Free Bell Sound Effects - School Bell Ringing, Church Bell Sounds

Bell Sound Effects

In the Avosound Online Sound Archive you will find a great selection of bell sounds and ringing bells and bell sound effects. The choices include bicycle bells, door bells, cow bell sound effects and sleigh bells, tubular bells, bell plates, and, of course, church bells.

Bell sounds are an everyday sound around the world -- and we often don't even notice them anymore because they are so commonplace (unless you live next door to a church, that is).

But bells are not only found in churches, they traditionally have also been serving other purposes (e.g. signalling and alarms). Maybe bells have been popular throughout the centuries because they are incredibly practical and yet so simple to use.

Bell Sounds - A History

According to archeological discoveries in China, bells date back roughly 3,000 BCE. These ancient bells were made from ceramics and pre-date the cast bells and the ones made of brass. It is said that even the Egyptians used to make metal bells and hang them from ropes in the towers. The sound of these bell plates could be heard many miles away, which made them ideal as alarm signals.

Bells Sounds - Made In China

The high quality of the metal bells hints at considerable metallurgical know-how in the 15th century BCE during the Chinese bronze age. Even back then, bells were cast with a very specific pitch in mind. In China they were used for ceremonial purposes, rituals and ceremonies of state. These bells also found use in temples and shrines outside of China, where they can still be found in great abundance.

Bells in the Temple

Bell sounds find frequent use in buddhist temples. Buddhist temples and monasteries often feature quite a number of standing or hanging brass and metal bells of considerable size that are struck with a wooden bar. Depending on the size of the location, you can find lots of smaller bells or sleigh bells ringing in the wind in stupas or at the top of temples.

Even today these bell sounds and noises can be heard in Myanmar's monasteries.

Bell Sounds - Metal Bells

In the western world, bell sound have traditionally had a strong symbolic connection to the church. To make their sound heard across many miles, the bells were hung in high towers. The mightier the building, the bigger the size of the bells. And the bigger the bell, the deeper its sound. These bells - several feet high and weighing tons - would then be hung in gigantic cathedral spires where they remain to this day, making their unique sound heard across the lands.

Bells were also mounted to public buildings to announce the time. Bells will either ring the time every quarter of an hour or every hour.

Bell Sounds - Church Bells

The sound of church bells differs depending on the size and architecture of the church. Monasteries, for example, tend to use smaller bells, while churches are a little more ostentatious about their oversized bells. Bells can sound individually, in groups, or all together.

In this context, bells have a ceremonial character as well. For festivities, all bells will usually ring at the same time. Sombre occasions might just require the sound of the deepest bell.

Bell Sounds in the Middle Ages

Apart from their religious connotations, bells were used in the middle ages to alert the people and the authorities. The striking of the bell(s) is used to announce the time to this day (much to the annoyance of many neighbours). Some of the more impressive bell towers even featured a glockenspiel––which made them known around the country. Alarm bells would ring whenever there was an attack or a fire. Those banished from the city or village could count themselves lucky if the only thing chasing them was the sound of the shame bell. Because the blood bells would announce an unkindly verdict from the worldly court in town.

Alarm Bells

As bells became easier to manufacture, cities were equipped with bells announcing alarms and storms. Before the constant cacophony of the industrial age, you could still the night porter's bell throughout the city. Bells announcing alarms and storms were equally prominent and their sound would carry from one end of the city to the other. The great benefit of bells was the amount of people you could reach in a short time and without much effort.

Bicycle Bells

To this day, bells play a significant role in our society: bells and sleigh bells can be found on ships; they were used on trains and streetcars before the invention of electrical or pressurised air horns; and, of course, they can be found on almost every bicycle.

	Filename	Description	info	Channels	Duration	ShortID	Category
1	ChurchesBells.BBC.EC1003Ac.wav	Bell, Church: Bells Ringing At San Giovanni Church, Laterno (Rome).	i	2.0	1:02	Bell	Bell Church
2	BellsSleigh.BBC.EC25De.wav	Bell, Sleigh: Sleigh Bells Ringing.	i	2.0	1:07	Bell	Bell Sleigh
3	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Hc.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:36	Bell	Bell Clock
4	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Qh.wav	Bell, Clock: Keble College Clock Striking Five O"clock.	i	2.0	0:54	Bell	Bell Clock
5	Godmanchester.BBC.EC91Nb.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells, Half-muffled Bells Pealing And Stopping. (St. Mary The Virgin"s Church, Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire.)	i	2.0	3:02	Bell	Bell Church
6	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Nj.wav	Bell, Clock: Lincoln College Clock Striking Seven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:21	Bell	Bell Clock
7	BellsMytholmroyd.BBC.EC2B6a.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells: One Bell Rung. St. Michael"s Parish Church, Mytholmroyd.	i	2.0	2:15	Bell	Bell Church
8	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ae.wav	Bell, Clock: Magdalen College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:32	Bell	Bell Clock
9	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Vi.wav	Bell, Clock: New College Clock Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	0:46	Bell	Bell Clock
10	ClockWhitchurch.BBC.EC105Ve.wav	Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 5 O"clock. (St. John The Evangelist)	i	2.0	0:14	Bell	Bell Clock
11	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Ti.wav	Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Nine O"clock. (Cuckoo And Chimes.)	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell Clock
12	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC1_14.wav	Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock With Street Atmosphere Striking Quarter-hour	i	2.0	0:32	Bell	Bell Church
13	ClocksStriking.BBC.ECD104b.wav	Bell, Clock: French Clock (late 19th Century) - Strikes 12	i	2.0	0:21	Bell	Bell Clock
14	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Cg.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded In 1969. 4 O"clock	i	2.0	0:56	Bell	Bell Clock
15	ChurchesBells.BBC.ECD151d.wav	Bell, Church: Single Bell Ringing, English Village Church.	i	2.0	3:21	Bell	Bell Church
16	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC209Df.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock With St Michael"s Chimes, Striking Nine O"clock.	i	2.0	0:55	Bell	Bell Clock
17	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Ci.wav	Bell, Clock: Bracket Clock Striking Nine O"clock.	i	2.0	0:18	Bell	Bell Clock
18	ChristChurch.BBC.EC91B.wav	Bell, Church: Village Church Bells, Peal Of Six Bells. (Christ Church, Kilndown, Kent.)	i	2.0	6:46	Bell	Bell Church
19	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Ck.wav	Bell, Clock: Christ"s College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:40	Bell	Bell Clock
20	ClockChurchOvin.BBC.EC105Wl.wav	Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 12 O"clock. (All Saints Church)	i	2.0	0:32	Bell	Bell Clock
21	ClockGranborough.BBC.EC105N.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 1 O"clock	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell Clock
22	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Kg.wav	Bell, Clock: University College, Oxford Clock Striking Four O"clock.	i	2.0	0:15	Bell	Bell Clock
23	ClockBuckingham.BBC.EC105Qh.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, Chimes And 5 O"clock SS. Peter And Paul	i	2.0	0:52	Bell	Bell Clock
24	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Le.wav	Bell, Clock: Worcester College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell Clock
25	ClockChurchLond.BBC.EC105Jb.wav	Bell, Clock: St. Clement Danes Church Clock, Striking Half-hour	i	2.0	0:22	Bell	Bell Clock
26	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Uk.wav	Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Eleven O"clock. (Cuckoo Only.)	i	2.0	0:10	Bell	Bell Clock
27	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC105G.wav	Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking Quarter-hour	i	2.0	0:23	Bell	Bell Church
28	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Ba.wav	Bell, Clock: Emmanuel College Clock Striking Twelve O"clock, Into General Background. (Recorded In Quadrangle.)	i	2.0	3:31	Bell	Bell Clock
29	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Db.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded In 1969. 10	i	2.0	1:16	Bell	Bell Clock
30	BellsEvercreech.BBC.ECD151d.wav	Bell, Church: Ringing Down In Peal - Ringing Ends (Evercreech, Somerset).	i	2.0	2:16	Bell	Bell Church
31	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC209De.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock With St Michael"s Chimes, Striking Eight O"clock.	i	2.0	0:52	Bell	Bell Clock
32	ClocksChiming.BBC.ECD104a.wav	Bell, Clock: Bracket Clock (1920) With Westminster Chimes - Strikes 12	i	2.0	1:03	Bell	Bell Clock
33	BellsCathedrals.BBC.ECD104b.wav	Bell, Church: St.Albans Catherdral - 1/4 Hour	i	2.0	0:21	Bell	Bell Church
34	ClockCaius.BBC.EC36Re.wav	Bell, Clock: Caius College Clock Striking Two O"clock.	i	2.0	0:25	Bell	Bell Clock
35	ClockWhitchurch.BBC.EC105Va.wav	Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 1 O"clock. (St. John The Evangelist)	i	2.0	0:09	Bell	Bell Clock
36	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ji.wav	Bell, Clock: Oriel College Clock Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Clock
37	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Hd.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity College Clock Striking Twelve O"clock.	i	2.0	0:38	Bell	Bell Clock
38	NorthMarston.BBC.EC105Pi.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 9 O"clock St. Mary"s Church	i	2.0	0:36	Bell	Bell Clock
39	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Lj.wav	Bell, Clock: Worcester College Clock Striking Seven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:22	Bell	Bell Clock
40	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Dc.wav	Bell, Clock: St Magnus" Cathedral, Kirkwall Clock Chiming Half Past The Hour.	i	2.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Clock
41	BellsChurches.BBC.ECD91a.wav	Bell, Church: Angelus, With Outdoor Atmosphere - 1966 (91D, Reprocessed )	i	2.0	1:03	Bell	Bell Church
42	ShipsBells.BBC.EC121Dd.wav	Bell, Ship: Telegraph Bell Signals. Slow Engines, Various Bell Sequences. Engines Gather Speed.	i	2.0	2:00	Bell	Bell Ship
43	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Tj.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity And St John"s College Clock Striking Ten O"clock. (Trinity Clock Strikes A Second Time For St. John"s College.)	i	2.0	0:54	Bell	Bell Clock
44	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Mf.wav	Bell, Clock: Jesus College Clock Striking Three O"clock.	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Clock
45	ChurchesBells.BBC.EC46C.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells Ringing. (Unidentified Foreign Location.)	i	2.0	5:19	Bell	Bell Church
46	BellsSchools.BBC.ECD39c.wav	Mixed Comprehensive School, Classroom Atmosphere, 2nd Year Pupils Enter Room, Settle Down, Chatter And Quiet Periods While Working, Bell Rung, Chairs Move And Door Banged.	i	2.0	6:24	Bell	Bell School
47	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Nb.wav	Bell, Clock: Lincoln College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:30	Bell	Bell Clock
48	ChurchesLondon.BBC.EC2B4d.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells: Bristol Maximus, From Interior, St. Mary-Le-Bow.	i	2.0	3:01	Bell	Bell Church
49	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Aj.wav	Bell, Clock: Magdalen College Clock Striking Seven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:45	Bell	Bell Clock
50	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Vl.wav	Bell, Clock: New College Clock Striking Nine O"clock.	i	2.0	0:52	Bell	Bell Clock
51	ClockChurchOvin.BBC.EC105Wc.wav	Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 3 O"clock. (All Saints Church)	i	2.0	0:13	Bell	Bell Clock
52	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Gc.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity College Clock Striking Quarter To The Hour.	i	2.0	0:12	Bell	Bell Clock
53	NorthMarston.BBC.EC105Pg.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 7 O"clock St. Mary"s Church	i	2.0	0:30	Bell	Bell Clock
54	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Lb.wav	Bell, Clock: Worcester College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:31	Bell	Bell Clock
55	RoyalAlbertHall.BBC.EC1C7a.wav	Bell, Clock: Royal Albert Hall: Symphony Orchestra Tuning, At 2"52"", At 3"40"" Applause For Conductor And Quiet Atmopshere	i	2.0	4:09	Bell	Bell Clock
56	CathedralsLich.BBC.ECD151.wav	Bell, Church: 10 Bells Ringing, Lichfield Cathedral.	i	2.0	2:56	Bell	Bell Church
57	ShipsBells.BBC.EC3S17a.wav	Bell, Ship: Sailing Ship: Gaff-rigged Ketch, Exterior, Eight Bells Rung.	i	2.0	0:13	Bell	Bell Ship
58	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ta.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity And St John"s College Clock Striking One O"clock. (Trinity Clock Strikes A Second Time For St. John"s College.)	i	2.0	0:27	Bell	Bell Clock
59	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ml.wav	Bell, Clock: Jesus College Clock Striking Nine O"clock.	i	2.0	0:25	Bell	Bell Clock
60	ChurchesBangor.BBC.EC91S.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells Ringing. (St. Congall"s Church, Bangor, County Down.)	i	2.0	3:03	Bell	Bell Church
61	ChildrenPlaying.BBC.EC76Db.wav	Crowd, Children: Infant School Playground, Bell Sounds And Children Leave Playground. (Five-And-a-half Year-old Children.)	i	2.0	1:11	Bell	Bell School
62	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Yc.wav	Bell, Clock: Lantern Clock Striking Three O"clock. (Domestic Lantern Clock, Manufactured 1615.)	i	2.0	0:15	Bell	Bell Clock
63	ChurchesBellsSixteenthCentu.wav	Bell, Church: Church Bells: 5 Bells Rung, Rounds And Call Changes, From Exterior, Pre. 17th C. Reformation Style, St. Mary"s And St. Andrew"s.	i	2.0	5:30	Bell	Bell Church
64	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ab.wav	Bell, Clock: Magdalen College Clock Striking Half Past The Hour.	i	2.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Clock
65	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Vk.wav	Bell, Clock: New College Clock Striking Eight O"clock.	i	2.0	0:51	Bell	Bell Clock
66	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Fi.wav	Bell, Clock: Clock Of The University Church Of St Mary The Virgin, Oxford Striking Twelve O"clock.	i	2.0	0:59	Bell	Bell Clock
67	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC10_8.wav	Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking 6 O"clock	i	2.0	0:55	Bell	Bell Church
68	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Aa.wav	Bell, Clock: Emmanuel College Clock Striking One O"clock.	i	2.0	0:19	Bell	Bell Clock
69	ClockBigBen.BBC.ECD14a.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Chiming And Striking 12 O"clock.	i	2.0	1:23	Bell	Bell Clock
70	BellsLostwithiel.BBC.ECD151.wav	Bell, Church: Parish Church Of St. Bartholomew, Lostwithiel - 6 Bells.	i	2.0	4:04	Bell	Bell Church
71	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Ri.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock Striking Three O"clock. (Bell Type Grandfather Clock With Whittington Chimes, Manufactured In London 1845.)	i	2.0	0:28	Bell	Bell Clock
72	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Aa.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded Prior To Repair In 1956. Quarter Hour	i	2.0	0:23	Bell	Bell Clock
73	BellsChurches.BBC.ECD91e.wav	Bell, Church: St. Sepulchre"s Church, High Holborn, Exterior, Tenor Bell Rung, Ends, Background Traffic (This Was The Bell Rung At Public Executions And Rung Here In An Authentic Manner - Opposite The Old Bailey, Formerly Site Of Newgate Prison) - 1985 (2B9)	i	2.0	0:34	Bell	Bell Church
74	ClockCaius.BBC.EC36Sd.wav	Bell, Clock: Caius College Clock Striking Seven O"clock.	i	2.0	0:38	Bell	Bell Clock
75	ClockHampton.BBC.EC105Se.wav	Bell, Clock: Anne Boleyn"s Clock, Chimes And 8 O"clock	i	2.0	0:41	Bell	Bell Clock
76	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Xb.wav	Bell, Clock: Christchurch College Clock Striking Ten O"clock.	i	2.0	0:56	Bell	Bell Clock
77	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Jh.wav	Bell, Clock: Oriel College Clock Striking Five O"clock.	i	2.0	0:14	Bell	Bell Clock
78	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ci.wav	Bell, Clock: Merton College Clock Striking Twelve O"clock.	i	2.0	1:19	Bell	Bell Clock
79	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Eg.wav	Bell, Clock: Clock Of The University Church Of St Mary The Virgin, Oxford Striking Quarter To The Hour.	i	2.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Clock
80	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC1_13.wav	Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking 12 O"clock	i	2.0	1:18	Bell	Bell Church
81	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Ah.wav	Bell, Clock: Emmanuel College Clock Striking Eight O"clock.	i	2.0	0:35	Bell	Bell Clock
82	ClockHampton.BBC.EC105Rf.wav	Bell, Clock: Anne Boyleyn"s Clock Chimes And 3 O"clock	i	2.0	0:29	Bell	Bell Clock
83	Chapels.BBC.EC91La.wav	Bell, Church: Magdalen College Chapel Bells, Change Ringing, Stedman Caters, Ringing Starts. (Recorded In Tower.)	i	2.0	6:35	Bell	Bell Church
84	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Ra.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock Striking Quarter Past The Hour. (Bell Type Grandfather Clock With Whittington Chimes, Manufactured In London 1845.)	i	2.0	0:11	Bell	Bell Clock
85	ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Ai.wav	Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded Prior To Repair In 1956. 6 O"clock	i	2.0	0:58	Bell	Bell Clock
86	CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC1C2a.wav	Bell, Church: St. Paul"s Cathedral, London. Atmosphere In Whispering Gallery.	i	2.0	4:52	Bell	Bell Church
87	ClockCaius.BBC.EC36Sa.wav	Bell, Clock: Caius College Clock Striking Four O"clock.	i	2.0	0:32	Bell	Bell Clock
88	ClockHampton.BBC.EC105Si.wav	Bell, Clock: Anne Boleyn"s Clock, Chimes And 12 O"clock	i	2.0	0:54	Bell	Bell Clock
89	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Wg.wav	Bell, Clock: Christchurch College Clock Striking Four O"clock.	i	2.0	0:35	Bell	Bell Clock
90	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Vf.wav	Bell, Clock: New College Clock Striking Three O"clock.	i	2.0	0:41	Bell	Bell Clock
91	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Gg.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity College Clock Striking Four O"clock.	i	2.0	0:22	Bell	Bell Clock
92	ClockGranborough.BBC.EC10_4.wav	Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 5 O"clock	i	2.0	0:16	Bell	Bell Clock
93	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Pa.wav	Bell, Clock: Wadham College Clock Striking Ten O"clock.	i	2.0	0:18	Bell	Bell Clock
94	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Di.wav	Bell, Clock: Queens College Clock Striking Six O"clock.	i	2.0	0:35	Bell	Bell Clock
95	BellsCathedrals.BBC.ECD90c.wav	Bell, Cathedral: St. Paul"s Cathedral Bells, 5 Minutes Bell - 1972 (2B1, Reprocessed)	i	2.0	4:55	Bell	Bell Cathedral
96	BellsHandBells.BBC.EC1003Bb.wav	Bell, Hand: Handbells Sounded.	i	2.0	1:13	Bell	Bell Hand
97	ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Tk.wav	Bell, Clock: Trinity And St John"s College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock. (Trinity Clock Strikes A Second Time For St. John"s College.)	i	2.0	0:59	Bell	Bell Clock
98	ClockGrandfather.BBC.EC209D.wav	Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock With St Michael"s Chimes, Winding By Chain.	i	2.0	0:38	Bell	Bell Clock
99	BellsCatholic.BBC.EC91De.wav	Bell, Church: Catholic Church, Sanctus Gong.	i	2.0	1:08	Bell	Bell Church
100	BellsCattle.BBC.ECD9a.wav	Switzerland: Large Cowbells.	i	2.0	4:00	Bell	Bell