Eastbourne, Our Lady of RansomOur Lady of Ransom has a single bell hung for full circle in a NE facing tower.
The church was built over a period of 26 years, starting with the foundation stone in 1900. By 1903, the church was completed except for the tower. In 1912, Sydney Ernest Kennedy, who is recognised as being a very generous man, provided the funds for a tower. He was married to Mary and together they had 5 sons. |
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The Bell
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
34.00" |
1022 Hz |
C |
1912 |
Full Circle |
1 Bell, in C
In 1912, Warners supplied a bell weighing around 6cwt complete with frame and fittings.
It has a simple inscription around the inscription band. Each word is separated with a colon, and the initial words begin with a gothic cross. The font used is also of gothic style.
Immediately below the inscription band is a floral band.
The bell is bolted to a metal headstock inscribed "WARNER Fig. JWA,1 LONDON" without canons.
The stay has a pair of wooden timbers either side of it to strengthen it. The slider, stay, pulley box, and wheel are all painted red.
In 1912, Warners supplied a bell weighing around 6cwt complete with frame and fittings.
It has a simple inscription around the inscription band. Each word is separated with a colon, and the initial words begin with a gothic cross. The font used is also of gothic style.
Immediately below the inscription band is a floral band.
The bell is bolted to a metal headstock inscribed "WARNER Fig. JWA,1 LONDON" without canons.
The stay has a pair of wooden timbers either side of it to strengthen it. The slider, stay, pulley box, and wheel are all painted red.
- Crown Circumference: 54.50"
- Crown to lip: 25.50"
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The engraving on the waist of the bell shows that Paul Lynch was the priest (Temple Crier) at the time, and Peter Amigo was the Bishop of Southwark.
Like all bells in the pre-reformational period, this one was hung in a frame in the church and blessed. Salt and water were blessed and then used for washing it. The outside of the bell was anointed using holy oil, and the inside with Chrism. It's unclear what the date on the bell refers to, but it's likely the blessing, September 28th 1912. |
Peter Amigo
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The cast iron frame is composed of 8.3.A.h trusses which have rusted completely, due to the close proximity of the sea. All other metal fittings have sadly rusted, and the slider and pulley have swollen & warped.
In terms of tuning, this is one of the best examples of an untouched Warner bell in the county. It is near Simpson tuned with the Prime & Tierce in proportion, whereas the Hum and quint are a little sharp.
The bell is rung both manually and electronically from the ground floor.
Access to the belfry is by a spiral staircase which takes you to the intermediate chamber. From here, a vertical 28-rung ladder leads to a loft hatch.
In the belfry is another ladder that leads to the roof.
The 9.A frame above the chancel roof had a Whitechapel bell inscribed:
M & S LONDON 1925
This bell is now lost.
Visited: 30/12/2023
In terms of tuning, this is one of the best examples of an untouched Warner bell in the county. It is near Simpson tuned with the Prime & Tierce in proportion, whereas the Hum and quint are a little sharp.
The bell is rung both manually and electronically from the ground floor.
Access to the belfry is by a spiral staircase which takes you to the intermediate chamber. From here, a vertical 28-rung ladder leads to a loft hatch.
In the belfry is another ladder that leads to the roof.
The 9.A frame above the chancel roof had a Whitechapel bell inscribed:
M & S LONDON 1925
This bell is now lost.
Visited: 30/12/2023
Recording of the bell:
How the bell is tuned in relation to the 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+
Hum - 260.5Hz - C-6
Prime - 508Hz - B+49
Tierce - 608.5Hz - Eb-38 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 799.5Hz - G+34
Nominal - 1022Hz - C-40
Prime - 508Hz - B+49
Tierce - 608.5Hz - Eb-38 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 799.5Hz - G+34
Nominal - 1022Hz - C-40
| eastbourneolor.wav |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
*Text in red in engraved*
*Text in red in engraved*
1 |
+Ad : Maiorem : Dei : Gloriam : + Warner : Fecit ########################################### In · Honorem · B Matris · Mariae · me · cum · hac · turre · dono · dedit. Sydney · Ernest · Kennedy. Pro · se · Maria · uxore · suis · quinque · filiis · Abluit · unxit Die · IV. Ante · Kal Oct · MDCCCCXII · Petrus · Amigo · Antistes · Suthwarcensis. Curione · Templi · Paulo · Lynch. |
Old Sanctus |
M & S LONDON 1925 |
Latin Translation:
1: For the greater glory of God. Warner made me.
In honour of Mother Mary, this tower was given as a gift by Sydney Ernest Kennedy for himself; his wife Mary, and his five sons. Washed and anointed.
Fourth day before October 1912
Peter Amigo bishop of Southwark
Temple Crier Paulo Lynch
# = Fig. JWA,4
+ = Fig. JWA,5
1: For the greater glory of God. Warner made me.
In honour of Mother Mary, this tower was given as a gift by Sydney Ernest Kennedy for himself; his wife Mary, and his five sons. Washed and anointed.
Fourth day before October 1912
Peter Amigo bishop of Southwark
Temple Crier Paulo Lynch
# = Fig. JWA,4
+ = Fig. JWA,5
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
- ELPHICK, George. P (1970): Sussex Bells & Belfries
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Ransom_Church,_Eastbourne
