East Dean, All Saints
About the Bells
3 Bells, 6-1-5 in C
East Dean has a chime of 3 bells, hung above the chancel crossing.
The bottom half of the tower dates back to c.1150, with a possible 13th century top half.
In 1805, Sharpe's painting shows that the tower originally had a broached spire. Although, this was probably removed and replaced with the present day embattlements in the late 19th C.
East Dean has a chime of 3 bells, hung above the chancel crossing.
The bottom half of the tower dates back to c.1150, with a possible 13th century top half.
In 1805, Sharpe's painting shows that the tower originally had a broached spire. Although, this was probably removed and replaced with the present day embattlements in the late 19th C.
The earliest reference to bells dates c1570, when William Knight cast a single bell, weighing 3-2-18cwt.
It features the latest example of gothic letters from the medieval period in Sussex, and the unevenness between the letter grounds suggest they were made from wax.
It is inscribed:
+ HAL MARI FVL OF GRAS
with the initials
WK
below the cross.
These have been missed by my predecessors completely, and Elphick even states that "it does not carry his initials". However, this has proven to be wrong.
The bell was moulded with loam, and cast with a piece moulded canon. The moulding wires are fairly gentle, and are configured 3.2.2.2.2.
It has never received tuning, and was used as the datum for the 1968 project.
Like many of the ancient bells in this directory, the inscription has been photographed and collaged together.
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
It features the latest example of gothic letters from the medieval period in Sussex, and the unevenness between the letter grounds suggest they were made from wax.
It is inscribed:
+ HAL MARI FVL OF GRAS
with the initials
WK
below the cross.
These have been missed by my predecessors completely, and Elphick even states that "it does not carry his initials". However, this has proven to be wrong.
The bell was moulded with loam, and cast with a piece moulded canon. The moulding wires are fairly gentle, and are configured 3.2.2.2.2.
It has never received tuning, and was used as the datum for the 1968 project.
Like many of the ancient bells in this directory, the inscription has been photographed and collaged together.
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Moving forward to 1634, we see our next bell cast by Bryan I Eldridge.
Bryan's motto GLORIA DEO IN EXCELSIS, which he favoured towards the end of his life was used on this bell, and was formed using parchment wax letters. Between each word is his father's heart shaped stop.
Sadly, this bell is no longer here (as we shall discuss later), but according to the John Taylor & Co archives, it weighed
4-1-15cwt.
It was no doubt cast with a conventional canon, and tuned to around note D.
The last of the 3 old bells was cast by Salisbury founder Clement Tosier. Like most of his bells, this one has fairly interesting harmonics, owing to its rather square profile.
Another common feature on his bells are lengthy inscriptions, usually taking up two inscription bands. His surname is the halfway point, for the letter R on Tosier begins the lower inscription band.
Between each word is a cross, except for a colon between CHURCH WARDENS.
To fill in the rest of the lower band, Tosier inscribed a coin, with what appears to be a bird on it, followed by two sheilds, and another coin.
In Sussex Bells & Belfries, Elphick states that he reduced the crown thickness of this bell compared to his others.
Like the tenor at Cocking, the acidic tone comes from the sharp prime.
The letters and crosses were formed using cut out wax, but heavier than Eldridge's. It weighs 8-1-19cwt, and is tuned to note C.
Supported on 4 iron girders running east to west, a large oak bell frame with O trusses, arranged in the 3.1 layout is hung around 13' above the belfry floor. It is dated 1655, and bears the names of the churchwardens. On the north end frame head is engraved:
TG . 1655 . IC
Though there is no evidence to prove it, we could attribute the latter to John Croucher?
The Croucher family have been part of this parish for centuries, with the earliest reference dating 1556. The former may have been a Thomas.
Bryan's motto GLORIA DEO IN EXCELSIS, which he favoured towards the end of his life was used on this bell, and was formed using parchment wax letters. Between each word is his father's heart shaped stop.
Sadly, this bell is no longer here (as we shall discuss later), but according to the John Taylor & Co archives, it weighed
4-1-15cwt.
