Kirdford, St John the Baptist
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
5-0-27 cwt |
30.50" |
1170 Hz |
D |
Thomas II Mears |
1840 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
2 |
5½ cwt |
30.50" |
1078.5 Hz |
C |
Bryan II Eldridge |
1642 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
3 |
6 cwt |
32.15" |
963.5Hz |
B♭ |
John Saunders |
c1555 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
4 |
8-1-5 cwt |
36.00" |
900.5 Hz |
A |
Thomas II Mears |
1840 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
5 |
11 cwt |
39.00" |
795 Hz |
G |
1607 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
|
6 |
14½ cwt |
42.25" |
717 Hz |
F |
Bryan II Eldridge |
1649 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
About the Bells
6 Bells, 14½ cwt in F
Kirdford has a peal of 6 bells, hung in a west facing tower.
The church dates back to the 12thC, though the present tower is 15thC.
It appears the tower had bells when it was built, for our earliest reference to bells are in a will dated 1521, stating that the bells required restoration.
1521, Apr. 14 "Lego reparacioni Campanarum ac fabrice Luminum ecclesie xlta nummos" John Flute
[I bequest to the repairs of the church's bells and light fixtures 11[ta?] coins]
4 other wills in the 16thC feature the bells too:
Around the time of the last will, a bell was cast by John Saunders of Reading, that bears a Latin inscription reading:
sancta maria ora pro nobis
The bell weighs 6cwt, and was cast with a piece-moulded, conventional canon.
The inscription is spaced out around the inscription band, and therefore the following picture has been made.
Kirdford has a peal of 6 bells, hung in a west facing tower.
The church dates back to the 12thC, though the present tower is 15thC.
It appears the tower had bells when it was built, for our earliest reference to bells are in a will dated 1521, stating that the bells required restoration.
1521, Apr. 14 "Lego reparacioni Campanarum ac fabrice Luminum ecclesie xlta nummos" John Flute
[I bequest to the repairs of the church's bells and light fixtures 11[ta?] coins]
4 other wills in the 16thC feature the bells too:
- 1544, Mar. 21 "I geve and bequeth to ye Belles of Kyrdford xijd" Thomas Grensted
- 1548, May 21 "To the belles of Kyrdford aforsayde vij" John Humffrye
- 1558, Dec. 13 "I bequethe to the mayntenance of the belles of Kyrdford xijd" William Alderton
- 1560, Jun. 2 "I gyve to the mayntenance of the belles at Kyrdford aforesaid xijd" Robert Philipp
Around the time of the last will, a bell was cast by John Saunders of Reading, that bears a Latin inscription reading:
sancta maria ora pro nobis
The bell weighs 6cwt, and was cast with a piece-moulded, conventional canon.
The inscription is spaced out around the inscription band, and therefore the following picture has been made.
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At the start of the 17thC, a gallery was installed in the tower, and Richard Eldridge cast a bell.
It's is inscribed with parchment cut out letters reading:
Our hope is in the lord 1607 R E
Between each word is an ornamental stop. As shown below, the inscription was made entirely in blackletter font. The design of the crown is fairly interesting, and the soundbow has a small amount of tuning, only spanning 12" of its circumference.
It was cast with a conventional canon, but has since been removed.
It's is inscribed with parchment cut out letters reading:
Our hope is in the lord 1607 R E
Between each word is an ornamental stop. As shown below, the inscription was made entirely in blackletter font. The design of the crown is fairly interesting, and the soundbow has a small amount of tuning, only spanning 12" of its circumference.
It was cast with a conventional canon, but has since been removed.
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Next come two new bells cast by Bryan Eldridge Jnr*.
The first was cast in 1642 with an English inscription, and a fleur de lis between each word. His other bell, cast 7 years later, is inscribed in Latin with no stops.
The initials on his earlier bell stand for Henry Strudwick and Richard Penfold, probably the churchwardens.
In 1642, Bryan Eldridge attempted to retune the peal by flattening the strike note on the Saunders bell, and his grandfather Richard's bell. All have the same pattern of tuning marks, which are fairly tidy. [See in the photographs section below]
There was another bell cast that is sadly lost, for in 1724, the Diocesan Survey states there were "5 bells" in the tower.
