Balcombe, St Mary
1936 - Present
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 George (5610) |
3-2-6 cwt |
24.00" |
1705 Hz |
A |
1936 |
Full Circle |
||
2 Mary (5611) |
3-2-21 cwt |
24.50" |
1608 Hz |
G# |
1936 |
Full Circle |
||
3 (5720) |
3-2-27 cwt |
25.50" |
1427 Hz |
F# |
1936 |
Full Circle |
||
4 (5721) |
3-3-22 cwt |
26.56" |
1287.5 Hz |
E |
1936 |
Full Circle |
||
5 (5722) |
4-2-5 cwt |
28.63" |
1147 Hz |
D |
1936 |
Full Circle |
||
6 (5723) |
5-0-14 cwt |
29.88" |
1073 Hz |
C# |
1936 |
Full Circle |
||
7 |
6-1-2cwt |
33.18" |
963 Hz |
B |
1628 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
|
8 (5724) |
9-0-12 cwt |
36.69" |
855 Hz |
A |
1936 |
Full Circle |
1879 - 1936
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Note |
Founder |
Date |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 (297) |
3-3-3 cwt |
26.50" |
F# |
1879 |
Full Circle |
||
2 (301) |
4-2-4 cwt |
27.50" |
E |
1879 |
Full Circle |
||
3 (298) |
4-2-12 cwt |
29.00" |
D |
J. Daniels Successor |
c1490 |
Yes? |
Full Circle |
4 (269) |
4-3-7 cwt |
30.50" |
C# |
1879 |
Full Circle |
||
5 (278) |
6-2-10 cwt |
33.00" |
B |
1628 |
Full Circle |
||
6 (300) |
9-0-19 cwt |
37.00" |
A |
1879 |
Full Circle |
Prior to 1879
About the Bells
8 Bells, 9-0-12 in A
Balcombe has an octave ring of bells hung in a West facing tower.
They are rung from the ground floor with a long guided draft.
On the north side of the tower, a metal ladder takes you up to an intermediate chamber. In here, a clock made by Gillett, Bland & Co in 1879 sits on a wooden stand. Being a Westminster chiming clock, it probably used bells 1,2,3&6.
It was funded by public subscription in remembrance of Francis Barlow Robinson of Balcombe House. His name can also be viewed on the inscription of the Tenor.
An 8-rung wooden ladder is used to get into the belfry.
Bells 1,4,5,6,7,8 are hung in a wooden Z frame in the 6.1 layout. The frame was made by Gillett, Bland & Co and was strengthened in 1936 by Gillett & Johnston. During this, they added a frame above for bells 2 and 3. It consists of Z.2 trusses arranged in the 2.X2 layout.
The first set of bells was the J. Daniels Successor bell and possibly the old uninscribed one. It was inscribed Uox Augusstini Sonet in Aure Dei, featuring a cross, commonly found on bells from the Chamberlain line of founders, and also a shield with the letters I and W on it. In 1628, Bryan Eldridge cast a tenor augmenting them to a 3. It is certain that this bell was cast by Eldridge the elder and not Eldridge Jnr*, for it features a heart-shaped stop between each word. It's possible there was a 4th bell as it was reported they were hung in a frame for 4.
In the 1724 report, it states:
"3 bells in the steeple in good order."
In 1879, Gillett, Bland & Co augmented the bells to a ring of 6 by adding 2 trebles and a 4th. The aforementioned Westminster chiming clock was also installed.
In 1936, two trebles were added to augment them to 8, in commemoration of the Silver Jubilee of King George the V and Queen Mary of 1935. In the process, all the bells were recast except the Eldridge bell. The 5th was recast with the original inscription repeated in facsimile. The old trademark symbol lost an initial in the process. See the original below.
In terms of the tuning of the bells, they are all well in tune with each other. The 7th is the odd one out as it has not been tuned and has a hum a semitone higher than the nominal.
The old tenor was given as 11cwt and had the date 1879 after "LONDON". The old treble, 2nd and 4th were inscribed "CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & CO CROYDON LONDON 1879.
The old 3rd had its inscription reproduced with no other inscription. Apparently, a frame for four bells up to 1879 with the 3rd missing, the treble uninscribed, and the 2nd now recast to be the 5th.
George P Elphick
Visited:
.15/11/2022
Balcombe has an octave ring of bells hung in a West facing tower.
They are rung from the ground floor with a long guided draft.
On the north side of the tower, a metal ladder takes you up to an intermediate chamber. In here, a clock made by Gillett, Bland & Co in 1879 sits on a wooden stand. Being a Westminster chiming clock, it probably used bells 1,2,3&6.
