Rusper, St Mary Magdalene
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
3-2-2 cwt |
25.00" |
1416.9 Hz |
F |
Whitechapel Bell Foundry |
2007 |
Full Circle |
|
2 |
3-1-18 cwt |
26.00" |
1328.4 Hz |
E |
1897 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
|
3 |
3¾ cwt |
27.13" |
1199.2 Hz |
D |
1699 |
Removed |
Full Circle |
|
4 |
4¼ cwt |
28.63" |
1080 Hz |
C |
1699 |
Full Circle |
||
5 |
6 cwt |
32.13" |
964 Hz |
B♭ |
1699 |
Full Circle |
||
6 |
7½ cwt |
34.63" |
887.4 Hz |
A |
1699 |
Full Circle |
||
7 |
9½ cwt |
37.75" |
785.1 Hz |
G |
1699 |
Full Circle |
||
8 |
12¾ cwt |
42.00" |
711.5 Hz |
F |
1699 |
Full Circle |
About the Bells
8 Bells, 12¾ in F
Rusper has a peal of 8 bells hung in a West facing tower dating around 1503. There were two bequests between 1489 - 1503:
1489, Apr. 30. "I bequeith to the parissh church of Rowspar to the making of the stepill vjs viijd" Stephen Garett.
1503, Dec. 9. "I bequeth toward the makyng of the church stepull of Rousper vjs viijd" John Bradbig of Slinfold.
Interestingly enough, in 1486, an inventory states that "Itm iiij greate belles in the Steple." suggesting that there was a tower before.
Around 32 years after the bells were hung in the present tower, they needed repair. Another bequest for the bells to be repaired was also made again in 1557.
1535, Nov. 8. "To the reparacions of the belles in Ruspar vjs viijd" Thomas Elliot
1557, Oct. 3. "I geve to the reparacion of the bells iijs iiijd" James Fuller
These bells were most likely the four bells which were mentioned in the old tower.
William Eldridge hung a diatonic six in the tower which all feature the same inscription.
The inscription band reads: GVLIELMVS ELDRIDGE FECIT 1699 + + + +. At the top of the waist under the moulding wires are the initials T E. A cross separates them and two crosses follow after the E. These initials surely stand for Thomas Eldridge, presumably William's son working alongside him.
Due to their letters being so low relief, you can see where many of the letters and crosses were pushed into the wax mould with a tool. They're very neatly cut and were made from parchment wax.
Although they didn't have a tuning machine in 1699, the bells are fairly in tune with one another. They contain a mix of minor and major thirds and all the hums are 1 semitone higher than the nominals.
In descending order, the nominals are this many cents sharp or flat:
+33; -47; -43; +11; +2; +30.
The treble and 2 are quite far apart from one another and so it the 3 & 4. The most noticeable difference is certainly the 2 tenors. You can hear that the tenor is rather sharp.
The tuning of the bells has remained untouched since 1699.
The timber frame in the belfry was probably added around this time which contains 3 different trusses
Rusper saw its next big change in 1897.
The bells were augmented from 6 to a peal of 8 by John Warner & Sons at Spitalfields by adding 2 new trebles. Cast iron trusses were added on the South side of the frame to modify the frame so it could contain a ring of 8.
A peal of Kent Treble Bob Major was rung that year on December 23rd, possibly on practice night.
Since then 80 recorded peals have been rung on these bells with only 1 being of Minor in 1999.
In 2007, the bells were rehung by Nicholsons Engineering. They added new iron trusses on the South side for bells 3 & 4.
A new treble was cast by Whitechapel and the old treble was tuned down to become the 2nd. All the bells are fitted with Whitechapel cast iron headstocks.
Having been donated to the Keltik Trust, the second is now housed at Llanbedr Ystrad Yw, Powys in Wales as their treble. It weighs 3-3-1cwt and measures 26.70" in diameter. The note is still E and its canons were removed while at Rusper.
Their last peal on the bells as a 5 was January 6 2007. A peal including the old 2nd from Rusper was rung on April 26th 2007.
The ringing room is quite spacious and has a clock mechanism, once wound mechanically in the South East corner.
It was made by Smith and Sons at Clerkenwell, London in 1855.
