Bell Tower - 1789 - St Mary Magdalene - Shearsby, Leicestershire - Dated Architectural Structures Multifarious on Waymarking.com

"Not many yards from the village square, standing on a hill overlooking the parish, stands the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. An early English building comprising chancel, nave, south porch and tower Shearsby Church has been restored over the years. In 1789 the tower became unsafe and was rebuilt through the initiative of the Landowners, at a cost of £300. The reconstruction, however, was somewhat debased, being left incomplete a few feet above the parapet where it turned octagonal. Later, in 1856 at a cost of £700, the rest of the building was restored when it was also fitted with open seats. Fourteen years after, the walls were in danger of collapsing and were renewed, whilst the roof, being comparatively new, was shored up on timbers. Messrs. Tomlinson & Son of Leicester carried out the repairs, which took two years to complete.

Within the tower there are four bells, the largest of which weighs 1400 lb. The smallest bell, weighing between 300 and 400 lb. has an interesting story attached to it. Tradition says that, this bell being the propertyof the Duke of Rutland, the sons of His Grace's tenants at Aylestone fetched it from the ruined Church of Knaptoft, intending to place it on their own steeple, but stopping with their cart to drink at Shearsby, the inhabitants of that hamlet (as parish toKnaptoft) claimed the bell and took possession of it."

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The inscription records that:
This steeple was re-built
at the expense of
the landowners of
this lordship A.D. 1789

Year built or dedicated as indicated on the structure or plaque: 1789 Full Inscription (unless noted above): this steeple was re-built at the expense of the landowners of this lordship A.D. 1789 Website (if available): Not listed

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