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BELL
Unique ID: SUSS-7131C0
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A complete cast copper alloy crotal or animal bell of Post Medieval date (c. 1600-1800 AD). The bell is spherical and comprises two hemispherical domes with a raised circumferential join. The top hemisphere has two circular sound holes and no decoration. On the top is an intergral suspension loop which is D shaped. The lower hemisphere has been decorated with the characteristic incised 'sun burst' design and has a long sound slit with circular holes at each end. On one side of the lower hemisphere is a small hole caused by damage to the bell.
The makers mark 'R' and 'W' are either side of the sound slit on the base of the bell. This is the mark of either William Wells I or II (1755-1781 and 1775-1798 respectively). Both operated at a foundry in Aldbourne and this mark was still used by their predecessor James Wells (1790-1825). Due to this a date range of c. 1755-1825 is suggested for this bell. Cf. Blunt, Rod, 'Crotal Bells', Tables 1 and 2.
The bell is 41.2mm heigh and 31.3mm wide, and weighs 42.07g.
Class: cast spherical
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1755
Date to: Circa AD 1825
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 41.2 mm
Width: 31.3 mm
Weight: 42.07 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 27th September 2015
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: East Sussex (County)
District: Lewes (District)
Parish or ward: Southease (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TQ4205
Four figure Latitude: 50.82713068
Four figure longitude: 0.01484206
1:25K map: TQ4205
1:10K map: TQ40NW
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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