Heene, St BotolphHeene has a peal of 8 bells, hung in a west-facing tower.
A mother church was noted in the Doomsday book in West Tarring, along with a small chapel, assumed to have been in Heene. It was then demolished in 1766 as services hadn't been held there for many years prior. Part of the wall still stands north of the present church. The present church is made from brick and flint, and its construction began in 1873. The west end and tower weren't finished until 1879. In the meantime, a small A frame was erected until the church was complete, housing a single bell. The fate of this bell is now unknown. |
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The Bells
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
3-3-0 cwt |
25.50" |
1560 Hz |
G |
1879 |
Full Circle |
||
2 |
4-1-0 cwt |
26.50" |
1454.5 Hz |
F# |
1879 |
Full Circle |
||
3 |
5-1-0 cwt |
28.25" |
1306.5 Hz |
E |
1879 |
Full Circle |
||
4 |
6-0-0 cwt |
30.00" |
1157 Hz |
D |
1879 |
Full Circle |
||
5 |
6-2-0 cwt |
32.00" |
1027 Hz |
C |
1879 |
Full Circle |
||
6 |
7-2-0 cwt |
34.00" |
973 Hz |
B |
1879 |
Full Circle |
||
7 |
9-0-0 cwt |
36.00" |
865.5 Hz |
A |
1879 |
Full Circle |
||
8 |
10-1-0 cwt |
38.88" |
772.5 Hz |
G |
1879 |
Full Circle |
8 Bells, 10-1-0 in G
When the tower was complete, John Warner & Sons supplied a peal of 8 bells in a two-tier frame. The front 3 were cast with conventional canons, and the rest with Doncaster canons.
The inscriptions, formed by pressing a stamp into the outer mould, list some of the donors.
The quality of the castings and their tuning is quite good, but sadly, the fittings and frame are beginning to deteriorate.
When the tower was complete, John Warner & Sons supplied a peal of 8 bells in a two-tier frame. The front 3 were cast with conventional canons, and the rest with Doncaster canons.
The inscriptions, formed by pressing a stamp into the outer mould, list some of the donors.
The quality of the castings and their tuning is quite good, but sadly, the fittings and frame are beginning to deteriorate.
Donors
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The treble was donated by William John Burchell, a solicitor based at 5 Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, and the owner of multiple properties in Heene, including 13 Heene Terrace. Following his death on March 23rd, 1863, a donation suggests that he bequeathed a gift in his will, and he was a local parishioner.
The third is a little more challenging, as it simply gives "Mrs Loder". However, there was one notable Sir Robert Loder of Beach House, a Conservative member of Parliament for New Shoreham. He was married to Lady Maria Georgiana Loder, but we can't prove if this was her. They were very generous though, as they made donations towards Steyne Gardens in 1901. |
William John Burchell
|
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The tenor was donated by George Jonathan Mills.
Born in 1820 in Hastings, he moved to Worthing later in life, and contributed heavily to the development of Heene. He started his career off in Hastings, selling fish and transporting goods to local villages by dog. He passed away in 1903 and was buried in Heene cemetery, shortly followed by his daughter in 1913. |
Analysing how Warners designed them, they were moulded so that all the shoulders were roughly the same diameter proportionately, and the smaller bells were taller than the larger bells. They were moulded in loam using strickles, and no doubt in iron casting cases. The treble appears to be a maiden bell as there are no tuning marks, whereas the other seven have them in the soundbow to flatten the strike note. They are tuned to equal temperament, with a slightly stretched treble.
Only the treble, 5, and 6 were originally hung on ball bearings, and they still are. However, there are plans for the future to replace these so that all the bells are on ball.
In 2006, two of the bells required urgent attention, where a £500 grant was given.
The following year, it was decided that work of a more major nature was required. It included the replacement of some fittings, and additional steel work to the upper frame. Following a grant of £3,000, delays and issues, it was finally completed in 2008.
In 2024, the gudgeons on bells 4 and 5 became defective. The initial plan was to commission Blyth & Co to rehang them on new steel headstocks, but the job was later given to O'Shea Engineering who intends to carry out the same work. Owing to the general condition of the frame and bell fittings, the future plan is to rehang all eight bells on new fittings and supply Heene with a new metal frame. At the same time, the bells will be re-tuned.
Access to the belfry is by a vertical ladder, that comes out below bell 2.
Visited: 03/04/2024 with thanks to Rick and Val Clay.
Only the treble, 5, and 6 were originally hung on ball bearings, and they still are. However, there are plans for the future to replace these so that all the bells are on ball.
In 2006, two of the bells required urgent attention, where a £500 grant was given.
The following year, it was decided that work of a more major nature was required. It included the replacement of some fittings, and additional steel work to the upper frame. Following a grant of £3,000, delays and issues, it was finally completed in 2008.
