Cuckfield, Holy TrinityCuckfield has a peal of 8 bells, nicknamed "The Waterloo Bells", hung in a west facing tower.
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The bells
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
5-0-0 cwt |
29.00" |
1375.5 Hz |
E |
Thomas II Mears |
1815 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
2 |
5-2-0 cwt |
30.00" |
1301.5 Hz |
D# |
Thomas II Mears |
1815 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
3 |
6-0-0 cwt |
32.00" |
1166.5 Hz |
C# |
Thomas II Mears |
1815 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
4 |
6-2-0 cwt |
33.50" |
1036.5 Hz |
B |
Thomas II Mears |
1815 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
5 |
8-0-0 cwt |
35.50" |
905.5 Hz |
A |
Thomas II Mears |
1815 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
6 |
9-0-0 cwt |
37.50" |
864.5 Hz |
G# |
Thomas II Mears |
1815 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
7 |
11-0-0 cwt |
39.50" |
759 Hz |
F# |
Thomas II Mears |
1815 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
8 |
15-0-0 cwt |
45.00" |
673 Hz |
E |
Thomas II Mears |
1815 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
8 Bells, 15-0-0 in E
The earliest reference to bells dates back to 1521, when the ringing of bells is mentioned in a will:
1521 July. 21"... and I bequeth to be expendyd and disposed for the same obitt, to prestis and clerkes, wax, ryngyng of belles, and almes to be dealed among poore parissheners there xs"
The next appears in a churchwarden's entry in 1593:
1593 "It. due to ye Bell founder xiijs"
We are very fortunate that the ancient churchwardens accounts have survived, as many reference to bells, and clocks, appear in the 17th C. Due to this large number, all the entries are listed below in the Green tab.
At this time, it seems there were 5 bells, going by the many purchases for 5 new ropes. In 1630, the 2nd bell was recast. Work was carried out on the bells in 1638, 1642, and 1693.
In 1640, we see that they had wheels, as the one on the treble was mended.
An interesting entry dated 1714 shows the then churchwarden Mr Curtis gave a bell to the church. This could be a recasting of which he was the donor?
The earliest reference to bells dates back to 1521, when the ringing of bells is mentioned in a will:
1521 July. 21"... and I bequeth to be expendyd and disposed for the same obitt, to prestis and clerkes, wax, ryngyng of belles, and almes to be dealed among poore parissheners there xs"
The next appears in a churchwarden's entry in 1593:
1593 "It. due to ye Bell founder xiijs"
We are very fortunate that the ancient churchwardens accounts have survived, as many reference to bells, and clocks, appear in the 17th C. Due to this large number, all the entries are listed below in the Green tab.
At this time, it seems there were 5 bells, going by the many purchases for 5 new ropes. In 1630, the 2nd bell was recast. Work was carried out on the bells in 1638, 1642, and 1693.
In 1640, we see that they had wheels, as the one on the treble was mended.
An interesting entry dated 1714 shows the then churchwarden Mr Curtis gave a bell to the church. This could be a recasting of which he was the donor?
CHURCHWARDENS ACCOUNTS 1593 - 1712 [Relating to the bells & tower] (WSRO Par 301/9/1&2)
1593
- "It. due to ye Bell founder xiijs"
- The pulpitt was this yeare enlarged and matted, ye second bell new cast, ye porches new boarded, ye windows in ye belfry new made
- Item for 5 newe ropps for ye bells 0 - 13 - 6
- The worke house in the bellfrie new made, the ringing loft new layd, the staires from the loft to the clock new errected.
