Turners Hill, St LeonardTurners Hill has a peal of 8 bells, hung in a west-facing tower. The church was built in 1897 by James, Longley & Co, to the designs by Lacy W. Ridge. It was intended to have an octagonal belfry, a stone spire, with pinicals, but this never went ahead due to costs. Sir Aston Webb designed a tower in the style of the rest of the church. Built in 1923, it is a war memorial to the men of Turners Hill who fought in WWI, which is displayed on a plaque on the West wall outside. Prior to the tower, it appears there was a small timber turret at the west end of the Nave.
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Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Cast |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
4-2-18 cwt |
27.63" |
1445.5 Hz |
F |
1926 |
Full Circle |
||
2 |
4-0-16 cwt |
28.75" |
1344 Hz |
E |
1926 |
Full Circle |
||
3 |
5-3-1 cwt |
30.63" |
1193 Hz |
D |
1924 |
Full Circle |
||
4 |
6-2-16 cwt |
32.63" |
1077.5 Hz |
C |
1924 |
Full Circle |
||
5 |
7-1-1 cwt |
34.88" |
955.5 Hz |
B♭ |
1924 |
Full Circle |
||
6 |
9-2-3 cwt |
35.63" |
895 Hz |
A |
1924 |
Full Circle |
||
7 |
10-1-8 cwt |
39.88" |
808.4 Hz |
G |
1924 |
Full Circle |
||
8 |
13-3-27 cwt |
44.13" |
714 Hz |
F |
1924 |
Full Circle |
About the Bells
8 Bells, 13-3-27 In F
When the church was built, an old photograph shows that a bell was hung at the west end, possibly for swing-chiming between two parallel beams. Interestingly, in July of the same year, Gillett & Johnston supplied a bell to the Sturdy family at Paxhill Park.
The bell measures 17.5 inches in diameter and weighs 0-3-18 cwt. Its serial number is 1592.
Although there is no known evidence to prove it, the Sturdy family may have gifted this bell to the church.
When the church was built, an old photograph shows that a bell was hung at the west end, possibly for swing-chiming between two parallel beams. Interestingly, in July of the same year, Gillett & Johnston supplied a bell to the Sturdy family at Paxhill Park.
The bell measures 17.5 inches in diameter and weighs 0-3-18 cwt. Its serial number is 1592.
Although there is no known evidence to prove it, the Sturdy family may have gifted this bell to the church.
The New Bells
In 1924, Mears & Stainbank supplied a ring of six to the newly built tower, hung in an eight-bell frame leaving 2 empty pits. Each of the bells serves as a memorial to a member of the church.
The treble was cast in memory of Thomas Edward Ravenshaw, a member of the Indian Civil Service. He persuaded the British government to establish a school in India to provide education for local children. The government accepted, and Ravenshaw College was built. He died in 1914 at the age of 86 in a farmhouse at Turners Hill and was buried at St Leonard’s, along with his wife Rose.
The second is dedicated to Cecil Renshaw Blaker, the first vicar of the parish, who died on February 1st, 1914, aged 61.
Albert and Mary E. Willson are also buried in the churchyard, Mary in 1919 aged 69. Little is known about this couple, except that the fourth was cast in their memory.
Further research is required to establish to whom the third (A.K.G.R.) and the fifth (D.L.E.) are dedicated, as no information has yet been found on individuals with these initials.
The tenor commemorates Edwin Martin, a resident of The Grove, a farmhouse about one mile west of Turners Hill. His name is inscribed on the bell.
Augmentation to 8
Two years later, the same company augmented the ring to eight, supplying two new trebles on February 20th. A peal of Minor was rung on November 7th, 1925, when they were still a six, and a week after the augmentation a peal of Superlative was rung. All eight bells were cast using the same moulding and inscribing techniques, with loam and stamps, and cast without canons. The two trebles carry identical inscriptions on the waist, recording the day they were supplied.
The bells are tuned to the key of F and are the last complete peal in the county tuned to the “old-style” system. The temperament used was equal temperament.
