Buncton, All SaintsBuncton has a single bell, hung in a west-facing bellcote.
The church dates back to the 11th century, but it did not possess a bellcote until one was added around 1842 during the Victorian alterations. The proportions of the bellcote are quite tall, similar to that at Coolhurst, St John the Evangelist, where the bell is dwarfed by it. The church is accessed through a lovely little woodland passage with a small bridge above a stream. The church then emerges as you turn round the corner through the trees. It really is one of the prettiest Sussex churches architecturally and scenically. |
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The Bell
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
c0.5 cwt |
13.00" |
Thomas II Mears |
1842 |
Swing |
1 Bell
As far as we are aware, Buncton has never had an earlier bell than the present one. An old Sharpe painting shows the chapel before the bellcote was erected, with no trace of a belfry.
Thomas II Mears of Whitechapel Bell Foundry supplied a single bell to All Saints, cast with the date only around the inscription band and a 6-looped, conventional canon. It was originally hung for swing chiming, strapped to a timber headstock, and chimed by means of a lever. However, sometime in the 20th century, the bell was rehung on a new metal headstock, possibly the work of a local blacksmith.
It is hung on plain bearings, which are let into the stonework.
The bell is shown correctly in Tyssen’s book, but as 1812 in George Elphick’s. The latter may be a typographical error, as it is difficult to explain a bell dated 1812 here. It must also be remembered that examining a bell from a ladder 40 feet up is no easy task, and mistakes can be made.
Access & Condition
Access to the bell, as shown in Sussex Bells & Belfries, requires a 40-rung ladder. On this occasion, I examined it from the ground using my camera.
Sadly, its condition is not particularly good. The headstock has corroded extensively. The end of the lever has broken off and now lies on the nave roof. The clapper ball inside has sheared off, and the fixings have also corroded.
Visited: 28/02/2026
As far as we are aware, Buncton has never had an earlier bell than the present one. An old Sharpe painting shows the chapel before the bellcote was erected, with no trace of a belfry.
Thomas II Mears of Whitechapel Bell Foundry supplied a single bell to All Saints, cast with the date only around the inscription band and a 6-looped, conventional canon. It was originally hung for swing chiming, strapped to a timber headstock, and chimed by means of a lever. However, sometime in the 20th century, the bell was rehung on a new metal headstock, possibly the work of a local blacksmith.
It is hung on plain bearings, which are let into the stonework.
The bell is shown correctly in Tyssen’s book, but as 1812 in George Elphick’s. The latter may be a typographical error, as it is difficult to explain a bell dated 1812 here. It must also be remembered that examining a bell from a ladder 40 feet up is no easy task, and mistakes can be made.
Access & Condition
Access to the bell, as shown in Sussex Bells & Belfries, requires a 40-rung ladder. On this occasion, I examined it from the ground using my camera.
Sadly, its condition is not particularly good. The headstock has corroded extensively. The end of the lever has broken off and now lies on the nave roof. The clapper ball inside has sheared off, and the fixings have also corroded.
Visited: 28/02/2026
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+
No recording, chiming lever and clapper broken.
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Hum - Hz -
Prime - Hz -
Tierce - Hz -
Quint - Hz -
Nominal - Hz -
Prime - Hz -
Tierce - Hz -
Quint - Hz -
Nominal - Hz -
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
1 |
1842 |
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
- ELPHICK, George. P (1970): Sussex Bells & Belfries
- TYSSEN, Amhurst. D (1864): The Church Bells of Sussex
- BARHAM, Joan & FOSTER, Andrew (2018): Church Surveys of Chichester Archdeaconry 1602, 1610 & 1636
- https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/buncton-all-saints/
