Lyminster, St Mary Magdalene
1950 - Present
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
4-2-3 cwt |
28.00" |
1287.5 Hz |
E |
Lester & Pack |
1759 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
2 |
5-0-2 cwt |
29.25" |
1162.5 Hz |
D |
Lester & Pack |
1759 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
3 |
6-0-0 cwt |
32.13" |
1034 Hz |
C |
1887 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
|
4 |
6-0-23 cwt |
32.75" |
971.5 Hz |
B |
Lester & Pack |
1759 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
5 |
7-2-19 cwt |
35.88" |
872.5 Hz |
A |
1887 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
|
6 |
9-2-12 cwt |
38.50" |
732.1 Hz |
G |
1950 |
Full Circle |
1759 - 1887
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Date |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
4-3-3 cwt |
28.00" |
|
E |
Lester & Pack |
1759 |
Yes |
Full Circle |
2 |
5-1-3 cwt |
29.00" |
|
D |
Lester & Pack |
1759 |
Yes |
Full Circle |
3 |
5-3-11 cwt |
31.50" |
|
C |
Lester & Pack |
1759 |
Yes |
Full Circle |
4 |
6-2-0 cwt |
33.00" |
|
B |
Lester & Pack |
1759 |
Yes |
Full Circle |
5 |
7-3-0 cwt |
35.50" |
|
A |
Lester & Pack |
1759 |
Yes |
Full Circle |
6 |
9-3-16 cwt |
38.25" |
G |
Lester & Pack |
1759 |
Yes |
Full Circle |
About the Bells
6 Bells, 9-2-12 cwt in F#
Lyminster has a peal of 6 bells, hung in a west facing tower. The lower two stages of the tower were built in the 13th century, and the belfry was added around 200 years later. At ground level, the door you enter into the tower was the original west door entrance, dating around the 12th century. 100
Now, let's draw our attention to the bells.
It is unclear how many bells were hung when the tower was build, but we do know that there were 4 by 1554. This is proven in Richard Olyver's will of 1554, November 14th.
"I give to mayntynaunce of the iiij bells of Lyomyster xvjd"
10 years earlier, our earliest reference to the bells is found:
1544, Aug. 30. “To the Belles of Lymester iiijd'' Eden Medeway.
There may have been 4 bells here, but we can not prove this.
The last two bequests towards the bells we have both come from the Oliver family and show that they were in need of restoration.
1556, May 26. “I bequeth to the Belles of Lymister xvjd" William Olyver.
1558, Jul. 23. “and to the reparacions of the belles iiijd" Joan Oliver 101
A great place to look for references on bells is in church presentments and surveys.
There are no mentions of the bells in the presentments from 1621 - 1670. Although we have a reference towards the tower in the Chichester Diocesan survey of 1686 which reads:
"A cracke in the south east corner of the wall and the leads of the tower, all to bee done by the 15th of May next."
The next one we have is in 1724, where there were "Four bells" noted in the tower. 102 Could these have been the ones from 1554? Due to old techniques of hanging bells, and the fittings used, its is unlikely, but not impossible.
A major change occurred in 1759 when Thomas Lester and Thomas Pack of Whitechapel supplied Lyminster with a complete peal of 6 bells, recasting the former 4 bells.
The treble has a simple inscription of just
LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT J759.
It is the only bell to contain the commonly found Fig. TLE,1. [see in the inscription section]
The second has a much longer inscription, the same can also be found at Addington, St Peter.
We also see the introduction of Fig. TLE,4.
Similar to the Rudhall foundry, the 3rd had the phrase
PEACE AND GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD inscribed on it along with
LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT J759.
The 4th and 5th are inscribed the same as the treble with the absence of Fig. TLE,1.
The tenor holds the longest inscription, giving the names of the vicar, churchwardens, and overseer.
The Vicar at the time was Revd Daniel Gittings. He served as Vicar at Lyminster from 1741 until 1755 and Rector at South Stoke from 1733 till 1755, presumably the year of his death.
William Reading and John Harvey were the churchwardens, along with Thomas Duke, serving as the Overseer.
On each bell, the letter J was used instead of a 1 in the date, and they all had their weight engraved on the waist.
Luckily, A. Daniel Tyssen recorded the weights and diameters on a notice in the tower, which are shown at the top of this page. They would have all been cast with a conventional canon, strapped to a wooden headstock.
In 1887, the bells and tower were restored to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of HM Queen Victoria, after a fund of £193 was raised by parishioners. 103
The 3rd was recast with the inscription
PEACE AND GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD
repeated using Warner's alphabet on the waist. Around the inscription band,
RECAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1887
is present. Each end with a small cross. You will also notice that the figure Y looks alot like a V.
