Burpham, St Mary the VirginBurpham has a chime of five bells, hung for stationary chiming in a west-facing tower. A church was present in 1086, as recorded in the Domesday Book with the note "Ibi eccla" [There is a church], though the present tower was built around the 15th century.
It has a heavy staircase column on the north face, and the old scaffolding putlog holes remain all around, about five feet apart from each other. |
|
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Date |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
6-0-6 cwt |
31.75" |
965 Hz |
B |
John Taylor & Co |
1922 |
Dead |
|
2 |
8-3-13 cwt |
36.06" |
859 Hz |
A |
John Taylor & Co |
1922 |
Dead |
|
3 |
10-1-4 cwt |
38.18" |
811.5 Hz |
G# |
John Taylor & Co |
1922 |
Dead |
|
4 |
15-0-20 cwt |
43.13" |
721 Hz |
F# |
John Taylor & Co |
1922 |
Dead |
|
5 |
21-1-3 cwt |
48.00" |
644 Hz |
E |
John Taylor & Co |
1922 |
Dead |
About the Bells
5 Bells, 21-1-3 in E
The earliest reference to bells dates back to June 16th 1488. William Hogeson, the Vicar of Burpham, gave a gift of 12p towards the bells: "Also he bequeth to the bellis of Burpham xijd".
The plural "bellis" suggests that there was more than one by this time. The same can be said for the following wills in
We then have a big gap until 1724 where "Three bells" are mentioned in the Chichester Diocesan Survey. Unfortunately this gap can't be closed since the surviving churchwardens' accounts at the WSRO only span 1850 - 1926.
In 1834, Thomas II Mears of Whitechapel supplied a single bell, carrying the inscription
T . MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1834
It's size, weight, and frame weren't recorded so were not entirely sure what it was like. Perhaps around 5-7 cwt, undoubtably with a conventional canon.
New Taylor bells
Sophia Rose Blanche Dawtrey Drewhitt left a large sum of money to the church in her will to request for a ring of bells. A village meeting was held to discuss the project which only had one person object to the idea. Nevertheless, it was carried out anyway. The contractors for the job were John Taylor & Co, Loughborough, who cast a heavy chime of 5 bells, fixed to cast iron joists. The bells have a unique hanging mechanism consisting of C shaped loops between the bell and joist. The intention behind this may be to improve the sound of the bells by not having them bolted right up tight against the frame. Another purpose could be so that you can hang bells of different sizes to the same size joist.
All of the bells carry the names of Sophia's family.
The Treble carries the names of her three sisters: Cecil, Margaret, and Laura Tyrwhitt. Margaret and Laura were born in France, and passed away in Burpham on September 4th, 1921, aged 84, and January 6th, 1915, aged 76, respectively.
Cecil passed away slightly earlier, in 1892, in Croydon.
The Second is dedicated to Sophia's brothers, Reginald and Montague Dymoke Tyrwhitt.
They were both born in Worcestershire, though Montague outlived Reginald by 44 years. Like his sister, Montague died in Croydon in 1895. Reginald passed away in 1851, unmarried.
The Third is dedicated to Anne and James Tyrwhitt, Sophia's parents.
Revd. James was born in Gibraltar in 1806 and lived until he was 66. Anne was born three years earlier and married James on January 25th, 1827, in Surrey.
The remaining two bells are dedicated to Sophia and her husband.
The Fourth bears Robert Drewitt's name. He was born on April 14th, 1809, in Lavington. Prior to Sophia, he married Frances Elizabeth Lane in 1847, a marriage which lasted 15 years. He then married Sophia in 1862. He passed away aged 82 in Woolavington, and his wife outlived him.
This bell also has a small casting flaw above the soundbow.
This leaves the Tenor, which is appropriately dedicated to Sophia herself. She passed away in 1914, around 84 years of age. William Wooding Starmer's name is also inscribed around the soundbow of the tenor. He was noted as a bell expert, organist, and choirmaster, and had a strong connection to Taylors. He did not regard Gillett & Johnston as their equals, once writing: “Why would I ever work for clockmakers to hang bells!”
