Help...Does anyone know anything about this bell?

[gritstoo]

My grandmother found this bell on the beach of Pawleys Island South Carolina after Hurrican Hazel in I think 1954. It was passed down to my mother, and then to me. I have searched for answers on this bell. The writing and pictures seem to suggest it was made to represent the English plague during the reign of Edward the III, and Thomas Earl of Warwick. The date on the bottom of the bell is 1369. In case you can't read the writing, It says F. Heron-Amet-exit-anno-1369. So knowing some latin, I have figured out that it is about something/or someone that died in the year 1369. I'm inserting a couple of pictures. Please if anyone knows anything about this bell, it would be extremely helpful. On a side note...taking where it was found into consideration, I was thinking maybe off of one of Blackbeard's Pirate ships, as Merrills Inlet and Pawleys Island South Carolina was a haven for pirates back in the day. But again....I've not been able to find much info about it.

I also posted this in shipwrecks too.....just in case....

Thanks

 

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[dg39]

What is it like inside? Clapper? Rough or smooth?

 

[packerbacker]

It's neat whatever it is. How big and what is it made of?

 

[trk5capt]

If It Is Big Enough, It Maybe A Ships Bell. Just A Guess, Hope You Have Luck Getting An ID. trk5capt...

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Is the date I see 1569?? Looks like a bell that was to be rung by hand. Can you make out all the letters around the base?
Doc

You started typing without reading. "The date on the bottom of the bell is 1369. In case you can't read the writing, It says F. Heron-Amet-exit-anno-1369. So knowing some latin, I have figured out that it is about something/or someone that died in the year 1369."(quote gritstoo).
Beautiful find!

 

[gritstoo]

Thank you so much for responding ! I'm a newbee....and was nervous. DG39 and Packerbacker, I'm adding a couple more pictures of the inside of the bell. Its seems to be made of brass or brass alloy.
DivingDoc....Like I said...I'm a newbee to all of this so let me "beg forgiveness" in advance. What is a requiem bell, how valuable is valuable and how would I find out more? I mean, should I get it insured valuable, or just keep it in safety deposit valuable?

The pictures below are of the inside of the bell and the height and width. That is an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper that it is sitting on.

Thanks again for all the help !

 

[Angelo]

Perhaps a requiem bell from Engine 1369 of the Devon Railway Locomotive #1369

Just a shot in the dark.

Tony

 

[hollowpointred]

the only thing i can suggest is to shoot an e-mail to the discovery shipwreck museum in fenwick island delaware. they have one of the most extensive collections of shipwreck artifacts in the country, and have extensive knowledge of shipwrecks and the cargo on those shipwrecks the addy is [email protected] if you want to check out the museum webpage it is http://www.discoversea.com/

 

[dg39]

I agree with hollowpointred. Check those links. It appears to be old from the inside photo, the clapper seems original also.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Nice pics. It appears to say ENGLAND on the inside.

 

[gritstoo]

Thank you hollowpointred and dg39 again. I did as you suggested and sent an email with the pictures to the museum. I will let you know if I get a response. If anyone gets any more information, please post. Any little bit helps.

Yes, Bigcypresshunter, it does say england on the inside, but it looks more like it was engraved than stamped.

Thanks again to everyone.

 

[gritstoo]

Thanks Doc, I appreciate it !

 

[DigEmAll]

That piece of wire hanging the clapper just screams "Reproduction" to me though.  But I know jack about bells.  All I know is that that wire appears machine made.  If I picked up something made in 1899 or earlier, I would expect hand bent wires. 

Too, looking at the pictures again, I would think that if it were that old the eye on the inside of the bell would have been cast in.  It appears to be an eye bolt that is screwed into the bell.

 

[gritstoo]

I appreciate all of your help on my quest to find the origin and facts of my bell. I've read each and every comment and appreciate them. Well most of them anyway. This bell very well could be a reproduction, or it could be really something old and priceless. I have no idea. I do know that regardless, it is priceless to me, as my grandmother, (who lived at Pawleys Island and Murrells inlet most of her life and is passed on) handed it down to my mother, who in turn handed it down to me. It could have been repaired by someone. I have no idea. This bell has been very well kept for many years, by my grandmother, my mother and now myself. I won't be dissappointed at what ever I find out about it. It will always be a treasure to me. I guess some peoples idea of treasures and worth are different than others. Thank you again for all of you that posted with questions and suggestions and advice. I know that it is people like you that will keep this forum going in the direction I'm sure it was intended for, where a person like myself won't be embarrassed to ask questions and share their treasures.

I posted it in the Shipwreck section too, as I wasn't sure where to post....and they weren't as nice as all of you.....nor helpful...probably because I am a newbee. Another learning experience....

A special thanks to DivingDoc, BigCypressHunter, Hollowpointred......you made my day ! Thanks !

 

[packerbacker]

It's the same nice people in all sections on this forum. If everyone else is like me, they don't go to "Shipwrecks" nearly as often as they would go to "Todays Finds" etc.. All nice folks here but, as in any group of friends, every once in a while a not-meant-to-be-hurtfull joke or comment will be made. Still a neat bell whatever it turns out to be

 

[packerbacker]

Phillipa d'Avesnes was the Queen of England and she died in 1369. She was born in 1311 so could very well be the head on the handle. The side of the bell shows a group of folks apparently honoring a small figure. Just a shot.

 

[The Seeker]

That is one sweet bell........! Thanks for sharing it with us...!

 

[Angelo]

I think that PACKERBACKER may be on track.

If memory serves me right the BLACK PLAGUE was at the time of Phillipa d'Avesnes and when people died men on the streets would ring a bell to call for the dead to load on wagons.

Will keep trying.

Tony

 

[PBK]

You might try sending photos of your bell to this expert:

Winston H. Jones, Curator
International Bell Museum
P.O Box 1601
Evergreen, CO 80439

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

gritstoo, I also was criticized when posting an item I found on the beach in front of the shipwreck forum people. They should have been more helpful and they still might be. There are very knowlegable members that use that forum. They hear a lot of found on the beach stories, I guess.
We always like to see new members and be patient more help will come as others see your post. I am sure you would like to know if its authentic.