Old Bells
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Original specification_

Chaddesley Corbett, S Cassian, 8 bells, Tenor 16-0-23,
Grid Ref: SO891736

The original bells were "in the steple iiij bells" _ 1552
Then there was a complete ring of six by Abraham Rudhall (Ist) in 1701, augmented by Charles and John Rudhall in 1783, the back three having been recast by then. 
The Rudhall catalogue of 1804 states that "8 bells were supplied", but does not say when. The frame is by William Greenleaf in 1905, and the bells were rehung on ball bearings in 1967 by Taylors. This is the only church (with bells) in the country with this dedication_

Bell

Founder

 Date Weight
Treble Charles & John Rudhall of Gloucester
(with floral scrolls)		 1783  
2 Charles & John Rudhall of Gloucester
(with floral scrolls)		 1783  
3 Abraham Rudhall I of Gloucester
(with vine pattern & inscription)
WHEN YOV MEE RING I SWEETLY SING		 1701  
4 Abraham Rudhall I of Gloucester
(with vine pattern & inscription with arabesque)
WE ALL TO RING GOD SAVE THE KING		 1701  
5 Abraham Rudhall I of Gloucester
(with vine pattern & inscription with arabesque)
GOD PROSPER THIS CHVRCH AND PARISH		 1701  
6 Charles & George Mears of London
MAY GOD BLESS ALL WHO I DO CALL		 1856 8   3    2
7 Charles & George Mears of London
MAY OUR SWEET CHIMES MARK HAPPY TIMES		 1856       10   2   2          
Tenor Mears & Stainbank of London
GOD SAVE THE KING		 1905 16   0  23   

The peal was tuned to the key of F

St. Cassian was one of several North Worcestershire churches which had four bells at the time of the Reformation (C.1530). The 1552 Inventory refers to them as "grete belles" and confirms that they are hung in "thee steple" or tower.

The new ring of six was made by Abraham Rudhall of Gloucester in 1701 and, shortly after the re-building of the tower in 1779, two new bells (the trebles) were added.
When a new oak frame and new fittings were installed in the tower in 1905, the old tenor was found to be cracked and it was re-cast by the foundry of Mears & Stainbank of London.

The latest major overhaul of the bell fittings was carried out in 1967 by John Taylor & Co of Loughborough.

The largest bell, with the deepest note, is called the Tenor; and its weight is the criteria by which the peal of a tower is judged.
The weight of the bells is given in the traditional English measurements of tons (t) hundredweights (cwt) quarters (q) and pounds (lb). [1 cwt = 112 lbs = 50 kilos]

The Treble, the lightest bell is 5 cwt; the heaviest, the Tenor, weighs 16 cwt and 23 lbs.

 

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