Hamsey, St PeterHamsey has single bell, hung in a west facing tower.
The tower dates back to the 14th century, and shows the old lug holes up the internal walls. The intermediate chamber, no longer exists, and the old door way to it has been bricked up half way. The floor started at the top of the west window, and ended at the string course below the belfry windows. It may have once has a gallery for the ringers to ring from. In recent years, the concrete was removed from the walls to reveal the sandstone and flint work. |
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The Bell
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
30.13" |
1209 Hz |
D |
William Hull |
1682 |
Swing |
1 Bell, in D
The earliest reference to bells is apparently in a will dated 1529, as mentioned by Elphick. Although, the only thing I can find is a will that gives:
1529, Mar. 19. "I bequeth to the church of Hamsey there to be rong for xxd"
The next reference comes from the church presentments of 1675 and 1676, that show there were more than 1 bell, and that all of them were broken. Judging by the frame, there were 3 bells.
1675 “Wee present the bells all broken.”
1675 “That the bells are broken.”
1676 “The bells broken.”
John Hull supplied us with two surviving examples dated 1682, though it's possible he may have supplied Hamsey with 4 bells in that year. Of the surviving examples, the treble carries the churchwardens' initials, and the tenor the Rector's name. They are a semitone apart and may have been the treble and 2nd of the peal of 4.
Both of the bells have a long inscription, taking up two inscription bands. Almost all of his bells share this feature. They were cast with conventional canons, and heavy mouding wires.
The frame was modified so that the end heads of the central pit were removed, so two bells could swing in this pit. Extra heads were fitted on top of the central pit's heads.
Brace tie stretch across the frame and have vacant grooves to show the former pits measured: 2' 10.5"; 3' 2.5"; and 3' 6.5". This suggests there was a lighter ring before as the current pits are 3' 2", 3' 5" and 4' 0.5".
On the south head of the central pit are the letters WH engraved. These undoubtedly stand for William Hull, since Elphick recorded the east end frame head dating to 1660 (using dendrochronology).
The frame consists of 5.D & 5.G trusses, arranged in the 3.1 layout.
Previous to the frame's modification around 1686, it was a short-headed truss of either 3.A, 3.B, 3.C, or 3.D type.
William Hull repaired the ring in 1686 since the 1724 Diocesan Survey state that "The steeple and 4 bells in good order". Hull either recast 2 and added 1, or he recast all three and added one. Unfortunately, we currently don't know this information.
Tyssen's survey published in 1864 shows 2 bells remaining, meaning presumably the two tenors were sold or stolen, since they are a semitone apart.
In 1860, a new church at Offham was built as a chapel of ease for parishioners of Cooksbridge and Offham.
As opposed to casting a new bell, the Hamsey tenor was unhung, and transferred.
In both belfries are the remaining ancient fittings which have been replaced by new, modern Whitechapel fittings.
An engraving of the headstock at Hamsey may reveal the year both bells were restored:
1956 / S KING SMITH / C.W
The Hamsey bell is now rung from the ground floor by a small swing chiming rope, through it's got a full wheel and pulley.
It is in great condition, and hangs above a 50' drop.
Access to the belfry is by a spiral staircase.
Visited with Heather & Andrew Leaver 24/07/2022
The earliest reference to bells is apparently in a will dated 1529, as mentioned by Elphick. Although, the only thing I can find is a will that gives:
1529, Mar. 19. "I bequeth to the church of Hamsey there to be rong for xxd"
The next reference comes from the church presentments of 1675 and 1676, that show there were more than 1 bell, and that all of them were broken. Judging by the frame, there were 3 bells.
1675 “Wee present the bells all broken.”
1675 “That the bells are broken.”
1676 “The bells broken.”
John Hull supplied us with two surviving examples dated 1682, though it's possible he may have supplied Hamsey with 4 bells in that year. Of the surviving examples, the treble carries the churchwardens' initials, and the tenor the Rector's name. They are a semitone apart and may have been the treble and 2nd of the peal of 4.
Both of the bells have a long inscription, taking up two inscription bands. Almost all of his bells share this feature. They were cast with conventional canons, and heavy mouding wires.
The frame was modified so that the end heads of the central pit were removed, so two bells could swing in this pit. Extra heads were fitted on top of the central pit's heads.
Brace tie stretch across the frame and have vacant grooves to show the former pits measured: 2' 10.5"; 3' 2.5"; and 3' 6.5". This suggests there was a lighter ring before as the current pits are 3' 2", 3' 5" and 4' 0.5".
On the south head of the central pit are the letters WH engraved. These undoubtedly stand for William Hull, since Elphick recorded the east end frame head dating to 1660 (using dendrochronology).
The frame consists of 5.D & 5.G trusses, arranged in the 3.1 layout.
Previous to the frame's modification around 1686, it was a short-headed truss of either 3.A, 3.B, 3.C, or 3.D type.
William Hull repaired the ring in 1686 since the 1724 Diocesan Survey state that "The steeple and 4 bells in good order". Hull either recast 2 and added 1, or he recast all three and added one. Unfortunately, we currently don't know this information.
Tyssen's survey published in 1864 shows 2 bells remaining, meaning presumably the two tenors were sold or stolen, since they are a semitone apart.
In 1860, a new church at Offham was built as a chapel of ease for parishioners of Cooksbridge and Offham.
As opposed to casting a new bell, the Hamsey tenor was unhung, and transferred.
In both belfries are the remaining ancient fittings which have been replaced by new, modern Whitechapel fittings.
An engraving of the headstock at Hamsey may reveal the year both bells were restored:
1956 / S KING SMITH / C.W
The Hamsey bell is now rung from the ground floor by a small swing chiming rope, through it's got a full wheel and pulley.
It is in great condition, and hangs above a 50' drop.
Access to the belfry is by a spiral staircase.
Visited with Heather & Andrew Leaver 24/07/2022
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 - 327.5Hz - E-10
Prime - 525Hz - C+6
Tierce - 725.5Hz - F# -33 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 904.5Hz - A+48
Nominal - 1209Hz - D+50
Prime - 525Hz - C+6
Tierce - 725.5Hz - F# -33 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 904.5Hz - A+48
Nominal - 1209Hz - D+50
| cut_hamsey.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
1 |
☥ WILLIAM ♢ HVLL ♢ MADE ♢ MEE ♢ ANNO ♢ DOMNI ♢ 1682 DC ♢ TB ♢ CW ♢◉◉◉◉♢◉ |
Latin Translation:
1: ANNO DOMNI - In the year of the Lord
1: ANNO DOMNI - In the year of the Lord
☥ = Fig. XXXVI,c
◉ = A coin
◉ = A coin
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
- ELPHICK, George. P (1970): Sussex Bells & Belfries
- ELPHICK, George. P (1945): Sussex Bell Frames. Sussex Archaeological Collections Vol* 84
- TYSSEN, Amhurst. D (1864): The Church Bells of Sussex
- FORD, Wyn. K (1994): Chichester Diocesan Surveys 1686 & 1724
- Sussex Record Society Vol* 42
