Chichester, Market CrossThe Market Cross had a single bell, hung in a central lantern. The Market Cross was built in 1500 by Bishop Edward Story. It replaces an earlier wooden structure built around the 14th Century.
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The Bell
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
27.88" |
1197 Hz? |
D? |
1723 |
Unhung |
1 Bell
In 1723, the mayor George Harris was instructed to supply a bell for the first clock. Using the bell from St Bartholomew's Hospital, he got Richard Phelps of Whitechapel to recast it. A Latin inscription was put around the inscription band.
The bell was hung dead in an octagonal belfry at the top, supported by 8 flying buttresses. It was fixed in place with a conventional canon.
A small bell was added in 1836, either as a quarter bell, or an extra bell to chime for the market. It was probably cast by Thomas II Mears, and measured around 14" in diameter, and hung inside of the larger bell. This bell is no longer here, and it's fate is unknown. Both bells were still hung by 1890.
In 1723, the mayor George Harris was instructed to supply a bell for the first clock. Using the bell from St Bartholomew's Hospital, he got Richard Phelps of Whitechapel to recast it. A Latin inscription was put around the inscription band.
The bell was hung dead in an octagonal belfry at the top, supported by 8 flying buttresses. It was fixed in place with a conventional canon.
A small bell was added in 1836, either as a quarter bell, or an extra bell to chime for the market. It was probably cast by Thomas II Mears, and measured around 14" in diameter, and hung inside of the larger bell. This bell is no longer here, and it's fate is unknown. Both bells were still hung by 1890.
The bells last rang in 1870 when the market stall location was moved.
The only bell that remains is the tenor. When the bells were stood down, the tenor was taken to the city library and it remained there on the landing of the staircase. George Elphick visited the library in 1937 and since then, it has been at The Novium museum on the first floor.
The bell now remains unhung on a pedestal.
The Market Cross belfry is now empty, except for two intersecting wires.
When the bells were in the tower, they were clocked by small Ellacombe hammers.
Visited: 27/10/2022
The only bell that remains is the tenor. When the bells were stood down, the tenor was taken to the city library and it remained there on the landing of the staircase. George Elphick visited the library in 1937 and since then, it has been at The Novium museum on the first floor.
The bell now remains unhung on a pedestal.
The Market Cross belfry is now empty, except for two intersecting wires.
When the bells were in the tower, they were clocked by small Ellacombe hammers.
Visited: 27/10/2022
Recording of the bell:
How the bell is tuned in relation to the 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+
Please note that the recording below is computer generated.
Hum - 340Hz - F-45?
Prime - 541.5Hz - Db-40?
Tierce - 713.5Hz - F+37 (minor 3rd)?
Quint - 900.5Hz - A+40?
Nominal - 1197Hz - D+33?
Superquint - 1724.5Hz - A-34?
Oct* Nominal - 2351.5Hz - D+2?
Prime - 541.5Hz - Db-40?
Tierce - 713.5Hz - F+37 (minor 3rd)?
Quint - 900.5Hz - A+40?
Nominal - 1197Hz - D+33?
Superquint - 1724.5Hz - A-34?
Oct* Nominal - 2351.5Hz - D+2?
| cut_chichester_market_cross_1_.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
1 |
CIVITAS CICESTRIÆ GEORGIO HARRIS MAIORE 1723 ◙ ◙ ◙ |
Latin Translation:
1: CIVITAS CICESTRIAE GEORCIO HARRIS MAIORE - George Harris, Mayor of the city of Chichester.
◙ =Fig. RPH,1
1: CIVITAS CICESTRIAE GEORCIO HARRIS MAIORE - George Harris, Mayor of the city of Chichester.
◙ =Fig. RPH,1
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
- MACDOUGALL, Philip (2018): A-Z of Chichester
- ELPHICK, George. P (1970): Sussex Bells & Belfries
- GREEN, Alan. H. J (2011): Cattle, Corn & Crawfish: 900 years of Chichester's Markets
- The Novium Museum
