Rochester cathedral weighs 28 cwt., the note being which is reached in the present day by bells only weighing from 11 to 13 cwt.; hence a much greater dignity of tone in the former. The following table, drawn up from actual measurement, will show the difference of weight in bells sounding the same note, and proves that weight is no sure guide in ascertaining pitch. # The lowest of these notes (A) is the great bell of S. Paul's cathedral, weighing circ. 6 ton. Shape is one of the greatest causes of difference in tone. The internal diameter of a bell, measured from where the clapper strikes, being the best test of the key note, it will be evident that a saucershaped bell will give a much lower note than one of the usual form, both being of equal weight. On this principle gongs are constructed, and it is incredible how small a weight of metal will thus give a deep tone. Saucer-shaped bells notwithstanding, even if desirable in theory, are never likely to be grouped into a peal, owing to the large amount of side room they would occupy in swinging. For ordinary parochial purposes a compass from to will be found amply sufficient. This will afford peals of ten in the keys of Eb or E, several peals of eight, and many more of six, in various keys. Treble notes above G are harsh and unpleasing, while in those below E the weight of metal largely increases, and the tone produced does not compensate for the additional space occupied, or for the extra trouble required in ringing. It is much to be wished that peals of bells were more generally adopted in the new churches in and near London. With a few noble exceptions, (S. Stephen, Westminster, S. Barnabas, Pimlico, Christ Church, Ealing, &c.) a small call bell is all that is considered necessary, and this too often in churches where the funds necessary for the purpose could with but little difficulty be raised. The expense of a peal of bells is not after all so very great. It is not perhaps generally known that the charge is made by weight, not by the number. The price per cwt. varies from £6. 10s. to £6. 158., according to the current value of metal. If the frames, carriage, hanging, &c., be included, £7 per cwt. will give tolerably accurate data for calculating the cost of a peal. The following rough costs of well known peals are given by way of example. 1. Bradford, Yorkshire: 10 bells. Total weight, 103 cwt. Tenor 27 cwt. £720. 2. Newark, Notts: 10. Total 132 cwt. Tenor 33 cwt. £930. 3. S. Barnabas, Pimlico: 10. Tenor 20 cwt. £800. £620. 6. Stoke on Trent: 8. Total 80 cwt. 7. Rothwell, Northamptonshire: 8. £430. Total 88 cwt. Tenor 24 cwt. Tenor 22 cwt. £560. Peals of 6 are from £200 upwards. Of the above peals, 3 and 4 are by Messrs. Mears, of Whitechapel, the rest are by Messrs. Taylor, of Loughborough. Bell foundries are not so numerous now as formerly, owing probably to the greater facility of carriage in the present day. They once existed at Oxford; Collumpton, Devon; East Dereham, Norfolk; Gloucester; S. Neots, Huntingdonshire, besides one or two in the North of England. Numerous excellent peals in Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Cambridgeshire, &c., are from the S. Neot's foundry, e. g. the well known bells of the University church, Cambridge, c. 1730, which were so much admired by Handel. Mr. Rudall's foundry at Gloucester, had a great name in the early part of the last century, and his bells abound in the West of England. S. Martinin-the-Fields, and All Saints, Fulham, may be mentioned as examples in London. There was also a foundry at Chelsea, by Mr. Janeway, from 1750 to 1800, whose bells were reckoned very good; examples may be seen at S. Mary Abbotts, Kensington, Edgeware, &c., also the peal in old Chelsea church, which was sold in 1825. At the present time there are only two foundries of any consequence, viz., that of the Messrs. Taylor, at Loughborough, into which have been incorporated the foundries of Messrs. Watts, Eayres, and Arnold, late of Oxford, Leicester, and S. Neots, Huntingdonshire, established upwards of two centuries; and that of Messrs. Mears, of Whitechapel, successors to Rudall of Gloucester, and Janeway of Chelsea, but more immediately the successor to the well-known bell-founder Phelps, of Whitechapel. Of the respective merits of the two foundries it may perhaps be considered invidious to speak. While the bells of Messrs. Mears are bright, clear-toned, and true to their pitch, they certainly do not combine that pleasing and mellow sweetness for which Messrs. Taylor's foundry is so justly celebrated. That the above opinion is not peculiar to myself, is evident from the fact that the peal cast by Mears 1 for the Royal Exchange, a few years since, has just given place to one by Taylor. They were both peals of 15 bells. Mears' tenor weighed 53 cwt., Taylor's 33, the note being C. Messrs. Warner and Sons, Brass-founders of Cripplegate, have also of late years directed their attention to bell-founding. Their alloy of metal is composed entirely of copper and tin, which insures a firm and mellow tone. As specimens of their work may be mentioned a peal of eight, tenor 27 cwt., in the Key of D, just cast for Fredericton Cathedral. Also a peal of six, key Bb, for S. Thomas, Lancaster. Besides small peals for churches built by the Bishop of Colombo (Ceylon), and the Countess of Dunraven. 2 This peal perished by fire about 12 years since, the present peal of 8 was made up out of its debris. Several of the City Churches have small peals of 3 bells. Also modern churches, as S. Mary, Paddington; S. Paul, Knightsbridge; S. Pancras, and several churches in S. Mary-le-bone; these latter, however, are mostly mere clock bells, with quarter chimes. Many of the churches built in the early part of the last century were furnished with one large bell and one small one, e. g. S. Anne, Limehouse; S. Paul, Covent Garden; S. John, Westminster; S. Luke, Old Street. Several of these larger bells are very beautiful, particularly that at S. Luke, Old Street, weighing 29 cwt. The old bell at S. Anne, Limehouse, weighed 36 cwt. and was burned in 1850. The present one, cast out of the remains of the former, weighs only 18 cwt. 1 The heaviest Church Peal in England, with the exception of Exeter Cathedral. 9 of the bells are upwards of 400 years old. 2 This peal was broken up in 1825. 3 Broken up in 1842. |