East Dean, All SaintsEast Dean has a chime of 3 bells, hung above the chancel crossing.
The bottom half of the tower dates back to c.1150, with a possible 13th century top half. In 1805, Sharpe's painting shows that the tower originally had a broached spire. Although, this was probably removed and replaced with the present day embattlements in the late 19th C. |
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About the Bells
3 Bells, 6-1-5 in C
The earliest reference to bells dates around 1570, when William Knight cast a single bell. It features the latest example of gothic letters from the medieval period in Sussex, and the unevenness between the letter grounds suggest they were made from wax. Unusually, Knight initials, W K, have been missed by my predecessors completely, and Elphick even states that "it does not carry his initials". However, this has proven to be wrong.
The bell was moulded with loam, and cast with a piece moulded canon. The moulding wires are fairly gentle, and are configured 3.2.2.2.2.
It has never received tuning, and was used as the datum for the 1968 project.
Like many of the ancient bells in this directory, the inscription has been photographed and collaged together.
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
The earliest reference to bells dates around 1570, when William Knight cast a single bell. It features the latest example of gothic letters from the medieval period in Sussex, and the unevenness between the letter grounds suggest they were made from wax. Unusually, Knight initials, W K, have been missed by my predecessors completely, and Elphick even states that "it does not carry his initials". However, this has proven to be wrong.
The bell was moulded with loam, and cast with a piece moulded canon. The moulding wires are fairly gentle, and are configured 3.2.2.2.2.
It has never received tuning, and was used as the datum for the 1968 project.
Like many of the ancient bells in this directory, the inscription has been photographed and collaged together.
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
A few changes occurred in the 17th century, including a new bells and a frame - the latter we'll discuss shortly.
In 1634, Bryan I Eldridge supplied a bell inscribed with the motto he favoured towards the end of his life. This bell was cast from loam, and the inscription formed using cut-out parchment. Between each word is his father's heart shaped stop.
This bell was recast in the 20th century, but the John Taylor & Co archives show it weighed 4-1-15cwt.
It was no doubt cast with a conventional canon, and was around note D.
The last of the 3 old bells was cast in 1702 by the Salisbury founder Clement Tosier. Like most of his bells, this one has fairly interesting harmonics, owing to its rather square profile resulting in a sharp prime.
Tosier is well known for his lengthy inscription, usually taking up two inscription bands. His surname is the halfway point, for the letter R on Tosier begins the lower inscription band.
Between each word is a cross, except for a colon between CHURCH WARDENS.
To fill in the rest of the lower band, Tosier inscribed a coin, with what appears to be a bird on it, followed by two shields, and another coin. The letters and crosses were formed using cut out wax.
In Sussex Bells & Belfries, Elphick states that he reduced the crown thickness of this bell compared to his others.
The tower, as shown in Sharpe's sketch, originally had a short, broached spire. Steel joists were put in beneath the bell frame by John Taylor & Co, and judging by the fact that the frame sills are secured into the wall, using old joints, the frame has always been level with the louvres and not at the base of the spire.
In 1634, Bryan I Eldridge supplied a bell inscribed with the motto he favoured towards the end of his life. This bell was cast from loam, and the inscription formed using cut-out parchment. Between each word is his father's heart shaped stop.
This bell was recast in the 20th century, but the John Taylor & Co archives show it weighed 4-1-15cwt.
It was no doubt cast with a conventional canon, and was around note D.
The last of the 3 old bells was cast in 1702 by the Salisbury founder Clement Tosier. Like most of his bells, this one has fairly interesting harmonics, owing to its rather square profile resulting in a sharp prime.
Tosier is well known for his lengthy inscription, usually taking up two inscription bands. His surname is the halfway point, for the letter R on Tosier begins the lower inscription band.
Between each word is a cross, except for a colon between CHURCH WARDENS.
To fill in the rest of the lower band, Tosier inscribed a coin, with what appears to be a bird on it, followed by two shields, and another coin. The letters and crosses were formed using cut out wax.
