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The clock of St Mary’s Church in Ross-on-Wye strikes the hour every hour, on every day. But as this clock marks the passing of time for the people of the town, few of them realise that the bell they are hearing was given to the church by the Man of Ross, John Kyrle.
This bell has been marking every passing hour since 1925 but it was first hung in the tower in 1695.
The bell weighs over 24 hundred-weight . It was one of the biggest bells to be cast at the time.
John Kyrle’s bell was cast in Gloucester at the Rudhall Bell Foundry. He was there at the roaring furnace as the molten metal was poured into the mould to make the bell. It is said that he was drinking cider from a silver tankard which he threw, with the cider, into the bubbling metal shouting “To Church and King”
Not many people ever see the bell, it’s high up in the tower but around the rim of the bell are the words “John Kyrle of Ross, Esqr: Gave this bell: A.D. 1695”
There are seven other bells, all smaller than John Kyrle’s bell. The largest bell is always called the tenor bell. When the bells are rung each Sunday, John Kyrle’s is the lowest one you can hear.
The clock in the church tower was installed in 1925, 200 years after John Kyrle’s death. The clock was dedicated to him and his bell was used to strike the hour.
Above the bells is the spire of St Mary’s Church. It is said that John Kyrle was responsible for rebuilding a large part of this during his lifetime. We know that the spire did receive quite a bit of attention during Kyrle’s life time there is Noe evidence that he was responsible for the work, other than to have called the first meeting at which the subject was discussed.
John Kyrle is also said to have added the four 25 foot high panicles to the corners of the tower.
There are many more things that John Kyrle did for the town, especially in the vicinity of the church. Take a look at the other films in this series to learn more.
Happy Birthday, Mr Kyrle 