Berwick, St Michael & All Angels
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
12.13" |
2771.5 Hz |
F |
1781 |
Removed |
Hung Dead |
||
2 |
33.00" |
906.5 Hz |
Bb |
Henry Wilner |
1629 |
Hung Dead |
About the Bells
2 Bells, in Bb (Tuning 1,12 of 12)
Berwick has two bells hung in a west-facing tower.
The tower was built in 1603 and has a tall spire that was struck by lightning in 1773. This caused significant damage to the spire and tower, resulting in a lengthy and expensive repair. In 1856, the spire was rebuilt, and around 2016, it was re-shingled after woodpeckers damaged it.
It has been lined with stainless-steel to prevent this. 102
In the chamber above the belfry, swift boxes were installed to encourage nesting.
The bells are rung from the ground floor by red, white and blue sallied ropes in the North-East corner. A 19-rung ladder is required to access the belfry. This is through a hatch in the South West corner. Old photos of the church show a wooden ladder behind the organ, similar to the one to access the chamber above the belfry. Elphick did not list a ladder requirement during his visit in 1938, therefore there was one already here.
A sectional sketch shows 4 ringers ringing from a gallery 101. This was removed some years later and an organ was put in its place.
There is no date on this sketch but it would be wise to suggest that when the tower was built, 4 bells were hung at the time.
In 1677, the treble of the ring became cracked. In the same year, he church presentments say “One of the bells crackt” 103. This bell remained cracked until 1698 when John Wood recast it, an itinerant founder from Bishopsgate. It can also be found in the 1686 survey: "There is one bell crackt." Preserved in the church is an agreement made on October 24th 1698 between the churchwardens and John Wood to have the bell recast 104. It tells us that the sum of £5 10s was paid toward Wood “Imprimis the said John Wood, for and in consideracon of the sume of five pounds tenn shillings of lawful money of England, to be paid to him.” The Churchwardens at the time of the agreement were John Barnden and George Ranger. It also confirms that the bell was recast using the same metal. The condition of the bell is also mentioned on the same line, and that eight new brasses were made, suggesting a ring of 4 were present - 2 brasses per bell. “That he the said John Wood, his executors, adm’strators or assignes shall and will cast and make for the parish of Berwicke one new bell out of the little old bell that is now broaken and decayed, and also shall att his owne propper cost and charges new make and cast eight brasses for the bells.”
John wood received a cord of wood for the furnace as well as £5 10s for his work. Although, the money was paid once the bell was cast and in tune with the rest, and all the brasses are made. “at the propper costs and charges of the said parish of Berwick, one Cord of wood in and towards the new casting of the said bell, and alsoe shall and will pay or cause to be paid unto the said John Wood, his executors, adm’strators or assignes, the aforesaid sum of five pounds tenn shillings, when and as soone as the said bell shall be new cast and found tuneable, and the eight brasses are made as aforesaid.”
On November 11th 1698, we receive a receipt from John wood that reads: “Novmr. Ye 11th, 1698. Received the of Richard Barnden, the sum of five pounds and tenn shillings in full of the agreement of these articles, witness me hand, JOHN WOOD.” 104.
There appears to be a mistake made in a Vol. II of the Sussex Archaeological Collections on page 196. It tells us that there is an entry for the little bell cast at Alfriston in 1690. This date is certainly meant to be 1698.
The inscription on this bell reads: ⫶ DEO ⫶ ⫶ QUEMADMODUM ⫶ ⫶ 1698 ⫶.
Interestingly, nothing about the bells is mentioned in the 1724 survey.
In 1811, the treble was sold to Alfriston during their augmentation to 6 bells. The Berwick treble became their 2nd and the original bells were the back 3.
The tenor at Berwick was retained and bells 2 and 3 were sold off to provide money for the church. 101.
See Alfriston, St Andrews for inscriptions and details.
As the bells at Alfriston are in the key of A, this would have made Berwick’s treble around note E.
The tenor of the old ring of 4 was cast by Henry Wilner in 1629. Henry was based at Borden in Kent and only provided us with 2 bells, Berwick and Pett 101.