In Sussex Bells & Belfries, Elphick states that he reduced the crown thickness of this bell compared to his others.
The tower, as shown in Sharpe's sketch, originally had a short, broached spire. Steel joists were put in beneath the bell frame by John Taylor & Co, and judging by the fact that the frame sills are secured into the wall, using old joints, the frame has always been level with the louvres and not at the base of the spire.
Around 1910, the 2nd bell became cracked after the hangings broke and came crashing to the belfry floor. When George Elphick saw it in August 1950, he reported that "This bell stands broken in the church".
It was then recast by John Taylor & Co in 1968 who repeated its inscription in facsimile. The bell was broken up and put in the pot for recasting. The inscription was preserved by either cutting the inscription band up to use the chunks as stamps, or Taylors made plaster casts of the inscription to press into the outer mould. The new bell was cast without canons and harmonically tuned.
As shown in Taylor's invoice, the other bells were rehung on new fittings for swing chiming, and the tenor was flattened in pitch slightly by taking metal out of the soundbow.
It was then recast by John Taylor & Co in 1968 who repeated its inscription in facsimile. The bell was broken up and put in the pot for recasting. The inscription was preserved by either cutting the inscription band up to use the chunks as stamps, or Taylors made plaster casts of the inscription to press into the outer mould. The new bell was cast without canons and harmonically tuned.
As shown in Taylor's invoice, the other bells were rehung on new fittings for swing chiming, and the tenor was flattened in pitch slightly by taking metal out of the soundbow.
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Prior to 1968, the bells were rung using full wheels. Sadly these weren't kept, and all that remains is part of the transom on the preserved headstocks. They were of archaic design having their spokes spaced out evenly around the circumference.
Taylors replaced these with chiming levers, fixed to new wooden headstocks. The crown staples were drilled out, and clappers with independent staples were fitted. In the south transept are the old brass bearings; the old headstocks; clappers, and straps. The bells now form a true diatonic chime of 3, but their unevenness in tone is caused by the variation in profiles, and their other frequencies. |
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Supported on 4 iron girders running east to west, a large oak bell frame with 5.A trusses, arranged in the 3.1 layout is hung around 13' above the belfry floor. It is dated 1655, and bears the names of the churchwardens. On the north end frame head is engraved:
TG . 1655 . IC
Though there is no evidence to prove it, we could attribute the latter to Mr Croucher?
The Croucher family have been part of this parish for centuries, with the earliest reference dating 1556.
The frame itself is of interesting construction, and shows signs of a few modifications in the past. One was in 1968 with the replacement of the far east truss head, and the other in 1655.
The king posts and braces probably date back to the 14th - 15th century. All except the north brace on the east truss are of curved profile, and suggests it was a later addition. The brace that was here is now part of the south end frame. The south-west corner post has 2 mortices close to each other, and may have once been a sill.
Prior to the installation of long heads in 1655, the heavy design at the top of the king posts suggests it supported short heads, making the old frame a 3.B type.
Interestingly, the south brace on the east truss has an empty mortice, but there is no mortice in the corresponding head, or any head for that matter.
Running along the sills is a plate that shows the location of the old rope holes. It also contains the pulleys for the treble and tenor.
In 1968, John Taylor & Co replaced the long head between the treble and second's pit.
TG . 1655 . IC
Though there is no evidence to prove it, we could attribute the latter to Mr Croucher?
The Croucher family have been part of this parish for centuries, with the earliest reference dating 1556.
The frame itself is of interesting construction, and shows signs of a few modifications in the past. One was in 1968 with the replacement of the far east truss head, and the other in 1655.
The king posts and braces probably date back to the 14th - 15th century. All except the north brace on the east truss are of curved profile, and suggests it was a later addition. The brace that was here is now part of the south end frame. The south-west corner post has 2 mortices close to each other, and may have once been a sill.