The donor of the clock was Charlotte, wife of the Revd John Broadwood of Lyne and chimes the tenor on the hour.
All of the ropes are maroon and Gold similar to the 4th at Crawley.
There is unfortunately no record of the frame preceding the current one. It's likely that the timber frame was installed around the time of the Eldridge bells and features 3 different trusses.
The first one is the standard Z truss. The other two are a combination of two types. The north trusses are a mix of Z and W trusses and a parallel pair of trusses on the east side of the frame are a mix of Z and V trusses. In 1897, Warner's modified the frame by adding cast iron trusses on the south side. The meant that the timber 6.1 frame became a 8.3 frame. The far east pit is now empty and probably contained the treble or 2nd. Inside it now is a pair of steps which were used to get onto the frame. Holes for the bearings are on the south side of the frame show where Warner's hung the bells on the south side on both a wooden and metal truss.
Until the frame was altered in 2007, you were able to walk around it to the 7th where the steps to get up were located.
The bells hang a good few feet above the belfry floor enabling easy access under the bells.
Nicholsons added a frame for bells 2 & 3 on the southside with trusses that will be listed as Z.5. Clearance grooves have been cut out of the braces to ensure the bells swing freely. The 5 now swings where the walk way used to be, therefore it is hung on both the wooden and metal frame. There appears to be no inscription nor engraving on the wooden frame.
The position of all the bells except 7 & 8 were changed.
All the canons were removed from the bells by 1938. Current treble cast without one.
An old sketch of the church shows that the tower has a small spire and no embattlements.
Visited: 19/12/2022
With thanks to Elaine Farrow.
Rusper has a peal of 8 bells hung in a West facing tower dating around 1503. There were two bequests between 1489 - 1503:
1489, Apr. 30. "I bequeith to the parissh church of Rowspar to the making of the stepill vjs viijd" Stephen Garett.
1503, Dec. 9. "I bequeth toward the makyng of the church stepull of Rousper vjs viijd" John Bradbig of Slinfold.
Interestingly enough, in 1486, an inventory states that "Itm iiij greate belles in the Steple." suggesting that there was a tower before.
Around 32 years after the bells were hung in the present tower, they needed repair. Another bequest for the bells to be repaired was also made again in 1557.
1535, Nov. 8. "To the reparacions of the belles in Ruspar vjs viijd" Thomas Elliot
1557, Oct. 3. "I geve to the reparacion of the bells iijs iiijd" James Fuller
These bells were most likely the four bells which were mentioned in the old tower.
William Eldridge hung a diatonic six in the tower which all feature the same inscription.
The inscription band reads: GVLIELMVS ELDRIDGE FECIT 1699 + + + +. At the top of the waist under the moulding wires are the initials T E. A cross separates them and two crosses follow after the E. These initials surely stand for Thomas Eldridge, presumably William's son working alongside him.
Due to their letters being so low relief, you can see where many of the letters and crosses were pushed into the wax mould with a tool. They're very neatly cut and were made from parchment wax.
Although they didn't have a tuning machine in 1699, the bells are fairly in tune with one another. They contain a mix of minor and major thirds and all the hums are 1 semitone higher than the nominals.
In descending order, the nominals are this many cents sharp or flat:
+33; -47; -43; +11; +2; +30.
The treble and 2 are quite far apart from one another and so it the 3 & 4. The most noticeable difference is certainly the 2 tenors. You can hear that the tenor is rather sharp.
The tuning of the bells has remained untouched since 1699.
The timber frame in the belfry was probably added around this time which contains 3 different trusses
Rusper saw its next big change in 1897.
The bells were augmented from 6 to a peal of 8 by John Warner & Sons at Spitalfields by adding 2 new trebles. Cast iron trusses were added on the South side of the frame to modify the frame so it could contain a ring of 8.
A peal of Kent Treble Bob Major was rung that year on December 23rd, possibly on practice night.
Since then 80 recorded peals have been rung on these bells with only 1 being of Minor in 1999.
In 2007, the bells were rehung by Nicholsons Engineering. They added new iron trusses on the South side for bells 3 & 4.
A new treble was cast by Whitechapel and the old treble was tuned down to become the 2nd. All the bells are fitted with Whitechapel cast iron headstocks.