Looking at Elphick's trapeziums for Berwick and Pett, we see that he cast his trebles taller than his tenors.
Between each word is a diamond stop, higher than it is wide. It rings in the key of Bb and give off quite a gentle tone.
During the time the front 3 bells were sold off, a small ships bell that washed ashore in the Seven Ships Disaster, cast by William Chapman in 1781, was bought as the parishioners were displeased after losing their bells. An extension to the frame was made so that the bell swings beside the tenor. It measures 12.13” in diameter and rings in the key of F.
The Nominal of the treble and the tenor are now 2771.5Hz and 906.5Hz respectively making this the tuning of the treble and tenor of a diatonic 12. The Chapman bell would have been fixed to a headstock by a peg canon but it has been removed since.
In 1937, the bells were overhauled by Gillett & Johnston of Croydon. The tenor was hung dead and clocked and the treble was still hung for swing chime 101.
In recent years, the bells had an overhaul by Whitechapel. The clappers were replaced with new ones, and the treble was hung in a small wooden B frame that stretches across the 2 trusses of the Wilner bell pit. New pulleys and ropes were also provided.
The Wilner bell is hung in an wooden O frame. The now empty pit for the Chapman bell was also of this truss.
The bells and church were in a fantastic condition during my visit in 2023
Visited: 16/01/2023 with great thanks to Peter Blee - Rector.
Berwick has two bells hung in a west-facing tower.
The tower was built in 1603 and has a tall spire that was struck by lightning in 1773. This caused significant damage to the spire and tower, resulting in a lengthy and expensive repair. In 1856, the spire was rebuilt, and around 2016, it was re-shingled after woodpeckers damaged it.
It has been lined with stainless-steel to prevent this. 102
In the chamber above the belfry, swift boxes were installed to encourage nesting.
The bells are rung from the ground floor by red, white and blue sallied ropes in the North-East corner. A 19-rung ladder is required to access the belfry. This is through a hatch in the South West corner. Old photos of the church show a wooden ladder behind the organ, similar to the one to access the chamber above the belfry. Elphick did not list a ladder requirement during his visit in 1938, therefore there was one already here.
A sectional sketch shows 4 ringers ringing from a gallery 101. This was removed some years later and an organ was put in its place.
There is no date on this sketch but it would be wise to suggest that when the tower was built, 4 bells were hung at the time.
In 1677, the treble of the ring became cracked. In the same year, he church presentments say “One of the bells crackt” 103. This bell remained cracked until 1698 when John Wood recast it, an itinerant founder from Bishopsgate. It can also be found in the 1686 survey: "There is one bell crackt." Preserved in the church is an agreement made on October 24th 1698 between the churchwardens and John Wood to have the bell recast 104. It tells us that the sum of £5 10s was paid toward Wood “Imprimis the said John Wood, for and in consideracon of the sume of five pounds tenn shillings of lawful money of England, to be paid to him.” The Churchwardens at the time of the agreement were John Barnden and George Ranger. It also confirms that the bell was recast using the same metal. The condition of the bell is also mentioned on the same line, and that eight new brasses were made, suggesting a ring of 4 were present - 2 brasses per bell. “That he the said John Wood, his executors, adm’strators or assignes shall and will cast and make for the parish of Berwicke one new bell out of the little old bell that is now broaken and decayed, and also shall att his owne propper cost and charges new make and cast eight brasses for the bells.”
John wood received a cord of wood for the furnace as well as £5 10s for his work. Although, the money was paid once the bell was cast and in tune with the rest, and all the brasses are made. “at the propper costs and charges of the said parish of Berwick, one Cord of wood in and towards the new casting of the said bell, and alsoe shall and will pay or cause to be paid unto the said John Wood, his executors, adm’strators or assignes, the aforesaid sum of five pounds tenn shillings, when and as soone as the said bell shall be new cast and found tuneable, and the eight brasses are made as aforesaid.”
On November 11th 1698, we receive a receipt from John wood that reads: “Novmr. Ye 11th, 1698. Received the of Richard Barnden, the sum of five pounds and tenn shillings in full of the agreement of these articles, witness me hand, JOHN WOOD.” 104.
