\l.i. SAINT6 BELLS. 55 



The matter appears to have been finally settled shortly after- 

 wards, for in 1 713 the entry occurs : — 



" p d when y e matter was decided with Mr Ilalton 

 " about the hell 00 : 06 : 06." 



It is now necessary to explain the discrepancy between the 

 date on the bell, and that when it is stated to have been recast. 

 Tradition says that the 1712 bell was exchanged about 70 years 

 ago for the tenor at Ashbourn, but as the whole of the bells in 

 that church bear date 1815, there seemed to be no way of clearing 

 up the matter. Reference was however made to the Ashbourn 

 parish records, and from particulars there given, we are able to 

 settle the question. Until 181 5, Ashbourn Church possessed 

 but six bells, and as the tenor appears to have been cracked 

 about that time, the question arose whether they should have it 

 recast, or have a new ring of eight bells. The parishioners 

 resolved to adopt the latter plan, and accordingly agreed with 

 Wm. Dobson, of Downham Market, in the county of Norfolk, 

 to exchange the old ring of six for a new one of eight bells. 

 The new ring was hung in October. 1815, and the old bells 

 taken away by Dobson. Fortunately the inscriptions and dates 

 on them were recorded in the books, and the fifth bell (not the 

 tenor) is described as bearing " God save the Church, 1632," 

 which we have already seen is the legend on the eighth bell now 

 in All Saints' tower. The true state of the case appears to be 

 this, that an exchange was arranged with Dobson, the parish 

 receiving the old Ashbourn fifth, and Halton's 17 12 bell being 

 handed over to him. There is no record in the books of this 

 transaction. I have made a search through most of the pub- 

 lished works on Church Bells, but cannot find that the latter 

 bell was rehung elsewhere. 



The Ashbourn Records are as follows : — 



"At a vestry meeting this day held (31st January, 1S15) pursuant to 



" the following Notice given on Sunday the 22 d day of January instant 



» "The Inhabitants of the Town are requested to attend at the Vestry 



" on Tuesday the 31 Instant at 3 oclock in the afternoon to take 



" into consideration the propriety of recasting the Great Bell, or 



"having a new peal of Eight Bells 



