William Eldridge
William Eldridge was a bell founder that was based in Wokingham from 1660 through to 1716.110
William became master founder when he was 27 years old. Two out of his 9 children, William jnr & Thomas followed in their father's footsteps and took up the trade of bell founding. His son William jnr was born 7 years after he became the master founder.
We are still not sure when William Eldridge retired or when William jnr began casting because of the similarity of their bells. Both William and his son sometimes used the Latin form of their name "Gulielmus". On their inscriptions you will either see: "WILLIAM ELDRIDGE", "W E (date)" or "GULIELMUS ELDRIDGE".
When William Eldridge retired at the unknown date, his son William jnr took over and his brother Thomas Eldridge worked along side him too. The 5th at Slinfold shows this by the inscription: GULIELMUS ELDRIDGE ME FECIT .... T E: meaning - William Eldridge made me .... Thomas Eldridge. This can also be seen on the peal of 6 at Rusper
They don't appear to have used many ornaments on their bells although the Bolney bell does have some nice ornamental stops between each word. He did use a simple diamond stop on quite a few of his bells.
Rusper has a small cross between some words.
William became master founder when he was 27 years old. Two out of his 9 children, William jnr & Thomas followed in their father's footsteps and took up the trade of bell founding. His son William jnr was born 7 years after he became the master founder.
We are still not sure when William Eldridge retired or when William jnr began casting because of the similarity of their bells. Both William and his son sometimes used the Latin form of their name "Gulielmus". On their inscriptions you will either see: "WILLIAM ELDRIDGE", "W E (date)" or "GULIELMUS ELDRIDGE".
When William Eldridge retired at the unknown date, his son William jnr took over and his brother Thomas Eldridge worked along side him too. The 5th at Slinfold shows this by the inscription: GULIELMUS ELDRIDGE ME FECIT .... T E: meaning - William Eldridge made me .... Thomas Eldridge. This can also be seen on the peal of 6 at Rusper
They don't appear to have used many ornaments on their bells although the Bolney bell does have some nice ornamental stops between each word. He did use a simple diamond stop on quite a few of his bells.
Rusper has a small cross between some words.
Inscriptions
- WILLIAM * ELDRIDGE * MADE * MEE 1660 * [* = Fig. WEL,2]
- BRYAN AND WILLIAM ELDRIDG MADE MEE 1661
- GVLIELMVS ELDRIDGE ME FECIT ◆ 1675 ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ [◆ = Fig. WEL,3]
- 1696
- + + GVLIELMVS ELDRIDGE FECIT 1699 + + / T + E + +
- R ◆ B ◆ S ◆ H ◆ GVLIELMVS ELDRIDGE ME FECIT 1704 ◆ ◆ / T ◆ E
Places that have bells cast by William Eldridge in order of date |
.Bolney, St Mary Magdalene (4) 1660 .Nuthurst, St Andrew (3) 1661 .Itchingfield, St Nicolas (4) 1675 .Horsham, Old Holbrook Park House 1696 .Rusper, St Mary Magdalene (3,4,5,6,7,8) 1699 .Slinfold, St Peter (5) 1704 |
Sources:
.Elphick's Sussex Bells and Belfries.
.Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers.
.Elphick's Sussex Bells and Belfries.
.Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers.