It was no doubt cast with a conventional canon, and tuned to around note D.
The last of the 3 old bells was cast by Salisbury founder Clement Tosier. Like most of his bells, this one has fairly interesting harmonics, owing to its rather square profile.
Another common feature on his bells are lengthy inscriptions, usually taking up two inscription bands. His surname is the halfway point, for the letter R on Tosier begins the lower inscription band.
Between each word is a cross, except for a colon between CHURCH WARDENS.
To fill in the rest of the lower band, Tosier inscribed a coin, with what appears to be a bird on it, followed by two sheilds, and another coin.
In Sussex Bells & Belfries, Elphick states that he reduced the crown thickness of this bell compared to his others.
Like the tenor at Cocking, the acidic tone comes from the sharp prime.
The letters and crosses were formed using cut out wax, but heavier than Eldridge's. It weighs 8-1-19cwt, and is tuned to note C.
Supported on 4 iron girders running east to west, a large oak bell frame with O trusses, arranged in the 3.1 layout is hung around 13' above the belfry floor. It is dated 1655, and bears the names of the churchwardens. On the north end frame head is engraved:
TG . 1655 . IC
Though there is no evidence to prove it, we could attribute the latter to John Croucher?
The Croucher family have been part of this parish for centuries, with the earliest reference dating 1556. The former may have been a Thomas.
The frame itself is of interesting construction, and shows signs of a few modifications in the past. One was in 1968, and the other 1655.
The king posts and braces probably date back to the 14th - 15th century. All except the north brace on the east truss are of curved profile, and suggests it was a later addition. The brace that was here is now part of the south end frame. The south-west corner post has 2 mortices close to each other, and may have once been a sill.
Prior to the installation of long heads in 1655, the heavy design at the top of the king posts suggests it supported short heads, making the old frame a J type.
Interestingly, the south brace on the east truss has an empty mortice, but there is no mortice in the corresponding head, or any head for that matter.
Running along the sills is an plate that shows the location of the old rope holes. It also contains the pulleys for the treble and tenor.
In 1968, John Taylor & Co replaced the long head between the treble and second's pit.
George Elphick visited in August 1950, and reported "This bell stands broken in the church". Here he's referring to the second by Bryan Eldridge.
The bell broke as a result of falling to the belfry floor c.1910. This later led to a major overhaul in 1968.
John Taylor & Co were the contractors who not only recast the 2nd, but restored the rest of the peal.
The metal for the new bell was used, and it's inscription was replicated in facsimile by using a plaster cast as a stamp.
On one side of the waist are the names of the vicar and churchwardens, and on the other is the foundry stamp and date. It was inscribed used half inch letters with soft serifs, and cast with a flat top.
Taylors also tuned the tenor slightly, flattening the nominal to bring it in tune with the treble. This was done by removing metal in the soundbow. The 2nd was then tuned right the way up its profile to fit in with the other two bells. The new second is tuned to Simpson's 5-tone principle, whereas the other two are old style.
The king posts and braces probably date back to the 14th - 15th century. All except the north brace on the east truss are of curved profile, and suggests it was a later addition. The brace that was here is now part of the south end frame. The south-west corner post has 2 mortices close to each other, and may have once been a sill.
Prior to the installation of long heads in 1655, the heavy design at the top of the king posts suggests it supported short heads, making the old frame a J type.
Interestingly, the south brace on the east truss has an empty mortice, but there is no mortice in the corresponding head, or any head for that matter.
Running along the sills is an plate that shows the location of the old rope holes. It also contains the pulleys for the treble and tenor.
In 1968, John Taylor & Co replaced the long head between the treble and second's pit.
George Elphick visited in August 1950, and reported "This bell stands broken in the church". Here he's referring to the second by Bryan Eldridge.
The bell broke as a result of falling to the belfry floor c.1910. This later led to a major overhaul in 1968.
John Taylor & Co were the contractors who not only recast the 2nd, but restored the rest of the peal.