In 1924, Mears & Stainbank supplied a ring of six to the newly built tower, hung in an eight-bell frame leaving 2 empty pits. Each of the bells serves as a memorial to a member of the church.
The treble was cast in memory of Thomas Edward Ravenshaw, a member of the Indian Civil Service. He persuaded the British government to establish a school in India to provide education for local children. The government accepted, and Ravenshaw College was built. He died in 1914 at the age of 86 in a farmhouse at Turners Hill and was buried at St Leonard’s, along with his wife Rose.
The second is dedicated to Cecil Renshaw Blaker, the first vicar of the parish, who died on February 1st, 1914, aged 61.
Albert and Mary E. Willson are also buried in the churchyard, Mary in 1919 aged 69. Little is known about this couple, except that the fourth was cast in their memory.
Further research is required to establish to whom the third (A.K.G.R.) and the fifth (D.L.E.) are dedicated, as no information has yet been found on individuals with these initials.
The tenor commemorates Edwin Martin, a resident of The Grove, a farmhouse about one mile west of Turners Hill. His name is inscribed on the bell.
Augmentation to 8
Two years later, the same company augmented the ring to eight, supplying two new trebles on February 20th. A peal of Minor was rung on November 7th, 1925, when they were still a six, and a week after the augmentation a peal of Superlative was rung. All eight bells were cast using the same moulding and inscribing techniques, with loam and stamps, and cast without canons. The two trebles carry identical inscriptions on the waist, recording the day they were supplied.
The bells are tuned to the key of F and are the last complete peal in the county tuned to the “old-style” system. The temperament used was equal temperament.
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Minor overhaul
In March 2023, John Taylor and Co providing new clapper bolts with split pins, and repainted them red. All of the pulley boxes and rollers were replaced, the old ones preserved in the belfry. The pulley box on the 7th was refitted soon after for it detached from its wooden baseplate during a practice. Around the same time, the stay on the 3rd was replaced.
Frame and fittings
The frame is quite standard. It is made of cast iron and constructed using 8.3.A.h trusses arranged in the 8.3 layout. The pit for bell 3 is shortened to allow access into the belfry, and for the ladder.
The bells are hung on ball bearings with traditional fittings, and cast iron headstocks. They handle a little heavy after many years without a proper service, but all of them are structurally sound.
The clapper on the tenor is specially designed to accept rubber, or leather, dowels to prevent the clapper from resting on the edge of the bell, giving it more hum. A similar system can be found at Slaugham, St Mary.
Access
The bells are rung from the ground floor with a long, but guided draft. A spiral staircase in the NW corner of the tower takes you up to the belfry. Another series of ladders in the belfry take you out onto the roof.
Most of the fittings have now rusted and will need some TLC in the near future including re-painting.
Steeple Keeper since 2022.
In March 2023, John Taylor and Co providing new clapper bolts with split pins, and repainted them red. All of the pulley boxes and rollers were replaced, the old ones preserved in the belfry. The pulley box on the 7th was refitted soon after for it detached from its wooden baseplate during a practice. Around the same time, the stay on the 3rd was replaced.
Frame and fittings
The frame is quite standard. It is made of cast iron and constructed using 8.3.A.h trusses arranged in the 8.3 layout. The pit for bell 3 is shortened to allow access into the belfry, and for the ladder.
The bells are hung on ball bearings with traditional fittings, and cast iron headstocks. They handle a little heavy after many years without a proper service, but all of them are structurally sound.
The clapper on the tenor is specially designed to accept rubber, or leather, dowels to prevent the clapper from resting on the edge of the bell, giving it more hum. A similar system can be found at Slaugham, St Mary.
Access
The bells are rung from the ground floor with a long, but guided draft. A spiral staircase in the NW corner of the tower takes you up to the belfry. Another series of ladders in the belfry take you out onto the roof.
Most of the fittings have now rusted and will need some TLC in the near future including re-painting.
Steeple Keeper since 2022.
