Slaugham, St Mary
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
3-0-22 cwt |
23.50" |
1664.5 Hz |
Ab |
1934 |
Full Circle |
||
2 |
3-0-7 cwt |
24.13" |
1565.5 Hz |
G |
Thomas Janaway |
1773 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
3 |
3-2-14 cwt |
25.75" |
1391.5 Hz |
F |
Thomas Janaway |
1773 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
4 |
4-3-0 cwt |
28.00" |
1253.5 Hz |
Eb |
1934 |
Full Circle |
||
5 |
5-3-8 cwt |
30.19" |
1115.5 Hz |
Db |
1934 |
Full Circle |
||
6 |
6-1-27 cwt |
32.00" |
1040 Hz |
C |
1934 |
Full Circle |
||
7 |
8-1-10 cwt |
34.94" |
937 Hz |
Bb |
1934 |
Full Circle |
||
8 |
11-1-20 cwt |
39.00" |
832.5 Hz |
Ab |
1934 |
Flat |
Full Circle |
About the Bells
8 Bells, 11-1-20 in Ab
Slaugham has a peal of 8 bells, hung in a west-facing tower.
The tower was built towards the end of the 13th century, with the buttresses added later.
In 1858, the upper part of the tower was rebuilt, retaining its Sussex Cap. One is also present at Balcombe.
The latest modification to the tower was in 1970. An oak screen was erected between the nave and the bell tower, through the generosity of the Paterson Folke and Whyte families. It was built by J. L. Denman. 100
In the churchwardens presentments of 1675, we understand that the tower was out of repair, but the church had the materials to repair it. 101
"Wee present our church and steple to be out of repaire, but there are materialls gott already for the speedy repaire of the same."
The earliest reference to the bells comes from the Chichester Diocesan Surveys of 1724. 102
"Four bells in the steeple in good order."
In 1773, the bells were recast, and augmented to 5 by Thomas Janaway. He also cast bells for Ticehurst and Chiddingly.
There is however a marble plaque in the church that reads:
Near this Place are Inter'd the Body of DIONYSIOUS BARTLEE who Died March the 25.th 1773. Aged 73 Years.
The bells may have been a memorial to him, or he likely left a legacy in his will to the bells.
They would have originally been cast with conventional canons, and strapped to wooden headstocks.
The treble was inscribed:
THOṢ JANAWAY FECIT J773
The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th were inscribed the same:
THOMAS JANAWAY FECIT J773
The tenor, measuring 31.75" in diameter was inscribed:
JAMES LANGLEY & SAMUEL SAUNDERS CHURCH WARDENS J773 / CHARLES COLVEN PARISH CLERK / THOS JANAWAY FECIT
The 2nd has Fig. TJA,1 around the inscription band, and the 3rd & 4th may have too.
His inscriptions are very clean, and so is the casting.
Frame - See below
The bells were restored by Mears & Stainbank in 1921. An invoice dated March 16th shows the work carried.
They supplied the bells with new wrought iron clappers with independent crown staples, to replace the cast-in ones; teak headstocks; steel gudgeons on gunmetal plain bearings; oak wheels with iron wheel braces; ash stays and sliders, rollers, and running boards; and 5 new bell ropes.
The framework was also strengthened, and the bells were an eighth turned. 103
Slaugham has a peal of 8 bells, hung in a west-facing tower.
The tower was built towards the end of the 13th century, with the buttresses added later.
In 1858, the upper part of the tower was rebuilt, retaining its Sussex Cap. One is also present at Balcombe.
The latest modification to the tower was in 1970. An oak screen was erected between the nave and the bell tower, through the generosity of the Paterson Folke and Whyte families. It was built by J. L. Denman. 100
In the churchwardens presentments of 1675, we understand that the tower was out of repair, but the church had the materials to repair it. 101
"Wee present our church and steple to be out of repaire, but there are materialls gott already for the speedy repaire of the same."
The earliest reference to the bells comes from the Chichester Diocesan Surveys of 1724. 102
"Four bells in the steeple in good order."
In 1773, the bells were recast, and augmented to 5 by Thomas Janaway. He also cast bells for Ticehurst and Chiddingly.
There is however a marble plaque in the church that reads:
Near this Place are Inter'd the Body of DIONYSIOUS BARTLEE who Died March the 25.th 1773. Aged 73 Years.
The bells may have been a memorial to him, or he likely left a legacy in his will to the bells.
They would have originally been cast with conventional canons, and strapped to wooden headstocks.
