|
CHAPTER ONE 1763 - 1827 The first letter was written by James Harrison I who was the son of Henry Harrison who moved to Barrow-on-Humber from Wragby, Yorkshire in about 1697. James was the younger brother of John who became famous as the inventor of an instrument for determining longitude. In some quarters it has been suggested that James was probably the genius who allowed John to take the instrument to London and obtain the credit. It was James who established the bellfoundry at Barrow and when he died in 1766 the foundry passed to his son Henry. (See biography of James Harrison I on page 77). 1. Barrow A Gentleman my Aquaintance has latly favoured me with a line of yr want of some repairs (or Hanging) ye bells in ye Lady Steeple of ye Minster. I have had considerable experience My life is almost one continual Scene of Bellhanging. I presume to offer this with my Service in this affair which if agreeable to you you have at command ye best Assistance in ye power of yr most humble Servant Addressed overleaf : The second letter from Samuel Turner is written on a broadsheet headed "A LIST of the Peals of Bells hung by Samuel & Robert Turner Bell Hangers to any Part of England". Turner actually signs himself as Bell Hanger at Messrs Pack and Chapmans, Whitechapel, London. 2 July 5th, 1772 I find you have Six very good Bells at your Minster but much out of repair in the hanging part, therefore have taken the liberty to trouble you with these lines to offer my service to rehang them, and if favoured with a line from you will wait on you and give my Estimate, there no person can do such work better than myself neither so well owing to my continual practice in that branch and may depend on their being done in a workmanlike manner now this part of the year is much the best if it was agreeable to you to have them done far beyond the winter time therefore Solicit the favour of your answer to Sr Your Hble Sert Addressed overleaf to : At a Chapter Meeting on 19 January 1784 "it was agreed that the Lady Bells be put into order and new hung if necessary" but later correspondence suggests that nothing in fact was done at that time. The writer of the next letter was William Ludlum a mathematician and vicar of Cuckfield, Suffolk (See biography on page 79). 3 Leicester Jan. 11 1785 Dear Sir We are told the Church of Lincoln has it in contemplation, to recast their peal of Bells in the South Tower of the Cathedral. Give me leave on this occasion, to mention a Bell founder, Mr Edward Arnold, now residing at Leicester, but who lately resided at St Neots. I shd not have ventured to mention any one, had I not personal knowledge & actual Experience of his skill & abilities in that curious and difficult art. He cast a peal of eight for St Martins in this Town. - We are famous, & I think justly so, for a fine peal of Bells at St Margarets cast in 1632 by Hugh Watts of Leicester. The four Trebles indeed were cast by Tho. Eayre of Kettering in 1740. Had not Arnolds peal been a very good one, it wd never have stood the comparison with that old one. Arnold also cast a peal of Six for Stavely, (or Staley) in Derbyshire of whch Dr Gisborne, (a Brother to the Physician) is rector; who I dare say wd express the same satisfaction to you as he did to me, in what Arnold did there. Arnold also cast a peal for Northampton. The Town was divided. The Great London founders of Whitechapel were employed at one church & Arnold at the other. As I am informed there is no comparison in the musical tone or tune of the Two peals. - There has always been a succession of founders at a Great Foundery Whitechapel. They are a rich company require not your old bells to cast, but have stock of metal to bring the new bells before they take away the old; Will cast Bells in any number, of any price - Leaden ones if you please. In short they are great Traffickers but no artists by what I ever heard or saw of them. - And so was found at Northampton. There is a Founder at Nottingham, as I perceive by his advertisement, of what knowledge or Experience I know not - As to those puffing Advertisments in the news papers, they are easily procured from those they call The Ringers - perhaps for a little ale. - Of all people the worst judge either of tune or tone. Arnold has also been employed at Ely, & many other places in that neighbourhood, & about St Neots. His having fully supplied that neighbourhood is I imagine one reason of his removing to Leicester - & having business here. - I forgot to mention He was employed by the late Mr Fortrey at Norton. I have no particular attachment to the man, nor much personal acquaintance but did not refuse his request to write to you in his favour, as I am sure I do it in perfect consistence with Truth & Justice. I am Sir Your affectionate humble Servant Addressed overleaf to : We then come to that fascinating character James Harrison II who developed the foundry which his father Henry Harrison had opened in 1770 at Barton and the foundry at Barrow was eventually closed (See biography on page 78). Harrison was something of an eccentric and his sole interest seems to have been in bells. He spent considerable time in making mental calculations before casting a bell and if he wasn't satisfied with the result he would break the bell up and start again. It is said that his calculations were made in a bed which was actually set up in the foundry. He would stay there until his calculations were completed! The bells were cast in a cellar at the dead of night to avoid any sound which would, according to Harrison, affect the tone of the bell! His main theory was that bells had far too much metal in them and a better use of metal would improve the tone. When Harrison died in 1835 the foundry closed. 