The bells are finely ornamented, featuring a floral band around the inscription band and two different foundry medallions. They were all cast without canons, and examination of the interior shows where a considerable amount was removed from the crown to flatten the prime. The bells are tuned to the five-tone harmonic principle and produce a mellow tone.
The earliest reference to bells dates back to June 16th 1488. William Hogeson, the Vicar of Burpham, gave a gift of 12p towards the bells: "Also he bequeth to the bellis of Burpham xijd".
The plural "bellis" suggests that there was more than one by this time. The same can be said for the following wills in
- 1521, July 19. “To the reparacion of the Belles, a bussell of barley” Thomas At Lee.
- 1526, June 3. “To the Bells, and suche Lightes as shalbe occupied at my buryeng iijs iiijd'' Ambrose Sylverlock
- 1538, July 31. “To the Belles, Torches and other Lightes of the church of Burfam, a bushell of barle” Water Okyngdene
- 1556, Apr. 23. “I bequeth . . . for the bell xd” Edwarde Farnell.
We then have a big gap until 1724 where "Three bells" are mentioned in the Chichester Diocesan Survey. Unfortunately this gap can't be closed since the surviving churchwardens' accounts at the WSRO only span 1850 - 1926.
In 1834, Thomas II Mears of Whitechapel supplied a single bell, carrying the inscription
T . MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1834
It's size, weight, and frame weren't recorded so were not entirely sure what it was like. Perhaps around 5-7 cwt, undoubtably with a conventional canon.
New Taylor bells
Sophia Rose Blanche Dawtrey Drewhitt left a large sum of money to the church in her will to request for a ring of bells. A village meeting was held to discuss the project which only had one person object to the idea. Nevertheless, it was carried out anyway. The contractors for the job were John Taylor & Co, Loughborough, who cast a heavy chime of 5 bells, fixed to cast iron joists. The bells have a unique hanging mechanism consisting of C shaped loops between the bell and joist. The intention behind this may be to improve the sound of the bells by not having them bolted right up tight against the frame. Another purpose could be so that you can hang bells of different sizes to the same size joist.
All of the bells carry the names of Sophia's family.
The Treble carries the names of her three sisters: Cecil, Margaret, and Laura Tyrwhitt. Margaret and Laura were born in France, and passed away in Burpham on September 4th, 1921, aged 84, and January 6th, 1915, aged 76, respectively.
Cecil passed away slightly earlier, in 1892, in Croydon.
The Second is dedicated to Sophia's brothers, Reginald and Montague Dymoke Tyrwhitt.
They were both born in Worcestershire, though Montague outlived Reginald by 44 years. Like his sister, Montague died in Croydon in 1895. Reginald passed away in 1851, unmarried.
The Third is dedicated to Anne and James Tyrwhitt, Sophia's parents.
Revd. James was born in Gibraltar in 1806 and lived until he was 66. Anne was born three years earlier and married James on January 25th, 1827, in Surrey.
The remaining two bells are dedicated to Sophia and her husband.
The Fourth bears Robert Drewitt's name. He was born on April 14th, 1809, in Lavington. Prior to Sophia, he married Frances Elizabeth Lane in 1847, a marriage which lasted 15 years. He then married Sophia in 1862. He passed away aged 82 in Woolavington, and his wife outlived him.
This bell also has a small casting flaw above the soundbow.
This leaves the Tenor, which is appropriately dedicated to Sophia herself. She passed away in 1914, around 84 years of age. William Wooding Starmer's name is also inscribed around the soundbow of the tenor. He was noted as a bell expert, organist, and choirmaster, and had a strong connection to Taylors. He did not regard Gillett & Johnston as their equals, once writing: “Why would I ever work for clockmakers to hang bells!”
The bells are finely ornamented, featuring a floral band around the inscription band and two different foundry medallions. They were all cast without canons, and examination of the interior shows where a considerable amount was removed from the crown to flatten the prime. The bells are tuned to the five-tone harmonic principle and produce a mellow tone.
|
Fittings and condition
The bells are rung from the clock chamber using a baton clavier designed for eight bells. The tenor's baton has a rope coiled around it so that it can also be used to chime the sanctus from the ground floor. Following a system of cables, the batons are connected to the clapper flights inside the bells, which are safely clocked. The condition of the clappers is quite good, with only a little surface rust. In fact, the condition of everything else is also in good order. Access to the belfry is by a spiral staircase in the north-east corner. |
|
Visited: 31/03/2023 With great thanks to Mr T. Cooper!