The treble was inscribed:
THOṢ JANAWAY FECIT J773
The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th were inscribed the same:
THOMAS JANAWAY FECIT J773
The tenor, measuring 31.75" in diameter was inscribed:
JAMES LANGLEY & SAMUEL SAUNDERS CHURCH WARDENS J773 / CHARLES COLVEN PARISH CLERK / THOS JANAWAY FECIT
The 2nd has Fig. TJA,1 around the inscription band, and the 3rd & 4th may have too.
His inscriptions are very clean, and so is the casting.
Frame - See below
The bells were restored by Mears & Stainbank in 1921. An invoice dated March 16th shows the work carried.
They supplied the bells with new wrought iron clappers with independent crown staples, to replace the cast-in ones; teak headstocks; steel gudgeons on gunmetal plain bearings; oak wheels with iron wheel braces; ash stays and sliders, rollers, and running boards; and 5 new bell ropes.
The framework was also strengthened, and the bells were an eighth turned. 103
13 years later, the bells had a complete overhaul by Gillett & Johnston, who recast the back 3 bells; added two tenors, and a treble.
The bells were cast in memory of Philip and Margaret Secretan, formerly of Slaugham park, and their grandson, Charles P. B. Stevens. They left a legacy that enabled the church to augment to 8, something the ringers desired for years.
A new cast iron Z.2 frame in the 8.3 layout was installed, supported by steel girders, around 5' above the belfry floor.
The treble weighs 3-0-22cwt and rings brightly in the key of Ab. It is dedication to Charles, who passed away just aged 16.
The 2nd and 3rd survived, and were just retuned. Gilletts didn't retune to the 5-tone principle, but left them old style. The Janaway pair also have major thirds, whereas the rest of the bells have minor thirds. Together, the peal sounds reasonably in tune, but the old bells do cause a slight unbalanced sound to it.
The 4th has the shortest inscription of the Gillett bells reading:
RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON, 1934.
with Fig. CFJ,5 on the waist.
The 5th bears the names of the rector and churchwardens. Interestingly, the date is not inscribed after the founders name, but on the waist instead.
The letters F. E. S on the waist stand for Francis Edward Shaw.
Giles Loder and Mr A Newnham were the churchwardens.
The 6th is the odd one out, for the inscription on the old bell was repeated, but in Gillett's letters.
The 7th bears an inscription towards Margaret, wife of Philip Secretan, who's dedicated on the tenor.
The tenor has Fig. CFJ,7 around the inscription band, and the makers name on the waist, like that at Fairwarp.
The dedication to Philip is on the opposite side of the waist.
Some ringers may be aware of the tenor's hum that gets progressively louder, and then cuts out all of a sudden. This is due to the clapper control mechanism inside the bell. Its keeps the clapper off the side of the bell slightly. A similar system can be found in handbells. It's made of cast iron, and painted black.
Each bell has its corresponding number on the bottom of the waist.
2 and 3 were engraved on the old bells.
The treble and 7th have
GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON, 1934.
around the inscription band.
4,5, and 6 have
RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON, 1934.
instead.
The new bells were cast without canons, and Simpson tuned.
The bells are rung from the ground floor using red sallied ropes that came from Balcombe.
In the SE corners, there used to be another rope that was connected to an Ellacombe hammer under the tenor. This was probably used to chime the sanctus.
Access to the belfry is by a vertical, 25-rung ladder in the NW corner.
It takes you up to a small intermediate chamber, containing a clock made by John Moore & Sons of Clerkenwell in 1881. It came from Warnham Court, and was presented by Charles James Lucas in 1882, to commemorate the marriage of Charles J. Lucas and Mildred Francis Smith.
It was restored by Thwaites & Reed Ltd. in 2008, and fitted with an automatic winding mechanism.
A small wooden ladder takes you up into the belfry beneath the treble and 2.
2 and 3 were engraved on the old bells.
The treble and 7th have
GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON, 1934.
around the inscription band.
4,5, and 6 have
RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON, 1934.
instead.
The new bells were cast without canons, and Simpson tuned.
The bells are rung from the ground floor using red sallied ropes that came from Balcombe.
In the SE corners, there used to be another rope that was connected to an Ellacombe hammer under the tenor. This was probably used to chime the sanctus.
Access to the belfry is by a vertical, 25-rung ladder in the NW corner.
It takes you up to a small intermediate chamber, containing a clock made by John Moore & Sons of Clerkenwell in 1881. It came from Warnham Court, and was presented by Charles James Lucas in 1882, to commemorate the marriage of Charles J. Lucas and Mildred Francis Smith.
It was restored by Thwaites & Reed Ltd. in 2008, and fitted with an automatic winding mechanism.