It was funded by public subscription in remembrance of Francis Barlow Robinson of Balcombe House. His name can also be viewed on the inscription of the Tenor.
An 8-rung wooden ladder is used to get into the belfry.
Bells 1,4,5,6,7,8 are hung in a wooden Z frame in the 6.1 layout. The frame was made by Gillett, Bland & Co and was strengthened in 1936 by Gillett & Johnston. During this, they added a frame above for bells 2 and 3. It consists of Z.2 trusses arranged in the 2.X2 layout.
The first set of bells was the J. Daniels Successor bell and possibly the old uninscribed one. It was inscribed Uox Augusstini Sonet in Aure Dei, featuring a cross, commonly found on bells from the Chamberlain line of founders, and also a shield with the letters I and W on it. In 1628, Bryan Eldridge cast a tenor augmenting them to a 3. It is certain that this bell was cast by Eldridge the elder and not Eldridge Jnr*, for it features a heart-shaped stop between each word. It's possible there was a 4th bell as it was reported they were hung in a frame for 4.
In the 1724 report, it states:
"3 bells in the steeple in good order."
In 1879, Gillett, Bland & Co augmented the bells to a ring of 6 by adding 2 trebles and a 4th. The aforementioned Westminster chiming clock was also installed.
In 1936, two trebles were added to augment them to 8, in commemoration of the Silver Jubilee of King George the V and Queen Mary of 1935. In the process, all the bells were recast except the Eldridge bell. The 5th was recast with the original inscription repeated in facsimile. The old trademark symbol lost an initial in the process. See the original below.
In terms of the tuning of the bells, they are all well in tune with each other. The 7th is the odd one out as it has not been tuned and has a hum a semitone higher than the nominal.
The old tenor was given as 11cwt and had the date 1879 after "LONDON". The old treble, 2nd and 4th were inscribed "CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & CO CROYDON LONDON 1879.
The old 3rd had its inscription reproduced with no other inscription. Apparently, a frame for four bells up to 1879 with the 3rd missing, the treble uninscribed, and the 2nd now recast to be the 5th.
George P Elphick
Visited:
.15/11/2022
Trademark from the 5th:
Recordings of the bells:
How the bells are tuned in relation to their nominal.
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+
Bell 1
Hum - 429Hz - A-41
Prime - 855.5Hz - A-48
Tierce - 1025Hz - C-35 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1285Hz - E-44
Nominal - 1705Hz - Ab+49
Prime - 855.5Hz - A-48
Tierce - 1025Hz - C-35 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1285Hz - E-44
Nominal - 1705Hz - Ab+49
| cut_balcombe1.mp3 |
Bell 2
Hum - 402.5Hz - G+46
Prime - 802Hz - G+39
Tierce - 960.5Hz - B-47 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1205Hz - D+44
Nominal - 1608Hz - G+44
Prime - 802Hz - G+39
Tierce - 960.5Hz - B-47 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1205Hz - D+44
Nominal - 1608Hz - G+44
| cut_balcombe2.mp3 |
Bell 3
Hum - 358Hz - F+43
Prime - 713Hz - F+36
Tierce - 855.5Hz - A-48 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1070.5Hz - C+39
Nominal - 1427Hz - F+37
Prime - 713Hz - F+36
Tierce - 855.5Hz - A-48 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1070.5Hz - C+39
Nominal - 1427Hz - F+37
| balcombe3rd.mp3 |
Bell 4
Hum - 322Hz - E-40
Prime - 643Hz - E-42
Tierce - 769Hz - G-32 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 962Hz - B-45
Nominal - 1287.5Hz - E-40
Prime - 643Hz - E-42
Tierce - 769Hz - G-32 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 962Hz - B-45
Nominal - 1287.5Hz - E-40
| cut_balcombe4.mp3 |
Bell 5
Hum - 287Hz - D-39
Prime - 573.5Hz - D-40
Tierce - 684.5Hz - F-34 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 855.5Hz - A-48
