Brighstone, St Mary the Virgin
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The earliest record of any bells
were in the inventories compiled by the commissioners of Henry VIII in 1536
when there were three bells plus a sanctus bell. References to the sanctus bell
are in the Parish Records until 1590 and then cease, its ultimate fate is
unknown. The Parish Records speak of casting a 'Great Bell' at Romsey in 1610,
and a 'Midle Bell' at Newport in 1613.
In 1740 the bells were recast, rehung and augmented to five. The work was done by Joshua Kipling of Portsmouth, known as a good producer of moulds but a poor designer of bells. A brass gun which was housed in a 'gun house', at one time next to the north side of the tower, is believed to have been incorporated into the bell metal at this time. The original treble (the present fourth) became cracked in 1780 and was recast by Thomas Mears in 1800. The bells were again rehung by Mears and the second bell (present fifth was recast in 1877; the inscription "SUCCESS TO THE GREAT ADMIRAL VERNON" and the impressions of the Vernon medal are thought to have been lost from the bell during this casting. In 1961 the present bells were recast and rehung and a treble was added, being the gift of Frank Cheverton in memory of his wife. On 3rd Feb 2017 two trebles were cast by Whitechapel (the penultimate day of casting before they closed, and their last major change ringing work), hung on 4th April and first rung on the 24th April; the new treble was funded by the Society for the Preservation of Isle of Wight Church Bells, the new 2nd by the local ringers and friends.
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