Donnington, St GeorgeDonnington has a chime of three bells, hung in a southwest-facing tower.
The tower dates back to the 16th century, and isn’t at the west end, due to the tight boundary of the churchyard. It is fairly plain, with embattlements and small gargoyles, similar to the towers of other nearby churches. Repair works took place in 1965–66, during which the embattlements were renewed. |
|
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
3-0-26 cwt |
24.63" |
1359.5 Hz |
E+54 |
John Saunders |
c1560 |
Dead |
|
2 |
3-2-13 cwt |
26.25" |
1209 Hz |
D+50 |
Anthony Wakefield |
1598 |
Dead |
|
3 |
5-0-3 cwt |
30.00" |
1076 Hz |
C+48 |
1858 |
Dead |
About the Bells
3 Bells, 5-0-3 in C
The 16th century bell, cast in Reading is earliest reference to bells at this church, and was no doubt cast by John Saunders. In like medieval fashion, each letter of this inscription is equally spaced out around the inscription band, making it tricky to photographs each word. Therefore, the following photo has been made:
The 16th century bell, cast in Reading is earliest reference to bells at this church, and was no doubt cast by John Saunders. In like medieval fashion, each letter of this inscription is equally spaced out around the inscription band, making it tricky to photographs each word. Therefore, the following photo has been made:
As shown above, the a in sancte was inscribed upside-down, and the first r in gregorion was placed high enough to obliterate the upper moulding wire. It was cast with conventional canons with decorative feet, the same type used at Tortington, St Mary Magd. The Tortington bell is inscribed in the same letters, and has the same moulding wire configuration, 3.3.3.3.
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Around 30 years later, Anthony Wakefield added a bell in 1594 or 1598. The last figure on the date is quite confusing, but my previous 2 predecessors have assigned it to 1598 with an 8 on its side.
All except the last figure on the date and his initials are inscribed used sheet wax that was stuck on the false bell. The others appear to have been scratched into the cope once the moulds were separated. overall, it is a fairly unclean casting, but sounds good. |
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Throughout the 17th C, we understand that the condition of the tower was quite poor. In 1602, the roof of the tower appears to have had a leak, and the windows were broken. By 1636, the windows hadn't been replaced, and the floor was decayed. In the 1687 Diocesan Survey, it just states that the tower wants repairing.
1602: "the steeple speere is not well covered & the windowe holes of the steeple stand allwayes open to all weather very hurtful to the timber worke of the belfry."
1636: "the belfrie wantes paving and the windowes glased; to see the decaies of the steple sufficiently roped"
1687: "the tower wants repairing"
That all appears to have changed by 1724, as the survey states that the church is in good order except the floor.
A third bell was added at an unknown date by an unknown founder as there were 3 bells by this time.
"Bells 3".
John Warner & Sons recast the tenor in 1858 after it became cracked. It was cast with sharp conventional canons and features a Latin inscription reading
+ Sancta Trinitas Unus Deum miserere nobis.
Interestingly, the initial letters of Trinitas and Deus are crowned. This is unusual to find on a bell of this date.
The royal arms is on the waist along with the foundry name.
The bells were originally hung in a wooden S frame with brace ties, no doubt arranged in the 3.1 layout. They formed a ring of 3 approximately in the key of C#, tuned to the old standard of A=452Hz.
1602: "the steeple speere is not well covered & the windowe holes of the steeple stand allwayes open to all weather very hurtful to the timber worke of the belfry."
1636: "the belfrie wantes paving and the windowes glased; to see the decaies of the steple sufficiently roped"
1687: "the tower wants repairing"
That all appears to have changed by 1724, as the survey states that the church is in good order except the floor.
A third bell was added at an unknown date by an unknown founder as there were 3 bells by this time.
"Bells 3".
John Warner & Sons recast the tenor in 1858 after it became cracked. It was cast with sharp conventional canons and features a Latin inscription reading
+ Sancta Trinitas Unus Deum miserere nobis.
