Westham, St Mary the Virgin
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
3-3-5 cwt |
25.88" |
1333 Hz |
E |
1921 |
Full Circle |
||
2 |
4-1-10 cwt |
27.88" |
1199.5 Hz |
D |
1921 |
Full Circle |
||
3 |
5-1-13 cwt |
30.50" |
1064.5 Hz |
C |
1921 |
Full Circle |
||
4 |
5-3-26 cwt |
31.50" |
994.5 Hz |
B |
1921 |
Full Circle |
||
5 |
8-0-8 cwt |
35.00" |
895 Hz |
A |
1921 |
Full Circle |
||
6 |
10-1-10 cwt |
39.00" |
799 Hz |
G |
1921 |
Full Circle |
About the Bells
6 Bells, 10-1-10 cwt in G
Westham have a peal of 6 bells hung in a west facing tower. The tower dates back to the 15th Century and it’s believed the nave was curtailed when it was erected. 100
The earliest record of the bells come from a will made on August 9th 1550 by Henry Marshall the Vicar. He gives 16d to either the Clerke or Sexton for the bells to be pealed, presumably for his Funeral. This suggests there was more than one bell present.
1550 Aug 9 “and if the clerke or sexton do cause a peall with all the belles to move godly ple to prayer and to call to remembrance that all are mortall xvjd.”
Seven years later, a will made by William Chester gives us a good insight of the condition of the bells. He states that one of the bells are broken and if the said bell is not recast or a new one bought within 2 years of his death, he’ll get his executrix to donate his 20 shillings towards a new one. An error made in the church guide says this will was made in 1724. 101
1557 Feb 15 “Wher as ther remanyth in the sayd churche one bell broken my wyll ys yf the sayd bell be new made or an other bowght within the space of twoo yeres next after the day of my departure out of this worlde by the paryshoners of the sayd paryshe or other wyse that then myn executryx shall content pay or cause to be contented and payd unto the churche wardeyns for the tyme beynge ther xxs" William Chester
The next reference we have about the bells is made in 1674. The church presentments provide us with some useful information up till 1676.
In 1674, the church reported that two bells were broken. The following year, only one bell was broken. As we don’t know exactly what was broken, we can’t comment on what repairs were done. If the bell had become cracked, a possible founder who could have done some work was William Hull.
In 1676, the church presentments just tell us that the bells are out of repair. 102
1674 “Wee present two of our bells cracked.”
1675 “There is one bell broken.”
1676 “The church marke, the paveing of the church, and the bells, out of repaire”
George Elphick tells us in 1686, the tower had great cracks in it and was in danger of falling!! 103
5 bells in 1724. 103
An augmentation to 6 bells took place in 1789. William and Thomas Mears cast a peal of six, each inscribed:
W & T MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1789.
The tenor measured 38” in diameter and weighed 8-2-0 cwt, making them around the key of A. 104
These bells were recast in 1921, therefore no extra information can be said about them.
Following the war, an inspection of the bells in 1919, revealed they were in too dangerous a condition to ring. The frame holding them was on the point of collapse and several of the bells were split and held together with iron straps. It was decided to raise the money for a new frame and to recast the six bells. As five local young ringers had been lost in the war , it was agreed the tenor should bear their names. 105
Gillett & Johnston recast the bells and were dedicated by the Archdeacon of Hastings at a special service on Saturday 14th May 1921. They were rehung in a new steel frame with T.1 trusses in the 6.1 layout.
The bells were cast without canons and bolted to cast iron headstocks.
Taking a look at their inscriptions, the front 5 bells are all identical.
RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON 1921 [Fig. CFJ,4] is around the inscription band.
Like most Gillett bells, under the lower moulding wires, a band of Fig. CFJ,1 is found. At the centre of the waist is CAST 1789. This obviously refers to the former Whitechapel bells.
The tenor is the most ornate bell in the tower and contains 4 commonly found ornamental bands found on Gillett bells.
These are:
Fig. CFJ,2 above the inscription band
Fig. CFJ,1 below “
Fig. ACJ,2 above the soundbow moulding wires.
Fig. CFJ,3 below “
Like the other bells, it is inscribed RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON 1921 around the inscription band.
On the waist, 5 names of the Westham bell ringers who were kill in World War I are inscribed. It is also believed to be the only bell in the county as a memorial to the ringers during WWI. 105
CAST 1789 is also found at the top of the waist.
The frame is suspended 14” above the belfry floor. Observing the old rope holes, it appears that the frame has been rotated 90 degrees in the past. Bells 1,2,5,6 now swing east to west; 3&4 swing north to south.
Inscribed on all parts of the frame is
FRODINGHAM IRON & STEEL Co LTD ENGLAND.
