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 Sounddogs Sound Library Bell,Bicycle,Ring,6,Slow.wav Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring 6 Slow
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2.0 0:06

Bell

Bell Bicycle

2 Rob Nokes Sound Library Bells,Sleigh,Loose,Tired.wav Bell, Sleigh: Bells Sleigh Loose Tired
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1.0 0:08Bell Bell Sleigh
3 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Eb.wav Bell, Clock: Queens College Clock Striking Ten O"clock.
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2.0 0:48Bell Bell Clock
4 BBC Sound Effects Library ChurchesBells.BBC.ECD151b.wav Bell, Church: Ringing Up Into Rounds, English Village Church Bells.
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2.0 3:06Bell Bell Church
5 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Cb.wav Bell, Clock: Merton College Clock Striking Five O"clock.
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2.0 0:56Bell Bell Clock
6 BBC Sound Effects Library Bells16thCentury.BBC.ECD91b.wav Bell, Church: Exterior, 5 Bells Rung In The Style Used From The Reformation Until About The 17th Century - Rounds And Call Changes Recorded Outside Church (St. Mary And St. Andrew"s Church, Whittlesford, Cambs.) - 1982 (2B8, Reprocessed )
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2.0 5:31Bell Bell Church
7 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Tj.wav Bell, Clock: Cuckoo Clock Striking Ten O"clock. (Cuckoo And Chimes.)
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2.0 0:12Bell Bell Clock
8 SoundStorm Library Tones-DrawbridgeHandBell-_1.wav Tones - Drawbridge Hand Bell - Medium Distant - Eleven Hits Of The Bell Begin @ 0 24, Some Medium C U Traffic, Os Truck Idle And Away @ Head
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2.0 0:45Bell Bell
9 Rob Nokes Sound Library Bell,Desk,Ring,Sharp,x2.wav Bell, Desk, Ring, Sharp, X2
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1.0 0:07Bell Bell
10 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Wh.wav Bell, Clock: Christchurch College Clock Striking Five O"clock.
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2.0 0:38Bell Bell Clock
11 Sounddogs Sound Library Sleigh,Bells,Short,Shake.wav Bell: Sleigh Bells Short Shake
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2.0 0:05Bell Bell
12 Sounddogs Sound Library Bell,Bicycle,Rings,Messy2.wav Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Rings Messy2
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2.0 0:09Bell Bell Bicycle
13 BBC Sound Effects Library BellsChurches.BBC.ECD91a.wav Bell, Church: Angelus, With Outdoor Atmosphere - 1966 (91D, Reprocessed )
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2.0 1:03Bell Bell Church
14 SoundStorm Library Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int-_5.wav Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - CU - Single Ring
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2.0 0:02Bell Bell Door
15 Casablanca Sound Library Cowbell,Hit,Door,Simple.wav Bell, Cowbell: Cowbell Tongue Clasp Mute 2
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1.0 0:01Bell Bell Cowbell
16 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Te.wav Bell, Clock: Trinity And St John"s College Clock Striking Five O"clock. (Trinity Clock Strikes A Second Time For St. John"s College.)
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2.0 0:41Bell Bell Clock
17 BBC Sound Effects Library BellsCathedrals.BBC.ECD104a.wav Bell, Church: St.Albans Catherdral - Bell Strikes 8
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2.0 0:56Bell Bell Church
18 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Jb.wav Bell, Clock: Oriel College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.
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2.0 0:23Bell Bell Clock
19 BBC Sound Effects Library CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC2C9d.wav Bell, Church: Large Crowd: Outside St. Paul"s Cathedral, Cheering And Whistling Builds Up.
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2.0 1:04Bell Bell Church
20 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockGrandfather.BBC.ECD1_1.wav Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock (1750) - Strikes 12
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2.0 0:43Bell Bell Clock
21 Rob Nokes Sound Library Bell,Shop,Interior,Ring,Constant,Fast,Tired.wav Bell: Bell, Shop, Interior, Ring, Constant, Fast, Tired
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2.0 0:22Bell Bell
22 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockChurchOvin.BBC.EC105Wi.wav Bell, Clock: Church Clock Striking, 9 O"clock. (All Saints Church)
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2.0 0:24Bell Bell Clock
23 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
24 SoundStorm Library Tones-Bells-BrassBell-Int_6.wav Tones - Bells - Brass Bell - Int - CU - Small, Short Ring
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2.0 0:02Bell Bell Brass
25 SoundStorm Library Tones-BicycleBell-2High-Pit.wav Tones - Bicycle Bell - 2 High-Pitched Rings, 1st One Is Slightly Muted
