Christchurch

[Suzan]

Hi everyone.

I'm new here, so hello to you all.

Could any one tell me whether Christchurch clock chimee for the hours/half hours/quarters in 1888?
And if so, how did it chime?

Did it play a little tune like Big Ben, or did it just strike.

I've done my best to find out, but I can't.

[Monty]

Hi Suzan,

Welcome first of all.

Think I've read somewhere there were quarterly chimes.

The hourly struck out the time, with smaller chimes at quarter past, half past and quarter to the hour.

I haven't heared the chimes but I know John Bennett visited the bell tower last year so maybe he can confirm.

The bells are seldom rung now, apparently the locals don't approve.

Cheers
Monty

[Suzan]

Thank you.

That's very informative and much appreciated.

What a shame they don't ring the bells often.
For a while I lived near a church where bell ringers practiced, and I loved to hear them.

[Monty]

Me too Suzan,

Every Wednesday my village church rings its bells, I love them.

Here is Johns video of the Christchurch bells being rung.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&client=mv-google&v=XkaZiu4qOXE

Cheers
Monty

[Suzan]

That's marvelous, thank you!

And a wonderful look at the inside of the tower, too.

You're lucky. My village church has a single bell perched on top of the roof. I've never heard it ring. I think that if it did, it might herald the end of the world

[K-453]

The link did not work for me, so I searched a bit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6rQ8bXVoik

Wow, must sound amazing in reality. Love it.

[ChrisGeorge]

Hi everyone.

I'm new here, so hello to you all.

Could any one tell me whether Christchurch clock chimee for the hours/half hours/quarters in 1888?
And if so, how did it chime?

Did it play a little tune like Big Ben, or did it just strike.

I've done my best to find out, but I can't.

Hello Suzan

I believe it is true to say that the church clocks regularly struck the quarters.

Chris

[K-453]

Just for fun, I found this recording of Big Ben bells from 1890 (!):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3JEv8gdgW0&feature=fvwrel

[Suzan]

Good lord! They've tuned her up a bit since then, haven't they?

Thanks for your help, everyone.

[Bridewell]

Hi Suzan. Welcome to Casebook.

I've been to the area twice this year and spent quite some time around Christ Church. The chimes didn't sound at all while I was close by (& you can't get much closer than the Ten Bells).

Just as an additional bit of information, I believe the clock faces were lit internally by gaslight during the 19th century (but I fully expect to be corrected by someone on that point!)