The 3rd bell of this peal of 5 weighed 8-3-6cwt, and was recast by Thomas II Mears in 1840.
In 1840, Mears also added a treble to augment the peal to 6, they were cast with conventional canons like the rest, but are now removed. The new treble was skirted using a file once cast to raise it's pitch, and the recast bell was flattened.
The cost for casting the two bells; fittings; and work on the other bells came to £97 1s 10d.
In the same year, William Holt of Petworth supplied a turret clock with two trains. It has an anchor recoil escapement, with a rack and snail mechanism. It strikes the hours on the treble.
The dial has an engraving reading: Wm Holt / PETWORTH / 1840
The bells are hung in an oak frame, made with Z trusses. All of the bells are arranged so they they swing the same way, which causes some bells to unexpectedly drop (EtoW). The frame was made by Henry Bowell alongside his son Alfred.
It has the following engraving on the north head:
H. BOWELL & SON, BELL - FOUNDERS, IPSWICH, 1899.
Below are extracts relating to the bells, taken from the Kirdford ringers log book, spanning 1928 - 1991
The first was cast in 1642 with an English inscription, and a fleur de lis between each word. His other bell, cast 7 years later, is inscribed in Latin with no stops.
The initials on his earlier bell stand for Henry Strudwick and Richard Penfold, probably the churchwardens.
In 1642, Bryan Eldridge attempted to retune the peal by flattening the strike note on the Saunders bell, and his grandfather Richard's bell. All have the same pattern of tuning marks, which are fairly tidy. [See in the photographs section below]
There was another bell cast that is sadly lost, for in 1724, the Diocesan Survey states there were "5 bells" in the tower.
The 3rd bell of this peal of 5 weighed 8-3-6cwt, and was recast by Thomas II Mears in 1840.
In 1840, Mears also added a treble to augment the peal to 6, they were cast with conventional canons like the rest, but are now removed. The new treble was skirted using a file once cast to raise it's pitch, and the recast bell was flattened.
The cost for casting the two bells; fittings; and work on the other bells came to £97 1s 10d.
In the same year, William Holt of Petworth supplied a turret clock with two trains. It has an anchor recoil escapement, with a rack and snail mechanism. It strikes the hours on the treble.
The dial has an engraving reading: Wm Holt / PETWORTH / 1840
The bells are hung in an oak frame, made with Z trusses. All of the bells are arranged so they they swing the same way, which causes some bells to unexpectedly drop (EtoW). The frame was made by Henry Bowell alongside his son Alfred.
It has the following engraving on the north head:
H. BOWELL & SON, BELL - FOUNDERS, IPSWICH, 1899.
Below are extracts relating to the bells, taken from the Kirdford ringers log book, spanning 1928 - 1991
KIRDFORD RINGERS LOG BOOK 1928 - 1991
1953: “New ropes were put in 1953”
1972: “A set of ropes were fitted in January. The previous set lasted 20 years.”
1973: “Sec to write to. SCA of CR. as to Whitechapel. . . Bell inspection. Write Whitechapel for free inspection of bells & wheels./ . . .We are hoping to rehang the bells on a D.I.Y. basic. . . .No.2 bell is now connected by a rope to the ground floor so that a service bell can be rung by the vicar."
1974“The bells are turning well, but best have attention before too long! The Sec is contacting a local “bellhanger" to see if the job can be done on a cheaper basis. . . Handbells It was agreed that the existing 8 handbells should be extended to make a full 14 with sharps + flats. It was also discovered that the original bells were presented to the tower by the landlord of the Foresters Arms in 1905. The secretary therefore approached the landlord of the Half Moon for help in collecting £150 for the extra bells. + a collection box was put in the [sealed?] large box.
1975: “Purpose of meeting: to discuss ways of raising £2,500/ or £1,000 needed to repair bells. . . Mr Hamilton gave a resume of the history of the bells and the work which now needs to be done. He explained that if the bells were completely overhauled by the Whitechapel Foundry it would cost £2,500 but that less work done by local people in Cooperation with the Foundry would prove satisfactory and would cost approx £7,50. The foundry was prepared to go ahead on this basis."
“2/ Alan Hughes came down as arranged to spend 2½ hours with R. Taylor
(a) It was agreed that ball bearings should be fitted all round.
