World's biggest free geocaching network
Geopaths - matching lots of geocaches
Full statistics, GPX's, all for free!
Mail notifications about new caches and logs
100% geocaching posibilities for free
You have to be logged-in in order to perform operations on this cache.
stats
Show cache statistics
Simcoe's Carillon Tower - OU0A2A
Simcoe's Carillon Tower Vritual
Owner: simrebel
Please log in to see the coordinates.
Altitude: m. ASL.
 Region: Canada > Ontario
Cache type: Virtual
Size: No container
Status: Ready for Search
Date hidden: 2016-09-08
Date created: 2016-09-08
Date published: 2016-09-08
Last modification: 2018-10-03
3x Found
0x Not found
0 notes
watchers 1 watchers
668 visitors
2 x rated
Rated as: n/a
In order to view coordinates and
the map of caches
you must be logged in
Description EN

To Claim this Virtual have your picture taken with the tower in the background

 

 

Norfolk’s War Memorial was built to honour the memory of the Norfolk County soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War. Its 2-octave carillon is rated one of the best in the world. 

The Norman architecture Carillon Tower is a landmark on Norfolk Street (Highway 24) in the Lynn River parks of Simcoe, Ontario, Canada.

Built with funds raised by the citizens of Norfolk County on a site donated from Simcoe High School land, the Norfolk War Memorial Carillon Tower is owned by the people of Norfolk County, and administered by the Heritage and Culture Division.

The bronze bells were cast in 1923 in Croydon, England at the Gillett & Johnston Bell-foundry, famous for having perfected bell tuning. G&J cast bells extra thick, then ground the inside surfaces on vertical lathes to produce 5 tones: the strike note, one octave lower and higher, a minor third and a fifth.

There are 23 bells, all stationary, rung by clappers which strike the inside when the carillonneurs play, and by the hammers which hit the outside when the clock strikes. Westminster chimes play every quarter hour. The larges bell, called the bourdon bell, weighs 1,568 pounds, and rings the hours.

The carillon is played from a baton keyboard with 23 keys, one for each bell, which the carillonneur plays with the side of the fist. A duplicate set of keys for the heavier clappers of the lower octave can be played by the feet. Wires, rods and levers connect the keys to the bells.

Delighted with this carillon, Gillett & Johnson moved it into the British Empire Exhibition in Wembley, England in 1924. World-famous carillonneur Josef Denyn came from Belgium to play it. Radio carried its sound around the British Empire, and its sweet and pure tone was widely acclaimed.

The tower was built between 1924-1925 from limestone quarried at Hagersville. It measures 60 feet tall by 22 feet square.

On March 26, 1925, Gillett & Johnston shipped the carillon to Simcoe, and their representative came to supervise its installation in the tower. The belfry is behind the open windows at the top.

Dedication of the Norfolk War Memorial Carillon Tower was on June 17, 1925 with a mammoth parade from the Armouries to an impressive ceremony with an enormous attendance at the Carillon Tower. The carillon was played by the Canadian carillonneur Percival Price.

On the front wall on the left of the door is the plaque which lists the names of Norfolk’s 217 soldiers who gave their lives in World War I. Besides the men, one nursing sister died. The plaque on the right side of the door lists the 141 Norfolk soldiers who gave their lives in World War II.

The plaque on the North wall commemorates the 133rd Norfolk County Battalion and the First World War battles its soldiers fought in. On the East wall facing the High School is the plaque naming the twelve soldiers who were students there before giving their lives during that war.

Eighteen volunteer carillonneurs ages 20-75 play live concerts on weekends from April to January, and nightly in December for the Simcoe Christmas Panorama of Lights. The carillonneur is visible through the left front window. 

 

 

;

This cache placed and maintained by an Ontario Geocaching Association MemberThis cache placed and maintained by an H-NAG Member

Log entries: Found 3x Not found 0x Note 0x Picture 3x All entries Gallery