Prior to the installation of long heads in 1655, the heavy design at the top of the king posts suggests it supported short heads, making the old frame a 3.B type.
Interestingly, the south brace on the east truss has an empty mortice, but there is no mortice in the corresponding head, or any head for that matter.
Running along the sills is a plate that shows the location of the old rope holes. It also contains the pulleys for the treble and tenor.
In 1968, John Taylor & Co replaced the long head between the treble and second's pit.
Access to the belfry requires a 22-rung ladder through a hatch in the chancel crossing. From here, a small wooden ladder takes you up to the level of the bells. An additional ladder goes up onto the roof.
Three bells in great condition on inspection.
Visited with John Holt, churchwarden, 24/02/2024.
Three bells in great condition on inspection.
Visited with John Holt, churchwarden, 24/02/2024.
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 - 346.5Hz - F-13
Prime - 625Hz - Eb+8
Tierce - 813.5Hz - Ab-35 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 956Hz - Bb+43
Nominal - 1326.5Hz - E+10
Prime - 625Hz - Eb+8
Tierce - 813.5Hz - Ab-35 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 956Hz - Bb+43
Nominal - 1326.5Hz - E+10
| eastdeantreble.mp3 |
Bell 2
Hum - 295.5Hz - D+11
Prime - 591.5Hz - D+12
Tierce - 701.5Hz - F+8 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 883.5Hz - A+7
Nominal - 1185Hz - D+15
Prime - 591.5Hz - D+12
Tierce - 701.5Hz - F+8 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 883.5Hz - A+7
Nominal - 1185Hz - D+15
| eastdeantwo.mp3 |
Bell 3
Hum - 260.5Hz - C-6
Prime - 563Hz - Db+27
Tierce - 659Hz - E+0 (major 3rd)
Quint - 727Hz - F# -30
Nominal - 1055Hz - C+14
Prime - 563Hz - Db+27
Tierce - 659Hz - E+0 (major 3rd)
Quint - 727Hz - F# -30
Nominal - 1055Hz - C+14
| eastdeantenor.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is inscriptions within the inscription band*
1968 - Present
1 |
+ HAL MARI FVL OF GRAS WK |
2 |
GLORIA ♡ DEO ♡ IN ♡ EXCELSIS 1634 J. H. BISHOP VICAR M. A. RANSOM } L. G. CROUCHER } CHURCHWARDENS 1968 [ T ] RECAST 1968 |
3 |
IOHN X CROVCHER X IOHN X PEARL X CHURCH : WARDENS + CLEMENT X TOSIA R X CAST X MEE X IN X THE X YEARE X 1702 X X ◉ # # ◉ X |
Prior to 1968
1 |
+ HAL MARI FVL OF GRAS WK |
2 |
GLORIA ♡ DEO ♡ IN ♡ EXCELSIS 1634 |
3 |
IOHN X CROVCHER X IOHN X PEARL X CHURCH : WARDENS + CLEMENT X TOSIA R X CAST X MEE X IN X THE X YEARE X 1702 X X ◉ # # ◉ X |
Latin Translation:
2: GLORIA DEO IN EXCELSIS - Glory to God in the highest.
♡ = Fig. REL,1
[ T ] = Fig. PLT,1
# = Fig. CTO,1
2: GLORIA DEO IN EXCELSIS - Glory to God in the highest.
♡ = Fig. REL,1
[ T ] = Fig. PLT,1
# = Fig. CTO,1
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
- Victorian County History Vol* 4
- GARRAWAY RICE, R & WALTER, H. Godfrey (1938): Sussex Record Society Vol* 42
- LEAVER, Kye. L: The Bells in the Valley
- TYSSEN, Amhurst. D (1864): The Church Bells of Sussex
- ELPHICK George. P (1970): Sussex Bells & Belfries
- John Taylor & Co archives, with thanks to Chris Pickford.
- https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/east-dean-all-saints/
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
