Poynings, Holy TrinityPoynings has a chime of three bells, hung in the central tower. The present church was built shortly after 1369, and evidence of an earlier building can be found in the will of Lord Michael of Poynings,1368: “Auxuit ie devise pr faire une novele eglise a Ponynges CC marc.” His wife, Lady Joan, left a gift of 100 marks in her will the following year towards the new church. In 1849, the tower was struck by lightning, causing a 4-foot-square fracture in the wall, 10 inches deep. It was described as looking “as if torn out by a pick-axe.” Architect E. Christian reported in 1886 that the tower was unsafe, leading to repairs in 1890 and 1897.
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About the Bells
3 Bells, in C# ( Approx Tuning 1-3 of 4)
The earliest reference we have to bells is the now-unused tenor. It seems likely that this bell was supplied around the time the church was built, c. 1370, possibly along with another bell. Its simple inscription, + AVE : MARIA, does not include the founder’s name, but we may be able to attribute this bell to Robert Rider of London. Like most bells of this period, the inscription is equally spaced out around the inscription band. The present 5th bell at Ridgwell, Essex, is inscribed + ROBERTVS RIDERE in the same style of lettering as the Poynings bell. These letters were also used by Richard de Wimbish on the old bell at Berechurch, illustrating how letter moulds were passed down from one founder to the next.
Another Sussex example attributed to Rider is the treble at Ford, which has a different set of letters and was cast with a flat head mould, unlike the curved one used at Poynings. It is also inscribed with his name. The canons at Poynings are similar to those used at Ford, but differ from those of Wimbish bells. If this bell is indeed contemporary with the church, it would fall outside Richard de Wimbish’s casting period. The casting quality of this bell is superb, with very clean letters and moulding wires. However, it has a 4” crack at the lower waist moulding wires.
The earliest reference we have to bells is the now-unused tenor. It seems likely that this bell was supplied around the time the church was built, c. 1370, possibly along with another bell. Its simple inscription, + AVE : MARIA, does not include the founder’s name, but we may be able to attribute this bell to Robert Rider of London. Like most bells of this period, the inscription is equally spaced out around the inscription band. The present 5th bell at Ridgwell, Essex, is inscribed + ROBERTVS RIDERE in the same style of lettering as the Poynings bell. These letters were also used by Richard de Wimbish on the old bell at Berechurch, illustrating how letter moulds were passed down from one founder to the next.
Another Sussex example attributed to Rider is the treble at Ford, which has a different set of letters and was cast with a flat head mould, unlike the curved one used at Poynings. It is also inscribed with his name. The canons at Poynings are similar to those used at Ford, but differ from those of Wimbish bells. If this bell is indeed contemporary with the church, it would fall outside Richard de Wimbish’s casting period. The casting quality of this bell is superb, with very clean letters and moulding wires. However, it has a 4” crack at the lower waist moulding wires.
In John Lloyde's will, dated 1558, we are greeted with our first two references to ringing:
“and unto the Ryngers iiijs or more yf the belles be great . . . the Clarke for his labour and Ringinge the greate bell four pence.”
The fact that he mentions a tenor, or “greate bell,” proves that by 1558 there were at least two bells. Interestingly, in the south-east corner of the tower there are two rope holes that are much older than the present three, suggesting there were only two bells up until the installation of the current frame.
Even though the present tenor is 15th-century, we will deal with this bell later to keep things chronological.
If the bell frame is 17th-century, a third bell might have been installed around this time. A possible founder could be William Hull of Lewes.
“and unto the Ryngers iiijs or more yf the belles be great . . . the Clarke for his labour and Ringinge the greate bell four pence.”
The fact that he mentions a tenor, or “greate bell,” proves that by 1558 there were at least two bells. Interestingly, in the south-east corner of the tower there are two rope holes that are much older than the present three, suggesting there were only two bells up until the installation of the current frame.
Even though the present tenor is 15th-century, we will deal with this bell later to keep things chronological.
If the bell frame is 17th-century, a third bell might have been installed around this time. A possible founder could be William Hull of Lewes.
In 1715, Samuel Knight cast a bell, possibly recasting an older one. The letter stamps used are very heavy, and half of the number “5” is cut off by the moulding wires. Generally, Knight's bells are well-toned, but since this bell is cracked and not too easy to raise, we won't know what it sounds like. The casting isn't too bad, but it is a little rough.
I. Miles, whose name features on this bell, might be John Miles, who married Katherine at Poynings on July 11th, 1684.
I. Miles, whose name features on this bell, might be John Miles, who married Katherine at Poynings on July 11th, 1684.
In 1724, it was reported in the Chichester Diocesan Survey that the three bells and the steeple were in good order. This was until c.1820 when one of the bells became cracked, and was sold off. No bell was added to replace it, since both Tyssen and Elphick list two bells in 1864 and 1935 respectively. Unfortunately, by the time of Elphick's visit, both the Rider and Knight bells had become cracked.
The former church of Lewes, All Saints was used until 1975, and decommissioned by the Diocese of Chichester 5 years later. The cracked bells at Poynings were stood down and now rest on wooden stands in the belfry. The three bells from Lewes, All Saints were then transferred across to Poynings and hung in the timber frame. One of the trusses from Lewes was also brought across and preserved in the tower.
The bells form a rough minor key, and were cast by Roger Tapsil, Edmund Giles, and the successor to Stephen Norton. For extra details on these bells, see Lewes, All Saints.
