St Helens, St HelenSt Helens has a single bell hung in a west facing tower.
The church dates back to the Norman period, after it was rebuilt by French Benedicine monks following the Norman Conquest. However, between 1216 - 1272 a tower was added and possibly a bell. Due to financial issue, the church congregation was beginning to diminish, until it completely split up in 1414. From then on, Eton College owned the church till 1799, but failed to maintain it, and therefore began to decay. |
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The bell
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Nominal |
Note |
Founder |
Date |
Canon |
Hanging |
1 |
c4cwt |
28.25" |
1060 Hz |
C |
Anthony Bond |
1610 |
Yes |
Swing |
1 Bell, in A
Eaton College were no doubt the donors for the bell cast by Anthony Bond, featuring a wax parchment inscription and a conventional canon in 1610.
Due to its profile and thickness, the tuning of this bell is fairly bizarre. It's particularly unusual for a bell to have a flat Hum and a sharp Prime.
Crown Circumference: 50"
Shoulder to lip: 20.88"
The church was slowly dismantled until only the tower remained. This was subsequently bricked up and painted white in 1719 as a seamark for naval ships.
Eaton College were no doubt the donors for the bell cast by Anthony Bond, featuring a wax parchment inscription and a conventional canon in 1610.
Due to its profile and thickness, the tuning of this bell is fairly bizarre. It's particularly unusual for a bell to have a flat Hum and a sharp Prime.
- The Hum is a little over a semitone flat
- The Prime is around half a semitone sharp
Crown Circumference: 50"
Shoulder to lip: 20.88"
The church was slowly dismantled until only the tower remained. This was subsequently bricked up and painted white in 1719 as a seamark for naval ships.
Two years earlier, Jonathan Winchester provided the parish with a new church about a mile NW of the old one. Although, all but the chancel was rebuilt in 1831. The tower was covered in ivy which provided a great nesting spot for sparrows, and the WI book states
"It has one bell."
The chancel was added later in 1862.
The bell is hung for swing chime by the means of a lever. Various initials and dates appear on the frame and headstock. The earliest date being 1912, presumably the date of the frame and headstock.
The bell is raised by a pair of wooden blocks dated 1979 and bare the name P. Toogood. This is a possible restoration. It's hung in a timber frame with 5.C trusses along the South wall.
The wooden fittings and archaic method of strapping a bell to a headstock suggests it was hung, manufactured, and installed locally. The old gudgeons and plain bearings were kept, and the crown staple is still present with its rusted clapper.
Access to the belfry requires a 16-rung ladder through a loft hatch.
Metal fittings rusted on inspection, but all other fittings in decent condition.
Visited: 24/04/2023 also with Heather & Andrew Leaver.
"It has one bell."
The chancel was added later in 1862.
The bell is hung for swing chime by the means of a lever. Various initials and dates appear on the frame and headstock. The earliest date being 1912, presumably the date of the frame and headstock.
The bell is raised by a pair of wooden blocks dated 1979 and bare the name P. Toogood. This is a possible restoration. It's hung in a timber frame with 5.C trusses along the South wall.
The wooden fittings and archaic method of strapping a bell to a headstock suggests it was hung, manufactured, and installed locally. The old gudgeons and plain bearings were kept, and the crown staple is still present with its rusted clapper.
Access to the belfry requires a 16-rung ladder through a loft hatch.
Metal fittings rusted on inspection, but all other fittings in decent condition.
Visited: 24/04/2023 also with Heather & Andrew Leaver.
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+
Hum - 249.5Hz - B+18
Prime - 545.5Hz - Db-27
Tierce - 621.5Hz - Eb-1
Quint - 773Hz - G-23
Nominal - 1060Hz - C+22
Prime - 545.5Hz - Db-27
Tierce - 621.5Hz - Eb-1
Quint - 773Hz - G-23
Nominal - 1060Hz - C+22
| sthelenssthelen.mp3 |
Inscriptions:
*Inscribed on the waist*
1 |
‘0191 ◆ W ◆ B I H ◆ T ◆ G R ◆ W |
Photographs:
*Click on the photos to enlarge them*
Sources:
- https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/isle-of-wight/st-helens-duver/the-history-of-st-helens-duver
- St Helens Historical Society Isle of Wight Facebook Page
© Kye L Leaver 2025. All rights reserved.
