THE CHURCH BELLS OF DORSET. I 25 



From this honest and true nonagenarian we have a considerable 

 group round Dorchester — the third at Stratton, 1658 ; the fourth 

 and treble at Charminster, 1661 and 1663 ; the fourth at 

 Bradford Peverell, 1674; the fourth at Compton Valence, 1676 ; 

 the bell at Woodsford, 1693 ! the second at Stratton, 1695 ; and 

 the second at Dorchester All Saints', 1697. To these may very 

 likely be added the recast bells at Frampton. It is quite 

 clear that we want more information from Salisbury, Taunton, 

 Closworth, and elsewhere in Somerset and Wilts about the men 

 who wrought in these towns. The six at Frampton were cast 

 by T. Cockey in 1694. We know that William of the same name 

 was at Frome from 1 7 15-1747, ''••' and the maker of the Frampton 

 ring may have been his father. We get no information from 

 EUacombe's Church Bells of Somerset. Perhaps some Frome 

 archaeologist will come to our help. Robert Browne, Esq., the 

 donor, is known to Dorset History. Thomas Purdue and T. 

 Cockey have carried us a little down the historical stream, and 

 we find ourselves in the eighteenth century. 



Here our chief subject is the company in the grand old tower 

 of S. Peter's, Dorchester, which in the return of 1550 contained 

 five bells. The equinox of the autumn of 1734 witnessed a 

 recasting of the bell-metal from S. Peter's ; and another witness 

 was Mr. Renaldo Knapton, concerning whom information is 

 needed. From the inscription he must have been an inportant 

 local magnate. The founder was Thomas Bilbie, and his 

 foundry may have been either at Chewstoke or Cullompton. 

 Sixteen 5'ears later two trebles at S. Peter's completed the 

 octave, and the second of the two was recast in 1808 by another 

 Thomas Bilbie at Cullompton. Thus we get in one tower these 

 several dates for one name, Thomas Bilbie — one name, but not 

 one person. 



At iMartinstovvn the bell is dated 1746, with the initials of 

 William Knight, stated to have been a founder at Blandford. 

 Here again we shall be glad of local help. 



* Lukis, p. 16. 



