Chalvington, St BartholomewChalvington has a peal of three bells, hung in a timber-boarded belfry. The church dates back to the 12th century and is fairly similar in design to that of Selmeston. During an overhaul, an ancient leather shoe sole was found underneath the bell frame.
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The Bells
3 Bells, 2 cwt in Eb (Approx 1,2,4 of 5)
The earliest known record of bells we have is the two trebles, both by Edmund Giles, identified by their lettering and small diamond stops. They are fairly well-moulded, and their proportions show that the treble is considerably taller than the second. They were cast in 1609 and have very brief inscriptions around the inscription band. The treble only carries the date, whereas the second has the additional letters "WAP." This may refer to names or stand for "Worship and Prayer." They were moulded from loam using a strickle, and the inscription was placed on the false bell using parchment or sheet wax.
Thirty years later, Bryan Eldridge Jnr.* cast a new tenor, inscribed with his favoured Latin phrase and his initials. It is a rather rough casting with heavy wax letters and mouldings, as well as a conventional canon.
The tenor's tuning is unlike Giles' bells, as everything below the nominal is a semitone sharp - a result of its thicker waist and crown.
To demonstrate this, here is a recording of the nominal and rim partials, followed by everything below the nominal.
The earliest known record of bells we have is the two trebles, both by Edmund Giles, identified by their lettering and small diamond stops. They are fairly well-moulded, and their proportions show that the treble is considerably taller than the second. They were cast in 1609 and have very brief inscriptions around the inscription band. The treble only carries the date, whereas the second has the additional letters "WAP." This may refer to names or stand for "Worship and Prayer." They were moulded from loam using a strickle, and the inscription was placed on the false bell using parchment or sheet wax.
Thirty years later, Bryan Eldridge Jnr.* cast a new tenor, inscribed with his favoured Latin phrase and his initials. It is a rather rough casting with heavy wax letters and mouldings, as well as a conventional canon.
The tenor's tuning is unlike Giles' bells, as everything below the nominal is a semitone sharp - a result of its thicker waist and crown.
To demonstrate this, here is a recording of the nominal and rim partials, followed by everything below the nominal.
| chalvingtonthreesplitpartials.mp3 |
In relation to the rest of the ring, the tenor is half a semitone flat.
Next come two entries from the churchwardens' presentments. By 1674, we see that the bells needed rehanging, and in both 1674 and 1675, the steeple required some repair.
1674: "Wee present the steeple wants some shingling; the bells wante new hangings."
1675: "The steple wants repaire."
In the 1686 survey, the church was in need of 2 bell ropes "Two bell ropes wanting.", and by the 1724, there were "3 bells in good order". Some shingles were missing from the northside of the steeple too.
In 1992, the bells were rehung on new full-circle fittings by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. The ancient frame was completely reconstructed, with as much of the original timber re-used as possible. Additional oak timbers were added to ensure the tenor was ringable in time for the re-dedication service. A grant of £2,250 was awarded by the Sussex Bell Restoration Fund, along with a £4,000 loan.
A 28-rung ladder required.
Visited: 27/11/2024 with Bill Hibbert & Stephen Beckingham
Next come two entries from the churchwardens' presentments. By 1674, we see that the bells needed rehanging, and in both 1674 and 1675, the steeple required some repair.
1674: "Wee present the steeple wants some shingling; the bells wante new hangings."
1675: "The steple wants repaire."
In the 1686 survey, the church was in need of 2 bell ropes "Two bell ropes wanting.", and by the 1724, there were "3 bells in good order". Some shingles were missing from the northside of the steeple too.
In 1992, the bells were rehung on new full-circle fittings by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. The ancient frame was completely reconstructed, with as much of the original timber re-used as possible. Additional oak timbers were added to ensure the tenor was ringable in time for the re-dedication service. A grant of £2,250 was awarded by the Sussex Bell Restoration Fund, along with a £4,000 loan.
A 28-rung ladder required.
Visited: 27/11/2024 with Bill Hibbert & Stephen Beckingham
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 - 519Hz - C-13
Prime - 707.5Hz - F+22
Tierce - 1010Hz - B+39 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1423Hz - F+32
Nominal - 1670.5Hz - Ab+10
Prime - 707.5Hz - F+22
Tierce - 1010Hz - B+39 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1423Hz - F+32
Nominal - 1670.5Hz - Ab+10
| chalvingtonone.mp3 |
Bell 2
Hum - 405Hz - Ab-42
Prime - 657Hz - E-5
Tierce - 884.5Hz - A+9 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1145.5Hz - D-43
Nominal - 1478Hz - F# -1
Prime - 657Hz - E-5
Tierce - 884.5Hz - A+9 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1145.5Hz - D-43
Nominal - 1478Hz - F# -1
| chalvingtontwo.mp3 |
Bell 3
Hum - 336.5Hz - E+36
Prime - 677.5Hz - E+47
Tierce - 797Hz - G+28 (major 3rd)
Quint - 991Hz - B+6
Nominal - 1278.5Hz - Eb+47
Prime - 677.5Hz - E+47
Tierce - 797Hz - G+28 (major 3rd)
Quint - 991Hz - B+6
Nominal - 1278.5Hz - Eb+47
| chalvingtonthree.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
1 |
◆ 1609 ◆ |
2 |
◆ WAP ◆ ◆ ◆ 1609 ◆ |
3 |
GLORIA ⚜ DEO ⚜ IN ⚜ EXCELSIS 1639 B⚜E |
Latin Translation:
3: GLORIA DEO IN EXCELSIS - Glory to God in the highest
3: GLORIA DEO IN EXCELSIS - Glory to God in the highest
⚜ = Fig. BEL,1 (Bell 3)
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
- FORD, Wyn. K (1994): Chichester Diocesan Surveys 1686 and 1724 p.54, 165
- JOHNSTONE, Hilda (1949): Sussex Record Society Vol* 50 Churchwardens Presentments, Part 2, Archdeaconry of Lewes
- SCACR Annual Report 1993
- https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/chalvington-st-bartholomew/
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
