the bells

The original five bells were cast locally in Longford (Colnbrook) by Thomas Swaine in 1775. Extract from Churchwardens’ Account Book 1774: “Mr Lawrence, Expenses on going to Oxford and Salisbury, and carrying Old Bells, bringing the new from Longford, from Bell Founders, £ 6.18.9 : Smith’s Bill for Iron-work in Tower etc, £ 7. 5.0 : Bell Founder’s Bill, £175. 6.6 : Collected by a 15d rate, £110 13s 1½d.
Edward Lawrence, John Close - Churchwardens”.

A treble (the present Third) was added in 1872 as a thanks offering for the recovery of the Prince of Wales (King Edward VII) from serious illness. It was cast by Mears & Stainbank at the Whitechapel Foundry. It was dedicated by the Vicar (Rev J.S.Blunt) on St Peter’s Day 1872. The amount raised to cover the cost of the new bell and the tuning of the old was £50; the work was entrusted to Mr White of Besselsleigh, Abingdon.

In 1890, as the bells were not only unmusical but also in very bad order, it was decided to tune and re-hang the whole peal and at the same time to add two trebles and to recast the old Third (new Fifth). The work was done by Messrs Mears & Stainbank of Whitechapel, the Treble being presented by the Rev J.H.Hindson of Wraysbury, the Second by Mrs E.H.Moore (in memory of her husband Arthur Henry Moore of Thames Street, Windsor, who died Oct 21, 1884) and the rest of the money being raised by Public Subscription. The old bells were taken to London for tuning etc on Thursday September 11, 1890. The total amount of money raised for the bells was over £300.

The new bells were dedicated at a special service on 22nd December 1890 by the Bishop of Reading, the Rt. Revd. J.L.Randall. see peals. It is interesting to note that persons passed freely in and out of the Tower from the body of the Church while this Peal was rung

The bells were re-hung again in 1927 by Mears & Stainbank, thereafter the “go being perfect”. In approximately 1968, the bell frame was lowered in the tower and remounted on steel joists. In 1990, the headstock of the 2 was replaced by Whites of Appleton due to woodworm infestation, the work being paid for by a donation from Mr Len Smith of Orchard Road, Old Windsor ( owner Smith’s Nurseries where Gregory Drive is today).