It’ bestowed of ye Ringers at ye first Ringinge of ye bells vijᵈ It’ payd for greese for ye bells viijᵈ A.D. 1607. It’ given to ye Ringers uppon Christmas daye morning iiijᵈ A.D. 1614. It’ towe bellclappers A.D. 1615. The names of them that gave money to bye the newe beell 80 (Repton, 62. Milton, 18.) Sum gathered xijˡⁱ viijˢ viijᵈ A.D. 1623. First paide for castinge the bell vˡⁱ It’ given to the Ringers at the time of Prince Charlles his comminge forth of spaine. (Oct. 1623). xijᵈ Extract from the diary of Mr. George Gilbert. “A.D. 1772, Oct. 7th. The third bell was cracked, upon ringing at Mr. John Thorpe’s wedding. The bell upon being taken down, weighed 7 cwt. 2 qr. 18lb., clapper, 24lb. It was sold at 10d. per lb., £35. 18s. Re-hung the third bell, Nov. 21st, 1774. Weight 8 cwt. 3 qr. 24lb., at 13d. per lb., £54. 7s. 8d., clapper, 1 r. 22 lb., at 22d., £1. 2s. 10d. £55. 9s 6½d.” This is all the information I can gather about “Repton’s merry bells” from ancient sources. For some time our ring of six bells had only been “_chimed_,” owing to the state of the beams which supported them, it was considered dangerous to “_ring_” them. During the month of January, 1896, Messrs. John Taylor and Co., of Loughborough, (descendants of a long line of bell-founders), lowered the bells down, and conveyed them to Loughborough, where they were thoroughly cleansed and examined. Four of them were sound, but two, the 5th and 6th, were found to be cracked, the 6th (the Tenor bell) worse than the 5th. The crack started in both bells from the “crown staple,” from which the “clapper” hangs; it (the staple) is made of iron and cast into the crown of the bell. This has been the cause of many cracked bells. The two metals, bell-metal and iron, not yielding equally, one has to give way, and this is generally the bell metal. The “Canons,” as the projecting pieces of metal forming the handle, and cast with the bell, are called, and by which they are fastened to the “headstocks,” or axle tree, were found to be much worn with age. All the “Canons” have been removed, holes have been drilled through the crown, the staples removed, and new ones have been made which pass through the centre hole, and upwards through a square hole in the headstocks, made of iron, to replace the old wooden ones. New bell-frames of iron, made in the shape of the letter H, fixed into oak beams above and below, support the bells, which are now raised about three feet above the bell chamber floor, and thus they can be examined more easily.