Horsham, Town HallHorsham Town Hall has a clock chime of three bells, hung along the north wall.
The earliest reference to a building dates 1648 when it was described as the "Market House". A new 2-storey building was build in 1721 and contained a hipped roof and central clock turret. The building fell into disrepair, and was substantially rebuilt in 1821. The funds were raised by the 11th Duke of Norfolk. The building was largely rebuilt between 1888 - 1889 to its present day look, with support from the 15th duke of Norfolk. |
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The Bell
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
Quarter 1 |
0-2-11 cwt |
14.00" |
2270.5 Hz |
C# |
1889 |
Dead |
||
Quarter 2 |
1-0-6 cwt |
17.00" |
2020 Hz |
B |
1889 |
Dead |
||
Hour |
22.13" |
1602 Hz |
G |
Thomas II Mears |
1820 |
Dead |
3 Clock bells, in G
The earliest known bell was cast by Thomas II Mears in 1820, and was cast with a conventional canon. It has a very lengthy inscription on both the waist and inscription band, and doesn't bare the founder's name.
The ornament shows the effect the Greek revival had on English bell founders. It was supplied with a clock, given by the 12th Duke of Norfolk.
It has a cast-in crown staple, but shows no sign of internal clapper wear.
A sketch of the town hall dated 1750, shows a small clock turret, and it may have contained a bell too.
The earliest known bell was cast by Thomas II Mears in 1820, and was cast with a conventional canon. It has a very lengthy inscription on both the waist and inscription band, and doesn't bare the founder's name.
The ornament shows the effect the Greek revival had on English bell founders. It was supplied with a clock, given by the 12th Duke of Norfolk.
It has a cast-in crown staple, but shows no sign of internal clapper wear.
A sketch of the town hall dated 1750, shows a small clock turret, and it may have contained a bell too.
The town hall was rebuilt in 1821 to have a horizontal roof with embattlements.
The final rebuilding took place between 1888 - 1889 to its present day look, raising the 1820s clock face up.
At the same time, Gillett & Co of Croydon supplied two quarter bells a tone apart, and it may have been around this time the new clock was installed. Each bell was cast with a Doncaster canon and crown staple, though no internal wear marks are present. The hour bell was probably rehung in this year, and all are now bolted to brackets by wooden deadstocks.
Each bell shows more than one patch of wear. The hour bell has been turned twice since 1820, and both Gillett bells once.
Access to the belfry is by a very narrow staircase in the NW corner that leads to a door. You're then welcomed with a wooden staircase up the side of the roof to a platform where the quarter bells are. Passing through the clock shed, a door on the other side takes you to the hour bell.
A newspaper cutting found in the Crawley bell ringers archives shows these two bells on display at the Horsham Museum in 1985. Interestingly, the date 1987 is engraved on the town hall walls above the Gillett bells. This may suggest an overhaul around that year. The man in the bell shaped plaque is former Horsham ringer Henry Burstow.
This building no longer serves as the town hall, but has been converted into a restaurant under the name of Bill's.
Fortunately, features like the clock, bells, and underground cells have been kept.
Visited by Kye L Leaver & Michael Cattell 07/08/2023
At the same time, Gillett & Co of Croydon supplied two quarter bells a tone apart, and it may have been around this time the new clock was installed. Each bell was cast with a Doncaster canon and crown staple, though no internal wear marks are present. The hour bell was probably rehung in this year, and all are now bolted to brackets by wooden deadstocks.
Each bell shows more than one patch of wear. The hour bell has been turned twice since 1820, and both Gillett bells once.
Access to the belfry is by a very narrow staircase in the NW corner that leads to a door. You're then welcomed with a wooden staircase up the side of the roof to a platform where the quarter bells are. Passing through the clock shed, a door on the other side takes you to the hour bell.
A newspaper cutting found in the Crawley bell ringers archives shows these two bells on display at the Horsham Museum in 1985. Interestingly, the date 1987 is engraved on the town hall walls above the Gillett bells. This may suggest an overhaul around that year. The man in the bell shaped plaque is former Horsham ringer Henry Burstow.
This building no longer serves as the town hall, but has been converted into a restaurant under the name of Bill's.
Fortunately, features like the clock, bells, and underground cells have been kept.
Visited by Kye L Leaver & Michael Cattell 07/08/2023
Dukes of Norfolk who donated the Hall, clock, and bells
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+
Quarter 1
Hum - 639.5Hz - Eb+47
Prime - 1119.5Hz - Db+17
Tierce - 1364.5Hz - F-40
Quint - 2030.5Hz - B+48
Nominal - 2270.5Hz - Db+41
Prime - 1119.5Hz - Db+17
Tierce - 1364.5Hz - F-40
Quint - 2030.5Hz - B+48
Nominal - 2270.5Hz - Db+41
| horshamtownhall1.wav |
Quarter 2
Hum - 529.5Hz - C+21
Prime - 896.5Hz - A+32
Tierce - 1184.5Hz - D+14
Quint - 1608.5Hz - G+44
Nominal - 2020Hz - B+39
Prime - 896.5Hz - A+32
Tierce - 1184.5Hz - D+14
Quint - 1608.5Hz - G+44
Nominal - 2020Hz - B+39
| horshamtownhalltwo.wav |
Hour
Hum - 417.5Hz - Ab+9
Prime - 739Hz - F# -1
Tierce - 953Hz - Bb+38
Quint - 1238.5Hz - Eb-7
Nominal - 1602Hz - G+37
Prime - 739Hz - F# -1
Tierce - 953Hz - Bb+38
Quint - 1238.5Hz - Eb-7
Nominal - 1602Hz - G+37
| horshamtownhallhour.wav |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
*Text in red is engraved*
*Text in red is engraved*
Q1 |
GILLETT & Co CROYDON 1889 |
Q2 |
GILLETT & Co CROYDON 1889 |
Hour |
HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF NORFOLK. PRESENTED A NEW TOWN HALL: CLOCK ANNO DOMINI 1820 R. H. HURST ESQ.ᴿᴱ & J. TURNEᴿ GEN.ᵀ ## BAILIFFS D. STEDMAN GEN.ᵀ TOWN CLERK. S.ᴿ JOHN AUBREY BAR.ᵀ. & R.ᵀ HURST ESQ.ᴿᴱ MEMBERS OF THE BOROUGH. WHOSE PRAISE & FAME I.LL SPEAK & TELL AS LONG AS I REMAIN A. BELL AND AFTER DEATH: ##### I HOPE & TRUST THEY.ᴰ ALL BE NUMBERD WITH THE JUST. ##### |
# = Fig, THM, 1
Photographs:
*Click on the photos to enlarge them*
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsham_Town_Hall