A small wooden ladder takes you up into the belfry beneath the treble and 2.
The former B Frame
At the base of the spire, the tie beams for the former wooden B Frame stretch across the tower from N to S.
There were a peal of 5 bells hung in the frame, evident by the number of plain bearing holes.
There were 3 pits:
The western one contained two bells, as well as the center pit.
The eastern pit only had one bell that was also hung on bearings built into the wall.
Each tie beam has 3 mortices on the bottom of them. The two outer ones are larger than the mortice between them.
Here we have two possibilities:
Elphick gives B.2.3, meaning it was braces to the wall.
As there were 4 bells in 1724, it's unlikely that the frame was here then. The bells were recast in 1773 to a peal of 5, and was likely made around that date. Although, George Elphick gives the date 1879 which is probably more accurate.
There are a few names on the frame:
There were a peal of 5 bells hung in the frame, evident by the number of plain bearing holes.
There were 3 pits:
The western one contained two bells, as well as the center pit.
The eastern pit only had one bell that was also hung on bearings built into the wall.
Each tie beam has 3 mortices on the bottom of them. The two outer ones are larger than the mortice between them.
Here we have two possibilities:
- The two outer braces went from the beam to the wall.
- The two outer braces went from the beam to the center post.
Elphick gives B.2.3, meaning it was braces to the wall.
As there were 4 bells in 1724, it's unlikely that the frame was here then. The bells were recast in 1773 to a peal of 5, and was likely made around that date. Although, George Elphick gives the date 1879 which is probably more accurate.
There are a few names on the frame:
Beam |
Inscription |
West |
JAMES CROPLEY |
West |
April 9. 1929 RESHINGLED, J VICAR F. BAINS JAN 14TH 1935 |
West |
Prepared for Girders for new Bells. F. Boniface 1934 B. Powell |
East |
RAILEN |
Photos of the B Frame
Recordings of the bells:
How the bells are tuned in relation to the 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 - 418Hz - Ab+11
Prime - 833Hz - Ab+5
Tierce - 995Hz - B+13 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1252Hz - Eb+10
Nominal - 1664.5Hz - Ab+3
Prime - 833Hz - Ab+5
Tierce - 995Hz - B+13 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1252Hz - Eb+10
Nominal - 1664.5Hz - Ab+3
| slaughamone.wav |
Bell 2
Hum - 425.5Hz - Ab+42
Prime - 774Hz - G-21
Tierce - 959.5Hz - Bb+50 (major 3rd)
Quint - 1273Hz - Eb+39
Nominal - 1565.5Hz - G-2
Prime - 774Hz - G-21
Tierce - 959.5Hz - Bb+50 (major 3rd)
Quint - 1273Hz - Eb+39
Nominal - 1565.5Hz - G-2
| slaughamtwo.wav |
If the 2nd was retuned to the 5-tone principle
| slaughamtwosimpsontuned.mp3 |
Bell 3
Hum - 339.5Hz - G+4
Prime - 691Hz - F-14
Tierce - 861Hz - A-37 (major 3rd)
Quint - 1144Hz - D-45
Nominal - 1391Hz - F-6
Prime - 691Hz - F-14
Tierce - 861Hz - A-37 (major 3rd)
Quint - 1144Hz - D-45
Nominal - 1391Hz - F-6
| slaughamthree.wav |
If the 3rd was retuned to the 5-tone principle
| slaughamthreesimpson.mp3 |
Bell 4
Hum - 314Hz - Eb+16
Prime - 626.5Hz - Eb+12
Tierce - 752Hz - F#+28 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 935.5Hz - Bb+6
Nominal - 1253.5Hz - Eb+12
Prime - 626.5Hz - Eb+12
Tierce - 752Hz - F#+28 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 935.5Hz - Bb+6
Nominal - 1253.5Hz - Eb+12
| slaughamfour.wav |
Bell 5
Hum - 278.5Hz - Db+8
Prime - 556.5Hz - Db+7
Tierce - 670Hz - E+28 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 833.5Hz - Ab+6
Nominal - 1115.5Hz - Db+11
Prime - 556.5Hz - Db+7
