Portslade, St Nicholas
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
3-2-14 cwt |
26.50" |
1275.5 Hz |
D# |
1906 |
Full Circle |
||
2 |
5-0-0 cwt |
29.00" |
1130 Hz |
C# |
1906 |
Full Circle |
||
3 |
6-0-21 cwt |
32.00" |
1001 Hz |
B |
1906 |
Full Circle |
About the Bells
3 Bells, 6-0-21 in B
Preston Park has a full circle ring of 3, hung in a West facing tower.
The earliest bell dates from around 1440 which was cast by William Chamberlain. A date was not inscribed on the bell but instead: Sancte Oar Pro Nobis followed by 3 sheilds.
The interesting feature about this inscription is that the Latin word Ora meaning pray is misspelt and reads "Oar". This typo was not noticed by Tyssen tho, as shown in the inscription section.
The three shields on the bell, along with the style of the letters, are the biggest hint into identifying this bells maker.
The First shield is Fig. WIC,1 being William Chamberlain's most common trade mark stamp. The letter W with a swallow tailed pennant.
Moving round to the right we come to Fig. WIC,2. The merci medallion featuring the words ihu merci ladi help is also found in Edburton nearby.
And the final shield is Fig. WIC,3 containing a dolphin, a sheaf, bell and laver.
The next bell to be added was in 1631. This was cast by Bryan Eldridge who cast many bells in Sussex during his time.
He added a tenor and they remained a chime of 2 for a century. No record of old decorative stops are kept but it may have been likely it either had Fig. XXX,f or b.
Finally, a treble was added by Samuel Knight in 1714 who also cast a bell for Poynings nearby. The inscription was kept simple and just read S K 1714. The letters and numerals on this bell and his other bells are quite heavy and were moulded from wax.
When you go up to look at the bells, you'll see that this is the odd one out and it is purely based on its inscription. On each bell you will see "RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1906" inscribed. The treble and two have this inscribed on the waist whereas the tenor has it inscribed around the soundbow.
The tenor also had much larger letters than the other two bells.
When Gillett & Johnston
Visited:
.11/11/2022
Preston Park has a full circle ring of 3, hung in a West facing tower.
The earliest bell dates from around 1440 which was cast by William Chamberlain. A date was not inscribed on the bell but instead: Sancte Oar Pro Nobis followed by 3 sheilds.
The interesting feature about this inscription is that the Latin word Ora meaning pray is misspelt and reads "Oar". This typo was not noticed by Tyssen tho, as shown in the inscription section.
The three shields on the bell, along with the style of the letters, are the biggest hint into identifying this bells maker.
The First shield is Fig. WIC,1 being William Chamberlain's most common trade mark stamp. The letter W with a swallow tailed pennant.
Moving round to the right we come to Fig. WIC,2. The merci medallion featuring the words ihu merci ladi help is also found in Edburton nearby.
And the final shield is Fig. WIC,3 containing a dolphin, a sheaf, bell and laver.
The next bell to be added was in 1631. This was cast by Bryan Eldridge who cast many bells in Sussex during his time.
He added a tenor and they remained a chime of 2 for a century. No record of old decorative stops are kept but it may have been likely it either had Fig. XXX,f or b.
Finally, a treble was added by Samuel Knight in 1714 who also cast a bell for Poynings nearby. The inscription was kept simple and just read S K 1714. The letters and numerals on this bell and his other bells are quite heavy and were moulded from wax.
When you go up to look at the bells, you'll see that this is the odd one out and it is purely based on its inscription. On each bell you will see "RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1906" inscribed. The treble and two have this inscribed on the waist whereas the tenor has it inscribed around the soundbow.
The tenor also had much larger letters than the other two bells.
When Gillett & Johnston
Visited:
.11/11/2022
Recordings of the bells:
Bell 1
Partials
Hum - 330.5Hz - E+5
Prime - 566Hz - Db+35
Tierce - 752.5Hz - F#+29 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 964.5Hz - B-40
Nominal - 1275.5Hz - Eb+43
Prime - 566Hz - Db+35
Tierce - 752.5Hz - F#+29 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 964.5Hz - B-40
Nominal - 1275.5Hz - Eb+43
| cut_preston1.mp3 |
Bell 2
Partials
Hum - 306Hz - Eb-28
Prime - 558Hz - Db+11
Tierce - 680.5Hz - F-44
Quint - 938Hz - Bb+11 (minor 3rd)
Nominal - 1130Hz - Db+33
Prime - 558Hz - Db+11
Tierce - 680.5Hz - F-44
Quint - 938Hz - Bb+11 (minor 3rd)
Nominal - 1130Hz - Db+33
| cut_preston2_1_.mp3 |
Bell 3
Partials
Hum - 255Hz - C-43
Prime - 464.5Hz - Bb-5
Tierce - 587Hz - D+0 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 761.5Hz - F#+50
Nominal - 1001Hz - B+23
Prime - 464.5Hz - Bb-5
Tierce - 587Hz - D+0 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 761.5Hz - F#+50
Nominal - 1001Hz - B+23
| cut_preston_3.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is inscriptions within the inscription band*
1 |
EDMVND GILES BELFOUNDER 1613 THOMAS MVCE WARDEN Ʊ 🪓 ✂ |
2 |
STOPN O O + + + |
3 |
BRYAN AND WILLIAM ELDRIDG MADE MEE 1661 RB IS |
Latin Translations:
2: Sancte Botolfe Oar Pro Nobis - Saint Botolph pray for us.
3: GLORIA DEO IN EXCELSIS - Glory to God in the highest.
⛉= Fig. WIC,1
◉ = Fig. WIC,2
⛛= Fig. WIC,3
2: Sancte Botolfe Oar Pro Nobis - Saint Botolph pray for us.
3: GLORIA DEO IN EXCELSIS - Glory to God in the highest.
⛉= Fig. WIC,1
◉ = Fig. WIC,2
⛛= Fig. WIC,3