4 Barton October 15th 1806 Gentlemen, Understanding that it has been in contemplation to have a new peal of ten bells in to Lincoln Cathedral; I have taken the liberty to offer the annexed Estimate of the expence of doing such work in the most masterly manner; at the same time I beg permission to lay before you a more particular explanation respecting the improvements alluded to and the superiority of bells formed according to these newly discovered rules over bells of the common form as cast to this time with a concise account of the progress I have made in perfecting the Art of Belfounding. It was my particular study and delight for more than ten years to trace out and deduce from first principles the concurring parts and most advantageous proportions for bells. I was very pertinacious in my researches and constant in my experiments on every occasion having from the summer of 1793 to that of 1803 since [not] cast one bell in which I did not try some experiment and my indefatigable application was at length crowned with complete success. For by such a course of almost continual study and constant experiment on each speculation for such a length of time, I have been able fully to investigate every particular relating to proportions in disposing of the metal to the utmost advantage for bells of all manner of tones and of course to cast the loudest and gravest bells that can be produced with a given weight of metal at the same time that the most free vibrations and harmonious sounds is also afforded in consequence of the metal being so disposed; and bells cast on this plan have a greater flow of sound and continuse [sic] sounding much longer than those cast according to the common plan. But as the analysis of their proportions involves a great number and variety of considerations and consequently of calculations, far more than may be imagined, so this has not been accomplished without considerable expense and loss of time - and as might be expected with frequent and gross blunders, in as much as this branch of science appears to have been wholly invaled [sic] in darkness and obscurity to this time no part having hitherto been demonstrated either by men of science or the bell founders themselves so that I have had the whole to develop - Indeed the best methods of Belfounding hitherto known seem to be no other than the result of along the blind practice, in the course of which having once hit upon such arrangements of the metal as produced fine tones they consequently had an opportunity ever afterwards of imitating such as patterns in casting others of the same pitch of tune, without troubling themselves about discovering any reasons for the concurrence of their parts or whether the metal was really disposed to the best advantage either for producing the loudest and most durable sounds or the most free and pleasing tones : - And tho it could not happen otherwise but that in such a continued course, such proportions would be chanced on as produced very harmonious and pleasant sounds, yet a maximum in any aspect is certainly not attainable by such unenlightened methods - and especially to make the loudest and gravest and most durable sounds with given weights - Hence 'tis no wonder that the generality of bells are a great deal heavier than might suffice for the sounds they give - over an average I judge about double weight, and often considerably deficient in tone. Bells cast on the new plan vibrate in much wider ranges than common bells - the considerableness of which advantage becomes more conspicuous when 'tis considered that the loudness will be as the squares of the distance to which the parts vibrate. But the bells so formed are heard to a much greater distance they are notwithstanding more soft and and tolerable to the ears of those who are near them than those of the common make : this is to be attributed to their parts being more free to vibrate, so that they require a much more moderate stroke of the Clapper, for the Clash of the Clapper being left at the same time that the vibration and flow of sound is greater much better please the Ear as more nearly rezempling [sic] the softness of musical strings. This new form has likewise a most symetrical and handsome Appearance, much more so than for hanging short even to revolve in circles scarce greater than the diameters of the bells, whereby they are very easy to ring and have the less power to sway the frame and steeple by reason they admit of being fixed so near their Centres. I have hinted above that no investigation of the proportions of bells seem to have ever been made by the Belfounders and that neither does it appear to have been sought into by men of science. For certainly had the Philosophers of any age or Nation traced out the concurring proportions of bells or had they ascertained the sizes of bells equally loud and differing in their pitch of tune we certainly should have had definitions thereof - whereas there is no books extant that I know which tho treating largely and clearly on other scientific subjects yet makes no more than superficial mention of bells shewing neither the principles of their constituent parts not affording any sufficient reasons for their proportions but on the contrary actually throws a false light on the subject, X from which I cannot infer otherwise but that this mistic art has remained unexplosed [sic] to this day - Indeed the many various and complicated circumstances to be evolved and the differing experiments indispensible on each specilation rendered a thorough analysis (by means of which only it becomes practicable to account for and calculate all the parts of bells mathematically true) next to impossible to any person not in the practice, and may be one cause of so late an investigation - Nor is it to be wondered that in so occult and complicated