Hastings, St Mary in the CastleSt Mary in the Castle has a single bell, hung in a timber structure on the roof.
The church and the surrounding residential area were designed by Joseph Kay. Although some parts of Pelham Crescent were not completed until 1836, the chapel was built by 1828. It is Roman in style and shaped like a capital 'D,' backing directly onto the cliff face |
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The Bell
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
c4 cwt |
25.50" |
1428.5 Hz |
F |
Thomas II Mears |
1827 |
Swing |
1 Bell in F
In 1827, Thomas Mears cast a single bell for the newly built church, complete with a frame and fittings. As far as we know, the church never had more than one bell.
Though tonally sound, the quality of the casting is somewhat inferior to many of Mears' bells, as a raised patch around the soundbow reveals unevenness in the strickle. Interestingly, the upper pair of moulding wires that form the inscription band are positioned right where the shoulders begin to curve, making it slightly tricky to record the crown circumference.
The head mould and canons are very well-formed. The letters are uneven in places, which could suggest that the bell was moulded and inscribed by an apprentice.
The frame is undoubtedly coeval with the church and consists of a pair of timber 6.A trusses. All of the fittings appear to be original, except for the headstock and possibly the iron straps. The wheel’s rim and shrouding have deteriorated, and one of the spokes has broken off. The clock hammer is heavily corroded and has sheared off in the past.
On either side of the frame, two timber beams sit about half a centimetre below the lip of the bell. This indicates that precautions were taken in case the bell fell from its fittings. However, this also means the bell cannot be swung.
Access to the bell is via a series of ladders leading out onto the roof. From there, the bell is housed in a wooden belfry. A 6 rung ladder is needed to reach the bell. Another trapdoor below leads down to the space where the clock mechanism once stood. The back of the church where the ladders are is where the organ used to be.
Visited with Robert Wren & Amy Terry, 26/02/2025.
In 1827, Thomas Mears cast a single bell for the newly built church, complete with a frame and fittings. As far as we know, the church never had more than one bell.
Though tonally sound, the quality of the casting is somewhat inferior to many of Mears' bells, as a raised patch around the soundbow reveals unevenness in the strickle. Interestingly, the upper pair of moulding wires that form the inscription band are positioned right where the shoulders begin to curve, making it slightly tricky to record the crown circumference.
The head mould and canons are very well-formed. The letters are uneven in places, which could suggest that the bell was moulded and inscribed by an apprentice.
- Crown Circumference: 44.50"
- Shoulder to lip length: 18.00"
- Soundbow thickness: 2.00" (7.83% of diameter)
The frame is undoubtedly coeval with the church and consists of a pair of timber 6.A trusses. All of the fittings appear to be original, except for the headstock and possibly the iron straps. The wheel’s rim and shrouding have deteriorated, and one of the spokes has broken off. The clock hammer is heavily corroded and has sheared off in the past.
On either side of the frame, two timber beams sit about half a centimetre below the lip of the bell. This indicates that precautions were taken in case the bell fell from its fittings. However, this also means the bell cannot be swung.
Access to the bell is via a series of ladders leading out onto the roof. From there, the bell is housed in a wooden belfry. A 6 rung ladder is needed to reach the bell. Another trapdoor below leads down to the space where the clock mechanism once stood. The back of the church where the ladders are is where the organ used to be.
Visited with Robert Wren & Amy Terry, 26/02/2025.
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+
Hum - 396.5Hz - G+20
Prime - 672.5Hz - E+34
Tierce - 865.5Hz - A-28 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1177Hz - D+3
Nominal - 1428.5Hz - F+39
Prime - 672.5Hz - E+34
Tierce - 865.5Hz - A-28 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1177Hz - D+3
Nominal - 1428.5Hz - F+39
| hastingssmitcone.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
1 |
T. MEARS OF LONDON FECIT 1827. |
Latin Translation:
FECIT - Made it
FECIT - Made it
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
- https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/hastings-st-mary-in-the-castle-old-and-new/
