Help: Bell details

We list first the number of the bell within the ring following the normal conventions, working from the treble to the tenor. Accidentals (e.g. 2♯ or 6♭ bells in a ring of 12) are listed after the bells in the main ring. Data on additional bells in the building will be included where we know about them. Where the ring forms part of a larger chime or carillon, we show the bell’s number in both the ring and the chime, if the numbers differ. Bells not hung for full-circle ringing are shown in italics.

Where known, we show the most recent precise weight of the bell in the traditional units as cwt-qr-lb. Estimated weights are expressed in hundredweight, and indicated by the suffic cwt. They may include a fractional part. The symbol < incidates a precise weight from before work which reduced the bell’s weight, typically the removal of canons or tuning.

Except where otherwise noted, the note shown is relative to International standard pitch (A=440Hz), and assumes a ring in a diatonic major scale with equal temperament, except where otherwise noted. The frequency listed is that of the nominal, unless otherwise specified.

The note we show for each bell is based on the key note of the ring (usually, but not always, the tenor note) and the position of each bell within the ring. Thus, for a ring of 8 in in C♯ (whose key signature has seven sharps), bell 2 is shown as B♯ and bell 6 as E♯. Usually the key of the ring is shown as it is provided to us, even when they key has more than seven sharps or flats. For example, the bells at Highgate, Greater London were tuned by Whitechapel in 2007 who informed us that they are in the key of F♭, which has eight flats: the fifth is noted as being in B𝄫 (i.e. B double flat).

Where a ring has accidentals (semitone bells), for example 2♯ or 6♭, we take the note value from the corresponding bell in the ring and add a sharp or a flat as applicable. Thus, bell 2♯ in a ring of 12 in C♯ is shown as F𝄪 (i.e. F double sharp), which also gives it the correct note value when used as bell 2 of the light eight (in G♯).

For detailed information on the tuning of church bells, we recommend Nigel Taylor's website, particularly his page on church bells, which has a discussion of tuning and temperament. Bill Hibbert's webpage contains further information about strike note, partials, the nominal, and the pitch of a bell. His Wavanal program has brought the measurement of a bell's nominal within the capability of anyone with a good sound recorder. The Ringing World articles by Ray Ayres (1983, pp. 790 & 812) and Andrew Higson (2004, p. 1085) are also informative.

For tubular bells only, we record the length of the tube in inches.

This is the measurement of the bell at its lip, in inches. We have presented it to 2 decimal places because diameters have traditionally been quoted in quarters, or even sixteenths of an inch. However, all diameters should be considered approximate, even though they are shown to 0.01″ precision, as it is rarely possible to measure the diameter to this accuracy. Moreover, the bell may not be precisely circular in cross-section.

A bell which we know to be cracked or broken is shown in a line with a pink shading to the background in order to draw attention to that fact. When a bell has been repaired by welding, only the diameter cell of the table is shaded pink. (For a review of experience on bell welding, see RW1983/664.)

Our policy is to show the best available information on when a bell was cast. In the absence of contradictory evidence, a year in a cast inscription can reasonably be assumed to be the year of casting. An incised date may be the date of installation.

A c (for circa) before a bell’s date indicates an estimate. This may be based upon known working periods in the case of the founder being of little doubt, and in other cases from estimates provided by researchers after comparing inscription lettering and/or wording with other known examples, etc. If the best estimate is a century (for example, based on its shape or the profile of any moulding wires), then we show the final year of that century (e.g. c1399 for a 14th century bell). Where an authority has described a bell as mediæval with no more specific date, we enter this as c1499; similarly, pre-Reformation bells are entered as c1599.

A bell which bears no date and for which no estimate has been made of its casting year is indicated by (n/d). When an exact date is known but not inscribed on the bell, it shown in parentheses. Where the inscription date and casting date differ (and both are known with confidence), we record both: the inscribed year, followed by the actual year of casting in parentheses (e.g. 1848 (1849) for a bell inscribed 1848 but where there is good evidence that it was not cast until 1849). We have the ability to add a note to describe complicated situations.

A dagger (†) after a date indicates that the bell has been identified as historically significant by the Church Buildings Council (formerly the Council for the Care of Churches).

For more modern foundries we aim to show the name under which that foundry operated at the time of casting.

We show a founder's name even if it is only postulated that he is so and then indicated by a leading question mark. It is important to remember that we have to make a decision as to which is the most helpful founder name to show. Thus, where there is a degree of uncertainty (e.g. a bell coming from one particular foundry), it may be most helpful to show the name of the most likely founder rather than the generic title of the foundry, even though others might prefer to opt for the less specific ascription.