Nominal - 1147Hz - D-40
Prime - 573.5Hz - D-40
Tierce - 684.5Hz - F-34 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 855.5Hz - A-48
Nominal - 1147Hz - D-40
| cut_balcombe5.mp3 |
Bell 6
Hum - 269Hz - C+48
Prime - 537Hz - C+45
Tierce - 644Hz - E-40 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 805Hz - G+46
Nominal - 1073Hz - C+43
Prime - 537Hz - C+45
Tierce - 644Hz - E-40 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 805Hz - G+46
Nominal - 1073Hz - C+43
| cut_balcombe6.mp3 |
Bell 7
Hum - 257Hz - C-30
Prime - 464Hz - Bb-7
Tierce - 584.5Hz - D-7 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 730Hz - F#-23
Nominal - 963Hz - B-43
Prime - 464Hz - Bb-7
Tierce - 584.5Hz - D-7 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 730Hz - F#-23
Nominal - 963Hz - B-43
| cut_balcombe_7.mp3 |
Bell 8
Hum - 214.5Hz - A-43
Prime - 429Hz - A-43
Tierce - 513.5Hz - C-32 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 643Hz - E-43
Nominal - 855Hz - A-49
Prime - 429Hz - A-43
Tierce - 513.5Hz - C-32 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 643Hz - E-43
Nominal - 855Hz - A-49
| cowfold6.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is inscriptions within the inscription band*
*Text in blue is on the opposite side of the bell*
*Text in blue is on the opposite side of the bell*
1936 - Present
1 |
GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1936 Ⓖ GEORGE THE TWO TREBLES GIVEN BY THE PARISHIONERS TO COMMEMORATE THE SILVER JUBILEE 1935 1 |
2 |
GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1936 Ⓖ MARY 2 |
3 |
RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1936 Ⓖ CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & Co CROYDON LONDON 1879 3 |
4 |
RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1936 Ⓖ CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & Co CROYDON LONDON 1879 4 |
5 |
+ 𝖀𝖔𝖝 𝕬𝖚𝖌𝖚𝖘𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖎 𝕾𝖔𝖓𝖊𝖙 𝕴𝖓 𝕬𝖚𝖗𝖊 𝕯𝖊𝖎 ⍔ RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON, 1936. Ⓖ RECTOR. D.L.SECRETAN CHURCHWARDENS H. FAURE WALKER R.F.H. NEWTON 5 |
6 |
RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON. 1936. Ⓖ YE PEOPLE ALL THAT HEAR ME RING BE FAITHFUL TO YOUR GOD AND QUEEN CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & Co CROYDON LONDON 1879. 6 |
7 |
BRIANVS ♥ ELDRIDGE ♥ ME ♥ FECIT ♥ 1628 |
8 |
⋙⋙⋙⋙⋙⋙ RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1936 Ⓖ IN MEMORY OF FRANCIS BARLOW ROBINSON 1878 CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & Co CROYDON LONDON. 8 |
1879 - 1936
1 |
CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & CO CROYDON LONDON 1879 |
2 |
CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & CO CROYDON LONDON 1879 |
3 |
+ 𝖀𝖔𝖝 𝕬𝖚𝖌𝖚𝖘𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖎 𝕾𝖔𝖓𝖊𝖙 𝕴𝖓 𝕬𝖚𝖗𝖊 𝕯𝖊𝖎 ⍔ |
4 |
CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & CO CROYDON LONDON 1879 |
5 |
BRIANVS ♥ ELDRIDGE ♥ ME ♥ FECIT ♥ 1628 |
6 |
CAST BY GILLETT, BLAND & CO CROYDON LONDON 1879 IN MEMORY OF FRANCIS BARLOW ROBINSON 1878 |
Prior to 1879
1 |
(Uninscribed) |
2 |
+ 𝖀𝖔𝖝 𝕬𝖚𝖌𝖚𝖘𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖎 𝕾𝖔𝖓𝖊𝖙 𝕴𝖓 𝕬𝖚𝖗𝖊 𝕯𝖊𝖎 ⍔ |
3 |
BRIANVS ♥ ELDRIDGE ♥ ME ♥ FECIT ♥ 1628 |
Old bells:
Latin Translations:
5th: Uox Augusstini Sonet In Aure Dei - The Voice of Augustine Sounds in the ears of God.
7th: FECIT - Made
5th: Uox Augusstini Sonet In Aure Dei - The Voice of Augustine Sounds in the ears of God.
7th: FECIT - Made
Ⓖ = Fig. CFJ, 5 (Bells 1,2,3,4,5,6,8)
⍔ = Fig. XVI,a (Bell 5)
+ = Fig. XVI,f (Bell 5)
♥ = Fig. XXX,f (Bell 7)
⋙ = Fig. CFJ, 7 (Bell 8)
*Click on images to enlarge them*
⍔ = Fig. XVI,a (Bell 5)
+ = Fig. XVI,f (Bell 5)
♥ = Fig. XXX,f (Bell 7)
⋙ = Fig. CFJ, 7 (Bell 8)
*Click on images to enlarge them*
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