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+
Bell 1
Hum - 241.5Hz - B-38
Prime - 480Hz - B-48
Tierce - 575Hz - D-36 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 725Hz - F# -34
Nominal - 965Hz - B-39
Prime - 480Hz - B-48
Tierce - 575Hz - D-36 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 725Hz - F# -34
Nominal - 965Hz - B-39
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Bell 2
Hum - 215.5Hz - A-35
Prime - 427.5Hz - A-49
Tierce - 512.5Hz - C-35 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 647.5Hz - E-30
Nominal - 859Hz - A-41
Prime - 427.5Hz - A-49
Tierce - 512.5Hz - C-35 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 647.5Hz - E-30
Nominal - 859Hz - A-41
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Bell 3
Hum - 202.5Hz - Ab-42
Prime - 406.5Hz - Ab-36
Tierce - 487Hz - B-23 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 595Hz - D+22
Nominal - 811.5Hz - Ab-39
Prime - 406.5Hz - Ab-36
Tierce - 487Hz - B-23 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 595Hz - D+22
Nominal - 811.5Hz - Ab-39
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Bell 4
Hum - 181.5Hz - F# -32
Prime - 361.5Hz - F# -39
Tierce - 431Hz - A-35 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 542Hz - C# -38
Nominal - 721Hz - F# -44
Prime - 361.5Hz - F# -39
Tierce - 431Hz - A-35 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 542Hz - C# -38
Nominal - 721Hz - F# -44
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Bell 5
Hum - 161.5Hz - E+12
Prime - 323Hz - E+18
Tierce - 380Hz - G+33 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 484Hz - B+14
Nominal - 644Hz - E+18
Prime - 323Hz - E+18
Tierce - 380Hz - G+33 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 484Hz - B+14
Nominal - 644Hz - E+18
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Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
*Text in blue is on the opposite side of the bell*
*Text in blue is on the opposite side of the bell*
1922 - Present
1 |
◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙ 19 ◉ 22 HER SISTERS CECIL FRANCIS FFARINGTON MARGARET LOUSIA EVA TYRWHITT LAURA CELESTINE TYRWHITT |
2 |
◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙ 19 ◉ 22 HER BROTHERS REGINALD DYMOKE TYRWHITT MONTAGUE DYMOKE TYRWHITT |
3 |
◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙ 19 Ⓣ 22 HER FATHER AND MOTHER JAMES BRADSHAW TYRWHITT ANNE FRANCIS TYRWHITT |
4 |
◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙ TO THE GLORY OF GOD ◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙ 19 Ⓣ 22 AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF HER HUSBAND ROBERT DAWTREY DREWITT |
5 |
◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙ 19 Ⓣ 22 THESE BELLS WERE ERECTED A.D. 1922 BY THE BEQUEST OF SOPHIA ROSE BLANCHE DAWTREY DREWHITT GVLIEMO W. STARMER ⚛ CAMPANIS PERITO |
1834 - 1922
1 |
T . MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1834 |
Latin Translations:
5: GVLIELMO W. STARMER CAMPANIS PERITO - William W. Starmer, Bells expert
Old 1: FECIT - Made
5: GVLIELMO W. STARMER CAMPANIS PERITO - William W. Starmer, Bells expert
Old 1: FECIT - Made
◉ = Fig. LVIII,c
Ⓣ = Fig. LIX,b
⚛ = Fig. LX,e
◙ = Fig. LXIII,b
Ⓣ = Fig. LIX,b
⚛ = Fig. LX,e
◙ = Fig. LXIII,b
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
- TYSSEN, Amhurst. D (1864): The Church Bells of Sussex p.67
- FORD, Wyn. K (1992): Chichester Diocesan Surveys 1686 and 1724 p.61
- https://www.sussexrecordsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/Digital_editions/SRS-Vol-41.pdf
- http://www.townsley.info/Strangeway/GedSite/g2/p1981.htm
- https://belgiansrtw.wordpress.com/2020/09/28/the-great-campanologist-of-tunbridge-wells/
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
