Outwood, St John the Baptist
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
2-2-0 cwt |
22.12" |
1667.5 Hz |
Ab |
1875 |
Full Circle |
||
2 |
2-3-0 cwt |
23.00" |
1577 Hz |
G |
1875 |
Full Circle |
||
3 |
3-1-0 cwt |
24.75" |
1404 Hz |
F |
1875 |
Full Circle |
||
4 |
4 cwt |
26.50" |
1259.5 Hz |
Eb |
1875 |
Full Circle |
About the Bells
4 Bells, 4cwt in Eb
Outwood has a peal of 4 bells, hung in a west facing tower.
Prior to the present church, services were held in a small iron chapel that was not fit for purpose. So, in 1869, a brick church was build to the design of William Burgess without a tower. It was a later addition in 1875, and subsequently, four bells were supplied by John Warner & Sons of Cripplegate. At this time, the foundry was under the management of Robert II Warner who gave us a great supply of bells.
The bells are quite a sweet and bright ring of 4 bells. Each inscribed
J . WARNER & SONS LONDON 1875x
except the tenor which starts with CAST BY JOHN.
The bells were cast with traditional Warner canons, and moulding wires arranged 2.2.2.3.2.
Initially, they were cast with cast in crown staples, but have fortunately been removed.
The tenor's crown is much steeper, and the join between the crown and the head mould is more obvious too.
The bells are rung from a gallery, accessed by a small flight of stairs. It is highly looked after, and great care is shown in the presentation.
They're hung clockwise and rung by red, white, and blue sallied ropes.
Ascending the spiral staircase in the SE corner takes you the clock room. In here, the rope for the 2nd is drawn at an angle to form a better rope circle below.
The clock is cased in the middle of the room and is still wound manually. It was made by William Webster of London and has two trains, chiming on the hour and half past by a rack and snail mechanism. The tenor is used as the clock bell, disengaged by rope.
A ladder with iron rungs takes you up to the belfry.
In 1952, the condition of the bells is highlighted by Douglas Hughes, former master of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry.
He states that the headstock on the treble was cracked and that those on the two tenors had been attacked by woodworm. At the time, the bells would have been hung on plain bearing, and both them and the gudgeons were badly worn! The shrouding on the wheels were deteriorating but the spokes were sound. The clappers were loose and required turning. The iron work had rusted and the nut threads had corroded. They were also found painted. And finally, the pulleys were worn.
On January 8th, Mears & Stainbank provided an estimate for the work which came to £57 10s 0d.
The work was completed in spring of the same year:
The bells were given new seasoned elm headstock and rehung on ball bearings. The wheels were re-shrouded and trued up. The pulley blocks were given new sheaves, and the bells new running gear.
All the iron work was sand blasted, treated, and repainted grey. The old cast-in crown staples were drilled out, and new clappers were provided. In addition, the bells were quarter turned.
The first peal on the bells was rung on July 13, 1963.
In 1985, there was an attempt to get the bells augmented to 6, Whitechapel being the contractors.
Mrs Y. Cooper, tower secretary, sent a letter to Whitechapel asking them how practical it would be, and invited them to carry out an inspection. 2 cast iron Z.1 trusses from Wimbledon were available to help with this project. Mrs Cooper mentioned to Alan Hughes that a local craftsman was able to construct a bell frame of oak.
Alan Hughes arranged an inspection on Tuesday 23rd July at 8am. This went ahead and he recommended the following:
If the ring was to be augmented, the extra two trebles were to be hung swinging E to W along the north wall; the southern bearings would be hung on the existing frame, and the northern would be on new trusses. The 1 and 2 bell ropes would be drawn south to a position just in the clock case, either side of the pendulum. The tenor would be re-roped so it is 18" south of its present location.
Alan Hughes did express a point of concern related to the tuning of the bells. Due to their character, the Warner bell would overpower the new trebles as they'd scream over them. The bells are not harmonically tuned either, so would need to be retuned too. It was then advised that the who peal be recast into a brand new 6.
