Kibby Carillon (1971)

The Kibby Carillon is located on the summit of Pukaka Pā-Marsland Hill.

It was donated to the city by George Kibby in memory of his late wife Mabel. It is made up of 37 bells and was built by a Dutch company, Eljsbouts Bellfoundry Ltd. The bells range from 3ft (0.9m) in diameter, weighing over 800lbs (363kgs) down to a nine-inch bell weighing only 3lbs (1.4kgs). The total weight of the bells is 5587lbs (2534kgs). Each bell carries an inscription or motif.

The carillon was described by one of the directors of the Dutch company in 1970 as "a musical instrument with three octaves...it would have two keyboards - one for hard play and one for soft play, and could be played either with pre-cut tapes, much in the fashion of the player-type piano or using the keyboard like an organ".

The carillon was first played in May 1971 by the late Ray Ashworth.

Related documents:

Carillon Competition 'Absurd' (Taranaki Herald 20 April 1968)

Model of Carillon (Taranaki Herald 11 March 1970)

Carillon Tender Accepted (Taranaki Herald 17 March 1970)

Carillon Plans (Taranaki Herald 9 June 1970)

Carillon Due in February (Daily News 9 December 1970)

Work on Carillon Site (Taranaki Herald 7 February 1971)

The Sound of Bells for New Plymouth (Auckland Weekly News c1971)

Assembling carillon (Taranaki Herald 10 May 1971)

Final tests (Taranaki Herald 19 May 1971)

Ding, Ding, The Bells Will Ring (Taranaki Photo News #182 4 June 1971)

Carillon may need modification (Taranaki Herald 4 June 1971)

Carillon Nearly Ready (Taranaki Photo News #182 4 June 1971)

Carillon Makers Reply (Taranaki Herald 24 November 1971)

NPDC CBD Heritage Study - Kibby Carillon (1995)

Carillon needs urgent upgrade (Daily News 14 April 1997)

Bells silent as are public, says director (Daily News 21 August 1997)

Carillon must be cared for, says donor's family (Daily News 22 August 1997)

Tuning Up (Daily News 19/02/1999)

Council drops a clanger with new carillon playing times (Daily News 31 March 1999)

Council defends itself over claim that monuments are neglected (Daily News 8 January 2000)

Going like the clappers (Taranaki Daily News 30/09/2013)

Carillon's bells to be played live again (Taranaki Daily News 8 March 2021)