bells, church
Basilica Museum
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| Object Name: | bells, church |
| Artist/Maker: | Murphy, James and O'Byrne, Matthew |
| Classification: | man-made artefact |
| Category: | tools and equipment for communication |
| Sub-category: | sound communication tools and equipment |
| Discipline: | church history |
| Material: | metal |
| Technique: | cast |
| Accession Number: | Noaccession14 |
| Manufacturer: | Fountain Head Bell Foundry |
| Origin-Province: | Leinster |
| Origin-Country: | Ireland |
| Origin-Continent: | Western Europe |
| Use-Province: | Newfoundland and Labrador Pre-Confederation Newfoundland |
| Use-Country: | Canada Dominion of Newfoundland |
| Culture: | Irish |
| Cultural Context: | religious ceremonial communication |
| Earliest Production Date: | c 1850 |
| Latest Production Date: | 1906 |
| Period: | mid 19th century and early 20th century |
| Description: | This large grey iron bell pictured here is one of the bells from 1906, and engraved on the bell is "Matthew O'Byrne, Fountain Head Bell Foundry" and "Michael Franciscus Howley," has also been engraved below the maker' mark. |
| Narrative: | Of the nine bells owned by the Basilica, the oldest and largest is the Great Bell. This bell was originally installed in the East Tower of the Basilica, as this tower also contained a town clock and the Great Bell was struck on the hours and half hours during the day, creating a very loud chime that could be heard for several kilometers. This bell became part of the Basilica's collection when Bishop Mullock purchased it in February, 1850. Struck by James Murphy of Dublin, the Great Bell was the largest bell to be cast in Ireland up to that time, and received a Gold Medal at the Dublin Exhibition of Irish Manufacturers. Despite the fact that it weighs approximately 1.81 metric tons, the Great Bell was hauled by hand to the Basilica in February 1851 to be installed in the East Tower. The other eight bells however were placed in the West Tower, with James Murphy casting the other two largest in 1854 and 1857, and Matthew O'Byrne casting the remaining five in 1906 at the Fountain Head Bell Foundry in Dublin, Ireland. For many years, however, the bells were very rarely rung, as the condition of the towers and the frames and supports of the bells were poor. In 1954 and 1955 however, extensive repairs were done on the belfries, and the bells were given new fittings. The manual system for ringing the bells was replaced with an electro-mechanical system, allowing for the bells to ring once again on special occasions. The bells were originally designed to swing, however, the strain this placed on the towers has caused them to be removed and plans are to have them struck from now on, instead of letting them swing freely. |
| History of Use: | The largest of the nine bells was housed in the East Tower and would ring on the hours and half hours each day. The remaining eight were housed in the West Tower. Due to structural problems, the bells were eventually silenced, but when the towers were repaired in 1954 and 1955, the bells began to ring once again on special occasions. |
| Quantity: | 1 |
| Number of Components: | 9 |
| Component Part Names: | bells |
| Subject/Image: | religious artefact ceremonial artefact church bells |
| Inscription: | Matthew O'Byrne, Fountain Head Bell Foundry; Michael Franciscus Howley |
| Institution: | Basilica Museum |
| Institution City: | St. John's |
| Institution Province: | Newfoundland & Labrador |
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