The old Poynings bells now sit in the south-west corner of the tower with their original half wheels. Instead of wheel rims, they have wooden dowels for the rope to trace. Rather than screws, tapered wedges are used to hold the wheels together. The fittings on the “new” bells appear to be recent, and in keeping with the old bells, they were also fitted with half wheels.
Access to the belfry is by a magnificent 47-rung ladder in the north transept. Iron clamps have been fitted in the past to support the 5-foot crack running up its north side. The intermediate chamber is enormous and contains a washtub filled with parts of the old fittings. Another ladder here takes you up to the belfry. A good head for heights is required!
3 bells in great condition on inspection.
The former church of Lewes, All Saints was used until 1975, and decommissioned by the Diocese of Chichester 5 years later. The cracked bells at Poynings were stood down and now rest on wooden stands in the belfry. The three bells from Lewes, All Saints were then transferred across to Poynings and hung in the timber frame. One of the trusses from Lewes was also brought across and preserved in the tower.
The bells form a rough minor key, and were cast by Roger Tapsil, Edmund Giles, and the successor to Stephen Norton. For extra details on these bells, see Lewes, All Saints.
The old Poynings bells now sit in the south-west corner of the tower with their original half wheels. Instead of wheel rims, they have wooden dowels for the rope to trace. Rather than screws, tapered wedges are used to hold the wheels together. The fittings on the “new” bells appear to be recent, and in keeping with the old bells, they were also fitted with half wheels.
Access to the belfry is by a magnificent 47-rung ladder in the north transept. Iron clamps have been fitted in the past to support the 5-foot crack running up its north side. The intermediate chamber is enormous and contains a washtub filled with parts of the old fittings. Another ladder here takes you up to the belfry. A good head for heights is required!
3 bells in great condition on inspection.
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Visited:
.22/08/2022 Lucas J Owen and Emily L Willson
.24/11/2022 with Dylan J Thomas
.22/08/2022 Lucas J Owen and Emily L Willson
.24/11/2022 with Dylan J Thomas
Recordings of the bells:
How the bells are tuned in relation to the 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 - 359Hz - F+48
Prime - 606.5Hz - Eb-43
Tierce - 805.5Hz - G+47 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 990Hz - B+4
Nominal - 1333.5Hz - E+20
Prime - 606.5Hz - Eb-43
Tierce - 805.5Hz - G+47 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 990Hz - B+4
Nominal - 1333.5Hz - E+20
| poynings1.mp3 |
Bell 2
Hum - 361.5Hz - F# -39
Prime - 546.5Hz - Db-26
Tierce - 759Hz - F# +44 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1018.5Hz - C-46
Nominal - 1259.5Hz - Eb+21
Prime - 546.5Hz - Db-26
Tierce - 759Hz - F# +44 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1018.5Hz - C-46
Nominal - 1259.5Hz - Eb+21
| poynings2.mp3 |
Bell 3
Hum - 288Hz - D-33
Prime - 498Hz - B+14
Tierce - 651Hz - E-21 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 834.5Hz - Ab+8
Nominal - 1084Hz - Db-38
Prime - 498Hz - B+14
Tierce - 651Hz - E-21 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 834.5Hz - Ab+8
Nominal - 1084Hz - Db-38
| poynings3.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
*Text in gold is crowned*
*Text in gold is crowned*
1980 - Present
1 |
⋅ RI ⋅ HALLINGDAL ⋅ ROGER GODMAN ⋅ CHVR ⋅ WARDENS ⋅ 1625 ♦ RT |
2 |
☵☵☵☵☵☵☵☵☵☵☵☵☵ EDMVN ♦ GILES ♦ BELLFOVNDER ♦ 1595 ♦ ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ |
3 |
Sancta Katerina Ora Pro Nobis ▼ ◈ ▽ |
Unused 1 |
S KNIGHT MEE FECIT I MILES 1715 |
Unused 2 |
+ 🄰 🅅 🄴 ⫶ 🄼 🄰 🅁 🄸 🄰 |
Soon after 1724 - 1980
1 |
S KNIGHT MEE FECIT I MILES 1715 |
2 |
+ 🄰 🅅 🄴 ⫶ 🄼 🄰 🅁 🄸 🄰 |
Latin Translation:
3: Sancta Katerina Ora Pro Nobis - Saint Katerina pray for us
Unused 1: FECIT - made
Unused 1: AVE MARIA - Hail Mary
3: Sancta Katerina Ora Pro Nobis - Saint Katerina pray for us
Unused 1: FECIT - made
Unused 1: AVE MARIA - Hail Mary
+ = Fig. IV,c (Unused 2)
☵ = Fig. EDG,1 (Bell 2)
▓ = Fig. EDG,2 (Bell 2)
▼ = Fig. XI,c (Bell 3)
◈ = Fig. XI,b (Bell 3)
▽ = Fig. XI,a (Bell 3)
☵ = Fig. EDG,1 (Bell 2)
▓ = Fig. EDG,2 (Bell 2)
▼ = Fig. XI,c (Bell 3)
◈ = Fig. XI,b (Bell 3)
▽ = Fig. XI,a (Bell 3)
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
- ELPHICK, George P. (1970): Sussex Bells & Belfries p.367
- Sussex Archaeological Collection (1864), Vol* XVI, Notes & Queries p.331
- The Builder, Vol* 7, p.439
- The National Archives - Wills. John Lloyde MDLIX PROB-11-42B-142
- https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/poynings-holy-trinity/
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
