History
Richmond St Mary's is a large medieval church. It has a tall west tower built c1400 with vaulted ceiling to ground floor.
Bells - from 1904 to 2017
The eight bells hung for full circle ringing were installed in 1904. A small bell hangs on a bracket near the door to the stairs.
| Bell | Founder | Date | Cwt-Qtr-Lb | Diameter | Note |
| 1 | J Warner | 1904 | 4.2.10 | 27.25" | F# |
| 2 | J Warner | 1904 | 4.2.26 | 28" | E# |
| 3 | E Seller | 1739 | 5.0.9 | 28.875" | D# |
| 4 | Samuel I Smith | 1697 | 4.1.22 | 29.375" | C# |
| 5 | Samuel I Smith | 1697 | 5.1.23 | 32.25" | B |
| 6 | Selioks of Nottingham | c1500 | 7.0.22 | 34.375" | A# |
| 7 | Samuel I Smith | 1697 | 8.0.3 | 37" | G# |
| 8 | J Warner | 1862 | 11.0.0 | 40.5" | F# |
| Small | John Taylor of Loughborough | 1919 | 0.2.9 | 14" | D -44 cents |
Inscriptions
1: IB: CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1904.
Waist: To the Glory of God
----------
This bell was erected by
Public subscription A.D. 1904.
L. S. Robinson m.a. _ Rector
C. G. CROFT M.A. )
Albert Morton ) Churchwardens
2: IB: CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1904.
Waist: Presented by Lawrence Dundas
1st Marquess And 3rd Earl of
Zetland K.T:P.C: A.D. 1904
3: IB: THE GIFT OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR CONYERS DARCY KNIGHT OF THE BATH MEMBER IN
PARLIAMENT FOR RICHMOND LIEUTENANT OF THE NORTH RIDEING YORKSHIRE COMPTROLLER OF HIS
MAJESTYS HOUSEHOLD ONE OF HIS PRIVY COUNCEL [indecipherable pattern or words] 1739 E Seller Ebor
[shield]
4: IB: VENITE [89] EXVLTEMVS [89] DOMINO [89] 1697 [89] [89] [89] [89]
[1] eleven times
5: IB: CANTATE [89] DOMINO [89] CANTICVM [89] NOVVM [89] 1697 [89] [89] [89]
[1] twelve times
6: IB: Sca trinitas unus deus
[Seliok shield]
7: IB: GLORIA [89] IN [89] EXCELSIS [89] DEO [89] 1697 [89] [89] [89] [89]
[89] fourteen times
8: IB: CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1862.
[Royal Arms]
PATENT
Small: In mem
Reginald Brand
and
John Watkin
killed in the Great War
1914 - 1919
The names of WATKIN, J and BRAND, R appear on the town's war memorial in the Friary gardens.
Private Reginald Brand. 200090. 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Charles and Esther Brand, of 1, Gallowgate, Richmond, Yorks. Killed 23 April 1917. Aged 25.
Born Richmond (Yorks), Enlisted Richmond (Yorks).
Buried FEUCHY CHAPEL BRITISH CEMETERY, WANCOURT.
Charles Brand was listed as one of the ringers when the bells were augmented to eight - also an F W Brand was listed under the honorary ringers at this time. This small bell was forwarded by Taylors to Mr A Morton, The Post Office, Richmond. A Morton also is listed as an honorary ringer and could well be the same Albert Morton recorded on the treble bell as churchwarden. For further information about Albert Morton, his work for the Post Office and for transport in the area see http://www.percivalbros.com/morton.html
The 1911 census confirms that Reginald Brand was the son of Charles Brand and Reginald's elder brother was Frank William Brand. John Watkin was the son of Robert Watkin and although no Watkins appear on the list of ringers it is interesting to note that the Charles, Frank and Reginald Brand AND Robert Watkin all describe their occupations as House Painter.
Frame and Fittings
The eight bells hang in a two-tier wooden frame, presumably by Mallaby of Masham, with the front four on top. They have modern Taylor fittings which date from 1923 when the bells were tuned (apart from the treble and tenor) and rehung. At this time some steelwork was added to the frame to help keep it rigid.
In the ringing chamber there is a beam from the old frame which records its maker as James Harrison of Barrow on Humber 1739.
There is also the former headstock of the tenor, clearly the work of Mallaby of Masham, which states that the previous tenor was cracked in 1863 and replaced.
Clock
A three train clock is situated in the ringing chamber which was given by in memory of Richard Bowes by his widow, Easter 1894. It is by W Potts of Leeds and chimes the Cambridge Quarters on bells 2, 3, 4 and 7 and strikes the hours on the tenor.
Sources
ARA July 2011