Having been donated to the Keltik Trust, the second is now housed at Llanbedr Ystrad Yw, Powys in Wales as their treble. It weighs 3-3-1cwt and measures 26.70" in diameter. The note is still E and its canons were removed while at Rusper.
Their last peal on the bells as a 5 was January 6 2007. A peal including the old 2nd from Rusper was rung on April 26th 2007.
The ringing room is quite spacious and has a clock mechanism, once wound mechanically in the South East corner.
It was made by Smith and Sons at Clerkenwell, London in 1855.
The donor of the clock was Charlotte, wife of the Revd John Broadwood of Lyne and chimes the tenor on the hour.
All of the ropes are maroon and Gold similar to the 4th at Crawley.
There is unfortunately no record of the frame preceding the current one. It's likely that the timber frame was installed around the time of the Eldridge bells and features 3 different trusses.
The first one is the standard Z truss. The other two are a combination of two types. The north trusses are a mix of Z and W trusses and a parallel pair of trusses on the east side of the frame are a mix of Z and V trusses. In 1897, Warner's modified the frame by adding cast iron trusses on the south side. The meant that the timber 6.1 frame became a 8.3 frame. The far east pit is now empty and probably contained the treble or 2nd. Inside it now is a pair of steps which were used to get onto the frame. Holes for the bearings are on the south side of the frame show where Warner's hung the bells on the south side on both a wooden and metal truss.
Until the frame was altered in 2007, you were able to walk around it to the 7th where the steps to get up were located.
The bells hang a good few feet above the belfry floor enabling easy access under the bells.
Nicholsons added a frame for bells 2 & 3 on the southside with trusses that will be listed as Z.5. Clearance grooves have been cut out of the braces to ensure the bells swing freely. The 5 now swings where the walk way used to be, therefore it is hung on both the wooden and metal frame. There appears to be no inscription nor engraving on the wooden frame.
The position of all the bells except 7 & 8 were changed.
All the canons were removed from the bells by 1938. Current treble cast without one.
An old sketch of the church shows that the tower has a small spire and no embattlements.
Visited: 19/12/2022
With thanks to Elaine Farrow.
Gvlielmvs Eldridge fecit 1699 T E & Fig. WEL,1:
Recording 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 - 377.5Hz - F#+35
Prime - 713Hz - F+36
Tierce - 858.5Hz - A-42 (sharp minor 3rd)
Quint - 1134Hz - Db+39
Nominals - 1425Hz - F+34
Prime - 713Hz - F+36
Tierce - 858.5Hz - A-42 (sharp minor 3rd)
Quint - 1134Hz - Db+39
Nominals - 1425Hz - F+34
| rusper1.wav |
Bell 2
Hum - 356Hz - F+33
Prime - 575.5Hz - D-34
Tierce - 797Hz - G+28 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1016.5Hz - B+50
Nominal - 1339Hz - E+27
Prime - 575.5Hz - D-34
Tierce - 797Hz - G+28 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1016.5Hz - B+50
Nominal - 1339Hz - E+27
| rusper2.wav |
Bell 3
Hum - 315Hz - Eb+21
Prime - 535Hz - C+38
Tierce - 706.5Hz - F+20 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 900.5Hz - A+40
Nominal - 1197Hz - D+33
Prime - 535Hz - C+38
Tierce - 706.5Hz - F+20 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 900.5Hz - A+40
