West Dean, All SaintsWest Dean is home to a single bell, housed in a distinctive west-facing tower. The earliest sections of the tower date back to the 12th century, with the addition of buttresses, likely in the 15th century, to provide support for a potentially larger set of bells. Architecturally, the tower features a rectangular plan and a form that resembles a space rocket.
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The Bell
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
22.75" |
1438 Hz |
F# |
William Hull |
1677 |
Swing Chime |
1 Bell, in A
The earliest recorded mention of bells at West Dean appears in the churchwardens' presentment of 1675, which indicates that the church had a pair of bells, both evidently cracked, as noted in the phrase, "Both bells are broken." By the following year, records show that the church was undergoing restoration. The 1677 presentment suggests that the bells were removed during this process, likely in 1676.
1676: "Wee are repaireing the church, and shall put it in good condicion by Michaelmas next."
1677: "noe bell to ring the peple to church"
In 1677, William Hull cast a bell for West Dean Church featuring a single inscription band, in contrast to his bells at Offham and Itchingfield. The inscription includes three coin imprints, two of which clearly depict the head of King Charles II, alongside a human-like ornament. Diamond stops separate each word of the inscription.
It appears Hull created the inscription by pressing a stamp into the cope. The bell itself was moulded using loam and shaped with a strickle, resulting in sharp shoulders and a flared soundbow. The moulding wires are configured in the pattern 2.3.3.3.2 which look as though they were made using the strickle. The canons are conventional and were piece moulded. Unfortunately, a section of the soundbow is missing, likely due to an accident during tuning or possibly a previous restoration
By 1686, repairs to the church must have finished as in that year they state that "All is well", "Omnia bene".
We will never know if William Hull cast more than one bell for West Dean, but it's pretty unlikely, for in 1724, the commission report states they had "one bell".
Bell Dimensions:
The oak frame is constructed using 6.A trusses and has end frames of the same type. It is positioned in the tower so the bell swings east to west.
It is rung with a full wheel on plain bearings. All metal has been painted green including the clapper and shows little signs of rust.
Bell is in good condition and accessed by a 28 rung vertical ladder.
Visited with Bill Hibbert & Stephen Beckingham 27/11/2024.
The earliest recorded mention of bells at West Dean appears in the churchwardens' presentment of 1675, which indicates that the church had a pair of bells, both evidently cracked, as noted in the phrase, "Both bells are broken." By the following year, records show that the church was undergoing restoration. The 1677 presentment suggests that the bells were removed during this process, likely in 1676.
1676: "Wee are repaireing the church, and shall put it in good condicion by Michaelmas next."
1677: "noe bell to ring the peple to church"
In 1677, William Hull cast a bell for West Dean Church featuring a single inscription band, in contrast to his bells at Offham and Itchingfield. The inscription includes three coin imprints, two of which clearly depict the head of King Charles II, alongside a human-like ornament. Diamond stops separate each word of the inscription.
It appears Hull created the inscription by pressing a stamp into the cope. The bell itself was moulded using loam and shaped with a strickle, resulting in sharp shoulders and a flared soundbow. The moulding wires are configured in the pattern 2.3.3.3.2 which look as though they were made using the strickle. The canons are conventional and were piece moulded. Unfortunately, a section of the soundbow is missing, likely due to an accident during tuning or possibly a previous restoration
By 1686, repairs to the church must have finished as in that year they state that "All is well", "Omnia bene".
We will never know if William Hull cast more than one bell for West Dean, but it's pretty unlikely, for in 1724, the commission report states they had "one bell".
Bell Dimensions:
- Crown Circumference - 39.13"
- Length from shoulder to lip - 16"
- Soundbow thickness - 1.63"
The oak frame is constructed using 6.A trusses and has end frames of the same type. It is positioned in the tower so the bell swings east to west.
It is rung with a full wheel on plain bearings. All metal has been painted green including the clapper and shows little signs of rust.
Bell is in good condition and accessed by a 28 rung vertical ladder.
Visited with Bill Hibbert & Stephen Beckingham 27/11/2024.
Recording of the bell:
How the bell is tuned in relation to its 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+
Hum - 373Hz - F#+14
Prime - 701.5Hz - F+8
Tierce - 879Hz - A-1 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1037.5Hz - C-14
Nominal - 1438Hz - F# -49
Prime - 701.5Hz - F+8
Tierce - 879Hz - A-1 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1037.5Hz - C-14
Nominal - 1438Hz - F# -49
| westdeanallsaints.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
1 |
WILLIAM ♦ HVLL ♦ MADE ♦ MEE ♦ 1677 ♦ O O O + |
O - Coin
+ - Fig. XXXVI,c
+ - Fig. XXXVI,c
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
- Sussex Record Society Vol* 50 p.25,63
- FORD, Wyn. K (1994): Chichester Diocesan Surveys 1686 & 1724 p.51,183
- https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/westdean-all-saints/
