145) The church bells of the Peperbus or Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren in Zwolle! Wednesday, June 5, 2019, 5:00 PM • Zwolle, church bells Peperbus or Onze ... 0:00 Photos and automatic carillon playing 0:46 Church bell 4 ringing 2:14 Church bell 3 ringing 4:42 Church bell 2 ringing 6:36 Church bell 1 ringing 9:50 Church bells ringing After the completion of the Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk in 1454, there is already mention in 1457 of making a bell cage for two bells. It is not known whether this is the current lower section of the hull or another tower. Other source material tells us that the construction of the current tower started in 1463. The tower was built by city architect Berend van Covelens. In 1477, the sealing was put out to tender. The tower then had two sections with capitals and dragon spitters on the corners. A year later, however, it was decided to build the tower higher. In 1481, wood was delivered for the sealing. A bell frame was made in the third section. A bell founder from Deventer received 73 Rhine guilders in 1480. In 1484, master Geert van Wou from Den Bosch was commissioned to cast three bells, a sol of 929 pounds, a fa of 1311 pounds and a mi bell of 1731 pounds. In October of that same year, a re bell of 2300 pounds was added. On Palm Sunday of the year 1485, a la bell of 640 pounds was also delivered and finally in 1486 a ut or do bell of 3437 pounds. The bells were donated by nine prominent citizens of the city. With this, the tower with bells was completed. The body was three bays high. The current sound holes still indicate the location of the six bells. Of the bells, only the Mariaklok (la) is still present and has been incorporated into the carillon. The lightning strike in the tower of the Grote- or St. Michaëlskerk in 1669 had major consequences for that tower, which was over 115 metres high. It was so damaged that it was decided to demolish the tower. As a result, the Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren suddenly became more important to the city. The church had not been used for religious services since 1591. A workshop was set up in the church for the organ builders Schnitger between 1718 and 1721 for the construction of the large organ in the St. Michaëlskerk. The building also served as a storage place for army vehicles, carriages and as a shelter for farmers affected by flooding. The tower was given an onion-shaped roof in 1727. In 1809, the building regained its function as a church. Like the tower of the Grote Kerk, the Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren was also struck by lightning in January 1815. The onion-shaped roof, the lantern and part of the upper section of the body were destroyed. For years the tower lay open like a 'sauerkraut barrel'. Two of the three remaining Van Wou bells had crashed through the roof of the church at breakneck speed. The Brunswick organ in the church, which had only been purchased in 1813, was badly damaged. The bell cast in 1714 did survive this disaster. The bells were recast. The organ and roof were repaired. The Peperbus has a carillon of 51 bells. In 1929/1930 the carillon was cast by the firm John Taylor & Co from Loughborough, England. The size of the carillon was set at 3½ octaves (C1 - g4) and its playing was first heard at the opening of the old IJssel bridge on 15 January 1930. A fund that was collected by the citizens of Zwolle for the realisation of the IJssel bridge only had to be used in part. The remaining resources were, in accordance with the wishes of the citizens, intended for a Zwolle carillon. Four of these bells, including the bell from 1714, are used as a chiming bell. The carillon has been expanded twice by Eijsbouts and Petit and Fritsen respectively and now comprises 4 octaves. Since September 2018, the bells can be rung by hand again. This is done with some regularity by the Zwolle bell ringers' guild St. Michael, named after the patron saint of the city of Zwolle. On this occasion, the bells have been given names, because they were previously nameless. → Church bell 1: Michaël, Claes Noorden and Jan Albert de Grave, 1714, 1580 mm, 2200 kg, c1 CLAES NOORDEN ET IAN ALBERT DE GRAVE ME FECERVNT AMSTELODAMI: ANNO DOMINI 1 7 1 4 + Coat of arms of Zwolle → Church bell 2: Maria, John Taylor and Co, 1929, 1150 mm, 900 kg, f1 TAYLORS BELLFOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH ENGLAND 1929 → Church bell 3: Christoforus, John Taylor and Co, 1929, 1020 mm, 650 kg, g1 TAYLORS BELLFOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH ENGLAND 1929 COMMISSION TO BRIDGE THE IJSSEL NEAR THE CHURCH RING TO THE MUNICIPALITY OF ZWOLLE THE CAROL OF WHICH I AM A PART, RANGED OVER ZWOLLE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THE DAY THE BRIDGE WAS OPENED. → Church bell 4: Antonius (Gate bell), John Taylor and Co, 1929, 900 mm, 450 kg, a1 TAYLORS BELLFOUNDERS LOUGHBOROUGH ENGLAND 1929 With thanks to Mr. Borst, Mr. Dijkink and the ringers of the Zwolle Bell Ringers' Guild St. Michael!