Ashdown Park, Former Convent of Notre Dame
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
Quarter 1 (992) |
1-3-0 cwt |
20.06" |
1680 Hz |
G# |
1924 |
Hung Dead |
||
Quarter 2 (993) |
2-0-22 cwt |
21.94" |
1509.5 Hz |
F# |
1924 |
Hung Dead |
||
Quarter 3 (994) |
3-1-24 cwt |
25.50" |
1331.5 Hz |
E |
1924 |
Hung Dead |
||
Quarter 4 (995) |
6-0-19 cwt |
31.94" |
996.5 Hz |
B |
1924 |
Hung Dead |
||
Hour (996) |
21-1-22 cwt |
48.06" |
666 Hz |
E |
1924 |
Hung Dead |
About the Bells
5 Clock Bells, 21-1-22 in E
Ashdown Park has a chime of 5 bells hung in a West facing tower, build in 1924.
Ashdown Park is now a hotel and country club has a former chapel around the back.
Behind the organ, a spiral stone staircase leads to the ringing and clock room.
A clock made by Gillett & Johnston is cased up on the South side.
The bells are rung with plain ropes with black tape around the tail ends. The ropes were nicely knotted with "down knots" when I arrived.
Gillett & Johnston gave 5 clock bells to the Convent in 1924. They all feature a simple inscription with the foundry's name followed by Fig. CFJ,4. Underneath the lower moulding wires is the common batwing band, Fig. CFJ,1.
By examining the inside of each bell, we can identify that it was Simpson tuned, and all five bells give a significant amount of hum when rung. They are hung dead on wooden beams with the Hour bell positioned in the middle.
The bells chime in the key of E and are struck with a clock hammer. Access to the belfry is by a metal spiral staircase in the North East corner of the tower.
The bells ring out the Cambridge chime sequence or Westminster chime as it's more widely known.
A 5' pile of twigs is along the South wall of the belfry!!
Visited by Kye L Leaver & Oliver E P Watson 14/04/2022
Ashdown Park has a chime of 5 bells hung in a West facing tower, build in 1924.
Ashdown Park is now a hotel and country club has a former chapel around the back.
Behind the organ, a spiral stone staircase leads to the ringing and clock room.
A clock made by Gillett & Johnston is cased up on the South side.
The bells are rung with plain ropes with black tape around the tail ends. The ropes were nicely knotted with "down knots" when I arrived.
Gillett & Johnston gave 5 clock bells to the Convent in 1924. They all feature a simple inscription with the foundry's name followed by Fig. CFJ,4. Underneath the lower moulding wires is the common batwing band, Fig. CFJ,1.
By examining the inside of each bell, we can identify that it was Simpson tuned, and all five bells give a significant amount of hum when rung. They are hung dead on wooden beams with the Hour bell positioned in the middle.
The bells chime in the key of E and are struck with a clock hammer. Access to the belfry is by a metal spiral staircase in the North East corner of the tower.
The bells ring out the Cambridge chime sequence or Westminster chime as it's more widely known.
A 5' pile of twigs is along the South wall of the belfry!!
Visited by Kye L Leaver & Oliver E P Watson 14/04/2022
Recordings of the bells:
How the bells are tuned in relation to their nominal, using Simpson's theory.
Key [measured in cents]:
-99 ~ -90 -89 ~ -80 -79 ~ -70 -69 ~ -60 -59 ~ -50 -49 ~ -40 -39 ~ -30 -29 ~ -20 -19 ~ -10 -9 ~ -0
0 ~ 9 10 ~ 19 20 ~ 29 30 ~ 39 40 ~ 49 50 ~ 59 60 ~ 69 70 ~ 79 80 ~ 89 90 ~ 99+
-99 ~ -90 -89 ~ -80 -79 ~ -70 -69 ~ -60 -59 ~ -50 -49 ~ -40 -39 ~ -30 -29 ~ -20 -19 ~ -10 -9 ~ -0
0 ~ 9 10 ~ 19 20 ~ 29 30 ~ 39 40 ~ 49 50 ~ 59 60 ~ 69 70 ~ 79 80 ~ 89 90 ~ 99+
Quarter 1
Hum - 420Hz - Ab+19
Prime - 837Hz - Ab+13
Tierce - 1007Hz - B+33 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1261Hz - Eb+23
Nominal - 1680Hz - Ab+19
Prime - 837Hz - Ab+13
Tierce - 1007Hz - B+33 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1261Hz - Eb+23
Nominal - 1680Hz - Ab+19
| screen_recording_20220414-211314_voice_recorder__2_.mp3 |
Quarter 2
Hum - 377Hz - F#+32
Prime - 753Hz - F#+30
Tierce - 907.5Hz - Bb-46 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1131Hz - Db+34
Nominal - 1509.5Hz - F#+34
Prime - 753Hz - F#+30
Tierce - 907.5Hz - Bb-46 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1131Hz - Db+34
Nominal - 1509.5Hz - F#+34
| screen_recording_20220414-211241_voice_recorder__2_.mp3 |
Quarter 3
Hum - 333.5Hz - E+20
Prime - 665.5Hz - E+16
Tierce - 798.5Hz - G+32 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 994.5Hz - B+12
Nominal - 1331.5Hz - E+17
Prime - 665.5Hz - E+16
Tierce - 798.5Hz - G+32 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 994.5Hz - B+12
Nominal - 1331.5Hz - E+17
| screen_recording_20220414-212622_voice_recorder.mp3 |
Quarter 4
Hum - 250.5Hz - B+25
Prime - 500Hz - B+21
Tierce - 602.5Hz - D+44 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 750Hz - F#+23
Nominal - 996.5Hz - B+15
Prime - 500Hz - B+21
Tierce - 602.5Hz - D+44 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 750Hz - F#+23
Nominal - 996.5Hz - B+15
| screen_recording_20220414-211429_voice_recorder__1_.mp3 |
Hour
Hum - 166Hz - E+12
Prime - 333Hz - E+18
Tierce - 399.5Hz - G+33 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 498Hz - B+14
Nominal - 666Hz - E+18
Prime - 333Hz - E+18
Tierce - 399.5Hz - G+33 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 498Hz - B+14
Nominal - 666Hz - E+18
| screen_recording_20220414-211346_voice_recorder__1_.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is inscriptions within the inscription band*
Quarter 1 |
GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1924 ⦿ ⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫ |
Quarter 2 |
GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1924 ⦿ ⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫ |
Quarter 3 |
GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1924 ⦿ ⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫ |
Quarter 4 |
GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1924 ⦿ ⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫ |
Hour |
GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1924 ⦿ ⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫ |
⛫ = Fig. CFJ, 1 (Bells 1,2,3,4,5)
⦿ = Fig. CFJ, 4 (Bells 1,2,3,4,5)
⦿ = Fig. CFJ, 4 (Bells 1,2,3,4,5)
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
References:
Data on the bells: Gillett & Johnston tuning records
Canons, Diameters: Personal visit
Data on the bells: Gillett & Johnston tuning records
Canons, Diameters: Personal visit