Below is what Whitechapel estimated they could have been
Outwood has a peal of 4 bells, hung in a west facing tower.
Prior to the present church, services were held in a small iron chapel that was not fit for purpose. So, in 1869, a brick church was build to the design of William Burgess without a tower. It was a later addition in 1875, and subsequently, four bells were supplied by John Warner & Sons of Cripplegate. At this time, the foundry was under the management of Robert II Warner who gave us a great supply of bells.
The bells are quite a sweet and bright ring of 4 bells. Each inscribed
J . WARNER & SONS LONDON 1875x
except the tenor which starts with CAST BY JOHN.
The bells were cast with traditional Warner canons, and moulding wires arranged 2.2.2.3.2.
Initially, they were cast with cast in crown staples, but have fortunately been removed.
The tenor's crown is much steeper, and the join between the crown and the head mould is more obvious too.
The bells are rung from a gallery, accessed by a small flight of stairs. It is highly looked after, and great care is shown in the presentation.
They're hung clockwise and rung by red, white, and blue sallied ropes.
Ascending the spiral staircase in the SE corner takes you the clock room. In here, the rope for the 2nd is drawn at an angle to form a better rope circle below.
The clock is cased in the middle of the room and is still wound manually. It was made by William Webster of London and has two trains, chiming on the hour and half past by a rack and snail mechanism. The tenor is used as the clock bell, disengaged by rope.
A ladder with iron rungs takes you up to the belfry.
In 1952, the condition of the bells is highlighted by Douglas Hughes, former master of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry.
He states that the headstock on the treble was cracked and that those on the two tenors had been attacked by woodworm. At the time, the bells would have been hung on plain bearing, and both them and the gudgeons were badly worn! The shrouding on the wheels were deteriorating but the spokes were sound. The clappers were loose and required turning. The iron work had rusted and the nut threads had corroded. They were also found painted. And finally, the pulleys were worn.
On January 8th, Mears & Stainbank provided an estimate for the work which came to £57 10s 0d.
The work was completed in spring of the same year:
The bells were given new seasoned elm headstock and rehung on ball bearings. The wheels were re-shrouded and trued up. The pulley blocks were given new sheaves, and the bells new running gear.
All the iron work was sand blasted, treated, and repainted grey. The old cast-in crown staples were drilled out, and new clappers were provided. In addition, the bells were quarter turned.
The first peal on the bells was rung on July 13, 1963.
In 1985, there was an attempt to get the bells augmented to 6, Whitechapel being the contractors.
Mrs Y. Cooper, tower secretary, sent a letter to Whitechapel asking them how practical it would be, and invited them to carry out an inspection. 2 cast iron Z.1 trusses from Wimbledon were available to help with this project. Mrs Cooper mentioned to Alan Hughes that a local craftsman was able to construct a bell frame of oak.
Alan Hughes arranged an inspection on Tuesday 23rd July at 8am. This went ahead and he recommended the following:
- Birdproof the belfry and thoroughly clean it out
- Install good lighting in the belfry and clock chamber
- Oil and tighten all bolts in the fittings and frame
- Scrape and wire brush all iron and steel, and paint
- Liberally treat the frame with creosote to repel moisture
If the ring was to be augmented, the extra two trebles were to be hung swinging E to W along the north wall; the southern bearings would be hung on the existing frame, and the northern would be on new trusses. The 1 and 2 bell ropes would be drawn south to a position just in the clock case, either side of the pendulum. The tenor would be re-roped so it is 18" south of its present location.
Alan Hughes did express a point of concern related to the tuning of the bells. Due to their character, the Warner bell would overpower the new trebles as they'd scream over them. The bells are not harmonically tuned either, so would need to be retuned too. It was then advised that the who peal be recast into a brand new 6.