Tierce - 670Hz - E+28 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 833.5Hz - Ab+6
Nominal - 1115.5Hz - Db+11
| slaughamfive.wav |
Bell 6
Hum - 261Hz - C-3
Prime - 520Hz - C-10
Tierce - 625.5Hz - Eb+9 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 779.5Hz - G-9
Nominal - 1040Hz - C-10
Prime - 520Hz - C-10
Tierce - 625.5Hz - Eb+9 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 779.5Hz - G-9
Nominal - 1040Hz - C-10
| slaughamsix.wav |
Bell 7
Hum - 235.5Hz - Bb+18
Prime - 469.5Hz - Bb+12
Tierce - 561.5Hz - Db+22 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 703.5Hz - F+12
Nominal - 937Hz - Bb+9
Prime - 469.5Hz - Bb+12
Tierce - 561.5Hz - Db+22 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 703.5Hz - F+12
Nominal - 937Hz - Bb+9
| slaughamseven.wav |
Bell 8
Hum - 209Hz - Ab+11
Prime - 417.5Hz - Ab+9
Tierce - 500Hz - B+21 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 625.5Hz - Eb+9
Nominal - 832.5Hz - Ab+4
Prime - 417.5Hz - Ab+9
Tierce - 500Hz - B+21 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 625.5Hz - Eb+9
Nominal - 832.5Hz - Ab+4
| slaughameight.wav |
Thomas Janaway bells before tuning
Bell 2
Hum - 429Hz
Prime - 778Hz
Tierce - 972Hz
Quint - 1284Hz
Nominal - 1585Hz
Prime - 778Hz
Tierce - 972Hz
Quint - 1284Hz
Nominal - 1585Hz
| slaughamoldtwo.mp3 |
Bell 3
Hum - 395Hz
Prime - 696Hz
Tierce - 875Hz
Quint - 1152Hz
Nominal - 1417Hz
Prime - 696Hz
Tierce - 875Hz
Quint - 1152Hz
Nominal - 1417Hz
| slaughamoldthree.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is inscriptions within the inscription band*
*Text in blue is on the opposite side of the waist*
*Text in red is engraved on the bell*
*Text in blue is on the opposite side of the waist*
*Text in red is engraved on the bell*
1931 - Present
1 |
GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON, 1934. Ⓖ IN MEMORY OF CHARLES PHILIP BORLASE (TIM) STEVENS. BORN 19TH JUNE 1918. DIED 30TH APRIL 1934. 1 |
2 |
THOṢ JANAWAY FECIT J773 2 |
3 |
####### THOMAS JANAWAY FECIT J773 ####### 3 |
4 |
RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON, 1934. Ⓖ 4 |
5 |
RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON. Ⓖ PEAL RESTORED 1934. RECTOR: F . E . S . JACOMB - HOOD. G. H. LODER. CHURCHWARDENS: A. NEWNHAM 5 |
6 |
RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON, 1934. Ⓖ JAMES LANGLEY & SAMUEL SAUNDERS CHURCH WARDENS 1773 CHARLES COLVEN PARISH CLERK • THOṢ JANAWAY FECIT. 6 |
7 |
GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON, 1934. Ⓖ IN MEMORY OF MARGARET LISTON, WIFE OF PHILIP SECRETAN. BORN 30TH APRIL 1849. DIED 2ND FEBRUARY 1934. 7 |
8 |
ↈↈↈↈↈↈↈↈↈↈↈↈↈↈↈↈↈↈↈↈↈ GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON, 1934. Ⓖ IN MEMORY OF PHILIP SECRETAN OF THIS PARISH. BORN 19TH DECEMBER 1844. DIED 23RD APRIL 1930. 8 |
1773 - 1924
1 |
THOṢ JANAWAY FECIT J773 |
2 |
####### THOMAS JANAWAY FECIT J773 ####### |
3 |
THOMAS JANAWAY FECIT J773 |
4 |
THOMAS JANAWAY FECIT J773 |
5 |
JAMES LANGLEY & SAMUEL SAUNDERS CHURCH WARDENS 1773 CHARLES COLVEN PARISH CLERK. THOṢ JANAWAY FECIT. |
Latin Translation:
2,3: FECIT - made.
Ⓖ = Fig. CFJ, 5
ↈ = Fig. CFJ,7
## = Fig. TJA, 1
*Click on images to enlarge them*
2,3: FECIT - made.
Ⓖ = Fig. CFJ, 5
ↈ = Fig. CFJ,7
## = Fig. TJA, 1
*Click on images to enlarge them*
Photographs:
Sources:
100 - Church Pamphlet
101 - Sussex Record Society Vol* 50
102 - Chichester Diocesan Surveys 1686 and 1724 by Wyn K. Ford
103 - https://www.slaughamarchives.org/picture/number900.asp
100 - Church Pamphlet
101 - Sussex Record Society Vol* 50
102 - Chichester Diocesan Surveys 1686 and 1724 by Wyn K. Ford
103 - https://www.slaughamarchives.org/picture/number900.asp