a science I should with great application spend so many years in tracing bringing out of obscurity and perfecting what appears to have been so imperfectly known before - and surely had I foreknown it to have been so arduous, so Hercluean a task as I found it to be, certainly nothing would ever have induced me to have attempted it but should have continued to Jog on in the old beaten path of practice without theory imitating such as had been cast and were esteem'd good as my predecessors have constantly done, and my contemporarys continue to do I am, Revd Sirs On a separate page Harrison wrote the following which he obviously intended to be inserted where shown : X Father Mensomme (from whom the rest seem to copy) discusses of the proportions of bells of considerable length, and as tho he favoured the public with a secret as the proportions he mentions : and I am certain the very first trial must prove the fallacy of what he describes - indeed there needs not any trial to shew his description fallacious as that plainly appears upon the face of it - Thus for instance he says Belfounders take one fifteenth part of the diameter at the skirts for the thickness of the brim - which if it were strictly true and that all bells were cast in this proportion then would all bells whether small or great afford one and the same identical sound or pitch of time all other parts being supposed also duly proportional - whereas the difference or variety of notes depend chiefly on the different proportions of the thickness towards the diameters in bells of the common make - which it seems he had no conception of and consequently that he had no knowledge whatever of what he thus continued to describe. Again - he says that the width of the upper part of the vase of the bell is one half of the width of the skirts - Alledging as a reason for its being so that the octave (which is the most perfectly consonant of of any interval of tune) vibrates in the ratio of 2 to 1 and consequently the vibrations of the upper and lower parts being supposed (according to his notion) to correspond with their widths must afford the utmost consonance [sic] when in this proportion. If this was the case and the vibrations depended upon this principle then it follows that every part of the bell must vibrate in different times and consequently that there must be an infinite number of intermediate sounds produced betwixt the skirts and the top of the bell, from which must result the most rank discord that can possibly be imagined. - Besides it cannot for a moment be supposed that the thin edge of the bell has such power to resist the vibrating motion of the ponderous thick part which lags so near it, swelling from the edge somewhat in form of a convex curved wedge - but that on the contrary the vibrations of the edge must be allowed to be accelerated and almost intirely [sic] commanded by those of the thick part of which indeed it is only the gradual termination - and the bell being considerably straiter [sic] in this thick part or brim than at the edge it would of course be infered that the vibrations of the lower parts would be too quick to produce a ratio of 1 to 2 with those in the upper parts so that he is inconsistent with himself - But the fact is the vibrations of the different parts depend also on the thickness and curvature of the same parts respectively as well as on the widths and for this reason the different parts of bells being of different widths afford no proof that those different parts vibrate in different times. This description of what he terms "The diapason or Scale of music" is still less to the purpose - However, as the proportions he assigned to bells and the reasons thereof are so evidently essential matters - what can be expected in the more intricate and abstruse cases ? In fine any further examination of the rules he lays down is altogether unnecessary as they are inapplicable for producing musical peals of bells of any kind as I have shewn in the first instance - and only serve to mislead such as are unacquainted with the matter - and only serve to mislead such as are unacquainted with the matter - Perhaps the Bellfounders of whom he made his inquiries may have imposed on him as one asking questions about that with which he had nothing to do. Nothing more is heard for ten years and then Harrison writes again: 5 Barton 7th Novr 1818 Revd Sir A Report having lately reached me purporting that all the Minster Bells except Great Tom are to be recast into a grand new Peal of Ten, and that it is also wished that Great Tom should be rung and consequently that it is become very desirable to have its tower firmly secured for this purpose &c &c - I cannot speak to the truth of these reports but whether true or not I am persuaded a letter from me on such a subject will not be ill received. I sometime since conceived a Plan for securing the Broad Tower in which tower, should the above work be done, I would advise all the bells to be hung and Great Tom in the midst but in such Manner as not to interfere with the Peal-I have annexed a rude Sketch of the Plan of the frame wherein it will be observed that great Tom being in the Midst has consequently the whole Mass of that extensive Tower in the direction of its swing: and though the base of this Tower is very Great yet it is rendered still greater by the position of the frame being anglewise within it. Add to this that it is encompassed by the other bells and its frame connected with theirs - a circumstance that contributes very powerfully to keep its frame firm and steady, as having at once a much greater base and the whole inerta [sic] (if I may so call it) of all the other bells together with their Frames also to cope with besides. But the floor as well as the Tower will require