Kannaland, Calitzdorp, Dutch Reformed Church

Abstract

Calitzdorp, Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk

The Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk in Calitzdorp houses one of the most impressive and well-kept bell sets in the Western Cape. The bourdon of the set of 5 bells serves as hour bell and hangs below the other four, together imitating the Westminster Quarter. All bells have a very broad set of decorative bands below the shoulder. Just above the knee are 5 moulding wires above which is written

B. Eijsbouts, Asten. Holland

which refers to the famous foundry in the Netherlands. The final decoration consists of 3 moulding wires on the lip.

Only the bourdon hour bell has further decorations. On the front waist is the following text:

Geschonken te gedachtenis van Jacs. John. Grundling Meyer Geb. 22.10.1893. Gest.6.3.1910 Door zyne grootouders Jacs. Johs. Grundling en Joh. Jac. Claasen.

On the reverse waist is a reference to the location of the bell set

Calitzdorp 1911

Above the bourdon hangs a set of 4 similarly casts bells hanging in a row. Due to its position at the extreme end of the row of four, it was impossible to measure the physical and acoustical properties of the largest of the four bells. However, more details on this bell was found in the correspondence between the foundry and the parish.

Also the clock carries the emblem of the Dutch Company B. Eijsbouts. It seems in very good condition.

In 1872 Bonaventura Eijsbouts started a business for tower clocks in his home. Due to the success of his products he was forced to move to new premises in 1905 and the current company is still located there. His son Johan joined him as a 15-year old boy in 1893. In 1924 Johan’s son started experimenting to found bells. Up to that time bells for clocks had been ordered from other firms in UK and Germany. From 1947 onwards the Eijsbouts company started bell casting and over time became the largest such industry worldwide. This however means that the bells in Calitzdorp have not been cast by the Eijsbouts Company but by an intermediary foundry. Comparison with the Petit & Fritsen bells elsewhere in the region makes it plausible that this company was responsible for the founding.