East Grinstead, Former church of St LukeSt Luke’s had a single bell, hung high on the west wall. The church was built as a chapelry of St Swithun’s in 1954, but due to maintenance costs and a diminishing congregation, it closed in 2014 and was demolished the following year, making way for new flats.
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The Bell
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
<25.5kg |
12.00" |
2660.5 Hz |
E |
Charles & George Mears |
1844 |
Unhung |
1 Bell, in E
In 1844, Whitechapel founders Charles & George Mears cast this bell, inscribed with no more than the date. It was cast with a peg canon and inscribed using ⅜" size stamps. The clapper was curved at the top of the shaft so that it could be hooked onto the cast-in crown staple. It weighted 25.5kg together with its headstock.
Additional dimensions are as followed:
In 1844, Whitechapel founders Charles & George Mears cast this bell, inscribed with no more than the date. It was cast with a peg canon and inscribed using ⅜" size stamps. The clapper was curved at the top of the shaft so that it could be hooked onto the cast-in crown staple. It weighted 25.5kg together with its headstock.
Additional dimensions are as followed:
- Crown circumference: 21.50"
- Shoulder to lip length: 8.38"
- Soundbow thickness: 0.75"
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Unfortunately, its original home is unknown, as it predates the church; however, during its time at St Luke’s, it was hung for swing chiming on a pair of iron brackets on the west wall. Its iron headstock also had a lever so that it could be swung by a rope. The photo on the right shows it at St Luke’s (Google Maps Street View, June 2014).
In 2014, the church was closed, and the bell, along with its iron brackets and rope, was transferred between June and October to East Grinstead, St Swithun’s, where it was stored safely on the organ pipe room floor. |
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The bell was auctioned in 2024, along with some of St Luke’s other fittings, to help raise funds for the upkeep of the church.Two years later, the bell was put up for sale by Antique Church Furnishings of Betchworth, to whom I am very grateful for allowing me to measure and photograph it prior to its sale.
Click below to see the listing:
Click below to see the listing:
Visited:
.07/05/2022 - East Grinstead, St Swithun
.14/04/2026 - Betchworth, Antique Church Furnishings
.07/05/2022 - East Grinstead, St Swithun
.14/04/2026 - Betchworth, Antique Church Furnishings
Recording of the bell:
How the bell is tuned in relation to the nominal, using Simpson's thory.
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+
Hum - 727.5Hz - F#-28
Prime - 1398Hz - F+1
Tierce - 1638.5Hz - Ab-23 (major 3rd)
Quint - 2181.5Hz - Db-27
Nominal - 2660.5Hz - E+15
Prime - 1398Hz - F+1
Tierce - 1638.5Hz - Ab-23 (major 3rd)
Quint - 2181.5Hz - Db-27
Nominal - 2660.5Hz - E+15
| cut_eastgstluke__1_.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
1 |
1844 |
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
© Kye L Leaver 2026. All rights reserved.
- With thanks to Isabella Barton, East Grinstead, St Swithun, for additional information
- ELPHICK, George P (1970): Sussex Bells & Belfries
- https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/east-grinstead-st-luke-stone-quarry/
- https://churchantiques.com/product/small-1844-church-bell-with-clapper-hanger-and-rope-bracket/?srsltid=AfmBOorHFaGuJd52UpJ_pPEqkRIVFZJtSDYQEDQSSPf1M7e1W0rKgpsFmG0
- https://churchantiques.com/product/small-1844-church-bell-with-clapper-hanger-and-rope-bracket/
© Kye L Leaver 2026. All rights reserved.