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2.0 0:06Bell Bell Bicycle
26 BBC Sound Effects Library BellsHandBells.BBC.EC1003Ba.wav Bell, Hand: Monastery Handbell Sounded.
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2.0 1:09Bell Bell Hand
27 Sounddogs Sound Library Bell,Door,Ring,Ding,Dong.wav Bell, Door: Bell Door Ring Ding Dong
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2.0 0:02Bell Bell Door
28 Coll Anderson Sound Library EFX EXT Old Bike Bell 05ft 01.wav Bell: Bell, Exterior, Old Bike Bell Rings From 5 Feet
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2.0 0:28Bell Bell Bicycle
29 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockBigBen.BBC.ECD14f.wav Bell, Clock: Big Ben Ticking.
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2.0 1:01Bell Bell Clock
30 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Kl.wav Bell, Clock: University College, Oxford Clock Striking Nine O"clock.
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2.0 0:31Bell Bell Clock
31 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockHampton.BBC.EC105Rb.wav Bell, Clock: Anne Boyleyn"s Clock Striking Quarter-hour
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2.0 0:16Bell Bell Clock
32 Sounddogs Sound Library Bells,Fairy,Tinkle,Med,Hover.wav Bell: Bells Fairy Tinkle Med Hover
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2.0 0:05Bell Bell
33 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockGranborough.BBC.EC10_6.wav Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 7 O"clock
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2.0 0:21Bell Bell Clock
34 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC209Di.wav Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock With St Michael"s Chimes, Striking Twelve O"clock.
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2.0 1:04Bell Bell Clock
35 Sounddogs Sound Library Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Med2.wav Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Med2
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2.0 0:04Bell Bell Bicycle
36 Rob Nokes Sound Library Bell,Hand,Ceramic,Pure,Jiggle.wav Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Ceramic Pure Jiggle
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1.0 0:04Bell Bell Hand
37 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockBuckingham.BBC.EC105Ra.wav Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, 9 O"clock - SS. Peter And Paul
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2.0 1:03Bell Bell Clock
38 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Aj.wav Bell, Clock: Lincoln"s Inn Clock Striking Ten O"clock.
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2.0 0:31Bell Bell Clock
39 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
40 SoundStorm Library Tones-ChurchBells-MoscowRed.wav Tones - Church Bells - Moscow Red Square Kremlin Multiple Church Bells - Medium Distant - Big And Slow Bells, Some O S Walla And Movement
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2.0 2:01Bell Bell Church
41 BBC Sound Effects Library BellsCattle.BBC.ECD9b.wav Switzerland: Small Cowbells.
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2.0 4:01Bell Bell
42 Rob Nokes Sound Library Bell,Antique,1800s,Hit,LIght,x3.wav Bell, Antique: Bell, Antique, 1800s, Hit, LIght, X3
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2.0 0:13Bell Bell Antique
43 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockCaius.BBC.EC36Sg.wav Bell, Clock: Caius College Clock Striking Ten O"clock.
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2.0 0:45Bell Bell Clock
44 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Ak.wav Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded Prior To Repair In 1956. 8 O"clock
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2.0 1:06Bell Bell Clock
45 Sounddogs Sound Library Bells,Small,Jingling,Rhythmic.wav Bell: Bells Small Jingling Rhythmic
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1.0 0:04Bell Bell
46 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Ye.wav Bell, Clock: Lantern Clock Striking Five O"clock. (Domestic Lantern Clock, Manufactured 1615.)
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2.0 0:22Bell Bell Clock
47 Sounddogs Sound Library Bell,Bicycle,Ring,High,1.wav Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring High 1
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2.0 0:06Bell Bell Bicycle
48 BBC Sound Effects Library BicyclesBells.BBC.EC1001Cc.wav Bell, Bicycle: Bicycle Bell Ringing.
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2.0 0:11Bell Bell Bicycle
49 Casablanca Sound Library Bell,Church,St James,Clear,2.wav Bell: Bell Church St James Clear 2
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2.0 0:27Bell Bell Church
50 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockChurchLond.BBC.EC105Je.wav Bell, Clock: Sound Of Carillon Playing "Oranges And Lemons". St. Clement Danes Church, London
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2.0 4:41Bell Bell Clock
51 BBC Sound Effects Library Abbeys.BBC.EC91Mc.wav Bell, Church: St. Albans Abbey Bells, Erin Cinques, Start Into Ringing.
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2.0 3:24Bell Bell Church
52 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Cc.wav Bell, Clock: Merton College Clock Striking Six O"clock.
