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An Ascent of the Tower

The Tower & Bells

Peals

2016-12-10 Spliced Surprise Major

2003-04-05 Cambridge Surprise Major

2000-10-07 Otley Surprise Major

1988-03-27 Grandsire Triples

1984-10-06 Lancashire Surprise Major

1983-04-10 Rutland Surprise Major

1980-10-25 Stedman Triples

1976-12-05 Plain Bob Major

1971-01-30 Grandsire Triples

1969-08-23 Lewisham Surprise Major

1968-12-21 Gainsborough Little Bob Major

1965-02-13 Spliced Surprise Major (10m)

1938-02-12 Cambridge Surprise Major

1931-08-27 Superlative Surprise Major

1931-04-30 Double Norwich Court Bob Major

1909-11-06 London Surprise Major

1909-02-13 Superlative Surprise Major

1908-07-11 Double Norwich Court Bob Major

1907-02-16 Real Double Norwich Court Bob Major

1905-09-02 London Surprise Major

1904-08-27 Superlative Surprise Major

1904-06-18 Superlative Surprise Major

1903-06-20 Superlative Surprise Major

1902-07-05 Stedman Triples

1901-08-13 Stedman Triples

For more information click on the title for each peal.

History

1471

Plans to build the tower were drawn up. The originator of the plan seems to have been one William Sprigg, who in 1471 desired that his money was "disposed toward the building of the bell tower in the churchyard of Lewesham." Money from wills and bequests followed over the next 14 years.

1512

The tower was completed following a bequest from William Batt to making the "vice," or stairway.

1517

John Francis left £3-6-8 to buy a bell.

1552

Record of 4 bells.

1743

A bell was cast or recast.

1766

A new ring of 8 bells was cast by Lester & Pack at Whitechapel.

1744

Rebuilding started on the church and tower by George Gibson, Junior, architect.

1777

Rebuilding was completed and the first Sunday of its opening was 7 Sept 1777. On the second Sunday since the reopening of the new church, part of the east side collapsed, hurting just one lady parishioner. The whole ring was remodeled into a heavier one with the addition of a new tenor.

1812

A clock was supplied by Moore of Clerkenwell with two 5 ft dials.

1819

Treble and 3rd recast by Thomas Mears.

1859

The 4th was recast by John Warner & Sons.

1888

The Vestry noted that "the bell" required rehanging, although it is not clear which bell, or whether it referred to all of them.

1892

Two peal boards were dedicated on 19 Mar 1892 commemorating the consecration of Dr Legge as Bishop of Lichfield, and the other of the induction of Rev. Samuel Bickersteth as his successor as Vicar of Lewisham.

1893

The bells had fallen into a poor state of repair. An appeal was launched to restore the bells and augment them to 10, as well as add an additional clock face to the tower. Money was raised for the restoration, but the plan to augment the bells never went ahead.

1894

All the bells were rehung in a new frame on one level, which was an improvement on the earlier frame which had been of oak and laid the bells out on two levels.

1896

The 2nd had become cracked and was recast by John Taylor.

1950

The bells were rehung on ball bearings by Mears & Stainbank.

1991

The tower roof was repaired.

Hear the bells being rung on 11th November 2018

Quarter Peals

2019-08-03 Bristol Surprise Major

2019-03-17 Stedman Triples

2018-11-24 St Simons Bob Triples

2018-11-18 Plain Bob Doubles