(b) It was arranged for the foundry to drill 6 ⅞” holes through the top & bottom frame to take clamp bolts to be made up by R. Taylor.
(c) A new treble wheel will be supplied.
(d) Clappers should be refitted at cost of £500. This will be done if money available. Perhaps later.
(e) All ironwork to be cleaned + painted all wood to be dressed.
(f) bells do not need turning
1976 “The secretary wrote to the Foundry to as @ if the cost of the clapper repair could be reduced.
(b)if the work could be done on a DIY basic
(c)If not could the old crown staples be drilled out at this charge so that repair could go ahead lated ( These could be done one at a time).
(d) It was explained that funds for the aforesaid repairs had be raised but that there could be some delay in rasing costs for No. Estimate.
Final repair of work on Kirdford Bells.
The final amount is attached beneath.
At the end the fund was short by £77 This to be raised before end of the year.
Aug 29. 1976 Sunday
Rededication of the bells arranged.
Extra work envisaged . New Pulleys @ £15 each. All wheels painted 1 except.
Whitechapel Foundry £1342.44/-
1983 “Bells in good order. Ropes could do with a change”
1988 “Six new bell ropes bought donations given + £60 from bell fund Total 6 ropes £180.
1972: “A set of ropes were fitted in January. The previous set lasted 20 years.”
1973: “Sec to write to. SCA of CR. as to Whitechapel. . . Bell inspection. Write Whitechapel for free inspection of bells & wheels./ . . .We are hoping to rehang the bells on a D.I.Y. basic. . . .No.2 bell is now connected by a rope to the ground floor so that a service bell can be rung by the vicar."
1974“The bells are turning well, but best have attention before too long! The Sec is contacting a local “bellhanger" to see if the job can be done on a cheaper basis. . . Handbells It was agreed that the existing 8 handbells should be extended to make a full 14 with sharps + flats. It was also discovered that the original bells were presented to the tower by the landlord of the Foresters Arms in 1905. The secretary therefore approached the landlord of the Half Moon for help in collecting £150 for the extra bells. + a collection box was put in the [sealed?] large box.
1975: “Purpose of meeting: to discuss ways of raising £2,500/ or £1,000 needed to repair bells. . . Mr Hamilton gave a resume of the history of the bells and the work which now needs to be done. He explained that if the bells were completely overhauled by the Whitechapel Foundry it would cost £2,500 but that less work done by local people in Cooperation with the Foundry would prove satisfactory and would cost approx £7,50. The foundry was prepared to go ahead on this basis."
“2/ Alan Hughes came down as arranged to spend 2½ hours with R. Taylor
(a) It was agreed that ball bearings should be fitted all round.
(b) It was arranged for the foundry to drill 6 ⅞” holes through the top & bottom frame to take clamp bolts to be made up by R. Taylor.
(c) A new treble wheel will be supplied.
(d) Clappers should be refitted at cost of £500. This will be done if money available. Perhaps later.
(e) All ironwork to be cleaned + painted all wood to be dressed.
(f) bells do not need turning
1976 “The secretary wrote to the Foundry to as @ if the cost of the clapper repair could be reduced.
(b)if the work could be done on a DIY basic
(c)If not could the old crown staples be drilled out at this charge so that repair could go ahead lated ( These could be done one at a time).
(d) It was explained that funds for the aforesaid repairs had be raised but that there could be some delay in rasing costs for No. Estimate.
Final repair of work on Kirdford Bells.
The final amount is attached beneath.
At the end the fund was short by £77 This to be raised before end of the year.
Aug 29. 1976 Sunday
Rededication of the bells arranged.
Extra work envisaged . New Pulleys @ £15 each. All wheels painted 1 except.
Whitechapel Foundry £1342.44/-
1983 “Bells in good order. Ropes could do with a change”
1988 “Six new bell ropes bought donations given + £60 from bell fund Total 6 ropes £180.
The bells were overhauled by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 1976, and two of the crown staples remain preserved in the belfry. There was a long correspondence between the church and the foundry to see if the work could be done on a DIY basis.
6 bells in pretty good condition.
Visited: 23/03/2024 with Stuart Box, Suzy Linney, and the Kirdford ringers.
6 bells in pretty good condition.
Visited: 23/03/2024 with Stuart Box, Suzy Linney, and the Kirdford ringers.
