BELLS

STEENBERG VINEYARD

One does not, today,  often hear the sound of bells being rung perhaps because nearby residents objected.  But going back  in time bell ringing was definitely heard on local Tokai and Constantia farms.  Farm / slave bells dating back to the 19^th century still exist on Steenberg, Groot Constantia, Constantia Uitsig and Alphen. Today they are quiet but in the past people on these farms – be they owners or workers – were gathered together for whatever purpose by the sound of the bell being rung.  In general if there was any danger to the farm or its neighbours, the bell would have been used to summons every person living or working there. In this way damage to the neighbourhood might have been avoided or at least lessened.

 It has been suggested that some farm bells in South Africa were possibly items recovered from shipwrecks but this has not been confirmed.  A particular architectural style developed to house the bells.  At first they were probably hung in a simple fashion but later they were enclosed in their own tower and situated near the farmhouse.  The pillars were sometimes plain or decorated with a design of some kind.

 

CITY HALL

©

Weekend Argus 20.1983

Another kind of bell is to be found in the former City Hall building, Cape Town. This is a set of bells upon which melodies can be played, a carillon. This municipal carillon is situated in the tower and contains 37 bells.  The idea for the introduction into the local musical life goes back to 1919.  The then mayor suggested that the women of Cape Town raise money to commission the carillon as a memorial to the sailors and soldiers who fought and died during the First World War of 1914-1918.  In time the order was given for the manufacture of the bells by an English firm,  Taylor and Son of Loughborough.  The inauguration took place during a visit by the Prince of Wales.  The Prince aboard HMS Repulse arrived in Table Bay on 30 April 1925.  He was met by various officials and other dignitaries and was driven to a reception on the Grand Parade – an area which faces the City Hall.  It has been reported that the occasion was unique as Cape Town “is the only city in the Empire to welcome the prince by a ringing of a carillon.”   A carilloneur, Anton Breers, was specially brought from Antwerp, Belgium to introduce the bells to the public.  The first melody heard was “O God our help in ages past”.  A varied programme followed which  “revealed the power and the sweetness of the city bells.” 

The carillon is not heard as often as citizens would like but each time it is heard is a special moment.   

See Website : http://factsfound.isat.co.za

NEED TO IMPROVE YOUR SPOKEN ENGLISH ?

CONTACT TOPMARKS FOR SKYPE CONVERSATION CLASSES

Phone   021 : 715 91 56              e   topmarks@isat.co.za