Staplefield Common, St MarkStaplefield has a chime of 5 bells, hung for stationary chiming in a west facing bellcote.
The church was built in 1847 to B. Ferrey's design for £4051 3/- after the area detached from the parish of Cuckfield. A tower was built at the west end which was enlarged in 1880 by C E. Kemp who placed a triple bellcote above it. |
|
1948 - Present
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
1-2-0 cwt |
19.00" |
1822.5 Hz |
Bb |
1948 |
Dead |
||
2 |
2-0-10 cwt |
21.13" |
1632 Hz |
Ab |
1948 |
Dead |
||
3 |
2-2-15 cwt |
22.50" |
1537 Hz |
G |
1948 |
Dead |
||
4 |
3-1-27 cwt |
24.75" |
1372.5 Hz |
F |
1948 |
Dead |
||
5 |
4-1-12 cwt |
27.50" |
1224 Hz |
E♭ |
1948 |
Flat |
Dead |
1880 - 1948
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Founder |
Date |
1 |
1-2-10 cwt |
19.00" |
1880 |
|
2 |
1-3-0 cwt |
21.00" |
1880 |
|
3 |
2-0-13 cwt |
22.50" |
1880 |
|
4 |
2-2-24 cwt |
24.00" |
1880 |
|
5 |
3-2-16 |
27.50" |
1880 |
1847 - 1880
About the Bells
5 Bells, 4-1-12 in Eb
Originally, the church had two bells, both cast by Charles & George Mears in 1847.
We are fortunate to have the Gillett & Johnston tuning books, which record their weights and the treble's diameter when they were broken up in the foundry. Sadly, the tenor's diameter was not recorded, although it probably measured around 26 inches.
They were strapped to wooden headstocks by conventional canons, and were possibly hung for swing-chiming.
Originally, the church had two bells, both cast by Charles & George Mears in 1847.
We are fortunate to have the Gillett & Johnston tuning books, which record their weights and the treble's diameter when they were broken up in the foundry. Sadly, the tenor's diameter was not recorded, although it probably measured around 26 inches.
They were strapped to wooden headstocks by conventional canons, and were possibly hung for swing-chiming.
|
Gillett, Bland & Co bells
In 1880, Gillett, Bland & Co. of Croydon installed a new chime of five bells in the newly built triple bellcote. As shown in the photograph on the right, the bells were hung as they are today, with the treble at the top and the four tenors below. They were almost certainly hung for stationary chiming and rung by means of an Ellacombe apparatus. They likely had Doncaster canons and were inscribed in a Gothic script. Their notes are not recorded, but the weights and diameters are almost identical to those of the present bells, and the chime was possibly in the key of D. |
|
Back to Croydon they go
In 1948, the bells went back to Croydon for recasting as a memorial to a member of the church. The were tuned to key of Eb to Simpson's five-tone principle, and form a diatonic chime of 5. Below is a recording of them being rung for a wedding.
In 1948, the bells went back to Croydon for recasting as a memorial to a member of the church. The were tuned to key of Eb to Simpson's five-tone principle, and form a diatonic chime of 5. Below is a recording of them being rung for a wedding.
| staplefieldplainhunt.wav |
Each bell carries the same inscription, although the front three bells have theirs engraved. They were cast without canons and are bolted to steel joints. Gillett & Johnston fitted the bells with new chiming fittings, each with an Ellacombe hammer to strike the bell from beneath. The tenor was also fitted with a clock hammer to sound the hours and half-hours.
They were re-dedicated at a service on 7 March 1948, led by the sixth Bishop of Lewes, Hugh Maudslay Hordern.
They were re-dedicated at a service on 7 March 1948, led by the sixth Bishop of Lewes, Hugh Maudslay Hordern.
|
Frame & Access
As previously mentioned, the treble is hung in the highest pit. The fourth is hung above the tenor in the north pit, and the second is hung above the third in the south pit. This is the only 9.A frame in the county to contain five bells, as they usually have only one or two bells hung in them. Access to the bells is via a series of ladders. The first takes you to a small platform above the Ellacombe. From here, a tall wooden vertical ladder leads the rest of the way, passing the clock chamber en route. After lifting the roof hatch, another ladder ascends into the treble's pit. |
Visited: 15/07/2023
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 - 457Hz - Bb-33
Prime - 912.5Hz - Bb-36
Tierce - 1106Hz - Db-3 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1372.5Hz - F-30
Nominal - 1822.5Hz - Bb-39
Prime - 912.5Hz - Bb-36
Tierce - 1106Hz - Db-3 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1372.5Hz - F-30
Nominal - 1822.5Hz - Bb-39
| staplefieldtreble.mp3 |
Bell 2
Hum - 408.5Hz - Ab-28
Prime - 814.5Hz - Ab-33
Tierce - 980.5Hz - B-12 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1223.5Hz - Eb-28
Nominal - 1632Hz - Ab-30
Prime - 814.5Hz - Ab-33
Tierce - 980.5Hz - B-12 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1223.5Hz - Eb-28
Nominal - 1632Hz - Ab-30
| staplefieldtwo.mp3 |
Bell 3
Hum - 384Hz - G-35
Prime - 769Hz - G-32
Tierce - 918.5Hz - Bb-25 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1156.5Hz - D-26
Nominal - 1537Hz - G-34
Prime - 769Hz - G-32
Tierce - 918.5Hz - Bb-25 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1156.5Hz - D-26
Nominal - 1537Hz - G-34
| staplefieldthree.mp3 |
Bell 4
Hum - 343.5Hz - F-28
Prime - 686Hz - F-30
Tierce - 817.5Hz - Ab-27 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1026Hz - C-33
Nominal - 1372.5Hz - F-30
Prime - 686Hz - F-30
Tierce - 817.5Hz - Ab-27 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1026Hz - C-33
Nominal - 1372.5Hz - F-30
| staplefieldfour.mp3 |
Bell 5
Hum - 305Hz - Eb-33
Prime - 609.5Hz - Eb-35
Tierce - 731.5Hz - F# -19 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 912Hz - Bb-37
Nominal - 1224Hz - Eb-28
Prime - 609.5Hz - Eb-35
Tierce - 731.5Hz - F# -19 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 912Hz - Bb-37
Nominal - 1224Hz - Eb-28
| staplefieldone.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
*Text in red is engraved on the bell*
*Text in red is engraved on the bell*
1948 - Present
1 |
GILLETT & BLAND 1880 ⛨ RECAST 1948 BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 1 |
2 |
GILLETT & BLAND 1880 ⛨ RECAST 1948 BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 2 |
3 |
GILLETT & BLAND 1880 ⛨ RECAST 1948 BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 3 |
4 |
GILLETT & BLAND 1880 ⛨ RECAST 1948 BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 4 |
5 |
GILLETT & BLAND 1880 ⛨ RECAST 1948 BY GILLETT & JOHNSTON CROYDON 5 |
1847 - 1880
1 |
C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON 1847 |
2 |
C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON 1847 |
⛨ = Fig. CFJ,6
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
- TYSSEN, Amhurst. D (1864): The Church Bells of Sussex
- https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/staplefield-st-mark/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Hordern
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