There appears to be a mistake made in a Vol. II of the Sussex Archaeological Collections on page 196. It tells us that there is an entry for the little bell cast at Alfriston in 1690. This date is certainly meant to be 1698.
The inscription on this bell reads: ⫶ DEO ⫶ ⫶ QUEMADMODUM ⫶ ⫶ 1698 ⫶.
Interestingly, nothing about the bells is mentioned in the 1724 survey.
In 1811, the treble was sold to Alfriston during their augmentation to 6 bells. The Berwick treble became their 2nd and the original bells were the back 3.
The tenor at Berwick was retained and bells 2 and 3 were sold off to provide money for the church. 101.
See Alfriston, St Andrews for inscriptions and details.
As the bells at Alfriston are in the key of A, this would have made Berwick’s treble around note E.
The tenor of the old ring of 4 was cast by Henry Wilner in 1629. Henry was based at Borden in Kent and only provided us with 2 bells, Berwick and Pett 101.
Looking at Elphick's trapeziums for Berwick and Pett, we see that he cast his trebles taller than his tenors.
Between each word is a diamond stop, higher than it is wide. It rings in the key of Bb and give off quite a gentle tone.
During the time the front 3 bells were sold off, a small ships bell that washed ashore in the Seven Ships Disaster, cast by William Chapman in 1781, was bought as the parishioners were displeased after losing their bells. An extension to the frame was made so that the bell swings beside the tenor. It measures 12.13” in diameter and rings in the key of F.
The Nominal of the treble and the tenor are now 2771.5Hz and 906.5Hz respectively making this the tuning of the treble and tenor of a diatonic 12. The Chapman bell would have been fixed to a headstock by a peg canon but it has been removed since.
In 1937, the bells were overhauled by Gillett & Johnston of Croydon. The tenor was hung dead and clocked and the treble was still hung for swing chime 101.
In recent years, the bells had an overhaul by Whitechapel. The clappers were replaced with new ones, and the treble was hung in a small wooden B frame that stretches across the 2 trusses of the Wilner bell pit. New pulleys and ropes were also provided.
The Wilner bell is hung in an wooden O frame. The now empty pit for the Chapman bell was also of this truss.
The bells and church were in a fantastic condition during my visit in 2023
Visited: 16/01/2023 with great thanks to Peter Blee - Rector.
The agreement in full to John Wood
Articles of agreement indented, made, concluded properly, and agreed upon this twenty-fourth day of October, anno dom, one thousand six hundred ninety-eight, between John Wood, of the parish of Bishopsgate, in the city of London, of the one part, and John Barnden and George Ranger, churchwardens, and Edmund Page and William Allen, overseers of the poore of the parish of Berwick, in the county of Sussex, of the other part, as followeth. Imprimis the said John Wood, for and in consideracon of the sume of five pounds tenn shillings of lawful money of England, to be paid to him as hereinafter is menconed, doth hereby covenant and agree for himself, his heires, executors, and adm’strators, to and with the said Richard Barnden, George Ranger, Edmund Page, and William Allen, and their successors, Churchwardens and overseers for the poor of the said parish of Berwicke for the tyme being, in manner and forme following the is to say, the he the said John Wood, his executors, adm’strators or assignes shall and will cast and make for the parish of Berwicke one new bell out of the little old bell that is now broaken and decayed, and also shall att his owne propper cost and charges new make and cast eight brasses for the bells of the said parish of Berwick, and shall find all the mettle which shall be wanting in and towards the makeing of the said bell and brasses.
Item the said Richard Barnden, George Ranger, Edmund Page, and William Allen, for themselves and their successors, Churchwardens and overseers of the said parish for the tyme being, doe hereby covenant, promise and agree to and with the said John Wood, his executors and adm’strators, that they the said Churchwardens and overseers and their successors or some of them, shall and will bring, find, provide and lay downe att the parish church of Alfriston, at the propper cost and charges of the said parish of Berwick, one cord of wood in and towards the new casting of the said bell, and alsoe shall and will pay or cause to be paid unto the said John Wood his executor, adm’strators or assignes the aforesaid sum of five pounds tenn shillings when and as soone as the said bell shall be new cast and found tuneable and the said eight brasses made aforesaid. And to the true performance of all and every the covenants and agreements above menconed which on the part and behalfe of every of the said partys ought to be performed the said partys bind themselves each unto the other in the pennal sume of tenn pounds firmly by these presents. In witnesse whereof the said partys have to these present articles of agreement interchangeably sett their hands and seals the day and yeare above written. RICHARD BARNDEN. (L. S.)
