Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA

During the late 1920’s a new memorial chapel was erected at the university in the style of Canterbury Cathedral. George C Allen, former chairman of the Duke endowment and William R Perkins former vice chairman of the endowment made a gift of a carillon to put in the tower. Negotiations regarding the number and size of bells took from 1926 to 1930 when an order was placed for a grand carillon of 48 bells (this was later changed to 50), the largest being approximately 5 tonnes in G.

The carillon was set up and tested in the foundry during June 1931. Building work on the chapel was completed in October 1931. The carillon was shipped to the States aboard the SS Clairton which left England on November 1st 1931 and arrived in America on December 8th. The installation of the bells took from December 19th 1931 to January 4th 1932. The frame, headstocks and clappers were all painted dark grey instead of red so that they would not stand out and be seen through the louvers.

The carillon was opened on June 5th 1932 by the famous carillonneur Anton Brees from Brugges. More than 10,000 people thronged the university campus to listen to the new carillon being played. Lawrence Apgar was employed as the first carillonneur for the university carillon.

In 1957 new, heavier clappers were provided for the 23 smallest bells.

In 1992 a major refurbishment of the installation took place which included all new clappers, new transmission, new top frame for the 29 smaller bells, a new clavier and a new practice clavier.

The carillon was rededicated in October 1992 with various pieces played by J. Samuel Hammond the university carillonneur.

The total weight of the bells is approximately 63,000 lbs and the weight of the frame and fittings is about 44,000 lbs.

Inscriptions

Tenor THIS CARILLON CONSISTING OF
48 BELLS WAS PRESENTED BY GEORGE G ALLEN
AND WILLIAM R PERKINS AT THE TIME OF THE
ERECTION OF THIS CHAPEL.

The remaining bells all have the John Taylor Bellfounders logo on them.