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2.0 1:00Bell Bell Clock
53 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
54 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Df.wav Bell, Clock: Dunedin Town Hall Clock Striking And Chiming Twelve O"clock.
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2.0 1:01Bell Bell Clock
55 SoundStorm Library Tones-ModernSchoolBell-Int-.wav Tones - Modern School Bell - Int - MCU Hallway - Single Ring
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2.0 0:08Bell Bell School
56 Sounddogs Sound Library Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,3,Slow.wav Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle 3 Slow
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2.0 0:06Bell Bell Bicycle
57 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Xd.wav Bell, Clock: Christchurch College Clock Striking Twelve O"clock.
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2.0 1:04Bell Bell Clock
58 Sonopedia ChristmasFigurine_S08FO.581.wav Foley, Christmas, Figurine, Ornament, Pick, Up, Bell, Holiday
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2.0 0:01Bell Bell
59 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ld.wav Bell, Clock: Worcester College Clock Striking One O"clock.
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2.0 0:08Bell Bell Clock
60 Sounddogs Sound Library Bell,Boxing,Hits,3,Ring.wav Bell, Boxing: Bell Boxing Hits 3 Ring
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1.0 0:12Bell Bell Boxing
61 BBC Sound Effects Library ChurchesBells.BBC.EC1003Ab.wav Bell, Church: Bells Ringing At Santa Agnese Church, Rome.
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2.0 1:03Bell Bell Church
62 SoundStorm Library Tones-Bells-GasStationBel_1.wav Tones - Bells - Gas Station Bell - Ext - CU - Multiple Rings
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2.0 0:04Bell Bell Gas Station
63 Coll Anderson Sound Library EFX INT Door Bell 02.wav Bell: House, Interior, Door Bell, Ding, Dong
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2.0 0:06Bell Bell
64 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Tf.wav Bell, Clock: Trinity And St John"s College Clock Striking Six O"clock. (Trinity Clock Strikes A Second Time For St. John"s College.)
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2.0 0:43Bell Bell Clock
65 BBC Sound Effects Library BellsKilndown.BBC.EC91B.wav Bell, Church: Village Church Bells, Single Bell Ringing Up Then Tolling. (Christ Church, Kilndown, Kent.)
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2.0 6:11Bell Bell Church
66 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Jf.wav Bell, Clock: Oriel College Clock Striking Three O"clock.
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2.0 0:12Bell Bell Clock
67 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Rg.wav Bell, Clock: Grandfather Clock Striking One O"clock. (Bell Type Grandfather Clock With Whittington Chimes, Manufactured In London 1845.)
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2.0 0:24Bell Bell Clock
68 Rob Nokes Sound Library Bell,Small,Ring,Clatter,Strong,Sustained,Clear,Measured,Series,Increases in Intensity.wav Bell: Bell, Small, Ring, Clatter, Strong, Sustained, Clear, Measured, Series, Increases In Intensity
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2.0 1:36Bell Bell
69 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Eh.wav Bell, Clock: Clock Of The University Church Of St Mary The Virgin, Oxford Striking One O"clock.
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2.0 0:28Bell Bell Clock
70 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC48Yc.wav Bell, Clock: Lantern Clock Striking Three O"clock. (Domestic Lantern Clock, Manufactured 1615.)
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2.0 0:15Bell Bell Clock
71 BBC Sound Effects Library Godmanchester.BBC.EC91Nb.wav Bell, Church: Church Bells, Half-muffled Bells Pealing And Stopping. (St. Mary The Virgin"s Church, Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire.)
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2.0 3:02Bell Bell Church
72 SoundStorm Library Tones-Bells-Doorbell-Int_10.wav Tones - Bells - Doorbell - Int - CU - Double Ring
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2.0 0:03Bell Bell Door
73 SoundStorm Library Tones-BongsGongs-Gong-Int_1.wav Tones - Bongs Gongs - Gong - Int - CU - Large, Metal, Hard Hit W Ring, Metal Sqeaks And Creaks On Swing Back And Forth
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2.0 0:39Bell Gong Metal
74 BBC Sound Effects Library ShipsBells.BBC.EC121Da.wav Bell, Ship: Telegraph Bell Signals. Going Astern.
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2.0 0:50Bell Bell Ship
75 Sounddogs Sound Library Bell,Gong,High,Reverb,Fast.wav Bell: Bell Gong High Reverb Fast
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1.0 0:01Bell Bell
76 Coll Anderson Sound Library EFX EXT WoodChisel20ft 01.wav Bell: Bell, Interior, Brass Ship Bell From The 1800"s Good Ring Out Could Be Fog Bell Or Farm Bell
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2.0 0:09Bell Bell Ship
77 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC1004Ci.wav Bell, Clock: Bracket Clock Striking Nine O"clock.