- April Item for one bell rope 0 - 3 - 10
- Pd to Edw for ye bell 0 - 64 - 0
- Pd to the ringers Nov 5 0 - 4 - 0
- The staires from the clock to the bells were made and sett up this year
- The Church all on the south side was new pointed and the scaffoldholes in the steeple and Church wall filled. Thomas Stanbridge for keeping the clocke 6/8
- Item to Thomas Page for mending ye bell ropes 0 - 1 - 8
- Pd for 5 new bellropes 0 - 15 - 0
- Item for works done by Thomas Cartone about ye bells 1 - 6 - 4
- Pd to Thomas about works done on the clock and bells
- Item for oyle [oil] for ye bells 0 - 0 - 6
- To Thomas Page for work done ye Clocke and Bells 7 /
- Pd for 5 new BellRopes 0 - 15 - 0
- To ye sexton for keeping ye clock
- For mending of the treabell weele 3/4
- It for belropes 0 - 14 - 4
- Item payd to Wimpeney for mending the clock and bells 0 - 2 - 0
- For new bell ropes 1 - 4 - 0
- Paid for shingling the steple 20 - 00 - 06
- Item to Stephen Stamor for his half years wages for looking to the clocke and ringing the Eight aclock bell morning and Evening 0 - 15 - 0
- For new bell ropes 1 - 4 - 0
- Maye ye 29 paid to James Looker for chiming of ye clock 00 - 05 - 00
- Maye ye 29 given to ye Ringers 00 - 02 - 06
- Bourdes and about ye bells - 2 days 0 - 4 - 0
- June ye 3 payd for bellropes 1 - 2 - 0
- Payd to Stephen Stainmer for ye clock and bel 2 - 0 - 0
- Novem ye 5 payd for ringing 0 - 5 - 0
- Payd for a clock line 00 - 01 - 02
- May 29 To the Ringers 00 - 05 - 05
- September 22 To the Ringers 00 - 05 - 00
- October 12 To the Ringers 00 - 02 - 06
- November 5 To the Ringers 00 - 05 - 06
- for [?] to the clok waites 0 - 1 - 4
- It Pd for A set of Belropes 09 - 09 - 05
- Mr Cortes [Mr J. Curtis - Churchwarden] his bell for the church 00 - 2 - 10
In 1724, the Chichester Diocesan survey states there were "5 Bells", which begs the question, who cast the sixth bell between then and 1815?
The Whitechapel peals book shows that the 5th from the old peal of 6 weighed 11-3-2cwt
Thomas II Mears recast the old peal of six, and augmented the peal to 8 in 1815. At the same time, he hung them in a new frame for 8. All the bells were cast with a conventional canon, and an inscription formed with letter stamps. into the cope.
The inscription on the front seven bells, except the third, are identical, featuring his abbreviated first name. The 3rd has his name in full. The tenor has the addition of the names of vicar and churchwardens, and a set of ornaments. Around the inscription band is a line describing Mears' restoration.
The bells bear the Whitechapel loops with a additional floral ornament on the tenor. This floral ornament is very similar to that shown on Janaway's bells at Slaugham, St Mary.
Making the bells the same size, we can see that he cast his trebles taller than his tenors. We can also see that their shoulders are proportionally the same diameter .
This shows Mears made all the crown to lip diameters to the ratio of 5.5 : 10.
The Whitechapel peals book shows that the 5th from the old peal of 6 weighed 11-3-2cwt
Thomas II Mears recast the old peal of six, and augmented the peal to 8 in 1815. At the same time, he hung them in a new frame for 8. All the bells were cast with a conventional canon, and an inscription formed with letter stamps. into the cope.
The inscription on the front seven bells, except the third, are identical, featuring his abbreviated first name. The 3rd has his name in full. The tenor has the addition of the names of vicar and churchwardens, and a set of ornaments. Around the inscription band is a line describing Mears' restoration.
The bells bear the Whitechapel loops with a additional floral ornament on the tenor. This floral ornament is very similar to that shown on Janaway's bells at Slaugham, St Mary.
Making the bells the same size, we can see that he cast his trebles taller than his tenors. We can also see that their shoulders are proportionally the same diameter .
This shows Mears made all the crown to lip diameters to the ratio of 5.5 : 10.
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🔴Treble
🔵Fourth 🟢Sixth 🟣Tenor 
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In 1903, the bells were rehung by Mears & Stainbank in a new frame. It was probably around this time the Seage's Silent bell apparatus was installed.
Visited: 12/04/2024 with thanks to David Wilson.
Visited: 12/04/2024 with thanks to David Wilson.