Sealed and delivered, being first duly stampt wth to sixpenny stamps, in the presence of Edward Balldy, Edwd. Basden
Item the said Richard Barnden, George Ranger, Edmund Page, and William Allen, for themselves and their successors, Churchwardens and overseers of the said parish for the tyme being, doe hereby covenant, promise and agree to and with the said John Wood, his executors and adm’strators, that they the said Churchwardens and overseers and their successors or some of them, shall and will bring, find, provide and lay downe att the parish church of Alfriston, at the propper cost and charges of the said parish of Berwick, one cord of wood in and towards the new casting of the said bell, and alsoe shall and will pay or cause to be paid unto the said John Wood his executor, adm’strators or assignes the aforesaid sum of five pounds tenn shillings when and as soone as the said bell shall be new cast and found tuneable and the said eight brasses made aforesaid. And to the true performance of all and every the covenants and agreements above menconed which on the part and behalfe of every of the said partys ought to be performed the said partys bind themselves each unto the other in the pennal sume of tenn pounds firmly by these presents. In witnesse whereof the said partys have to these present articles of agreement interchangeably sett their hands and seals the day and yeare above written. RICHARD BARNDEN. (L. S.)
Sealed and delivered, being first duly stampt wth to sixpenny stamps, in the presence of Edward Balldy, Edwd. Basden
John Wilnar Trapeziums:
a - Pett b - Berwick
Craft of the Bellfounder by George Elphick
Recordings of the bells:
How the bells are tuned in relation to their nominals.
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 - 802.5Hz - G+40
Prime - 1287Hz - E-41
Tierce - 1663.5Hz - Ab+2 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 2379.5Hz - D+22
Nominal - 2771.5Hz - F-13
Prime - 1287Hz - E-41
Tierce - 1663.5Hz - Ab+2 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 2379.5Hz - D+22
Nominal - 2771.5Hz - F-13
| berwick1.mp3 |
Bell 2
Hum - 265.5Hz - C+25
Prime - 441Hz - A+4
Tierce - 557.5Hz - Db+10 (major 3rd / minor 3rd, 58 cents sharp)
Quint - 749Hz - F#+21
Nominal - 906.5Hz - Bb-48
Prime - 441Hz - A+4
Tierce - 557.5Hz - Db+10 (major 3rd / minor 3rd, 58 cents sharp)
Quint - 749Hz - F#+21
Nominal - 906.5Hz - Bb-48
| berwick2.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is inscriptions within the inscription band*
1811 - Present
1 |
1781 |
2 |
WILLIAM♢THOMAƧ♢ANTHONY♢IORDEN♢HENRY♢WILNER♢MADE♢ME1629♢ |
1698 - 1811
1 |
⫶ DEO ⫶ ⫶ QUEMADMODUM ⫶ ⫶ 1698 ⫶ |
2 |
No data |
3 |
No data |
4 |
WILLIAM♢THOMAƧ♢ANTHONY♢IORDEN♢HENRY♢WILNER♢MADE♢ME1629♢ |
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
100 - https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/berwick-st-michael-and-all-angels/
101 - Sussex Bells and Belfries by George Elphick p.257
102 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1m0cR0U8_E&t=28s - Richard Vobes
103 - Sussex Record Society Vol. L p.60
104 - The Church Bells of Sussex by D. Amhurst Tyssen p. 49
100 - https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/berwick-st-michael-and-all-angels/
101 - Sussex Bells and Belfries by George Elphick p.257
102 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1m0cR0U8_E&t=28s - Richard Vobes
103 - Sussex Record Society Vol. L p.60
104 - The Church Bells of Sussex by D. Amhurst Tyssen p. 49