In 2015, the bells were rehung on new fittings, and the frame which had become badly corroded in some parts was repaired by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. During the process, a fist sized chunk of the soundbow broke off the tenor. This has been kept in the ringing room.
The bells were back in the tower just in time for Christmas that year. A grant of £6,500 was given to Westham by the Sussex Bell Restoration fund.
The bells were original rung from the the ground floor behind a screen. In 1994, a ringing floor was built and they’re now rung from a gallery.
Access to the belfry is by a spiral staircase in the south east corner of tower. This leads to an intermediate chamber. From here a wooden ladder take you up to the belfry through a hatch.
The bells are tuned to the key of G. The accident in 2016 with the tenor does not appear to have effected the tenor’s tuning.
Visited: 28/01/2023 with thanks to Steve Pilfold and the Westham Ringers
Westham have a peal of 6 bells hung in a west facing tower. The tower dates back to the 15th Century and it’s believed the nave was curtailed when it was erected. 100
The earliest record of the bells come from a will made on August 9th 1550 by Henry Marshall the Vicar. He gives 16d to either the Clerke or Sexton for the bells to be pealed, presumably for his Funeral. This suggests there was more than one bell present.
1550 Aug 9 “and if the clerke or sexton do cause a peall with all the belles to move godly ple to prayer and to call to remembrance that all are mortall xvjd.”
Seven years later, a will made by William Chester gives us a good insight of the condition of the bells. He states that one of the bells are broken and if the said bell is not recast or a new one bought within 2 years of his death, he’ll get his executrix to donate his 20 shillings towards a new one. An error made in the church guide says this will was made in 1724. 101
1557 Feb 15 “Wher as ther remanyth in the sayd churche one bell broken my wyll ys yf the sayd bell be new made or an other bowght within the space of twoo yeres next after the day of my departure out of this worlde by the paryshoners of the sayd paryshe or other wyse that then myn executryx shall content pay or cause to be contented and payd unto the churche wardeyns for the tyme beynge ther xxs" William Chester
The next reference we have about the bells is made in 1674. The church presentments provide us with some useful information up till 1676.
In 1674, the church reported that two bells were broken. The following year, only one bell was broken. As we don’t know exactly what was broken, we can’t comment on what repairs were done. If the bell had become cracked, a possible founder who could have done some work was William Hull.
In 1676, the church presentments just tell us that the bells are out of repair. 102
1674 “Wee present two of our bells cracked.”
1675 “There is one bell broken.”
1676 “The church marke, the paveing of the church, and the bells, out of repaire”
George Elphick tells us in 1686, the tower had great cracks in it and was in danger of falling!! 103
5 bells in 1724. 103
An augmentation to 6 bells took place in 1789. William and Thomas Mears cast a peal of six, each inscribed:
W & T MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1789.
The tenor measured 38” in diameter and weighed 8-2-0 cwt, making them around the key of A. 104
These bells were recast in 1921, therefore no extra information can be said about them.
Following the war, an inspection of the bells in 1919, revealed they were in too dangerous a condition to ring. The frame holding them was on the point of collapse and several of the bells were split and held together with iron straps. It was decided to raise the money for a new frame and to recast the six bells. As five local young ringers had been lost in the war , it was agreed the tenor should bear their names. 105
Gillett & Johnston recast the bells and were dedicated by the Archdeacon of Hastings at a special service on Saturday 14th May 1921. They were rehung in a new steel frame with T.1 trusses in the 6.1 layout.
The bells were cast without canons and bolted to cast iron headstocks.
Taking a look at their inscriptions, the front 5 bells are all identical.
RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON 1921 [Fig. CFJ,4] is around the inscription band.
Like most Gillett bells, under the lower moulding wires, a band of Fig. CFJ,1 is found. At the centre of the waist is CAST 1789. This obviously refers to the former Whitechapel bells.
The tenor is the most ornate bell in the tower and contains 4 commonly found ornamental bands found on Gillett bells.
These are:
Fig. CFJ,2 above the inscription band
Fig. CFJ,1 below “
Fig. ACJ,2 above the soundbow moulding wires.
Fig. CFJ,3 below “
Like the other bells, it is inscribed RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON 1921 around the inscription band.
On the waist, 5 names of the Westham bell ringers who were kill in World War I are inscribed. It is also believed to be the only bell in the county as a memorial to the ringers during WWI. 105
CAST 1789 is also found at the top of the waist.
The frame is suspended 14” above the belfry floor. Observing the old rope holes, it appears that the frame has been rotated 90 degrees in the past. Bells 1,2,5,6 now swing east to west; 3&4 swing north to south.
Inscribed on all parts of the frame is
FRODINGHAM IRON & STEEL Co LTD ENGLAND.
