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CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL |
THE NORTH WEST OR ARUNDEL TOWER |
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DETAILS OF THE BELLS |
Bell |
Weight (Present) |
Weight (prior to 1981 retuning) |
Diameter | Pitch | Cast | Founder |
Quarter 1 |
6-3-0 | 7-1-14 | 32" | C sharp | 1802 | Thomas Mears I |
Quarter 2 |
6-3-4 | 7-1-8 | 33¾" | B | 1855 | Charles & George Mears |
Quarter 3 |
7-2-21 | 8-0-23 | 35¾" | A sharp | 1726 | Samuel Knight |
Quarter 4 |
8-1-24 | 8-3-25 | 36¾" | G sharp | 1726 | Samuel Knight |
Quarter 5 |
9-2-2 | 10-2-7 | 39½" | F sharp | 1855 | Charles & George Mears |
Great Dunstan |
62-2-9 | 67-3-0 | 69" | B | 1762 | William Chapman |
| Q1. | T.POWYS. DN, W.WELFITT, V, DN, H.RADCLIFFE, TR, E,WALSBY, RR,. T.MEARS FECIT 1802 ---------- ............. |
| Q2. | SAMUL NORRIS, GULS GOSTLING AM SK 1726 |
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A D MDCCCLV BENJ HARRISON A M THESAURO H.G.AUSTIN ARCHTO ¡ ¡ ¡ C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON ¡ ¡ ¡ |
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| Q3. | GVL = AYERST S.T.B. GVL EGERTON. L.L.D.¡¡ IOHANNES ¡ GOSLING ¡ ¡ A M SAM = KNIGHT 1726 |
| Q4. | SAM = THOLCOMBE ΠT \ P \ IOHAN = CLARK: S \ T \ P \ SK 1726 |
| R ¡ B (head of Charles I) ¡ ¡ | |
| Q5. | DAVID WILKINS S T P EDWARD WAKE S T P S K 1726 |
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A D MDCCCLV BENJ HARRISON A M THESAURO H.G. AUSTIN ARCHTO ¡ ¡ ¡ C & G MEARS FOUNDERS ¡ ¡ ¡ |
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| GD | GULIELMO FRIEND STP DECANO LESTER & PACK OF LONDON FECIT 1762 WM CHAPMAN MOLDED ME |
The pitch of Great Dunstan as recorded by Ranald Clouston in 1979 (prior to retuning):
| Great Dunstan, with a pitch of C, was remarkably thick. It was therefore able to be tuned down a semitone to B in 1981 quite easily. I do not have the tuning figures yet, but will put them here when I get them. |
EARLIER BELLS |
-- Prior Henry's Bells of 1316 --
Bell |
Weight | Cast | Founder |
1 |
20 cwt approx. | 1316 | Unknown |
| 2 | 22cwt approx. | 1316 | Unknown |
| 3 | 24cwt approx. | 1316 | Unknown |
| Chapter Bell | 5½ cwt aprpox. | 1316 | Unknown |
These were moved to the Oxford Tower in 1433.
-- Received from the Angel Steeple in 1433 --
Bell |
Weight | Cast | Founder |
1 |
? | 1408 |
Unknown |
| 2 | ? | 1408 |
Unknown |
| 3 | ? | 1408 |
Unknown |
| 4 | ? | 1408 |
Unknown |
| Trinity | 64 cwt approx. | 1408 |
Unknown |
1, 2, 3 and 4 were named after
St John the Evangelist, St Blaise, St Gabriel the Archangel and St Mary.
The bells were remodelled in 1635-6 into a ring of 6.
The front 4 bells were tuned and the tenor recast into 2 trebles.
