Brighton, St GeorgeSt George has a single bell, hung in a west-facing belfry.
The church was built between 1824-1825 to the designs by C Busby and A Wilds. It is Greek in style with a domed tower, containing Doric pillars and a clock face on each wall. Inside, there is a gallery at the west end that provides route of access to the tower. |
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The Bell
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
5-2-3 cwt |
32.00" |
993 Hz |
B |
Whitechapel Bell Foundry |
1976 |
Dead |
1 Bell, 5-2-3 in B
The first bell was cast in 1825 by Thomas II Mears, measuring 31.75 inches in diameter. It bore an inscription featuring the foundry name and date, along with the traditional Whitechapel loops (Fig. TLE,1).
In 1952, George Elphick reported that three of the canons were missing, leading to its recasting in 1976.
The bell was sent to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry and recast to the same size. The inscription was applied to the waist using 0.75" and 0.5" lettering, with the foundry trademark positioned between the date.
The bell was installed by bellhanger Chris Higgins, assisted by local ringers Roy Cox and Edwin Macadam. Due to the bell's positioning, I was unable to measure the crown circumference.
Measurements:
The bell is now hung dead and struck by an electromagnetic hammer.
Access to the belfry is via a small ladder leading to the clock chamber. A longer wooden ladder then ascends to a hatch in the ceiling, from which a smaller ladder on the south side of the tower provides access to the bell.
Visited: 02/01/2025 with Margaret Ellis, David Kirkcaldy, Kathy Howard.
The first bell was cast in 1825 by Thomas II Mears, measuring 31.75 inches in diameter. It bore an inscription featuring the foundry name and date, along with the traditional Whitechapel loops (Fig. TLE,1).
In 1952, George Elphick reported that three of the canons were missing, leading to its recasting in 1976.
The bell was sent to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry and recast to the same size. The inscription was applied to the waist using 0.75" and 0.5" lettering, with the foundry trademark positioned between the date.
The bell was installed by bellhanger Chris Higgins, assisted by local ringers Roy Cox and Edwin Macadam. Due to the bell's positioning, I was unable to measure the crown circumference.
Measurements:
- Diameter: 31.75 inches
- Crown-to-lip length: 22.25 inches
- Soundbow thickness: 2.25 inches (7.09% of diameter)
The bell is now hung dead and struck by an electromagnetic hammer.
Access to the belfry is via a small ladder leading to the clock chamber. A longer wooden ladder then ascends to a hatch in the ceiling, from which a smaller ladder on the south side of the tower provides access to the bell.
Visited: 02/01/2025 with Margaret Ellis, David Kirkcaldy, Kathy Howard.
Recording of the bell:
How the bell is tuned in relation to the nominal, using Simpson's theory.
-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+
0 ~ 9 10 ~ 19 20 ~ 29 30 ~ 39 40 ~ 49 50 ~ 59 60 ~ 69 70 ~ 79 80 ~ 89 90 ~ 99+
Hum - 248.5Hz - B+11
Prime - 496Hz - B+7
Tierce - 593.5Hz - D+18 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 749.5Hz - F#+22
Nominal - 993Hz - B+9
Prime - 496Hz - B+7
Tierce - 593.5Hz - D+18 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 749.5Hz - F#+22
Nominal - 993Hz - B+9
| brighton_stgeorge.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
1976 - Present
1 |
19 ◉ 76 WHITECHAPEL |
1825 - 1976
1 |
≎≎≎≎≎ T MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1825 ≎≎≎≎≎ |
◉ = Fig. WBF,1
≎ = Fig. TLE,1
≎ = Fig. TLE,1
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
- ELPHICK, George P. (1970): Sussex Bells & Belfries
- RINGING WORLD - March 1977 - Dalton Sussex