Below is what Whitechapel estimated they could have been
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Note |
Founder |
Date |
1 |
c1-3-0 cwt |
19.50" |
B |
Whitechapel Bell Foundry |
1985 |
2 |
c2-0-0 cwt |
20.50" |
A |
Whitechapel Bell Foundry |
1985 |
3 |
c2-1-14 cwt |
22.00" |
G |
Whitechapel Bell Foundry |
1985 |
4 |
c2-2-0 cwt |
23.00" |
F# |
Whitechapel Bell Foundry |
1985 |
5 |
c3-2-0 cwt |
25.38" |
E |
Whitechapel Bell Foundry |
1985 |
6 |
4-2-0 cwt |
26.00" |
D |
Whitechapel Bell Foundry |
1985 |
If the bells weren't recast
An estimate was written on July 30th stating the new bells would measure 20 and 21 inches in diameter, weighing 2-0-0 and 2-1-0cwt respectively.
The project went no further and Outwood remained a peal of 4.
The bells are hung in a nice pine bell frame, arranged in the 4.3 layout with Z trusses.
Bells 1,2,3 swing E to W, and the tenor swings N to S. The 3rd is hung between the treble and 2nd.
In April 2021, John Taylor carried out a small service on the bells by tightening and greasing the fittings.
2 years later, the idea of getting them augmented was raised again, though I will update you if anything comes of this.
2023: 4 bells in great condition.
Visited:
.I have been Steeple Keeper here since 2023.
An estimate was written on July 30th stating the new bells would measure 20 and 21 inches in diameter, weighing 2-0-0 and 2-1-0cwt respectively.
The project went no further and Outwood remained a peal of 4.
The bells are hung in a nice pine bell frame, arranged in the 4.3 layout with Z trusses.
Bells 1,2,3 swing E to W, and the tenor swings N to S. The 3rd is hung between the treble and 2nd.
In April 2021, John Taylor carried out a small service on the bells by tightening and greasing the fittings.
2 years later, the idea of getting them augmented was raised again, though I will update you if anything comes of this.
2023: 4 bells in great condition.
Visited:
.I have been Steeple Keeper here since 2023.
Recordings of the bells:
How the bells are tuned in relation to their nominal.
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 - 419.5Hz - Ab+17
Prime - 750Hz - F#+23
Tierce - 976.5Hz - B-19 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1244Hz - Eb+0
Nominal - 1667.5Hz - Ab+7
Prime - 750Hz - F#+23
Tierce - 976.5Hz - B-19 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1244Hz - Eb+0
Nominal - 1667.5Hz - Ab+7
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Bell 2
Hum - 407Hz - Ab-32
Prime - 689.5Hz - F-21
Tierce - 923Hz - Bb-16 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1219.5Hz - Eb-34
Nominal - 1577Hz - G+10
Prime - 689.5Hz - F-21
Tierce - 923Hz - Bb-16 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1219.5Hz - Eb-34
Nominal - 1577Hz - G+10
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Bell 3
Hum - 384.5Hz - G-32
Prime - 691Hz - F-18
Tierce - 854Hz - Ab+48 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1155.5Hz - D-27
Nominal - 1404Hz - F+9
Prime - 691Hz - F-18
Tierce - 854Hz - Ab+48 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1155.5Hz - D-27
Nominal - 1404Hz - F+9
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Bell 4
Hum - 344.5Hz - F-23
Prime - 589.5Hz - D+6
Tierce - 752Hz - F#+26 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1020Hz - C-43
Nominal - 1259.5Hz - Eb+21
Prime - 589.5Hz - D+6
Tierce - 752Hz - F#+26 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1020Hz - C-43
Nominal - 1259.5Hz - Eb+21
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Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is inscriptions within the inscription band*
1 |
J . WARNER & SONS LONDON 1875x |
2 |
J . WARNER & SONS LONDON 1875x |
3 |
J . WARNER & SONS LONDON 1875x |
4 |
CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1875x |
Photographs:
Friday: By Arrangement
Brickfield Road, Outwood, RH1 5QF