In 2015, the bells were rehung on new fittings, and the frame which had become badly corroded in some parts was repaired by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. During the process, a fist sized chunk of the soundbow broke off the tenor. This has been kept in the ringing room.
The bells were back in the tower just in time for Christmas that year. A grant of £6,500 was given to Westham by the Sussex Bell Restoration fund.
The bells were original rung from the the ground floor behind a screen. In 1994, a ringing floor was built and they’re now rung from a gallery.
Access to the belfry is by a spiral staircase in the south east corner of tower. This leads to an intermediate chamber. From here a wooden ladder take you up to the belfry through a hatch.
The bells are tuned to the key of G. The accident in 2016 with the tenor does not appear to have effected the tenor’s tuning.
Visited: 28/01/2023 with thanks to Steve Pilfold and the Westham Ringers
Recordings of the bells:
How the bells are tuned in relation to their nominal, using Simpson's theory.
Temperament: Just Intonation
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 - 334.5Hz - E+25
Prime - 666.5Hz - E+19
Tierce - 797.5Hz - G+30 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 998.5Hz - B+19
Nominal - 1333Hz - E+19
Prime - 666.5Hz - E+19
Tierce - 797.5Hz - G+30 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 998.5Hz - B+19
Nominal - 1333Hz - E+19
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Bell 2
Hum - 300.5Hz - D+40
Prime - 599Hz - D+34
Tierce - 723Hz - F# -39 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 892.5Hz - A+24
Nominal - 1201Hz - D+38
Prime - 599Hz - D+34
Tierce - 723Hz - F# -39 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 892.5Hz - A+24
Nominal - 1201Hz - D+38
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Bell 3
Hum - 267Hz - C+35
Prime - 533Hz - C+32
Tierce - 645Hz - E-37 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 800Hz - G+35
Nominal - 1064.5Hz - C+30
Prime - 533Hz - C+32
Tierce - 645Hz - E-37 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 800Hz - G+35
Nominal - 1064.5Hz - C+30
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Bell 4
Hum - 250Hz - B+21
Prime - 500Hz - B+21
Tierce - 596Hz - D+25 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 740.5Hz - F#+1
Nominal - 994Hz - B+11
Prime - 500Hz - B+21
Tierce - 596Hz - D+25 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 740.5Hz - F#+1
Nominal - 994Hz - B+11
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Bell 5
Hum - 225Hz - A+39
Prime - 449Hz - A+35
Tierce - 542Hz - Db-38 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 674Hz - E+38
Nominal - 895.5Hz - A+30
Prime - 449Hz - A+35
Tierce - 542Hz - Db-38 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 674Hz - E+38
Nominal - 895.5Hz - A+30
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Bell 6
Hum - 199.5Hz - G+31
Prime - 400Hz - G+35
Tierce - 485.5Hz - B-29 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 598.5Hz - D+33
Nominal - 797.5Hz - G+30
Prime - 400Hz - G+35
Tierce - 485.5Hz - B-29 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 598.5Hz - D+33
Nominal - 797.5Hz - G+30
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Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is inscriptions within the inscription band*
1921 - Present
1 |
RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON, 1921. Ⓖ ⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫ CAST 1789 1 |
2 |
RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON, 1921. Ⓖ ⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫ CAST 1789 2 |
3 |
RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON, 1921. Ⓖ ⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫ CAST 1789 3 |
4 |
RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON, 1921. Ⓖ ⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫ CAST 1789 4 |
5 |
RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON, 1921. Ⓖ ⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫ CAST 1789 5 |
6 |
±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±± RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON, 1921. Ⓖ ⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫ CAST 1789 GEORGE BURGESS HARRY BURGESS ALBERT HAZELDEN WILLIAM HOBDEN ROBERT MARCHANT. 6 ⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜ ₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼₼ |
1789 - 1921
1 |
W & T MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1789 |
2 |
W & T MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1789 |
3 |
W & T MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1789 |
4 |
W & T MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1789 |
5 |
W & T MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1789 |
6 |
W & T MEARS LATE LESTER PACK & CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1789 |
Photographs:
Sources:
100 - Church Guide
101 - Sussex Record Society Vol. 45 page. 332
102 - Sussex Archaeological Collection Vol. 50
103 - Sussex Bells and Belfries by George P Elphick
104 - The Church Bells of Sussex by Amhurst D Tyssen
105 - http://www.eastsussexww1.org.uk/westham-memorial-bell/index.html
100 - Church Guide
101 - Sussex Record Society Vol. 45 page. 332
102 - Sussex Archaeological Collection Vol. 50
103 - Sussex Bells and Belfries by George P Elphick
104 - The Church Bells of Sussex by Amhurst D Tyssen
105 - http://www.eastsussexww1.org.uk/westham-memorial-bell/index.html
