Spye Park

[dennis.powney at m0VTVJgrv0GYCQjT-TRGgIK6hFAG7v4WKViFIs4yxDEcykiuvKPUVfiwTlGRfVQuDS8gTpV53MjGl2LSBTx-tEQ.yahoo.invalid]

I have just had the opportunity to view the ?Wm Sellers 1731? bell at Spye
Park House, Bromham, Wiltshire.
The height of the bell, from the top of the canons is 25 inches.  The width
across the mouth is also 25 inches.  The circumference around the inscription
band is 45 inches and the circumference around the mouth is 78 inches. The
height of the canons is 5 ½ inches.
The bell still hangs in its wooden framed, lead roofed, cupola, the whole
weighing well over a ton, according to a workman on site.  I think the bell
must weigh somewhere between 3 and 4 cwt??  A shafted clapper (wrought iron?)
hangs inside the bell, this is attached by a cast-in crown staple and a leather/metal
baldric. The bell is now sounded by an external, sprung, hammer worked by
a clock that is dated 1717.
There is no sign that the clapper has ever been used to sound the bell.
It is a sweet sounding bell, unfortunately my unmusical ears are unable to
tell the note.
Please, is any one able to enlighten me more, as to who this bell founder,
Wm Sellers, was?  In addition, can anyone give a more accurate estimate of
its weight?
Pictures attached.
Dennis Powney.


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