14 



3Ctcpto«'s 0itxv^ BcUs. 



Contributed by F. C. Hipkins, M.A. 



Barrow's big boulders, Repton's merry bells, 



Foremark's cracked pancheons, and Newlon's egg shells." 



J[^HUS 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. 



I.lewellynn 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 some 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 



It' spent at takying downe the bell 



It' payd to the Bcllfounder 



It' bestowed on the s'vants at casting of ye liell. 



It' expensys at drawing up the bell 



It' to the ryngers the xvii''' day of november 

 A.D. 1584. Recevyd of the levy for the bell 



It' of Bretby towards the bell 



It' spent at takying downe ye bell 



It' bestowed on the bell founder ... 



It Payd to Bell founder for weyght, \ 

 ie.. iiij score & ij pounds > 



Vj" IX^ c 



xvj'' 

 xxxiij^ iij' 



xvj' 

 vij" 

 xij'i 



vj" X'^ Vijd 



vj' viij 

 viij'i 



;<i 



uj" xr vuj" 



i 