In 2024, the gudgeons on bells 4 and 5 became defective. The initial plan was to commission Blyth & Co to rehang them on new steel headstocks, but the job was later given to O'Shea Engineering who intends to carry out the same work. Owing to the general condition of the frame and bell fittings, the future plan is to rehang all eight bells on new fittings and supply Heene with a new metal frame. At the same time, the bells will be re-tuned.
Access to the belfry is by a vertical ladder, that comes out below bell 2.
Visited: 03/04/2024 with thanks to Rick and Val Clay.
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 - 390.5Hz - G-6
Prime - 691.5Hz - F-16
Tierce - 918.5Hz - Bb-25 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1172Hz - D-3
Nominal - 1560Hz - G-8
Prime - 691.5Hz - F-16
Tierce - 918.5Hz - Bb-25 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1172Hz - D-3
Nominal - 1560Hz - G-8
| heeneone.mp3 |
Bell 2
Hum - 402.5Hz - G+46
Prime - 602.5Hz - D+44
Tierce - 866.5Hz - A-26 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1153Hz - D-31
Nominal - 1454.5Hz - F# -29
Prime - 602.5Hz - D+44
Tierce - 866.5Hz - A-26 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1153Hz - D-31
Nominal - 1454.5Hz - F# -29
| heenetwo.mp3 |
Bell 3
Hum - 359.5Hz - F# -49
Prime - 556.5Hz - Db+7
Tierce - 778Hz - G-12 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1016Hz - B+49
Nominal - 1306.5Hz - E-15
Prime - 556.5Hz - Db+7
Tierce - 778Hz - G-12 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1016Hz - B+49
Nominal - 1306.5Hz - E-15
| heenethree.mp3 |
Bell 4
Hum - 325Hz - E-23
Prime - 540.5Hz - Db-43
Tierce - 699Hz - F+1 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 947.5Hz - Bb+28
Nominal - 1157Hz - D-25
Prime - 540.5Hz - Db-43
Tierce - 699Hz - F+1 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 947.5Hz - Bb+28
Nominal - 1157Hz - D-25
| heenefour.mp3 |
Bell 5
Hum - 281Hz - Db+24
Prime - 524.5Hz - C+4
Tierce - 632.5Hz - Eb+28 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 832.5Hz - Ab+4
Nominal - 1027Hz - C-32
Prime - 524.5Hz - C+4
Tierce - 632.5Hz - Eb+28 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 832.5Hz - Ab+4
Nominal - 1027Hz - C-32
| heenefive.mp3 |
Bell 6
Hum - 279.5Hz - Db+14
Prime - 461.5Hz - Bb-16
Tierce - 588Hz - D+2 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 799.5Hz - G+34
Nominal - 973Hz - B-25
Prime - 461.5Hz - Bb-16
Tierce - 588Hz - D+2 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 799.5Hz - G+34
Nominal - 973Hz - B-25
| heenesix.mp3 |
Bell 7
Hum - 232.5Hz - Bb-3
Prime - 410.5Hz - Ab-19
Tierce - 519.5Hz - C-11 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 679Hz - F-48
Nominal - 865.5Hz - A-28
Prime - 410.5Hz - Ab-19
Tierce - 519.5Hz - C-11 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 679Hz - F-48
Nominal - 865.5Hz - A-28
| heeneseven.mp3 |
Bell 8
Hum - 222.5Hz - A+20
Prime - 377Hz - F#+32
Tierce - 466.5Hz - Bb+1 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 646Hz - E-34
Nominal - 772.5Hz - G-25
Prime - 377Hz - F#+32
Tierce - 466.5Hz - Bb+1 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 646Hz - E-34
Nominal - 772.5Hz - G-25
| heeneeight.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
1 |
CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON SEPᵀ 1879x THE GIFT OF WILLIAM BURCHELL 5 BROAD SANCTUARY WESTMINSTERx |
2 |
CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON SEPᵀ 1879x TO THE GLORY OF GOD ------ . ------ GIVEN BY THE WORSHIPPERS AT S.ᵀ. BOTOLPHS HEENE 1879x |
3 |
CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON SEPᵀ 1879x THE GIFT OF Mᴿˢ LODER _ WORTHING TE. DEUM. LAUDAMUSx |
4 |
CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON SEPᵀ 1879x |
5 |
CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON SEPᵀ 1879x |
6 |
CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON SEPᵀ 1879x |
7 |
CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON SEPᵀ 1879x |
8 |
CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON SEPᵀ 1879x PRESENTED TO S.ᵀ. BOTOLPHS CHURCH_ HEENE BY GEORGE JONATHAN MILLSx ------ . ------ ALL WORSHIP BE GIVEN TO GOD ONLY |
Latin Translations:
3: TE DEUM LAUDAMUS - We praise you god
3: TE DEUM LAUDAMUS - We praise you god
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beach_House%2C_Worthing?
- https://worthinghistory.com/?page_id=974
- https://www.heenecemetery.org.uk/burial/george-mills-buried-1903/
- https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/worthing-st-botolph-heene/ [Cover photo too]
