Bilbie family

The Bilbie family were bell founders and clockmakers based initially in Chew Stoke, Somerset and later at Cullompton, Devon in south-west England from the late 17th century to the early 19th century.

Bilbie bell kept in St Andrew's Church, Chew Stoke in Somerset as a memorial to the family

Their importance to the local economy and in local history is commemorated by Bilbie Road in Chew Stoke and in the village sign.

Bell making

The Bilbie family produced more than 1,350 bells, which are hung in churches all over the West Country. The oldest bell, cast in 1698, is still giving good service in St Andrews Church, Chew Stoke.

Supplies of the tin and copper used to make bell metal were probably obtained from brass foundries in Kelston and Bristol. The metal was melted in a wood-burning furnace to over 1,500 °C (2,732 °F) and then poured into a mould made from loam, or foundry mud, from the River Chew.[1]

Legend suggests the Bilbies were wild looking men with long hair who could scarcely read or write, who would never cast a bell except when it was a full moon, midnight, and conditions were perfectly still. It is suggested that the reason Chew Stoke has criss-cross roads is because a sort of bypass was constructed, so that silence needed for making bells would not be disturbed by travellers on horseback or by carriages passing the foundry.[2]

Church bells

Church bells the Bilbies produced include:

Clock making
A Long Case clock by John Bilbie on display at King John's Hunting Lodge, Axbridge

Edward Bilbie is thought to have learnt the clockmaking trade from Edward Webb, who died in 1694. Bilbie started casting bells in 1698, and it is highly probable that he was making clocks by this time.[20]

Around this time Bristol was one of the most important centres for clock making outside London. This was in part due to the strong brass founding industry which had developed in response to a healthy export demand and the abundant supply of the raw materials – copper and zinc – in the west. In the late 17th century the clock making industry thrived in the Chew Valley of Somerset thanks to Thomas Veale, Edward Webb and Edward Bilbie, whose clock making was conducted alongside their bell-founding work. Such a concentrated effort resulted in a distinctive local style of lantern clock.

Their clocks date from 1724 and are highly prized. They produced mostly longcase clocks, the cheapest with 30-hour movements in modest oak cases, but they also made high quality eight-day movements with additional features such as indicating the high tide at Bristol docks. These were fitted into quality cabinet maker cases that now command the highest prices.[1][5]

Family members

Several generations of the family were involved in the business.[5]

Edward Bilbie I (1666–1724)

It is not known how Edward Bilbie learnt to cast bells, but it is clear that he cast his first bell in 1698 for St Andrews Church in Chew Stoke. In the period from 1698 to 1723, Edward was responsible for the casting of 67 bells for churches all over Somerset.[1]

Edward Bilbie II (1694–1726)

The eldest son of Edward I learnt bell making from his father, but died only a few months after him and never had the chance to produce his own work.[1]

Thomas Bilbie (1702–1778)

Edward I's younger son Thomas took over the bell and clock making businesses in 1725, completing contracts already agreed, and traveling further for new ones. One of his largest commissions was for the "Great Bell" at Yeovil which was recast from 4,502 pounds (2,042 kg; 321.6 st) to 4,992 lb (2,264 kg; 356.6 st). In 1742 he gained a contract to cast bells for the church at Cullompton, Devon. In 1746 he set up a bell making foundry there known as the "West of England Church Bellfoundry" so that he could expand the business south and west of Somerset, and reduce the transportation problems from the original foundry.[9] Between 1725 and 1768 he was responsible for 350 bells in churches in Somerset, Devon, Bristol, Dorset and Gloucestershire, with one in Caernarfon in Wales.[1]

Edward Bilbie 1716 – 1786

Edward Bilbie continued the family bell founding tradition, making several bells, including one for the Church of St Peter in Catcott, Somerset.[21]

Thomas Bilbie II of Cullompton (1727–1780)

Following his father Thomas's creation of the second foundry in Cullompton, Thomas II or Thomas Bilbie Junior cast bells for most of the churches in Devon, providing a total of 237 between 1754 and 1780.[1]

Abraham Bilbie (1729–1773)

Abraham took over the business in Chew Stoke from his father Thomas for five years, during which time he was responsible for 35 bells including rings of six for South Wraxall, Winscombe and Portishead.[1]

William Bilbie (1730–1789)

William was the third son of Thomas and was in charge of the Chew Stoke foundry from 1775–1790, during which time he produced 79 bells.[1]

John Bilbie of Axbridge (1736–1767)

John Bilbie had a workshop in Axbridge where he made longcase clocks. An example can be seen in the King John's Hunting Lodge Museum.[22]

Edward Bilbie IV (1766–1796)

Edward Bilbie made longcase clocks which were known for their engraved decoration to the dial centre.[23]

Thomas Webb Bilbie (1758–1829) and James Fear Bilbie (1763–1819)

Thomas and James were unable to adapt the business and compete with increasing competition. The Chew Stoke bell foundry declined, casting 25 bells between 1791 and 1811.[1]

Thomas Castleman Bilbie of Cullompton (1758–1813)

Thomas Castleman Bilbie was the fourth generation of bellfounders and continued the business in Cullompton, casting 198 bells between 1781 and 1814.[1]

References
  1. Moore, J.; Rice, R. W. & Hucker, E. (1995). Bilbie and the Chew Valley clockmakers : the story of the renowned family of Somerset bellfounder-clockmakers /Clockmakers. The authors. ISBN 0-9526702-0-8.
  2. Bailey, Jil (31 December 2007). "Ring out the old, ring in the new". Weston Mercury. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
  3. "Abbotsbury (St. Nicholas)". Dorset Churches. Archived from the original on 18 August 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  4. "Axbridge Church Tower & Bell Ringing". Axbridge. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  5. "Bilbie – Bell founders and clockmakers". Troyte Ringing Centre. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2006.
  6. "Activities at St. George's, Beckington". Beckington Village. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  7. "The Bells". St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  8. "All Saints Church". Corston Village. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  9. "St Andrews Church Bells". Cullompton village web site. Archived from the original on 15 July 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  10. "Bells at St John the Baptist Parish Church". Glastonbury Town Council. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  11. "St Giles Church". Leigh upon Mendip. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  12. "Bells". Parish Church of Marwood, North Devon. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  13. "The Parish Church of Northam". GENUKI. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  14. "The Bells". Sherborne Company of Ringers. Archived from the original on 3 July 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  15. "Churches". Uphill Village. Archived from the original on 2 July 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  16. "Bellringing at All Saints Wraxall". Parish of Wraxall with Failand. Archived from the original on 6 August 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  17. "A History of the Church". Wrington Village. Archived from the original on 28 June 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  18. "Yeovil, Somerset, St John the Baptist". The sound of Bells. Archived from the original on 5 August 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  19. "Zeal Monachorum Bell Appeal". Zeal Bell Appeal. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  20. "lot no 422". Dreweatt Neate. Archived from the original on 9 October 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  21. Robert Dunning, ed. (2004). "Catcott". A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 8: The Poldens and the Levels. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  22. "William Bedell's Pictures of King John's Hunting Lodge". Pictures of England. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  23. "Edward Bilbie". London Clocks. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
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