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2.0 0:18Bell Bell Clock
78 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Pk.wav Bell, Clock: Wadham College Clock Striking Eight O"clock.
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2.0 0:16Bell Bell Clock
79 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockBigBen.BBC.EC105Db.wav Bell, Clock: Big Ben Recorded In 1969. 10
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2.0 1:16Bell Bell Clock
80 Sounddogs Sound Library Bells,Paris,Ext,Kids,Med Dist.wav Bell: Bells Paris Ext Kids Med Dist
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1.0 1:26Bell Bell
81 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Md.wav Bell, Clock: Jesus College Clock Striking One O"clock.
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2.0 0:08Bell Bell Clock
82 Sounddogs Sound Library Bell,Bicycle,Old,Ring,Double.wav Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Old Ring Double
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1.0 0:02Bell Bell Bicycle
83 Rob Nokes Sound Library Bell,Hand,Metal,Clear,Bright.wav Bell, Hand: Bell Hand Metal Clear Bright
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1.0 0:02Bell Bell Hand
84 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockBuckingham.BBC.EC105Qj.wav Bell, Clock: Outdoor Clock Striking, Chimes And 7 O"clock SS. Peter And Paul
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2.0 0:56Bell Bell Clock
85 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Ab.wav Bell, Clock: Magdalen College Clock Striking Half Past The Hour.
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2.0 0:16Bell Bell Clock
86 BBC Sound Effects Library BellsMytholmroyd.BBC.EC2B6a.wav Bell, Church: Church Bells: One Bell Rung. St. Michael"s Parish Church, Mytholmroyd.
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2.0 2:15Bell Bell Church
87 SoundStorm Library Tones-ChurchBellsFromNear_1.wav Tones - Church Bells From Nearby Street - Ext - Distant City Traffic Wash, Bells From Second Church Audible Os, Some Pedestrian Movement, Coughs And Light Walla, Light Footsteps, Some Mic Bumps
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2.0 3:20Bell Bell Church
88 BBC Sound Effects Library BellsSchools.BBC.ECD39b.wav Mixed Comprehensive School, Classroom Atmosphere At End Of 5th Year Lesson, Bell Rung, Chairs Moved And Door Banged.
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2.0 0:55Bell Bell School
89 Rob Nokes Sound Library Bell,Big,Interior,Hit,x1,x2,x3.wav Bell: Bell, Big, Interior, Hit, X1, X2, X3
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2.0 0:15Bell Bell
90 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Ck.wav Bell, Clock: Christ"s College Clock Striking Eleven O"clock.
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2.0 0:40Bell Bell Clock
91 Sounddogs Sound Library Ding,Bell,Flat,Low,Rise,Lite.wav Bell: Ding Bell Flat Low Rise Lite
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2.0 0:01Bell Bell
92 Sounddogs Sound Library Bell,Bicycle,Ring,Loose,Fast1.wav Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Ring Loose Fast1
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1.0 0:05Bell Bell Bicycle
93 BBC Sound Effects Library BicyclesBells.BBC.EC25Dc.wav Bell, Bicycle: Many Bicycle Bells Ringing.
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2.0 0:53Bell Bell Bicycle
94 Casablanca Sound Library Courtyard,Budapest,Quiet,Cars.wav Bell, Cowbell: Cowbell Hit Door Bounce Clink
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1.0 0:02Bell Bell Cowbell
95 BBC Sound Effects Library ClockChurchLond.BBC.EC105Jc.wav Bell, Clock: St. Clement Danes Church Clock, Striking Three-quarters
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2.0 0:26Bell Bell Clock
96 BBC Sound Effects Library ChurchesGermany.BBC.EC46Dc.wav Bell, Church: St. Michael"s Church, Hamburg, Bell Ringing Ends.
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2.0 1:37Bell Bell Church
97 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC36Vk.wav Bell, Clock: New College Clock Striking Eight O"clock.
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2.0 0:51Bell Bell Clock
98 BBC Sound Effects Library CathedralsLondon.BBC.EC10_9.wav Bell, Church: Great Tom Clock Striking 7 O"clock
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2.0 0:59Bell Bell Church
99 BBC Sound Effects Library ClocksChiming.BBC.EC212Af.wav Bell, Clock: Emmanuel College Clock Striking Six O"clock.
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2.0 0:31Bell Bell Clock
100 Sounddogs Sound Library Bell,Bicycle,Jingle,Doppler2.wav Bell, Bicycle: Bell Bicycle Jingle Doppler2
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2.0 0:04Bell Bell Bicycle