Interestingly, the initial letters of Trinitas and Deus are crowned. This is unusual to find on a bell of this date.
The royal arms is on the waist along with the foundry name.
The bells were originally hung in a wooden S frame with brace ties, no doubt arranged in the 3.1 layout. They formed a ring of 3 approximately in the key of C#, tuned to the old standard of A=452Hz.
The bells prior to tuning:
| donningtonbeforetuning.wav |
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In 1948, Gillett & Johnston of Croydon rehung them in a steel frame for stationary chiming using a baton clavier. George Elphick fortunately drew a sketch of the old wheels before they were taken away. The two 16th century trebles had their nominals flattened while the tenor remains untouched (as shown in the graph below). New clappers were supplied, and all the crown staples were drilled out.
They now form a true diatonic 3 in the key of C. 
Prior to tuning, the bells weighed:
1. 3 - 1 - 4 cwt 2. 3 - 2 - 23 cwt 3. 5 - 0 - 8 cwt The tenor's crown staple weighed 5lbs. |
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On inspection, the wooden pad for the 2nd was rotten. Apart from that, 3 bells in good condition.
At ground level, the original wooden staircase, constructed with triangular beams takes you to the intermediate chamber. This is followed by a small metal ladder to the belfry.
Visited: 28/10/2023 with great thanks to Alan Martin.
At ground level, the original wooden staircase, constructed with triangular beams takes you to the intermediate chamber. This is followed by a small metal ladder to the belfry.
Visited: 28/10/2023 with great thanks to Alan Martin.
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 - 375Hz - F#+23
Prime - 695Hz - F-8
Tierce - 843.5Hz - Ab+27 (major 3rd)
Quint - 1122.5Hz - Db+21
Nominal - 1359.5Hz - F-46
Prime - 695Hz - F-8
Tierce - 843.5Hz - Ab+27 (major 3rd)
Quint - 1122.5Hz - Db+21
Nominal - 1359.5Hz - F-46
| donningtontreble.wav |
Bell 2
Hum - 322.5Hz - E-37
Prime - 587Hz - D+0
Tierce - 729.5Hz - F# -24 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 935Hz - Bb+5
Nominal - 1209Hz - D+50
Prime - 587Hz - D+0
Tierce - 729.5Hz - F# -24 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 935Hz - Bb+5
Nominal - 1209Hz - D+50
| donningtonsecond.wav |
Bell 3
Hum - 287Hz - D-39
Prime - 505.5Hz - B+40
Tierce - 638.5Hz - Eb+45 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 823.5Hz - Ab-14
Nominal - 1076Hz - C+48
Prime - 505.5Hz - B+40
Tierce - 638.5Hz - Eb+45 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 823.5Hz - Ab-14
Nominal - 1076Hz - C+48
| donningtontenor.wav |
Old 1
| donningtonoldone.mp3 |
Old 2
| donningtonoldtwo.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
*Letters in gold are crowned*
1 |
s ɐ n c t e g r e g o r i o n |
2 |
PRAIS THE LORD 159⋈ W A |
3 |
+ Sancta Trinitas Unus Deus milerere nobis . ♚ PATENT CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1858. |
Latin Translation:
1: Sancte Gregorion - Saint George
3: Sancta Trinitas Unus Deus miserere nobis - Holy Trinity, one god, have mercy on us.
♚ = Fig. JWA,1
1: Sancte Gregorion - Saint George
3: Sancta Trinitas Unus Deus miserere nobis - Holy Trinity, one god, have mercy on us.
♚ = Fig. JWA,1
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
- ELPHICK, George. P. (1970): Sussex Bells & Belfries
- TYSSEN, Amhurst. D. (1864): The Church Bells of Sussex
- STEER, Francis. W: Guide to the church of St. George Donnington
- FORD, Wyn. K (1994): Chichester Diocesan Surveys 1686 & 1724
- BARHAM, Joan & FOSTER, Andrew: Church Surveys of Chichester Archdeaconry 1602, 1610 & 1636
- Gillett & Johnston tuning book Vol*15
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
