LEEDS St John (Redundant)  SE303338

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History

Held to be one of Yorkshire's architectural treasures St John's was built in 1634 and was a gift to the borough by John Harrison, cloth merchant, of Leeds.  

Bells

There are four bells in the tower, a ring of three and a sanctus bell.  

The tenor bell.

Inscriptions

1.    THOMAS MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1837

2.    THOMAS MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1837

3.    THOMAS MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1837

S.    [Blank}

Frame and Fittings

The three bells hang in a tall wooden frame with wooden headstocks, plain bearings, full wheels and stays and sliders.  The pulleys have been moved and now guide the ropes so that the bells can be clocked from the ground floor.  The original iron work strapping the bells to the headstocks has been replaced with some rather poor eyebolts and threaded bar and one is thankful that the argent bows are still in place or the bells may fall before long.

The single bell hangs in a small frame halfway up the south louvre window and is fitted with a wooden headstock and chiming lever.

Poppleton

LEEDS  (St. John). Four bells.

Three bells by Thomas Mears, dated 1837, and a bell, about 12 in. diameter, without inscription or mark.

Thoresby says that the inscription on the great bell, which was ordered by his father, on its being recast, was-

WHEN I THE LOVDEST RING

THE FOVNDERS PRAISE I SING

Which inscription went exactly round the bell, whilst that of Dr. Ant. de Weever (which Thoresby does not give) went twice round the second bell. (Ducatus Leodiensis, 2nd edition, P. 58.)

Clock

A two train clock - now electric wound but one of few pre C19 clocks to have escaped replacement by a Potts of Leeds clock.

Sources

Visit and references