Ashdown Park, Former Convent of Notre DameAshdown Park has a chime of 5 bells, hung in the west-facing tower. The first sisters arrived in 1920, but the house alone proved too small for convent life. To meet their needs, the Church of Our Lady and St Richard was built in 1924, complete with its tower, though it was not consecrated until 1927. The church was later consecrated in 1971 and sold to the US International University. Three years later, ownership passed to Barclays Bank, which used the site as a management training centre. Finally, in 1993, it was purchased by Elite Hotels, who continue to run it as a country house hotel and country club.
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Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
Quarter 1 |
1-3-0 cwt |
20.06" |
1680 Hz |
G# |
1924 |
Dead |
||
Quarter 2 |
2-0-22 cwt |
21.94" |
1509.5 Hz |
F# |
1924 |
Dead |
||
Quarter 3 |
3-1-24 cwt |
25.50" |
1331.5 Hz |
E |
1924 |
Dead |
||
Quarter 4 |
6-0-19 cwt |
31.94" |
996.5 Hz |
B |
1924 |
Dead |
||
Hour |
21-1-22 cwt |
48.06" |
666 Hz |
E |
1924 |
Dead |
About the Bells
5 Clock Bells, 21-1-22 in E
In 1924, Gillett & Johnston supplied a Westminster chiming clock with five clock bells. Each bell carries a simple inscription with the common batwing boarder around the top of the waist.
Examining the inside of each bell, it shows they were tuned throughout the profile to achieve Simpson's five-tone principle, and they give a significant amount of hum when rung. They're hung for stationary chiming, fixed to wooden beams with the Hour bell positioned in the middle.
Access
Access to the belfry is via a spiral staircase behind the organ, leading to the clock room. Here, the clock is cased up against the south wall. Attached to the clock hammers are ropes so that the bells may be rung manually. A metal spiral staircase in the corner of the tower leads further upwards to the bells. Beside the bell frame lies a 5ft high pile of twigs.
5 bells in sound condition on inspection.
Visited with Oliver E P Watson 14/04/2022.
In 1924, Gillett & Johnston supplied a Westminster chiming clock with five clock bells. Each bell carries a simple inscription with the common batwing boarder around the top of the waist.
Examining the inside of each bell, it shows they were tuned throughout the profile to achieve Simpson's five-tone principle, and they give a significant amount of hum when rung. They're hung for stationary chiming, fixed to wooden beams with the Hour bell positioned in the middle.
Access
Access to the belfry is via a spiral staircase behind the organ, leading to the clock room. Here, the clock is cased up against the south wall. Attached to the clock hammers are ropes so that the bells may be rung manually. A metal spiral staircase in the corner of the tower leads further upwards to the bells. Beside the bell frame lies a 5ft high pile of twigs.
5 bells in sound condition on inspection.
Visited with Oliver E P Watson 14/04/2022.
Recordings of the bells:
How the bells are tuned in relation to their 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+
Quarter 1
Hum - 420Hz - Ab+19
Prime - 837Hz - Ab+13
Tierce - 1007Hz - B+33 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1261Hz - Eb+23
Nominal - 1680Hz - Ab+19
Prime - 837Hz - Ab+13
Tierce - 1007Hz - B+33 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1261Hz - Eb+23
Nominal - 1680Hz - Ab+19
| screen_recording_20220414-211314_voice_recorder__2_.mp3 |
Quarter 2
Hum - 377Hz - F#+32
Prime - 753Hz - F#+30
Tierce - 907.5Hz - Bb-46 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1131Hz - Db+34
Nominal - 1509.5Hz - F#+34
Prime - 753Hz - F#+30
Tierce - 907.5Hz - Bb-46 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1131Hz - Db+34
Nominal - 1509.5Hz - F#+34
| screen_recording_20220414-211241_voice_recorder__2_.mp3 |
Quarter 3
Hum - 333.5Hz - E+20
Prime - 665.5Hz - E+16
Tierce - 798.5Hz - G+32 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 994.5Hz - B+12
Nominal - 1331.5Hz - E+17
Prime - 665.5Hz - E+16
Tierce - 798.5Hz - G+32 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 994.5Hz - B+12
Nominal - 1331.5Hz - E+17
| screen_recording_20220414-212622_voice_recorder.mp3 |
Quarter 4
Hum - 250.5Hz - B+25
Prime - 500Hz - B+21
Tierce - 602.5Hz - D+44 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 750Hz - F#+23
Nominal - 996.5Hz - B+15
Prime - 500Hz - B+21
Tierce - 602.5Hz - D+44 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 750Hz - F#+23
Nominal - 996.5Hz - B+15
| screen_recording_20220414-211429_voice_recorder__1_.mp3 |
Hour
Hum - 166Hz - E+12
Prime - 333Hz - E+18
Tierce - 399.5Hz - G+33 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 498Hz - B+14
Nominal - 666Hz - E+18
Prime - 333Hz - E+18
Tierce - 399.5Hz - G+33 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 498Hz - B+14
Nominal - 666Hz - E+18
| screen_recording_20220414-211346_voice_recorder__1_.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
Quarter 1 |
GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1924 ⦿ ⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫ |
Quarter 2 |
GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1924 ⦿ ⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫ |
Quarter 3 |
GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1924 ⦿ ⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫ |
Quarter 4 |
GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1924 ⦿ ⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫ |
Hour |
GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1924 ⦿ ⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫⛫ |
⛫ = Fig. CFJ, 1 (Bells 1,2,3,4,5)
⦿ = Fig. CFJ, 4 (Bells 1,2,3,4,5)
⦿ = Fig. CFJ, 4 (Bells 1,2,3,4,5)
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
- https://www.ashdownpark.com/sisters-notre-dame
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
