The Death of Matthew Bagley, Bell Founder - 1716
Matthew Bagley cast the five bells for St. Augustine's church Northbourne in 1711. He was born at Chacombe Northamptonshire on 6th April 1653, the son of John Bagley, where he learnt the trade of the bell-founder from his uncle, Henry Bagley. Various members of the family set up foundries in other places at various times, such as Ecton (Northants.) and Evesham (Worcs). They are renowned for casting bells with many decorations, and for bad spelling of names and inscriptions.Around 1684 he moved to Windmill Hill, London where he seemed to concentrate on casting ordnance for the government rather than church bells. Five years after casting the Northbourne bells the following account appeared in the Flying Post, Saturday, 12th May 1716:
"Last Thursday night about 9 aclock a tragical accident happened at the Royal Foundry near Upper Moorsfields where while workmen were casting a Canon the metal that was running into the mould flew up on a sudden with very great noise and violence and came down like Drops of Fire not only upon all the workmen but Spectators (of whom there was a great Number to see the performance). Several attended from the Tower particularly Mr. Hall Clerk of the Ordinance who was so sorely wounded that he dy'd next morning. The Master Founder and his son with above 20 others were also very much hurt. Tis generally agreed that this sad accident was owing to the dampness of the Mould."
The Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer in a similar account states that "Bagley the Master Founder has lost his eyes and his son and sixteen others are desperately wounded." The parish registers of St. Giles, Cripplegate simply states:
1716, May 22. Mathew (sic) Bagley, founder - Kill'd.
1716, May 26, Mathew (sic) Bagley, Jun., founder - Kill'd.
He only made a few bells in Kent, a complete ring at Northbourne, dated 1711, the treble at Addington, 4th at Goodnestone near Sandwich (1708), and the 3rd at Old Romney.
At Northbourne three of Bagley's bells survive, Alfred Bowell recast the other two in 1909. A church bazaar helped raise money for the new bells. An additional new treble was cast in 1911, which brings the number of bells at Northbourne to six.
Another son of Matthew Bagley, James (who survived his father) cast the 4th bell for Rochester Cathedral in 1710. He gave a guarantee "for a year and a day" for the work on behalf of his father.
For more information, photographs and inscriptions of the church bells of St. Augustine Northbourne see links