See also our list of founders.

Canons are loops of bell metal cast as part of the crown of the bell, to provide a means of attaching the bell to its headstock. Canons come in various forms, depending on the type of headstock they are designed to be attached to. Modern bells hung on metal headstocks do not normally have canons, and instead the crown is drilled to allow the bells to be bolted directly to the headstock.

The type of canons present, or their absence, is indicated by a single-letter code, as follows:

Y

some canons of a conventional pattern remain, even if one or more are now missing

R

canons or a button top have been completely removed; this includes bells fitted with false iron canons after the removal of the original canons

F

cast flat, without ever having had canons of any sort; this includes dome topped bells which were cast without canons

D

a Doncaster head (see below)

I

radial canons (not common)

A

a peg argent and no canons

B

button top or flange top

C

a cone top, such as Matthew Byrne’s patent rotary mounting (see below)

A Doncaster head is an arrangement of four perpendicular canons, rather than the usual six. The canons are typically angular. Please note that the photo on page 17 of the Central Council’s Towers and Bells Handbook (1990) does not show a Doncaster head, as it claims – it shows conventional canons of an angular form. For a picture of Doncaster headed bells, see Elphick's Craft of the Bellfounder (1988) at top of page 41, and also page 43 of H B Walters's Church Bells of England (1912).

A diagram of a cone top, specifically Matthew Byrne’s patent rotary mounting, can be found on page 22 of Duke's Campanology in Ireland (1994), and the arrangement is described on page 228.

When a bell with conventional canons is first hung, the six canons are grouped with two pairs each collinear with the headstock, and two singletons at right angles to them and visible alongside the headstock. Once the bell has been quarter-turned, it is the double pair which become visible on each side of the headstock. Any further turning with retention of canons usually requires the use of a specially-cast canon-retaining headstock and then all the canons are often much more visible.

The arrangement of canons is not shown for tubular bells.

When the indentation gets to about 10% of the soundbow thickness, a bell is normally turned to present new surfaces to the clapper; that procedure is referred to as quarter turning or simply turning. This turning process is normally carried out by a bellhanger as part of a rehang. Very old bells may even eventually get one-eighth-turned, and if that configuration also wears too heavily, the bell is often set aside for display because of its probable age and rarity value.

Whether or not any bell has been turned, and by how much, is indicated by a single-letter code, as follows:

2

half-turned; this is exceedingly rare

4

quarter-turned

6

one-sixth-turned; this is unusual

8

one-eighth-turned

X

one-sixteenth-turned

M

multiple amounts, such as one-quarter and one-eighth)

Y

definitely turned, but by an unknown amount

N

not turned

U

an undeterminable state.

The amount by which a bell may be turned is usually constrained because old bells had canons, and the geometry of those canons constrained what was possible with a wooden headstock. Modern metal canon-retaining headstocks are often are designed to cope with other amounts of turning. Equally, modern bells with flat heads can be turned through other amounts, although there is a limit as to how many supporting holes can be drilled through the crown of a bell.

Details of the turnings are not shown for tubular bells.

The manner in which each bell is hung is indicated as follows:

FC

hung for full-circle ringing in the style used for English change ringing

S

hung for swing chiming

D

hung dead, i.e. unable to swing

U

not hung

NS

non-standard hanging, e.g. suspended from a chain

The hanging arrangement is not currently shown for tubular bells.

It was originally envisaged that some additional details might be stored and displayed. We had thought in terms of: headstock (e.g. metal/wood, canon-retaining), bearings (type), stay, staple. The principal problem we envisaged from such extra information is making the job of collecting absolutely every item too daunting. Furthermore, its presentation is extremely difficult. But, taken with those already collected, these additional parameters would seem to go completely towards meeting the general agreement of a meeting of interested parties held in May 1999 at Leicester University as to the desirable scope for any National Bell Register. Comments are invited, particularly on the relative importance of these additional parameters.

Other than the references above (use your browser's capability to search on the character string 'inscri') we do NOT keep any information about the inscriptions on any bell unless there is something of importance which would justify making a database note helpful, but such comments are not made visible to the general user of this website.

If you feel what is showing is incomplete or incorrect, then use the 'Edit Details' link on the tower details page to send us a correction along with an explanation. There is a separate help page on editing bell details.