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 - 311Hz - Eb+0
Prime - 522.5Hz - C-1
Tierce - 698.5Hz - F+0 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 844.5Hz - Ab+29
Nominal - 1170Hz - D-6
Prime - 522.5Hz - C-1
Tierce - 698.5Hz - F+0 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 844.5Hz - Ab+29
Nominal - 1170Hz - D-6
| kirdfordtreble.mp3 |
Bell 2
Hum - 281.5Hz - Db+27
Prime - 560.5Hz - Db+19
Tierce - 674Hz - E+38 (major 3rd)
Quint - 822.5Hz - Ab-16
Nominal - 1078.5Hz - Db-47
Prime - 560.5Hz - Db+19
Tierce - 674Hz - E+38 (major 3rd)
Quint - 822.5Hz - Ab-16
Nominal - 1078.5Hz - Db-47
| kirdfordtwo.mp3 |
Bell 3
Hum - 260.5Hz - C-6
Prime - 474Hz - Bb+29
Tierce - 592.5Hz - D+15 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 792Hz - G+18
Nominal - 963.5Hz - B-42
Prime - 474Hz - Bb+29
Tierce - 592.5Hz - D+15 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 792Hz - G+18
Nominal - 963.5Hz - B-42
| kirdfordthree.mp3 |
Bell 4
Hum - 254Hz - B+49
Prime - 430Hz - A-39
Tierce - 546.5Hz - Db-24 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 732.5Hz - F# -17
Nominal - 900.5Hz - A+40
Prime - 430Hz - A-39
Tierce - 546.5Hz - Db-24 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 732.5Hz - F# -17
Nominal - 900.5Hz - A+40
| kirdfordfour.mp3 |
Bell 5
Hum - 216Hz - A-31
Prime - 385.5Hz - G-28
Tierce - 485Hz - B-30 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 618Hz - Eb-11
Nominal - 795Hz - G+24
Prime - 385.5Hz - G-28
Tierce - 485Hz - B-30 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 618Hz - Eb-11
Nominal - 795Hz - G+24
| kirdfordfive.mp3 |
Bell 6
Hum - 185.5Hz - F#+5
Prime - 362Hz - F# -37
Tierce - 441Hz - A+4 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 518.5Hz - C-15
Nominal - 717Hz - F+45
Prime - 362Hz - F# -37
Tierce - 441Hz - A+4 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 518.5Hz - C-15
Nominal - 717Hz - F+45
| kirdfordtenor.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
1 |
THOMAS MEARS FOUNDER LONDON 1840 REVᴰ J F COLE VICAR JOHN DOWNER } JOHN EEDE } CHURCH WARDENS |
2 |
BRYAN ⚜ ELDRIDGE ⚜ MADE ⚜ MEE 1642 HS ⚜ RP |
3 |
s a n c t a m a r i a o r a p r o n o bis |
4 |
THOMAS MEARS FOUNDER LONDON REVᴰ J.F. COLE VICAR JOHN DOWNER } JOHN EEDE } CHURCH WARDENS 1840 |
5 |
Our # hope # is # in # the # lord 1607 R # E |
6 |
BRYANVS ELDRIDGE ME FECIT 1649 |
Latin Translations:
3: sancta ora pro nobis - Saint Mary pray for us.
6: BRYANVS ELDRIDGE ME FECIT - Bryan Eldridge made me.
3: sancta ora pro nobis - Saint Mary pray for us.
6: BRYANVS ELDRIDGE ME FECIT - Bryan Eldridge made me.
⚜ = Fig. BEL,1 (Bell 2)
# = Fig. RIE,1 (Bell 5)
# = Fig. RIE,1 (Bell 5)
Photographs:
*Click on the photos to enlarge them*
Sources:
.Church Guide
.Bell Ringer's Maintenance Log Book 1928 - 1991
.Sussex Parish Churches
.Sussex Bells & Belfries
.Chichester Diocesan Surveys 1686 & 1724 by Wyn K. Ford
.Sussex Record Society Vol 44
.Church Guide
.Bell Ringer's Maintenance Log Book 1928 - 1991
.Sussex Parish Churches
.Sussex Bells & Belfries
.Chichester Diocesan Surveys 1686 & 1724 by Wyn K. Ford
.Sussex Record Society Vol 44
