The tower – originally wooden and housing a wooden clock mechanism – was replaced in 1873 with the current tower. There have been bells in Hickling since at least the 16^th Century, when the Church possessed two large bells and a third smaller one. In 1740, three more substantial bells were added. These five larger bells were all re-hung with ball bearings in 1935, and one was also re-cast. This arrangement of five bells remained in use until a bell was purchased from Kinoulton in 1987 because it proved unsuitable for their Church. Cast in 1794, it was one of five originally placed in the new Kinoulton Church tower. However, the ring of all these bells proved too great a strain for the brick tower and produced large cracks in the brickwork. Consequently, they fell silent and were not re-hung for many years, by which time the wheels and frames had fallen into decay and had to be removed. One of these bells – the number three bell – was thus purchased by Hickling when it was found to fit the tower. A seventh bell was hung in 1997 and, after a long fund-raising campaign by parishioners, an eighth was added in 1998.

Bell Inscriptions:

1. E. ARNOLD OF LEICESTER 1794
2. J TAYLOR & CO. FOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH 1873
3. GOD SAVE HIS CHURCH 1722 (re-cast 1935)
4. My roaring sound doth warning give that men cannot heare always lyve (1618)
5. BE YT KNOWNE TO ALL THAT DOTH ME SEE THAT NEWCOMBE OF LEICESTER MADE MEE 1602
6. The Henry Oldfield 6th: All men that heare my mournfull sound repent before you lye in the ground. (1618) – replaced in 2012/13 by The Hickling Diamond Jubilee Bell (funded by community subscription).*
7. Cast by J. Taylor, Founders of Loughborough in 1997.
8. The eighth bell bears no inscription and was cast in 1998 by J. Taylor, Founders of Loughborough.

Extracts taken from:
‘St. Luke’s Church, Hickling; a description’ by Rory Naismith (Aug 2000).

Weights & Measures:

• Treble: cast by Taylors of Loughborough 1998 – weight 4cwt1qrs16lbs
• 2: cast by Taylors of Loughborough 1994 – weight 4cwt3qrs12lbs
• 3: cast by Edward Arnold of Leicester 1794 – 4cwt3qrs11lbs
• 4: cast by Taylors of Loughborough 1873 – 5cwt0qrs27lbs
• 5. cast by Taylors of Loughborough 1935 – 5cwt3qrs22lbs
• 6: cast by Henry Oldfield II of Nottingham 1618 – 6cwt1qrs21lbs
• 7: cast by Edward Newcombe & Sons of Leicester 1602 – 9cwt1qrs12lbs
• Tenor: cast by Henry Oldfield II of Nottingham 1618 – 10cwt1qrs22lbs
• (The peal is tuned to the key of G/Sanctus Bell C18th – 0cwt3qrs12lbs)

(Notes by Carol Beadle from Dove’s Guide for Church Bell Ringers 2013)

*The Henry Oldfield 6th was last rung to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June 2012. Unfortunately, it was cracked and was replaced, by subscription – the Hickling Diamond Jubilee Bell was rung for the first time in honour of Coronation Day on June 2nd 2013.

The Bell:

Casting at Taylor’s Foundry of Loughborough:

Arriving in Hickling (May 21st 2013)

Moving the Old 6th:

Installing The Diamond Jubilee Bell:

Photographs variously taken by: Baillie/Bloor/Fraser/Gould/Graves/Irving/Wainer