[Bell Historians] Elphick on the ancient bell at Hardham

[Richard Smith]

I just wanted to say thank you for all the responses I've 
received – and also to apologise for the inadvertent on-list 
off-list posting, not that there was anything especially 
private in it.

I think I have my answer.  Elphick doesn't attempt to date 
the Hardham bell in 'The Craft of the Bellfounder', but 
elsewhere has dated it to the 3rd quarter of the 10th 
century, the same age he ascribes to the bell at Llancillo. 
The reference to the 4th decade is, as Richard Offen says, a 
reference to the Bad Hersfield bell.

RAS


Richard Offen wrote:

> In 'The Craft of the Bellfounder', Elphick uses Hardham as a frequent early example of the various processes involved in making a bell, but at no point actually gives a dating. 
>
> The nearest to a dating is in Chapter 2 (p9) on design: "If Lerwick is early 11th century and Bad Hersfield 1038, it would appear this lengthening process had stated by the fourth decade of the 11th century. If Hardham treble was cut off half way up its waist and a thin flat soundbow added, we would have a typical Romanesque bell, showing how much of the early design was retained."
>
> There is an article on the Bad Hersfield bell, which was cast in 1038, on page 1084 of the 24/31 December edition of the Ringing World.
>
> Richard
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bell-historians [mailto:bell-historians-bounces at lists.ringingworld.co.uk] On Behalf Of Richard Smith
> Sent: Monday, 8 March 2021 5:23 AM
> To: Bell Historians Mailing List
> Subject: [Bell Historians] Elphick on the ancient bell at Hardham
>
>
> I've mislaid my copy of Elphick's Craft of the Bellfounder. 
> Could anyone do me a favour and look up what he says about 
> the age of the ancient bell at Hardham, Sussex?  I believe 
> he says it likely dates to around the time of the Conquest 
> and is probably England's oldest bell, but I'd be very 
> grateful if someone could check exactly what he says.
>
> RAS
>
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