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 - 376.5Hz - F#+30
Prime - 637Hz - Eb+41
Tierce - 861Hz - A-37 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1048Hz - C+2
Nominal - 1445Hz - F# -40
Prime - 637Hz - Eb+41
Tierce - 861Hz - A-37 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1048Hz - C+2
Nominal - 1445Hz - F# -40
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Bell 2
Hum - 345.5Hz - F-18
Prime - 626.5Hz - Eb+12
Tierce - 808Hz - Ab-47 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1000.5Hz - B+22
Nominal - 1344Hz - E+33
Prime - 626.5Hz - Eb+12
Tierce - 808Hz - Ab-47 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 1000.5Hz - B+22
Nominal - 1344Hz - E+33
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Bell 3
Hum - 316Hz - Eb+27
Prime - 552.5Hz - Db-5
Tierce - 720Hz - F# -46 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 898.5Hz - A+36
Nominal - 1195.5Hz - D+30
Prime - 552.5Hz - Db-5
Tierce - 720Hz - F# -46 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 898.5Hz - A+36
Nominal - 1195.5Hz - D+30
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Bell 4
Hum - 288Hz - D-33
Prime - 523Hz - C+0
Tierce - 656Hz - E-8 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 804.5Hz - G+45
Nominal - 1078Hz - Db-48
Prime - 523Hz - C+0
Tierce - 656Hz - E-8 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 804.5Hz - G+45
Nominal - 1078Hz - Db-48
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Bell 5
Hum - 258.5Hz - C-20
Prime - 464Hz - Bb-7
Tierce - 583.5Hz - D-10 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 710.5Hz - F+30
Nominal - 956Hz - Bb+43
Prime - 464Hz - Bb-7
Tierce - 583.5Hz - D-10 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 710.5Hz - F+30
Nominal - 956Hz - Bb+43
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Bell 6
Hum - 238.5Hz - Bb+40
Prime - 437.5Hz - A-9
Tierce - 540Hz - Db-44 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 672.5Hz - E+34
Nominal - 896Hz - A+31
Prime - 437.5Hz - A-9
Tierce - 540Hz - Db-44 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 672.5Hz - E+34
Nominal - 896Hz - A+31
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Bell 7
Hum - 213Hz - Ab+44
Prime - 399.5Hz - G+33
Tierce - 485.5Hz - B-29 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 594.5Hz - D+21
Nominal - 803.5Hz - G+43
Prime - 399.5Hz - G+33
Tierce - 485.5Hz - B-29 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 594.5Hz - D+21
Nominal - 803.5Hz - G+43
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Bell 8
Hum - 186.5Hz - F#+14
Prime - 357Hz - F+38
Tierce - 432.5Hz - A-29 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 531Hz - C+25
Nominal - 714.5Hz - F+39
Prime - 357Hz - F+38
Tierce - 432.5Hz - A-29 (minor 3rd)
Quint - 531Hz - C+25
Nominal - 714.5Hz - F+39
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Inscriptions:
*Underlined text is around the inscription band*
1 |
M & S. LONDON ◉ 20TH FEBRUARY, 1926. |
2 |
M & S. LONDON. ◉ 20TH FEBRUARY 1926 |
3 |
M & S. LONDON. 1924. ◉ IN MEM. T. E. RAVENSHAW. |
4 |
M & S LONDON 1924, ◉ IN MEM: CECIL BLAKER FIRST VICAR OF THIS CHURCH |
5 |
M & S LONDON 1924, ◉ IN MEM. A.K.G.R. SEPT 27 1923 |
6 |
M & S LONDON 1924, ◉ IN MEMORY OF ALBERT &MARY WILLSON |
7 |
M & S LONDON 1924, ◉ IN MEM. D.L.E |
8 |
MEARS & STAINBANK FOUNDERS LONDON 1924, ◉ TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF EDWIN MARTIN, OF THE "GROVE" |
◉ = Fig. ARH, 1
Photographs:
*Click on the images to enlarge them*
Sources:
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
- The Ringing World, Vol* 20, No* 766 (1925): p.741
- The Ringing World, Vol* 21, No* 781 (1926): p.148
- The Builder, Vol* 76 (1897). p.375
- https://sussexparishchurches.org/church/turners-hill-st-leonard/
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