The 5th was also recast with the same inscription around the inscription band. The waist contains a dedication to the overhaul and also bears the names of the Vicar and churchwardens.
The wooden frame was strengthened and the bells were quarter turned. Other repairs were carried out in the ringing chamber, and a new floor was installed.
In this year, the lower stage of the tower was converted into a parish room.
John Warner & Sons also attempted to tune the bells. 103
To commemorate the coronation of King Edward VII, the tower was restored, further using the funds raised by PM Johnston.
The bells were fully overhauled in 1937 by Mears & Stainbank to hang the bells in a new cast iron frame, and install them on new fittings. They were hung on wooden headstock and fitted with wrought iron clappers.
To make ringing more efficient, the bells were rehung on self-aligning ball bearings and the old wheels were overhauled. New wheel braces were fitted to strengthen them too. 104
The peal was also retuned, although the tuning of the bells today is fairly interesting.
The new frame is made of Z.1 trusses arranged in the 6.1 layout. Sadly, we do not know much about the old frame, but it was probably in the same layout using V, W, or Z trusses.
The money was raised by public subscriptions and a sum of money left in a legacy.
The tenor was recast in 1950 by Mears & Stainbank as a memorial to the late vicar, Stephen Peachey Duval. It had the inscription repeated using modern Whitechapel letters.
At the bottom of the waist, the trademark, Fig. AWD,1, is between the date.
The work cost an estimate of £127.
The tenor was cast with a flat top, whereas the rest had their canons removed.
The tuning of the bells is quite interesting! The second and tenor are the odd ones out as they possess the characteristics of a Simpson tuned bells. They tenor has quite a sharp quint, which is also the case for the 3 bells at Crawley, St Francis & St Anthony.
Bells 1,3,4&5 have very sharp hums, slightly sharp quints, and flat primes.
This can be shown clearly in the graphs below.
An overhaul was requested in 1965 after the clappers were in an ill condition and the fittings required an overhaul.
Access to the ringing room is by a staircase on the west side of the tower. The ringing room appears to be very well kept and looks fantastic. A wooden truss on the west side of the tower helps to contain the stresses on the tower.
A fine vertical ladder takes you up to an intermediate chamber where the ropes are slightly drawn.
Another vertical ladder takes you up into the belfry - the bells are behind you as you enter.
They seem to be in great condition!
During the inspection, there were lots of small flies in the belfry that took an attraction to my light.
There are two different ladders that take you up onto the roof, one no longer in use.
Visited: 31/03/2023
Lyminster has a peal of 6 bells, hung in a west facing tower. The lower two stages of the tower were built in the 13th century, and the belfry was added around 200 years later. At ground level, the door you enter into the tower was the original west door entrance, dating around the 12th century. 100
Now, let's draw our attention to the bells.
It is unclear how many bells were hung when the tower was build, but we do know that there were 4 by 1554. This is proven in Richard Olyver's will of 1554, November 14th.
"I give to mayntynaunce of the iiij bells of Lyomyster xvjd"
10 years earlier, our earliest reference to the bells is found:
1544, Aug. 30. “To the Belles of Lymester iiijd'' Eden Medeway.
There may have been 4 bells here, but we can not prove this.
The last two bequests towards the bells we have both come from the Oliver family and show that they were in need of restoration.
1556, May 26. “I bequeth to the Belles of Lymister xvjd" William Olyver.
1558, Jul. 23. “and to the reparacions of the belles iiijd" Joan Oliver 101
A great place to look for references on bells is in church presentments and surveys.
There are no mentions of the bells in the presentments from 1621 - 1670. Although we have a reference towards the tower in the Chichester Diocesan survey of 1686 which reads:
"A cracke in the south east corner of the wall and the leads of the tower, all to bee done by the 15th of May next."
The next one we have is in 1724, where there were "Four bells" noted in the tower. 102 Could these have been the ones from 1554? Due to old techniques of hanging bells, and the fittings used, its is unlikely, but not impossible.
A major change occurred in 1759 when Thomas Lester and Thomas Pack of Whitechapel supplied Lyminster with a complete peal of 6 bells, recasting the former 4 bells.
The treble has a simple inscription of just
LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT J759.
It is the only bell to contain the commonly found Fig. TLE,1. [see in the inscription section]
The second has a much longer inscription, the same can also be found at Addington, St Peter.
We also see the introduction of Fig. TLE,4.
Similar to the Rudhall foundry, the 3rd had the phrase
PEACE AND GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD inscribed on it along with
LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT J759.
The 4th and 5th are inscribed the same as the treble with the absence of Fig. TLE,1.
The tenor holds the longest inscription, giving the names of the vicar, churchwardens, and overseer.
