Thus does a local poet compare Repton bells with those of neighbouring parishes. It is not intended to defend the comparison, for as Dogberry says, “Comparisons are odorous”! but to write an account of the bells, derived from all sources, ancient and modern.
Llewellynn Jewitt, in Vol. XIII. of the Reliquary, describing the bells of Repton, writes, “at the church in the time of Edward VI. there were iij great bells & ij small.” Unfortunately “the Churchwardens’ and Constables’ accounts of the Parish of Repton” only extend from the year 1582 to 1635. I have copied out most of the references to our bells entered in them, which will, I hope, be interesting to my readers.
Extracts from “the Churchwardens’ and Constables’ accounts of the Parish of Repton.”
| A.D. 1583. | The levy for the bell | vjˡⁱ | ixˢ | 0 |
| It’ spent at takying downe the bell | | | xvjᵈ |
| It’ payd to the Bellfounder | | xxxiijˢ | iijᵈ |
| It’ bestowed on the s’vants at casting of ye bell | | | xvjᵈ |
| It’ expensys drawing up the bell | | | vijᵈ |
| It’ to the ryngers the xviiᵗʰ day of november | | | xijᵈ |
| A.D. 1584. | Recevyd of the levy for the bell | vjˡⁱ | xˢ | vijᵈ |
| It’ of Bretby towards the bell | | vjˢ | viijᵈ |
| It’ spent at taking downe ye bell | | | viijᵈ |
| It’ bestowed on the bell founder | | | ijᵈ |
| It’ Payd to Bellfounder for weight, i.e., iiij score & ij pounds | iijˡⁱ | xiˢ | viijᵈ |
| A.D. 1585. | It’ for a bell rope for the great bell | | ijˢ | |
| It’ to John Pratt for makinge iiij newe bellropes | | vˢ | |
| It’ the day before Saynt Hew’s day for mendyng the bels, & for nayles | | | viijᵈ |
| A.D. 1586. | It’ of our ladie’s even, given to the ringers for the preservation
of our Queene | | | xijᵈ |
| Our ladie’s even, eve of the Annunciation of the Blessed
Virgin Mary (March 25th). | | | |
| Preservation of our Queene Elizabeth from the Babington Conspiracy. | | | |
| A.D. 1587. | It’ given unto the ringers uppon coronation daye | | | iijᵈ |
| A.D. 1589. | It’ for a bell rope | | ijˢ | viijᵈ |
| A.D. 1590. | It’ payde to francis Eaton for mendynge the irons aboutt the bells | | ijˢ | iijᵈ |
| A.D. 1592. | It’ payde to Ralphe Weanwryghte for trussynge the bells agyne the Coronacyon daye | | iijˢ | |
| A.D. 1600. | It’ spent in takinge downe ye beell | | | xijᵈ |
| It’ payd to John Welsh fordowne takinge hitt donne | | | vjᵈ |
| It’ spent in lodinge hitt | | | iiijᵈ |
| It’ spent in charges going with the beell to Nottingham, being towe days
and one night | | vjˢ | viijᵈ |
| It’ payd to ye bellfounder for castinge ye beell | iiijˡⁱ | xviijˢ | |
| It’ spent with him | | | ijᵈ |
| It’ payd for yookeinge ye Beell and for greysse | | ijˢ | viijᵈ |
| It’ spent uppon them that holpe with the beell | | | xᵈ |
| A.D. 1603. | It’ given to the ringers uppon New yeares daye morninge | | | vjᵈ |
| It’ given to ye ringers upon St. James daye (July 25th) | | | xijᵈ |
| It’ given to ye ringers the v daye of August | | | xijᵈ |
| A.D. 1605. | It’ payd at hanginge up ye greatte bell | | | vjᵈ |
| It’ bestowed of ye Ringers at ye first Ringinge of ye bells | | | vijᵈ |
| It’ payd for greese for ye bells | | | viijᵈ |
| A.D. 1607. | It’ given to ye Ringers uppon Christmas daye morning | | | iiijᵈ |
| A.D. 1614. | It’ towe bellclappers | | | |
| A.D. 1615. | The names of them that gave money to bye the newe beell 80 (Repton,
62. Milton, 18.) | | | |
| Sum gathered | xijˡⁱ | viijˢ | viijᵈ |
| A.D. 1623. | First paide for castinge the bell | vˡⁱ | | |
| It’ given to the Ringers at the time of Prince Charlles his
comminge forth of spaine. (Oct. 1623). | | | xijᵈ |
