Burma Bell

The current troubles in Burma have surely being praying on our minds and it also reminded me, on a happier note, that we have a small piece of Burma right here in Tunbridge Wells. The Burmese Bell, a one-time feature of Calverley Grounds was a gift to us from Colonel Sydney Sladen, a former mayor of the town (1910-1912).

Sydney inherited the bell from his father, Sir Edward Sladen, who was the British Government's representative to the court of King Mindon of Burma in 1864. Sir Edward, knighted for his aid in defending a rebellion against King Mindon, had the bell cast in 1869 with permission from the King, as bells should only have been used for religious purposes.

Erected in the rose garden in 1935, the bell was actually stolen in 1967 and inexplicably returned 18 months later. Was it cursed? The structure was finally removed from the Grounds altogether in the 1980s due to vandalism. In fact the original figures that adorned the tops of the two supporting columns were damaged beyond repair due to vandals and replaced by others from a local antique shop, which just goes to show that kids today are still the same as kids yesterday, it could've been your mum or dad in their rebellious teens!?.

You can still see the bell today, it has pride of place at the top of the entrance stairs to the Town Hall, go in for a visit and they just might let you see it. If you do, have a look for the enscription, "In the year 1231 (1869 A.D.) on the 6th day of the waxing moon of Kason, KO OK, builder of a pagoda, and his lady wife, residents of Kyaungya, having as their object the path to Nirvana and the fruition thereof, hung and offered as an act of worship this bell of bronze, over 66 viss in weight, for the cost and manufacture of which they paid 199 rupees." and ponder.