The metal for the new bell was used, and it's inscription was replicated in facsimile by using a plaster cast as a stamp.
On one side of the waist are the names of the vicar and churchwardens, and on the other is the foundry stamp and date. It was inscribed used half inch letters with soft serifs, and cast with a flat top.
Taylors also tuned the tenor slightly, flattening the nominal to bring it in tune with the treble. This was done by removing metal in the soundbow. The 2nd was then tuned right the way up its profile to fit in with the other two bells. The new second is tuned to Simpson's 5-tone principle, whereas the other two are old style.
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Prior to 1968, the bells were rung using full wheels. Sadly these weren't kept, and all that remains is part of the transom on the preserved headstocks. They were of archaic design having their spokes spaced out evenly around the circumference.
Taylors replaced these with chiming levers, fixed to new wooden headstocks. The crown staples were drilled out, and clappers with independent staples were fitted. In the south transept are the old brass bearings; the old headstocks; clappers, and straps. The bells now form a true diatonic chime of 3, but their unevenness in tone is caused by the variation in profiles, and their other frequencies. |
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Newspaper cutting (1968) AND SO THE BELLS RANG OUT AGAIN
AND SO THE BELL RANG OUT AGAIN
One of the oldest bells in Sussex was re-hung in the 12th Century Downland church at East Dean, near Chichester, just in time for Easter. The bell, part of a ring of three re-hung, had been repaired by experts to make the peal brighter. Children from Singleton Primary School are pictured above during the rehanging work. The cost of all the work, estimated at £900 had been met with the help of East Dean’s 450 residents by way of covenants, fetes, and individual gifts. “Naturally I was very pleased to have the bells back before Easter,” said the Vicar, the Rev. J. H. Bishop. “It will be the first time in 50 years that all three bells have been rung, as one of them has been broken.” The bells were dismantled last September. With the thick dust of centuries on them they were taken to a company of expert founders at Loughborough, Leicestershire. The oldest of the trio was cast in 1570 by William Knight of Reading. It bears the inscription “Hail Mari ful of Gras.” Another bell, dating from 1634, was damaged when it fell to the belfry floor. This has now been recast and bears the name of the vicar and the present churchwardens, Colonel M. A. Ransome and Mr. L. G. Croucher. The third bell was cast in 1703 by Clement Tosiar at Salisbury. Like the other two it has been fitted with new clappers and headstocks. Visitors to the church will be able to see two of the headstocks on display and the third will be on exhibition at the West Dean open air museum. One of the most difficult aspects of the work has been the replacing of the wooden timbers. It took three men to haul a 14ft. Long eight inch thick oak beam into position in the belfry – and six men to lift it. The rehanging was done by Mr. J. Walker (48), from Loughborough. The combined weight of the three bells is only 18cwt., he explained in the belfry while balancing on loose timber . . .
One of the oldest bells in Sussex was re-hung in the 12th Century Downland church at East Dean, near Chichester, just in time for Easter. The bell, part of a ring of three re-hung, had been repaired by experts to make the peal brighter. Children from Singleton Primary School are pictured above during the rehanging work. The cost of all the work, estimated at £900 had been met with the help of East Dean’s 450 residents by way of covenants, fetes, and individual gifts. “Naturally I was very pleased to have the bells back before Easter,” said the Vicar, the Rev. J. H. Bishop. “It will be the first time in 50 years that all three bells have been rung, as one of them has been broken.” The bells were dismantled last September. With the thick dust of centuries on them they were taken to a company of expert founders at Loughborough, Leicestershire. The oldest of the trio was cast in 1570 by William Knight of Reading. It bears the inscription “Hail Mari ful of Gras.” Another bell, dating from 1634, was damaged when it fell to the belfry floor. This has now been recast and bears the name of the vicar and the present churchwardens, Colonel M. A. Ransome and Mr. L. G. Croucher. The third bell was cast in 1703 by Clement Tosiar at Salisbury. Like the other two it has been fitted with new clappers and headstocks. Visitors to the church will be able to see two of the headstocks on display and the third will be on exhibition at the West Dean open air museum. One of the most difficult aspects of the work has been the replacing of the wooden timbers. It took three men to haul a 14ft. Long eight inch thick oak beam into position in the belfry – and six men to lift it. The rehanging was done by Mr. J. Walker (48), from Loughborough. The combined weight of the three bells is only 18cwt., he explained in the belfry while balancing on loose timber . . .