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+
Bell 1
Hum - 383.5Hz - G-37
Prime - 576Hz - D-33
Tierce - 821.5Hz - Ab-18 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1105.5Hz - Db-4
Nominal - 1375.5Hz - F-26
Prime - 576Hz - D-33
Tierce - 821.5Hz - Ab-18 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1105.5Hz - Db-4
Nominal - 1375.5Hz - F-26
| cuckfieldone.mp3 |
Bell 2
Hum - 369.5Hz - F#-1
Prime - 580Hz - D-21
Tierce - 792Hz - G+18 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1048.5Hz - C+3
Nominal - 1301.5Hz - E-21
Prime - 580Hz - D-21
Tierce - 792Hz - G+18 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1048.5Hz - C+3
Nominal - 1301.5Hz - E-21
| cuckfieldtwo.mp3 |
Bell 3
Hum - 308Hz - Eb-16
Prime - 504.5Hz - B+37
Tierce - 694Hz - F-10 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 854.5Hz - Ab+49
Nominal - 1166.5Hz - D-11
Prime - 504.5Hz - B+37
Tierce - 694Hz - F-10 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 854.5Hz - Ab+49
Nominal - 1166.5Hz - D-11
| cuckfieldthree.mp3 |
Bell 4
Hum - 282.5Hz - Db+33
Prime - 488.5Hz - B-18
Tierce - 628Hz - Eb+16 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 798.5Hz - G+32
Nominal - 1036.5Hz - C-16
Prime - 488.5Hz - B-18
Tierce - 628Hz - Eb+16 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 798.5Hz - G+32
Nominal - 1036.5Hz - C-16
| cuckfieldfour.mp3 |
Bell 5
Hum - 242.5Hz - B-30
Prime - 431Hz - A-35
Tierce - 544.5Hz - Db-30 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 698.5Hz - F+0
Nominal - 905.5Hz - A+49
Prime - 431Hz - A-35
Tierce - 544.5Hz - Db-30 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 698.5Hz - F+0
Nominal - 905.5Hz - A+49
| cuckfieldfive.mp3 |
Bell 6
Hum - 238Hz - Bb+36
Prime - 405Hz - Ab-42
Tierce - 520.5Hz - C-8 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 674.5Hz - E+40
Nominal - 864.5Hz - A-30
Prime - 405Hz - Ab-42
Tierce - 520.5Hz - C-8 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 674.5Hz - E+40
Nominal - 864.5Hz - A-30
| cuckfieldsix.mp3 |
Bell 7
Hum - 202.5Hz - Ab-42
Prime - 371.5Hz - F#+7
Tierce - 457Hz - Bb-33 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 583.5Hz - D-10
Nominal - 759Hz - F#+44
Prime - 371.5Hz - F#+7
Tierce - 457Hz - Bb-33 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 583.5Hz - D-10
Nominal - 759Hz - F#+44
| cuckfieldseven.mp3 |
Bell 8
Hum - 184Hz - F# -8
Prime - 333.5Hz - E+20
Tierce - 410Hz - Ab-21 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 533.5Hz - C+34
Nominal - 673Hz - E+36
Prime - 333.5Hz - E+20
Tierce - 410Hz - Ab-21 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 533.5Hz - C+34
Nominal - 673Hz - E+36
| cuckfieldeight.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
1 |
≎≎≎≎≎≎ T. MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1815 ≎≎≎≎≎≎ |
2 |
≎≎≎≎≎≎ T. MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1815 ≎≎≎≎≎≎ |
3 |
≎≎≎≎≎≎ : THOMAS MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1815 ≎≎≎≎≎≎ |
4 |
≎≎≎≎≎≎ T. MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1815 ≎≎≎≎≎≎ |
5 |
≎≎≎≎≎≎ T. MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1815 ≎≎≎≎≎≎ |
6 |
≎≎≎≎≎≎ T. MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1815 ≎≎≎≎≎≎ |
7 |
≎≎≎≎≎≎ T. MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1815 ≎≎≎≎≎≎ |
8 |
THE SIX BELLS RECAST AND TWO NEW ONES ADDED THE WHOLE BY SUBSCRIPTION A.D. 1815 #### REVᴰ. JOSEPH FRANCIS FEARON VICAR WILLIAM CLUTTON ESQᴿ. SAMUEL WALLER ESQᴿ. CHURCH WARDENS. T. MEARS OF LONDON FECIT |
Latin Translations:
1-8: FECIT - Made
≎ = Fig. TLE,1 (Bells 1-7)
# = Fig. L,d (Bell 8)
1-8: FECIT - Made
≎ = Fig. TLE,1 (Bells 1-7)
# = Fig. L,d (Bell 8)
Photographs:
*Click on the photos to enlarge them*
Sources:
- COOPER, J. H. (1902): The Vicars and Parish of Cuckfield in the seventeenth century (Sussex Archaeological Collections Vol*45)
- WEST SUSSEX RECORD OFFICE Par/301/9/1&2: Churchwardens Accounts 1593 - 1712
- SUSSEX FILE, Chris Pickford
- RINGING WORLD Vol* 34 p.516
- Brighton Gazette - Thursday 7 May 1903