to be properly supported and secured for this purpose, of which I likewise sketched a design sometime ago. Indeed whether the bells be done or not, I think on examination of this Tower, it will be judged absolutely necessary that something be done tosecure it; for I observe that the ill constructed carpentry of the belfry floor and Roof is actually forcing the Walls outward, and in fact have parted so as to occasion a considerable cleft, which consequently must soon get worse although it seems not to have been attended to. This circumstance gave rise to the design I mentioned, which will tye [sic] and strengthen, and in short effectively secure the Tower and at the same time render the floor firm as a Rock; and I flatter myself that besides being completly efficacious, it is also on as cheap and durable a Plan as may be devised - I suppose it will also be found indispensable to apply something similar to support the Roof, the frameing of which is equally injudicious, and by this means tye [sic] and brace the Top of the Tower, instead of distressing the Masonry and forcing the walls asunder as in the case at Present. With respect to the mode in which great Tom now hangs in a single frame, - it is easy to shew the inefficacy since bells in some part of their swing scarce press at all downwards and at that moment exert the greatest force horizontally - I have known single frames slide to and fro upon the floor from this cause - and consequently required to be secured in the Steeple lest their ends should get any play in the Walls - whence the instability of a single frame for a great bell is apparent, besides the Steeple having in this case the whole brunt of the swing to sustain - on the contrary - where there are a number of bells in the same framing, they not only have a less effect on the steeple but the frame stands much firmer on the floor, since no single bell has power to move all the other bells and frames; for the Greater base and extent of the framing in conjunction with the eight of the other bells operate most effectually to render the frame stable and to diminish the effect of the swing on the Steeple. Should this Plan be adopted all the floors of the two West End Towers might be taken away, the uppermost windows where the bells now hang might be glazed, and these Towers beautify'd [sic] within and thus present a magnificent appearance to a beholder who looks up the inside. As to my ability for casting the bells - I believe I can give such references as will be satisfactory respecting the improved form which I have adopted for bells, and the perfection I have by indefatigable labour and experience attained - the metal being so much more advantageously disposed of that no Peal of bells of the common form of a like weight can consequently equal. I shall have occasion to Pass through Lincoln in a few weeks when I shall take the liberty to wait upon you. - In the meantime I remain Revd Sir Your obedient Humble Servant Perhaps you will not think it inexpedient to lay these matters before the Revd the Dean and Chapter.
This drawing being merely to shew the situation of the bells, it was not necessary to do it to any scale or regular proportions, is therefore only sketched by the Eye. The letter was addressed to : Revd Willm Gray To the gentlemen of the Cathedral Church Lincoln An Estimate of the Expence of recasting the two old Peals of bells namely the peal of eight and the peal of six now in the Cathedral, into a very capital and grand peal of ten harmonious bells to be found with all advantages of modern improvements and discoveries - viz the metal to be arranged according to mathematical calculations for affording the loudest, gravest and most lasting sounds that can be produced with given weights and in consequence the most likely and free tones - Also tuning the new bells into perfect tune - together with the probable expence of the frame - and hanging the new peal in the most durable and masterly manner with every improvement of which it appears susceptable. (Signed) James Harrison
The waste of the metal in casting to be supply'd by the founder and the new Clappers to be weigh'd with the new bells in consideration of it - Also as the new bells are intended to have Springs to their Clappers (which is one of the improvements alluded to) these are likewise weigh'd along with them and no separate charge made either for the Springs themselves or the trouble of adjusting them. Likewise, as there is a greater number of old brasses than will be wanted of new ones, So the expence of recasting or exchanging these will be very trivial. It is expected that some of the wheels, yokes and irons will do again, which of course will deduct from the above expence, as will likewise any part of the frame which may suit to be the work'd up again - And the remainder of the old Materials will doubtless cover the expence of taking down, hoisting up &c with all contingent charges. If the estimator should have the happiness to find his proposals approved of by the Gentlemen of the Church - He designs to come to Lincoln and make temporary convenience for recasting the bells and doing every part of the work upon the spot - and as the expence of Carriage to and fro will be hereby saved, he hopes the Gentlemen will make a suitable allowance towards such temporary convenience, as it is a constant rule to add the Carriage to the other espences. The two old peals of bells now in the Cathedral, if Cast upon the new plan into a peal of ten - the weight of the tenor will be about 32 cwt - its diameter about 5¼ feet - and I hesitate not to assert that such a Peal in England whatever tho there are some of much greater Weight. It would also exceed to the sweetness of the tones, and it would be heard to a greater distance.
|
