | The installation is traditional in relation to the place, therefore it must be preserved, to protect the cultural, artistic and historical values of the instrument. |
| Remarks |
The information in the technical data sheet was written by:
|
| Description (generated by Ollama - local AI) |
This bell, designated Bell 4th, is a significant heritage item located at St John the Evangelist Church in Sidcup, Royal Borough of Bexley. It was founded by Thomas Mears in 1843. The inscription clearly records the founding details: "THOMAS MEARS FOUNDER LONDON 1843." The bell is noted for its excellent state of conservation and retains all its traditional operational features, including the wheel, rope, stop, stay, and the top pole of the stop. Structurally, it features two belts. From a heritage perspective, the bell is considered interesting and valuable, as it possesses the potential to be recast should it suffer damage. Its continued existence provides a tangible link to 19th-century bell founding practices in ENGLAND. |
Authors of the documentation
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| Card editor | HERNANDO CHICO, Ulises |
| Updating | 13-03-2026 |
| 7 Pictures | |