The Vicar at the time was Revd Daniel Gittings. He served as Vicar at Lyminster from 1741 until 1755 and Rector at South Stoke from 1733 till 1755, presumably the year of his death.
William Reading and John Harvey were the churchwardens, along with Thomas Duke, serving as the Overseer.
On each bell, the letter J was used instead of a 1 in the date, and they all had their weight engraved on the waist.
Luckily, A. Daniel Tyssen recorded the weights and diameters on a notice in the tower, which are shown at the top of this page. They would have all been cast with a conventional canon, strapped to a wooden headstock.
In 1887, the bells and tower were restored to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of HM Queen Victoria, after a fund of £193 was raised by parishioners. 103
The 3rd was recast with the inscription
PEACE AND GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD
repeated using Warner's alphabet on the waist. Around the inscription band,
RECAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1887
is present. Each end with a small cross. You will also notice that the figure Y looks alot like a V.
The 5th was also recast with the same inscription around the inscription band. The waist contains a dedication to the overhaul and also bears the names of the Vicar and churchwardens.
The wooden frame was strengthened and the bells were quarter turned. Other repairs were carried out in the ringing chamber, and a new floor was installed.
In this year, the lower stage of the tower was converted into a parish room.
John Warner & Sons also attempted to tune the bells. 103
To commemorate the coronation of King Edward VII, the tower was restored, further using the funds raised by PM Johnston.
The bells were fully overhauled in 1937 by Mears & Stainbank to hang the bells in a new cast iron frame, and install them on new fittings. They were hung on wooden headstock and fitted with wrought iron clappers.
To make ringing more efficient, the bells were rehung on self-aligning ball bearings and the old wheels were overhauled. New wheel braces were fitted to strengthen them too. 104
The peal was also retuned, although the tuning of the bells today is fairly interesting.
The new frame is made of Z.1 trusses arranged in the 6.1 layout. Sadly, we do not know much about the old frame, but it was probably in the same layout using V, W, or Z trusses.
The money was raised by public subscriptions and a sum of money left in a legacy.
The tenor was recast in 1950 by Mears & Stainbank as a memorial to the late vicar, Stephen Peachey Duval. It had the inscription repeated using modern Whitechapel letters.
At the bottom of the waist, the trademark, Fig. AWD,1, is between the date.
The work cost an estimate of £127.
The tenor was cast with a flat top, whereas the rest had their canons removed.
The tuning of the bells is quite interesting! The second and tenor are the odd ones out as they possess the characteristics of a Simpson tuned bells. They tenor has quite a sharp quint, which is also the case for the 3 bells at Crawley, St Francis & St Anthony.
Bells 1,3,4&5 have very sharp hums, slightly sharp quints, and flat primes.
This can be shown clearly in the graphs below.
An overhaul was requested in 1965 after the clappers were in an ill condition and the fittings required an overhaul.
Access to the ringing room is by a staircase on the west side of the tower. The ringing room appears to be very well kept and looks fantastic. A wooden truss on the west side of the tower helps to contain the stresses on the tower.
A fine vertical ladder takes you up to an intermediate chamber where the ropes are slightly drawn.
Another vertical ladder takes you up into the belfry - the bells are behind you as you enter.
They seem to be in great condition!
During the inspection, there were lots of small flies in the belfry that took an attraction to my light.
There are two different ladders that take you up onto the roof, one no longer in use.
Visited: 31/03/2023
Recordings of the bells:
How the bells are tuned in relation to the nominal, using Simpson's thoery.
