Brighton, Chapel RoyalChapel Royal has a single bell, hung in a south-facing tower. The church was originally built in 1793 and was very plain in design. It was extensively remodelled between 1876 and 1896, though the main walls still survive from 1793. The tower was built in 1882 with illuminated clock dials, and along with the rest of the church, is made entirely of brick.
|
|
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
3-0-1 cwt |
23.75" |
1517 Hz |
F# |
George Mears & Co |
1861 |
Removed |
Dead |
About the bell
1 Bell, 3-0-1 in F#
Since the present bell predates the tower by 21 years, this suggests that it originally hung somewhere in the old church, no doubt in the central lantern installed by the Revd Thomas Trocke.
The Whitechapel daybook, dated August 7th, 1861, records that the bell was supplied to the him, complete with a tolling hammer, at the cost of £23 16s 4d. Today, this is the equivalent of £1,408.26. The value of bell metal was £7 10s per cwt.
Revd. Thos. Trocke. Chapel Royal Brighton
To a. Bell 3 0 1 7/10/0 22 11 4
Tolling hammer 1 5 0 23 16 4
The bell was moulded in loam and inscribed with metal stamps around the inscription band. It was originally cast with a conventional canon, which has since been removed. The quality of the casting is rather good, though a little porous in places, but tonally it's quite sound.
It was originally hung with a solid-built full wheel for swing chiming, and, according to George Elphick, recordings of bells were once broadcast from the tower through loudspeakers.
At some point, the bell was rehung in the same frame for stationary chiming by the+ means of an electronic internal clapper. Thankfully, the original fittings have been preserved in the tower, as well as the plain bearings on the frame."
Frame & Access
The frame consists of a pair of timber beams that rest on corbels at each end, making it truss type 1.B. The bell is now fixed to it with a stainless steel deadstock.
Access to the belfry and clock chamber is gained simply by a series of staircases.
Visited: 02/01/2025
Since the present bell predates the tower by 21 years, this suggests that it originally hung somewhere in the old church, no doubt in the central lantern installed by the Revd Thomas Trocke.
The Whitechapel daybook, dated August 7th, 1861, records that the bell was supplied to the him, complete with a tolling hammer, at the cost of £23 16s 4d. Today, this is the equivalent of £1,408.26. The value of bell metal was £7 10s per cwt.
Revd. Thos. Trocke. Chapel Royal Brighton
To a. Bell 3 0 1 7/10/0 22 11 4
Tolling hammer 1 5 0 23 16 4
The bell was moulded in loam and inscribed with metal stamps around the inscription band. It was originally cast with a conventional canon, which has since been removed. The quality of the casting is rather good, though a little porous in places, but tonally it's quite sound.
It was originally hung with a solid-built full wheel for swing chiming, and, according to George Elphick, recordings of bells were once broadcast from the tower through loudspeakers.
At some point, the bell was rehung in the same frame for stationary chiming by the+ means of an electronic internal clapper. Thankfully, the original fittings have been preserved in the tower, as well as the plain bearings on the frame."
Frame & Access
The frame consists of a pair of timber beams that rest on corbels at each end, making it truss type 1.B. The bell is now fixed to it with a stainless steel deadstock.
Access to the belfry and clock chamber is gained simply by a series of staircases.
Visited: 02/01/2025
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 - 394Hz - G+9
Prime - 706.5Hz - F+20
Tierce - 906Hz - A# -49 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1122.5Hz - C#+21
Nominal - 1517Hz - F#+43
Prime - 706.5Hz - F+20
Tierce - 906Hz - A# -49 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1122.5Hz - C#+21
Nominal - 1517Hz - F#+43
| brighton_chapel_royal.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
Bell |
Inscription |
1 |
G. MEARS, & CO., FOUNDERS, LONDON, 1861. |
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
- ELPHICK, George. P (1970): Sussex Bells & Belfries, p.267
- Christopher J. Pickford: Whitechapel Daybook data.
- https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/brighton-and-hove-chapel-royal-north-street/
- https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/sussex/vol7/pp244-263
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
