Rights Holder: Kent County Council
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WEIGHT
Unique ID: KENT-BF4A09
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A complete cast copper-alloy Post Medieval (c. 1600-1800) cast round (crotal) bell, reused possibly as a bell.
Description: The bell comprises two hemispherical domes divided horizontally by a circumferential ridge. The upper hemisphere has two circular sound holes. A relatively large suspension loop projects from the apex of the upper dome, with integrally cast hole. The lower hemisphere has a long, wide sound slit with circular holes at the ends. The bell is worn, and the bottom hemisphere is decorated, with a rough sunburst design. At the sound slot on the bottom of the bell are the initials 'EM'. It is uncertain if the iron pea survives as the bell has been filled with lead. The bell is a dark grey-green with some off white visible from patinated lead
Measurements: 38.19mm high (29.81mm without suspension loop), 30.41mm in Diameter and 116.61g in weight.
Discussion: Blunt (2005) suggests a date of 17-18th centuries AD, based on the one-piece design and integrally cast undrilled suspension loop and decoration on one hemisphere. The filling with lead is paralleled on a small number of bells recorded on the PAS database (IOW-DC5636, BERK-A84050, IOW-A805A6, LEIC-E88BB4 and HAMP2938) however there is no consistency with weight and most are not even or standard weight. Although this example could be weight at 800grains. The exact intended reuse for this bell is thus uncertain.
Class:
Reused cast spherical bell
Inscription:
EM
Evidence of reuse: Filled with lead, weight
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 1650
Date to: Circa AD 1800
Period of reuse: POST MEDIEVAL
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Height: 38.19 mm
Weight: 116.61 g
Diameter: 30.41 mm
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Secondary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Geometric
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Kent (County)
District: Dover (District)
Parish or ward: Preston (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TR2561
Four figure Latitude: 51.30362649
Four figure longitude: 1.22651956
1:25K map: TR2561
1:10K map: TR26SE
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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