-- The 1635-6 Ring of Six --
Bell |
Weight |
Diameter |
Pitch |
Cast |
Founder |
Treble |
8 cwt approx. |
36¼" | A sharp | 1635 |
Joseph Hatch |
| 2 | ? | G sharp | 1636 | Joseph Hatch | |
| 3 | ? | F sharp | c.1490 | Unknown | |
| 4 | ? | E sharp | 1585 | Robert Mot | |
| 5 | ? | D sharp | 1606 | Joseph Hatch | |
| Tenor | ? | C sharp | 1624 | Joseph Hatch | |
| 1. | JOSEPH HATCH ME FECIT 1635 |
| 2. | JOSEPHVS HATCH ME FECIT 1636 |
| 3. | T G PRIOR SANCTE THOURA ORO PRO NOBIS |
| 4. | ER. Robertus Mot me fecit 1585 |
| 5. | Joseph Hatch made me 1606 |
| 6. | BEATE TRINITATI CAMPANA HEC SACRA PRIMA FUSA 1408 SECUNDO 1624 JOSEPHUS HATCH ME FECIT |
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These were removed in 1726. |
INCARNATIONS OF GREAT DUNSTAN |
Cast |
Founder |
Weight |
Diameter |
Pitch |
Located |
1343 |
Unknown |
? |
Campanile | ||
1430 |
Unknown |
72½ cwt approx. |
Oxford Tower | ||
1499 |
John Bayle |
64¾ cwt approx. |
Oxford Tower | ||
| 1663 | Michael Darbie | 62-1-5 |
Oxford Tower | ||
| 1684 | Christopher Hodson | 69-3-5 |
Oxford Tower | ||
| 1762 | William Chapman |
67-3-0 |
69" |
B | Oxford Tower (Arundel Tower from 1981) |
HISTORY |
1288 |
Prior Henry hung the original "Bell Harry" in North West Tower. |
1316 |
Prior Henry placed 3 small bells and a Chapter bell in the North West Tower. |
1433 |
Bells moved to the Oxford Tower. The Bells from the Angel Steeple were moved in. |
1490 |
The smallest Arundel bell was recast. |
1585 |
Second Arundel bell was recast by Robert Mot of Whitechapel. |
| 1606 | Third Arundel bell was recast by Joseph Hatch. |
| 1624 | Fourth Arundel bell recast by Joseph Hatch. |
1635-6 |
The Arundel bells were rehung in a new frame & tuned. The tenor was replaced by 2 smaller bells by Joseph Hatch to produce the first change ringing peal. |
1704 |
North West tower spire damaged. |
1706 |
North West tower spire removed. |
1726 |
Arundel bells removed. Tower is now empty. |
1832 |
North West tower partially removed & rebuilt. |
1981 |
5 of the Oxford Bells escaped recasting and were hung from the roof of the Arundel Tower as the Clock Chime. Great Dunstan was hung in a new frame for slow swinging and to sound the hours. |
1988 |
Great Dunstan was found to be cracked, so was lowered to the ground and welded by Soundweld before being rehung in the tower. |
? |
One of the clock bells found to be cracked and was welded by Soundweld. |
1997 |
Great Dunstan again found to be cracked. Whitechapel recommended no action be taken. |
The West Front in 1703 (from Hasted's "Canterbury").
Note the spire on the Arundel Tower.
GALLERY |
The clock bells hanging from the roof of the Arundel Tower.
Beneath the clock bells, Great Dunstan stands in its own frame. The incarnations of Great Dunstan may be found in the History of the Oxford Tower.
Great Dunstan being lowered for the last time from the Oxford Tower. Beside the great bell is the Clerk of the Works (Brian Le Mar) and the Dean (Victor de Waal). In the background, the old 11th and tenor can be seen on the floor.
THE CLOCK AND CHIMES |
| Formerly there were only ting-tang quarters, but in 1897, quarter chimes on five bells were put in. They were arranged by the Rev'd Frederick J. O. Helmore, Precentor of the Cathedral to commemorate the thirteenth centenary of the Cathedral and the landing of St Augustine. They were arranged on the notes of the eighth Gregorian tone (particularly appropriate as St Augustine was made first Archbishop of Canterbury by Pope Gregory I). |
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| The clock mechanism stands in the chamber below the clock bells and Great Dunstan. This is equivalent in height to the ring of bells in the Oxford Tower. |
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