Church bell
Category
Metalwork
Date
1600 - 1700
Materials
Bellmetal (bell), iron and wood (fittings)
Measurements
860 x 560 x 500 mm
Order this imageCollection
Greyfriars, Worcestershire
NT 443505
Summary
Bell, mounted on modern belfry frame and displayed at floor level in the Great Hall. Matley Moore told me in 1970 that he had purchased this bell and that it had no historic links with Greyfriars. He bought it from an antique shop in Farnham (Hants) but thought that it had originally come from somewhere in Lancashire. Matley also told me that he had had the present stand and fittings made. The bell is on public display and visitors can touch it but they are not normally allowed to ring it. The bell is uninscribed and without any markings or date. It is a proper bell, probably cast by a bellfounder, but the wonky mouldings indicate a degree of inexperience or carelessness. It is probably of later 17th century date. The principal features are these: Approximate weight: 14 Kg (35 lbs) Dimensions: diameter 305mm (12”) Canons and argent: Uncertain - the argent and canons (if present) are concealed within the stock. Turning: The bell has been quarter turned (and the clapper swings the wrong way on the crown staple) Features: mouldings 1:1-2:2:1 Note (approximate): B natural (nominal frequency of 1934 Hz) The bell hangs in a stout wooden stand which has two uprights rising from an H-shaped base and joined at the top with a horizontal bar. It is fitted to a wooden headstock using inverted U-plates round the top of the stock with bolts passing through the plates to secure the bell through the single canons which are embedded in the timber. The ends of the stock are turned to fit in round holes in the sides of the stand. An upright wooden lever is fitted to one of the turned ends which extends beyond the stand. The lever - which is removable - was used to swing the bell. An old wrought-iron clapper hangs inside the bell. It is suspended - in the wrong plane - from the cast-in crown staple in the top of the bell with a metal copse and two bolts.