Nominal - 1197Hz - D+33
| rusper3.wav |
Bell 4
Hum - 287Hz - D-39
Prime - 521Hz - C-6
Tierce - 651Hz - E-21 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 837.5Hz - Ab+14
Nominal - 1078.5Hz - Db-47
Prime - 521Hz - C-6
Tierce - 651Hz - E-21 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 837.5Hz - Ab+14
Nominal - 1078.5Hz - Db-47
| rusper4.wav |
Bell 5
Hum - 255.5Hz - C-40
Prime - 480.5Hz - B-47
Tierce - 591Hz - D+11 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 738.5Hz - F#-2
Nominal - 963Hz - B-43
Prime - 480.5Hz - B-47
Tierce - 591Hz - D+11 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 738.5Hz - F#-2
Nominal - 963Hz - B-43
| rusper6.mp3 |
Bell 6
Hum - 239.5Hz - Bb+47
Prime - 446.5Hz - A+25
Tierce - 547.5Hz - Db-21 (major 3rd)
Quint - 686.5Hz - F-29
Nominal - 885.5Hz - A+11
Prime - 446.5Hz - A+25
Tierce - 547.5Hz - Db-21 (major 3rd)
Quint - 686.5Hz - F-29
Nominal - 885.5Hz - A+11
| rusper6_1_.wav |
Bell 7
Hum - 205Hz - Ab-21
Prime - 401.5Hz - G+41
Tierce - 481Hz - B-45 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 583.5Hz - D-10
Nominal - 785Hz - G+2
Prime - 401.5Hz - G+41
Tierce - 481Hz - B-45 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 583.5Hz - D-10
Nominal - 785Hz - G+2
| rusper7.wav |
Bell 8
Hum - 190Hz - F#+46
Prime - 375Hz - F#+23
Tierce - 446Hz - A+23 (major 3rd)
Quint - 540.5Hz - Db-43
Nominal - 710.5Hz - F+30
Prime - 375Hz - F#+23
Tierce - 446Hz - A+23 (major 3rd)
Quint - 540.5Hz - Db-43
Nominal - 710.5Hz - F+30
| rusper8.wav |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is inscriptions within the inscription band*
*Text in blue is on the opposite side of the waist*
*Text in blue is on the opposite side of the waist*
2007 - Present
1 |
≍≍≍≍≍≍≍≍≍≍≍≍≍≍≍≍≍≍≍≍≍≍≍ 1 NICHOLAS FLINT - RECTOR PEGGY O'BRYNE } FIONA LEAR } CHURCHWARDENS 20 ◉ 07 WHITECHAPEL AT THIS SOUND THE MULTITUDE CAME TOGETHER |
2 |
CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS Lᵀᴰ LONDON 1897 THE QUEENS JUBILEE 1897 R. EDGWORTH RECTOR G.C. KNIGHT} R.E. PINNEY } CHURCHWARDENS |
3 |
+ + GVLIELMVS ELDRIDGE FECIT 1699 + + T + E + + |
4 |
+ + GVLIELMVS ELDRIDGE FECIT 1699 + + T + E + + |
5 |
+ + GVLIELMVS ELDRIDGE FECIT 1699 + + T + E + + |
6 |
+ + GVLIELMVS ELDRIDGE FECIT 1699 + + T + E + + |
7 |
+ + GVLIELMVS ELDRIDGE FECIT 1699 + + T + E + + |
8 |
+ + GVLIELMVS ELDRIDGE FECIT 1699 + + T + E + + |
1897 - 2007
1 |
CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS Lᵀᴰ LONDON 1897 THE QUEENS JUBILEE 1897 R. EDGWORTH RECTOR G.C. KNIGHT} R.E. PINNEY } CHURCHWARDENS |
2 |
CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS Lᵀᴰ LONDON 1897 THE QUEENS JUBILEE 1897 R. EDGWORTH RECTOR G.C. KNIGHT} R.E. PINNEY } CHURCHWARDENS |
3 |
+ + GVLIELMVS ELDRIDGE FECIT 1699 + + T + E + + |
4 |
+ + GVLIELMVS ELDRIDGE FECIT 1699 + + T + E + + |
5 |
+ + GVLIELMVS ELDRIDGE FECIT 1699 + + T + E + + |
6 |
+ + GVLIELMVS ELDRIDGE FECIT 1699 + + T + E + + |
7 |
+ + GVLIELMVS ELDRIDGE FECIT 1699 + + T + E + + |
8 |
+ + GVLIELMVS ELDRIDGE FECIT 1699 + + T + E + + |
Latin Translations:
3-8: GVLIELMVS ELDRIDGE FECIT 1699 T E - Made by William Eldridge 1699. Thomas Eldridge.
≎ = Fig. TLE,1
+ = Fig. WEL,1
3-8: GVLIELMVS ELDRIDGE FECIT 1699 T E - Made by William Eldridge 1699. Thomas Eldridge.
≎ = Fig. TLE,1
+ = Fig. WEL,1
Photographs:
