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.

Library Waveform Filename add Description info Channels Duration ShortID Category Subcategory
1 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockWhitchurch.BBC.EC105Vg.wav Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 7 O"clock. (St. John The Evangelist)
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2.0 0:18

Bell

Bell Clock

2 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockBuckingham.BBC.EC105Qe.wav Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, Chimes And 2 O"clock SS. Peter And Paul
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2.0 0:43Bell Bell Clock
3 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Bb.wav Bell, Clock: Magdalen College Clock Striking Ten O"clock.
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2.0 0:55Bell Bell Clock
4 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Dd.wav Bell, Clock: St Magnus" Cathedral, Kirkwall Clock Chiming Quarter To The Hour.
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2.0 0:18Bell Bell Clock
5 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Va.wav Bell, Clock: New College Clock Striking Quarter Past The Hour.
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2.0 0:16Bell Bell Clock
6 Sounddogs Sound Library Bells,Sleigh,Jingle,One,Decay.wav Bell: Bells Sleigh Jingle One Decay
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1.0 0:03Bell Bell Jingle
7 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Tl.wav Bell, Clock: Trinity And St John"s College Clock Striking Twelve O"clock. (Trinity Clock Strikes A Second Time For St. John"s College.)
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2.0 1:03Bell Bell Clock
8 Rob Nokes Sound Library Bell,Small,Ring,Double Hit,x5.wav Bell: Bell, Small, Ring, Double Hit, X5
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2.0 0:27Bell Bell
9 BBC Sound Effects Library NorthMarston.BBC.EC105Pb.wav Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 2 O"clock St. Mary"s Church
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2.0 0:19Bell Bell Clock
10 Sounddogs Sound Library Sleigh Bells,Classic,Constant.wav Bell: Sleigh Bells Classic Constant
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2.0 1:23Bell Bell
11 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Pg.wav Bell, Clock: Wadham College Clock Striking Four O"clock.
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2.0 0:12Bell Bell Clock
12 Rob Nokes Sound Library Bell,Hand,Metal,Clear,Energy.wav Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Metal Clear Energy
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1.0 0:02Bell Bell Hand
13 Sounddogs Sound Library Bell,Bicycle,Jingles,Random.wav Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingles Random
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2.0 0:12Bell Bell Bicycle
14 SoundStorm Library Tones-Bells-BrassBell-In_10.wav Tones - Bells - Brass Bell - Int - CU - Small, Short Ring
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2.0 0:03Bell Bell Brass
15 BBC Sound Effects Library BellsCathedrals.BBC.ECD91b.wav Bell, Cathedral: Canterbury Cathedral Bells, Exterior, Ringing Starts, Rounds, Grandsire Cinques, Rounds, Ringing Stops (recorded From Top Of "Bell Harry" Tower) - 1981 (2B5, Reprocessed )
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2.0 6:33Bell Bell Cathedral
16 Sounddogs Sound Library Bell,Bicycle,Ring,Loose,3,3.wav Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring Loose 3 3
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2.0 0:06Bell Bell Bicycle
17 SoundStorm Library Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int_20.wav Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - O S - Multiple Rings
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2.0 0:03Bell Bell Door
18 Sounddogs Sound Library Bell,Boxing,Ring,1x.wav Bell, Boxing: Bell Boxing Ring 1x
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1.0 0:12Bell Bell Boxing
19 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Ug.wav Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Seven O"clock. (Cuckoo Only.)
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2.0 0:07Bell Bell Clock
20 SoundStorm Library Tones-BerlinChurchBells-Ext.wav Tones - Berlin Church Bells - Exterior - MCU - Church Bells Ring 6x W Light Rain In Bg, Take Ends W Rain
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2.0 0:32Bell Bell Church
21 Sounddogs Sound Library Bell,Metal,Rhythmic,Soft,Medium.wav Bell: Bell Metal Rhythmic Soft Medium
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1.0 0:16Bell Bell
22 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Dg.wav Bell, Clock: Gound Level With Traffic In 1969. Three-quarters
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2.0 0:38Bell Bell Clock
23 SoundStorm Library Tones-ChurchBells-Ext-MCU_2.wav Tones - Church Bells - Ext - MCU - 3 Different Size Bells For Small Rural Church, Variety Of Hits, Occasional Wind And Leaf Rustle, Occasional Light Bg Birds
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2.0 1:11Bell Bell Church
24 BBC Sound Effects Library ChurchesLondon.BBC.EC91Hb.wav Bell, Church: Church Bells, Firing The Bells. (St. Clement Dane"s Church, The Strand, London.)
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2.0 3:00Bell Bell Church
25 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC209Dc.wav Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock With St Michael"s Chimes, Striking Six O"clock.
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2.0 0:46Bell Bell Clock
26 SoundStorm Library Tones-DrawbridgeHandBell-CU.wav Tones - Drawbridge Hand Bell - C U - Ten Hits Of The Bell, Some Os Traffic And Pedestrian Walla
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2.0 0:19Bell Bell
27 BBC Sound Effects Library ChurchesLondon.BBC.EC2B9b.wav Bell, Church: Church Bells: Incomplete Cambridge Surprise Maximus, St. Sepulchre"s Church, High Holborn, Known As "bells Of Old Bailey"
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2.0 4:49Bell Bell Church
28 BBC Sound Effects Library BellsDoor.BBC.EC3W2.wav Bell, Door: Sirens And Bells: Electronic Chime
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2.0 0:04Bell Bell Door
29 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Qe.wav Bell, Clock: Keble College Clock Striking Two O"clock.
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2.0 0:47Bell Bell Clock
30 Casablanca Sound Library Cowbell,Ring,Gentle.wav Bell, Cowbell: Cowbell Ring Irregular
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1.0 0:03Bell Bell Cowbell
31 BBC Sound Effects Library CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC10_6.wav Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking 4 O"clock
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2.0 0:49Bell Bell Church
32 BBC Sound Effects Library BellsSleigh.BBC.EC1010Ga.wav Horse Trotting, With Sleigh Bells.
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2.0 0:51Bell Bell
33 BBC Sound Effects Library Abbeys.BBC.EC91Mb.wav Bell, Church: St. Albans Abbey Bells, Ringing Down, Bells Stop.
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2.0 3:06Bell Bell Church
34 Coll Anderson Sound Library EFX EXT BikeBellHouse 01.wav Bell: Bell, Exterior, Old Bike Bell Rings Around Corner Of House
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2.0 0:26Bell Bell Bicycle
35 Sounddogs Sound Library Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,1 4.wav Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle 1 4
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2.0 0:04Bell Bell Bicycle
36 BBC Sound Effects Library ChurchHorsmonden.BBC.EC91Ca.wav Bell, Church: Village Church Bells, Single Bell Ringing. (St. Margaret"s Church, Horsmonden, Kent.)
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2.0 6:43Bell Bell Church
37 Coll Anderson Sound Library EFX Meditation Bowl 01.wav Bell: Bell, Interior, Meditation Bowl, Strike, Ring
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2.0 0:23Bell Bell
38 BBC Sound Effects Library ConcertHall.BBC.EC74Ab.wav Bell, Clock: Broadcasting House Concert Hall, String Quartet Tuning Up.
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2.0 0:41Bell Bell Clock
39 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Dc.wav Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded In 1969. 11
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2.0 1:23Bell Bell Clock
40 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Cb.wav Bell, Clock: Christ"s College Clock Striking Two O"clock.
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2.0 0:26Bell Bell Clock
41 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ng.wav Bell, Clock: Lincoln College Clock Striking Four O"clock.
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2.0 0:16Bell Bell Clock
42 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Ti.wav Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Nine O"clock. (Cuckoo And Chimes.)
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2.0 0:10Bell Bell Clock
43 SoundStorm Library Tones-Bells-GasStationBell-.wav Tones - Bells - Gas Station Bell - Ext - CU - Multiple Rings
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2.0 0:05Bell Bell Gas Station
44 Sounddogs Sound Library Bell,Large,Old,Hit,One,Chaang.wav Bell: Bell Large Old Hit One Chaang
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2.0 0:21Bell Bell
45 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksStriking.BBC.ECD104b.wav Bell, Clock: French Clock (late 19th Century) - Strikes 12
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2.0 0:21Bell Bell Clock
46 SoundStorm Library Tones-ChurchBells-CU-St.Ant.wav Tones - Church Bells - C U - St. Anthony's Cathedral, Nine Big Rings
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1.0 0:35Bell Bell Church
47 BBC Sound Effects Library BellsPembroke.BBC.EC91P.wav Bell, Church: Church Bells Ringing. (St. Mary The Virgin"s Church, Pembroke, Pembrokeshire.)
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2.0 3:03Bell Bell Church
48 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC209Df.wav Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock With St Michael"s Chimes, Striking Nine O"clock.
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2.0 0:55Bell Bell Clock
49 SoundStorm Library Tones-DistantChurchBells-_1.wav Tones - Distant Church Bells - Ext - Magdelen College Oxford Bells, Complex Orchestration Played On Church Bells, Recorded From A Distance, Part 2
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2.0 2:52Bell Bell Church
50 BBC Sound Effects Library BellsPre-Reform.BBC.EC2B7a.wav Bell, Church: Church Bells: 5 Bells, At Random, Pre-Reformation Style, From Interior, St. Mary And St. Andrew"s, Whittlesford, Cambs.
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2.0 3:29Bell Bell Church
51 BBC Sound Effects Library BellsDoor.BBC.EC25Ag.wav Bell, Door: Electric Door Chimes Rung At Intervals. (Ding-dong Note)
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2.0 0:46Bell Bell Door
52 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Qj.wav Bell, Clock: Keble College Clock Striking Seven O"clock.
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2.0 0:58Bell Bell Clock
53 Casablanca Sound Library Cowbell,Hit,Door,Muted,Bounce.wav Bell, Cowbell: Cowbell Ring Faint
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1.0 0:03Bell Bell Cowbell
54 BBC Sound Effects Library CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC1_11.wav Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking 10 O"clock
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2.0 1:08Bell Bell Church
55 BBC Sound Effects Library Copenhagen.BBC.ECD104b.wav Copenhagen City Hall - 1/2 Hour
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2.0 0:15Bell Bell
56 BBC Sound Effects Library ChurchesBells.BBC.ECD151d.wav Bell, Church: Single Bell Ringing, English Village Church.
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2.0 3:21Bell Bell Church
57 Coll Anderson Sound Library EFX INT Bell B 01.wav Bell: Bell, Interior, Large Metal Bell, Ring Bell, Heavy Ding And Long Decay, Distant
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2.0 0:14Bell Bell
58 Rob Nokes Sound Library Bell,Church,Ring,x4,Int POV,Chain Pull,Wood Block Hits,2.wav Bell, Church, Ring, X4, Int POV, Chain Pull, Wood Block Hits, 2
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2.0 0:10Bell Bell Church
59 BBC Sound Effects Library ChristChurch.BBC.EC91B.wav Bell, Church: Village Church Bells, Peal Of Six Bells. (Christ Church, Kilndown, Kent.)
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2.0 6:46Bell Bell Church
60 Coll Anderson Sound Library EFX INT Prayer Bowl 13.wav Bell: Bell, Interior, Prayer Bowl Ding, Ring Out, Soft
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2.0 0:15Bell Bell
61 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.ECD104d.wav Bell, Clock: Bracket With St.Michael"s Chimes - 1/2 Hour
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2.0 0:12Bell Bell Clock
62 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockBigBen.BBC.ECD14c.wav Bell, Clock: Big Ben Chiming Half Past The Hour.
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2.0 0:20Bell Bell Clock
63 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Cg.wav Bell, Clock: Christ"s College Clock Striking Seven O"clock.
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2.0 0:33Bell Bell Clock
64 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Yb.wav Bell, Clock: Lantern Clock Striking Two O"clock. (Domestic Lantern Clock, Manufactured 1615.)
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2.0 0:11Bell Bell Clock
65 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockChurchOvin.BBC.EC105We.wav Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 5 O"clock. (All Saints Church)
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2.0 0:16Bell Bell Clock
66 BBC Sound Effects Library NorthMarston.BBC.EC105Ph.wav Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 8 O"clock St. Mary"s Church
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2.0 0:34Bell Bell Clock
67 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ad.wav Bell, Clock: Magdalen College Clock Striking One O"clock.
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2.0 0:30Bell Bell Clock
68 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Be.wav Bell, Clock: Sound Of Big Ben Chiming And Striking 12 O"clock, Recorded Prior To Repair In 1956. (Inside Clock Tower)
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2.0 1:25Bell Bell Clock
69 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Vh.wav Bell, Clock: New College Clock Striking Five O"clock.
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2.0 0:44Bell Bell Clock
70 Sounddogs Sound Library Bells,Sleigh,Harness,Jingles.wav Bell: Bells Sleigh Harness Jingles
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1.0 0:13Bell Bell Jingle
71 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockTrinity.BBC.EC36Sc.wav Bell, Clock: Trinity And St John"s College Clock Striking Quarter To The Hour. (Trinity Clock Strikes A Second Time For St. John"s College.)
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2.0 0:19Bell Bell Clock
72 Rob Nokes Sound Library Bell,Small,Ring,Clatter,Loose,Bored,x3.wav Bell: Bell, Small, Ring, Clatter, Loose, Bored, X3
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2.0 0:20Bell Bell
73 BBC Sound Effects Library NorthMarston.BBC.EC105Pk.wav Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 11 O"clock St. Mary"s Church
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2.0 0:41Bell Bell Clock
74 Sounddogs Sound Library Ding,Bell,Rattle,Bend Up,Low.wav Bell: Ding Bell Rattle Bend Up Low
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2.0 0:01Bell Bell
75 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Kc.wav Bell, Clock: University College, Oxford Clock Striking Twelve O"clock.
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2.0 0:40Bell Bell Clock
76 Rob Nokes Sound Library Bell,Hand,Ceramic,Pure,Softly.wav Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Ceramic Pure Softly
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1.0 0:02Bell Bell Hand
77 Sounddogs Sound Library Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Slow.wav Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Slow
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2.0 0:03Bell Bell Bicycle
78 SoundStorm Library Tones-BellLikeTone-Int-CU_1.wav Tones - Bell Like Tone - Int - C U - Hit To Large Full Glass Water Bottle W Piece Of Wood, Musical
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2.0 0:03Bell Bell
79 BBC Sound Effects Library BicyclesBells.BBC.EC25Db.wav Bell, Bicycle: Bicycle Bell, Single, Double And Frantic Ringing.
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2.0 0:23Bell Bell Bicycle
80 Sounddogs Sound Library Bell,Bicycle,Ring,High,Slow2.wav Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring High Slow2
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1.0 0:08Bell Bell Bicycle
81 SoundStorm Library Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int_15.wav Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - O S - Single Ring
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2.0 0:03Bell Bell Door
82 Sounddogs Sound Library Bell,Boxing,Hits,Many,Fast,High.wav Bell, Boxing: Bell Boxing Hits Many Fast High
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1.0 0:07Bell Bell Boxing
83 Coll Anderson Sound Library EFX INT Broken Bell 07.wav Bell: House, Interior, Broken Door Bell, Ding, Electric Buzz, Dead Dong
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2.0 0:04Bell Bell
84 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Cf.wav Bell, Clock: Bracket Clock Striking Six O"clock.
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2.0 0:15Bell Bell Clock
85 Sounddogs Sound Library Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Med,Fast2.wav Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Med Fast2
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2.0 0:05Bell Bell Bicycle
86 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockHampton.BBC.EC105Ra.wav Bell, Clock: Anne Boyleyn"s Clock Striking Half-hour
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2.0 0:14Bell Bell Clock
87 Rob Nokes Sound Library Bell,Cow,Shake,Short,Weak,x2,Faint Birds BG.wav Bell, Cowbell: Bell, Cow, Shake, Short, Weak, X2, Faint Birds BG
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2.0 0:06Bell Bell Cowbell
88 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Bc.wav Bell, Clock: Christ"s College Clock Striking Half Past The Hour.
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2.0 0:11Bell Bell Clock
89 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Aj.wav Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded Prior To Repair In 1956. 7 O"clock
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2.0 1:01Bell Bell Clock
90 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockWhitchurch.BBC.EC105Vb.wav Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 2 O"clock. (St. John The Evangelist)
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2.0 0:10Bell Bell Clock
91 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Bc.wav Bell, Clock: Magdalen College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.
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2.0 0:57Bell Bell Clock
92 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Tk.wav Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Eleven O"clock. (Cuckoo And Chimes.)
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2.0 0:12Bell Bell Clock
93 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Df.wav Bell, Clock: Queens College Clock Striking Three O"clock.
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2.0 0:28Bell Bell Clock
94 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksStriking.BBC.ECD104f.wav Bell, Clock: Merton College, Oxford - 1/2 Hour
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2.0 0:29Bell Bell Clock
95 Sounddogs Sound Library Bells,Jingle,Slow,Long,Steady.wav Bell: Bells Jingle Slow Long Steady
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1.0 1:26Bell Bell Jingle
96 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Td.wav Bell, Clock: Trinity And St John"s College Clock Striking Four O"clock. (Trinity Clock Strikes A Second Time For St. John"s College.)
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2.0 0:37Bell Bell Clock
97 Rob Nokes Sound Library Bell,Medium,Interior,Ring,Constant,Fast.wav Bell: Bell, Medium, Interior, Ring, Constant, Fast
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2.0 0:09Bell Bell
98 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockGranborough.BBC.EC10_9.wav Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 10 O"clock
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2.0 0:24Bell Bell Clock
99 Sounddogs Sound Library Ding,Bell,Cackles,Bend Up.wav Bell: Ding Bell Cackles Bend Up
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2.0 0:01Bell Bell
100 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Kd.wav Bell, Clock: University College, Oxford Clock Striking One O"clock.
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2.0 0:09Bell Bell Clock