Access to the belfry requires a 22-rung ladder through a hatch in the chancel crossing. From here, a small wooden ladder takes you up to the level of the bells. An additional ladder goes up onto the roof.
Three bells in great condition on inspection
Visited 24/02/2024
Three bells in great condition on inspection
Visited 24/02/2024
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 - 346.5Hz - F-13
Prime - 625Hz - Eb+8
Tierce - 813.5Hz - Ab-35 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 956Hz - Bb+43
Nominal - 1326.5Hz - E+10
Prime - 625Hz - Eb+8
Tierce - 813.5Hz - Ab-35 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 956Hz - Bb+43
Nominal - 1326.5Hz - E+10
| eastdeantreble.mp3 |
Bell 2
Hum - 295.5Hz - D+11
Prime - 591.5Hz - D+12
Tierce - 701.5Hz - F+8 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 883.5Hz - A+7
Nominal - 1185Hz - D+15
Prime - 591.5Hz - D+12
Tierce - 701.5Hz - F+8 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 883.5Hz - A+7
Nominal - 1185Hz - D+15
| eastdeantwo.mp3 |
Bell 3
Hum - 260.5Hz - C-6
Prime - 563Hz - Db+27
Tierce - 659Hz - E+0 (major 3rd)
Quint - 727Hz - F# -30
Nominal - 1055Hz - C+14
Prime - 563Hz - Db+27
Tierce - 659Hz - E+0 (major 3rd)
Quint - 727Hz - F# -30
Nominal - 1055Hz - C+14
| eastdeantenor.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is inscriptions within the inscription band*
1968 - Present
1 |
+ HAL MARI FVL OF GRAS WK |
2 |
GLORIA ♡ DEO ♡ IN ♡ EXCELSIS 1634 J. H. BISHOP VICAR M. A. RANSOM } L. G. CROUCHER } CHURCHWARDENS 1968 [ T ] RECAST 1968 |
3 |
IOHN X CROVCHER X IOHN X PEARL X CHURCH : WARDENS + CLEMENT X TOSIA R X CAST X MEE X IN X THE X YEARE X 1702 X X ◉ # # ◉ X |
Prior to 1968
1 |
+ HAL MARI FVL OF GRAS WK |
2 |
GLORIA ♡ DEO ♡ IN ♡ EXCELSIS 1634 |
3 |
IOHN X CROVCHER X IOHN X PEARL X CHURCH : WARDENS + CLEMENT X TOSIA R X CAST X MEE X IN X THE X YEARE X 1702 X X ◉ # # ◉ X |
Latin Translation:
2: GLORIA DEO IN EXCELSIS - Glory to God in the highest.
♡ = Fig. REL,1
[ T ] = Fig. PLT,1
# = Fig. CTO,1
2: GLORIA DEO IN EXCELSIS - Glory to God in the highest.
♡ = Fig. REL,1
[ T ] = Fig. PLT,1
# = Fig. CTO,1
Photographs:
Sources:
. Victorian County History Vol* 4
. Sussex Record Society Vol* 42
. The Bells in the Valley by Kye L Leaver
. The Church Bells of Sussex by Amhurst D. Tyssen
. Sussex Bells & Belfries by George P. Elphick
. John Taylor & Co archives, with thanks to Chris Pickford.
. https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/east-dean-all-saints/
. Victorian County History Vol* 4
. Sussex Record Society Vol* 42
. The Bells in the Valley by Kye L Leaver
. The Church Bells of Sussex by Amhurst D. Tyssen
. Sussex Bells & Belfries by George P. Elphick
. John Taylor & Co archives, with thanks to Chris Pickford.
. https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/east-dean-all-saints/
