St. Clement’s New Bells
“The Bells! Bells! Bells! Those merry, merry bells” (shouted the St. Leonards Gazette, of January 5th) “which in the tower of St. Clement’s Old Church were to have rung the new years chimes, have not yet arrived from the place of their nativity; and consequently, those of our acquaintance and non acquaintance who might have been dreaming of such sweet sounds, ne’er before did greet their ears, must have experienced a disappointment to find the revel postponed to Valentine’s Day.”
The new bells arrived on the 15th of February, and workmen were at once engaged in removing the old bells and hoisting the new ones in their places.
The new peal of bells from the foundry of Naylor, Vickers & Co., of Sheffield, were finished fixing during the last week of March. The peal consisted of eight bells made of cast steel, the largest of which was 54 inches in diameter and 2,208 lbs in weight. The smallest bell was a little less than 4 cwt., and measured 30 inches in diameter. Their pitch was that of E natural, and their weight was fully a third less than would be those of bronze metal to produce the same musical tones.
The opening ceremony took place on the 3rd of April, when a company of professional ringers from Hythe, were engaged to ring the bells at intervals during the day. A favourable opinion was general(sic) expressed.
On the 18th of April, with a favourable wind and a clear sky, the new bells were distinctly heard on the West Hill at St. Leonards – a distance of two miles or more. The cost of the Bells (including incidental expenses) was £497 18s.
The new bells of St. Clement’s church were again put upon their mettle and metal on the first of June, when a party of capital ringers from Sandhurst treated the good folk of Hastings to an unusually merry peal. The bells met with general approval with the exception of the tenor (the most important one) which was condemned as having an imperfect vibration.
Special Dinners & Suppers.
The change from the old year to the new was marked by seasonable festivities. F. North, Esq., M.P. entertained a large party at dinner, including the Borough and County Magistrates, members of the Corporation &c. W. D. Lucas-Shadwell, Esq., renewed his periodical treat to his workpeople at Fairlight Hall, by giving to about 40 men in his employ 4lbs of beef to each single man, and 8lbs to each married man, and pudding in a like proportion. Messrs. Rock an(sic) Son, coach-builders, also, according to annual custom, gave the work-people in their employ a substantial supper in the factory.
Another dinner was given by F. North, Esq., on the 3rd of January to the -