“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 - 340Hz - F-45
Prime - 595Hz - D+22
Tierce - 773Hz - G-23 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1007.5Hz - B+34
Nominal - 1287.5Hz - E-40
Prime - 595Hz - D+22
Tierce - 773Hz - G-23 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1007.5Hz - B+34
Nominal - 1287.5Hz - E-40
| lyminster1__1_.wav |
Bell 2
Hum - 296.5Hz - D+17
Prime - 577Hz - D-30
Tierce - 700Hz - F+4 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 879Hz - A-1
Nominal - 1162.5Hz - D-17
Prime - 577Hz - D-30
Tierce - 700Hz - F+4 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 879Hz - A-1
Nominal - 1162.5Hz - D-17
| lyminster_2__1_.wav |
Bell 3
Hum - 277.5Hz - Db+2
Prime - 511.5Hz - C-38
Tierce - 628Hz - Eb+16 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 818Hz - Ab-25
Nominal - 1034Hz - C-20
Prime - 511.5Hz - C-38
Tierce - 628Hz - Eb+16 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 818Hz - Ab-25
Nominal - 1034Hz - C-20
| lyminster_3__1_.wav |
Bell 4
Hum - 263Hz - C+9
Prime - 471.5Hz - Bb+20
Tierce - 587.5Hz - D+1 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 772.5Hz - G-25
Nominal - 971.5Hz - B-28
Prime - 471.5Hz - Bb+20
Tierce - 587.5Hz - D+1 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 772.5Hz - G-25
Nominal - 971.5Hz - B-28
| lyminster_4.wav |
Bell 5
Hum - 231.5Hz - Bb-11
Prime - 406.5Hz - Ab-36
Tierce - 520Hz - C-10 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 667.5Hz - E+22
Nominal - 872.5Hz - A-14
Prime - 406.5Hz - Ab-36
Tierce - 520Hz - C-10 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 667.5Hz - E+22
Nominal - 872.5Hz - A-14
| lyminster_5__1_.wav |
Bell 6
Hum - 194Hz - G-17
Prime - 389Hz - G-12
Tierce - 462.5Hz - Bb-13 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 606Hz - Eb-45
Nominal - 775.5Hz - G-18
Prime - 389Hz - G-12
Tierce - 462.5Hz - Bb-13 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 606Hz - Eb-45
Nominal - 775.5Hz - G-18
| lyminster_6__1_.wav |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is inscriptions within the inscription band*
*Text in red is engraved on the bell*
*Text in blue is on the opposite side of the bell*
*Text in red is engraved on the bell*
*Text in blue is on the opposite side of the bell*
1950 - Present
1 |
≎≎≎≎≎≎ LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT J759 ≎≎≎≎≎≎ 4=3=3 |
2 |
♥ KIND HEAVEN INCREASE THEIR BOUNTEOUS STORE AND BLESS THEIR SOULS FOR EVER MORE LESTER & PACK FECIT J759 5=J=3 |
3 |
RECAST BV JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1887x PEACE AND GOOD NEIGHBOURHOODx |
4 |
LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT J759 6=2=0 |
5 |
RECAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1887x GOD SAVE THE QUEEN ------ . ------ BELLS RESTORED JUBILEE YEAR REV[D.] GERALD H. MOOR_VICAR WṂ DUKE } E. CHARLETON } CH. WARDENS. |
6 |
THE REVḌ DAḶ GITTINGS VICAR : IOṆ HARVEY & WṂ READING CH Ḥ WARDENS : THOṢ DUKE OVERSEER : 1759 LESTER & PACK FECIT RECAST 1950 IN MEMORY OF STEPHEN P. DUVAL, D.D., O.B.E., VICAR 1924 - 1947 19 ◉ 50 |
1759 - 1887
1 |
≎≎≎≎≎≎ LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT J759 ≎≎≎≎≎≎ 4=3=3 |
2 |
♥ KIND HEAVEN INCREASE THEIR BOUNTEOUS STORE AND BLESS THEIR SOULS FOR EVER MORE LESTER & PACK FECIT J759 5=J=3 |
3 |
PEACE AND GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1759 5 - 3 - 11 |
4 |
LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT J759 6=2=0 |
5 |
LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1759 7 - 3 - 0 |
6 |
LESTER & PACK FECIT THE REVD DANL GITTINGS VICAR JON HARVEY WM READING CH WARDENS THOS DUKE OVERSEER 1759 9 - 3 - 16 |
Latin Translations:
1,2,4,6: FECIT - Made
≎ = Fig. TLE,1
♥ = Fig. TLE,4
◉ = Fig. AWD,1
1,2,4,6: FECIT - Made
≎ = Fig. TLE,1
♥ = Fig. TLE,4
◉ = Fig. AWD,1
Photographs:
Sources:
100 - https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/lyminster-st-mary-magdalene/
101 - https://www.sussexrecordsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/Digital_editions/SRS-Vol-43.pdf
102 - Chichester Diocesan Surveys 1686 and 1724 by Wyn K.
103 - https://www.lyminsterchurch.org.uk/_data/site/50/pg/163/08_500_Paintings_Etc.pdf
104 - https://www.lyminsterchurch.org.uk/_data/site/50/pg/163/02_IntroductionincludingTitlepageandCopyrightPage.pdf
Old inscriptions of 3,5,6 - The Church Bells of Sussex by A. Daniel Tyssen.
100 - https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/lyminster-st-mary-magdalene/
101 - https://www.sussexrecordsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/Digital_editions/SRS-Vol-43.pdf
102 - Chichester Diocesan Surveys 1686 and 1724 by Wyn K.
103 - https://www.lyminsterchurch.org.uk/_data/site/50/pg/163/08_500_Paintings_Etc.pdf
104 - https://www.lyminsterchurch.org.uk/_data/site/50/pg/163/02_IntroductionincludingTitlepageandCopyrightPage.pdf
Old inscriptions of 3,5,6 - The Church Bells of Sussex by A. Daniel Tyssen.
