Chithurst, St MaryChithurst has a single bell, hung for swing chime in a west-facing bellcote.
A church is mentioned in the Doomsday Book, and being one of 5 parish churches in 3 miles, it has no doubt had great competition with the neighbouring churches. The west-end 9.A frame was erected in 1885. |
|
The Bell
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
11.00" |
2900 Hz |
F# |
c1885 |
Swing Chime |
1 Bell, in F#
It is presumed that since the church was built, it has never had a bell.
The earliest reference to bells dates back to 1602, where the church survey gives:
"there is no bell"
34 years later, again, "There are noe Bells in the Church."
Another commission report was carried out in 1724, where there was still no bell.
"No bell"
The present bell appears to be a 19th C Whitechapel bell. It was cast with a peg canon, and no inscription whatsoever. There are however a few moulding wires in the configuration 1.1.1.2.1. It was cast in a sand mould, weighing around a 0-1-0cwt.
It is bolted to an iron headstock and chimed by a lever. It's interesting to note that the lever is positioned directly above the bell instead of at one side. Inside is a cast-in crown staple for the clapper. The staple may have been incorrectly inserted into the core mould, as it's 90 degrees to the angle of swing.
It is in pretty good condition, and chimed inside by a rope.
Elphick records a 44 rung ladder required to reach the bell.
Visited with Luca Greenslade 29/06/2024
It is presumed that since the church was built, it has never had a bell.
The earliest reference to bells dates back to 1602, where the church survey gives:
"there is no bell"
34 years later, again, "There are noe Bells in the Church."
Another commission report was carried out in 1724, where there was still no bell.
"No bell"
The present bell appears to be a 19th C Whitechapel bell. It was cast with a peg canon, and no inscription whatsoever. There are however a few moulding wires in the configuration 1.1.1.2.1. It was cast in a sand mould, weighing around a 0-1-0cwt.
It is bolted to an iron headstock and chimed by a lever. It's interesting to note that the lever is positioned directly above the bell instead of at one side. Inside is a cast-in crown staple for the clapper. The staple may have been incorrectly inserted into the core mould, as it's 90 degrees to the angle of swing.
It is in pretty good condition, and chimed inside by a rope.
Elphick records a 44 rung ladder required to reach the bell.
Visited with Luca Greenslade 29/06/2024
Recording of the bell:
How the bell is tuned in relation to the nominal.
-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+
0 ~ 9 10 ~ 19 20 ~ 29 30 ~ 39 40 ~ 49 50 ~ 59 60 ~ 69 70 ~ 79 80 ~ 89 90 ~ 99+
Hum - 823Hz - Ab-15
Prime - 1340Hz - E+28
Tierce - 1752.5Hz - A-6 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 2337Hz - D-8
Nominal - 2900Hz - F# -34
Prime - 1340Hz - E+28
Tierce - 1752.5Hz - A-6 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 2337Hz - D-8
Nominal - 2900Hz - F# -34
| chithurst.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
1 |
(Uninscribed) Moulding wires: 1:1:1:2:1 |
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
- BARHAM, Joan & FOSTER, Andrew (2018): Church Surveys of Chichester Archdeaconry 1602, 1610 & 1636
- FORD, Wyn. K (1994): Chichester Diocesan Surveys 1686 and 1724
- ELPHICK, George. P (1970): Sussex Bells & Belfries
- https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/chithurst-dedication-unknown/
