DOUAI ABBEY

Abbey Church
Bell

 Bell The bell
as installed
in the Abbey Church
in commemoration of the Centenary.
Brought from France in 1903, the bell which is inscribed "DROUOT FONDEUR A DOUAI NORD" but unfortunately not dated, spent most of the last century signalling from the top of the clock tower the end of recreation times to pupils of Douai School who were outdoors. They will remember it as "The Outside Bell".

As part of the centenary celebrations it has been installed in the north turret of the Abbey Church to signal the Angelus and times of prayer to the Community and visitors.

The picture shows the bell installed in the Abbey Church after work by Nicholson Engineering at their Church Bell Works in Bridport, Dorset. They have fitted it with an internal solenoid-operated electric tolling hammer, specially made for this particular bell.

decoration of the bellJudging by its shape and general finish, Mr Nicholson says the bell is certainly of no great age. It is highly decorated and superbly modelled, made using the lost wax or cire purdue method. He has measured the principal and main partial tones (rounded to the nearest half hertz) as follows:

In its new location it was first heard tolling for the funeral of Fr James Donovan, and it signalled the start of the procession for the Mass on 21 June. It now regularly signals the start of Mass and Divine Office as well as the Angelus.
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Page created 13/04/03 updated 13/02/07

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