banner1.jpg (38669 bytes)

CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL

Main Page
MAIN PAGE

Oxford Tower
OXFORD TOWER

Arundle Tower
ARUNDEL TOWER
Central Tower
CENTRAL TOWER
Campanile
CAMPANILE

THE CENTRAL OR BELL HARRY TOWER

1 Bell hung dead on the roof of the tower.
Hung in 1981 by Whitechapel.
Frame: 1975 Cathedral Works Dept
Formerly known as the Angel Steeple.

Rung at:

8 a.m. Morning Bell
9 p.m. Curfew Bell
In services as Sanctus Bell

DETAILS OF THE BELL

Bell

Weight Diameter

Pitch

Cast

Founder

Bell Harry

8 cwt approx. 36¼"

B flat

1635

Joseph Hatch

The pitch as recorded by Ranald Clouston in 1979:

Bell Hum Prime Tierce Quint Nominal
Bell Harry Bb+50 a+38 C#+44 F+9 Bb+7

INSCRIPTION

IOSEPH HATCH ME FECIT 1635

Bell Harry
Bell Harry in it frame on the roof of the Central Tower.

HISTORY

1316

Prior Henry placed 3 bells in Angel Steeple. Shortly after, 3 more bells were added to Angel Steeple.

1408

Chillenden/Arundel replaced the bells in the Angel Steeple with a heavier five.

1409

Angel Steeple bells were dedicated.

1433

Angel Steeple bells were removed to North West Tower, replacing the existing bells which were themselves moved to the Oxford Tower.

1500

Bell Harry Tower was completed and the 1288 Bell Harry installed on the top.

1557

Sanctus Bell installed, probably in Bell Harry Tower.

1585

Sanctus Bell removed and given to Eastbridge Hospital.

1726

Bell Harry replaced by a second-hand 1635 Joseph Hatch bell.

1959

Bell Harry has electronically operated hammer.

1975

Bell Harry rehung in new steel frame.

1981

Bell Harry was rehung dead on the top of the tower.

PRIOR HENRY'S ORIGINAL BELLS

Bell

Weight Cast Founder

1

25-1-22 in total

Short time after 1316 by founder unknown

2
3
4 11-0-24 1316 Unknown
5 12-0-10 1316 Unknown
6 14-2-4 1316 Unknown

These were replaced in 1408 by the following bells.

1408 SET OF FIVE

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.
These were transferred to the Arundel Tower in 1433.