Brass bell attached to a circular spring

These this is a house bell from the rectory kitchen. The remnants of the bell pull panel can still be seen high on the west wall of the rectory kitchen.
It would date from the building of the rectory in the 1870s. The purpose of the bell was for residents in the main rooms of the house to pull a cord connected to the bell to summon a servant.

The incumbency of St. John's, a large town church, in the 19th century was a position of some prestige. By comparison with manual workers of the time, the stipend was generous, and the rectory was provided by the parish. At least a cook or housekeeper would have been employed, but perhaps also a maid. There is no record of such roles being paid for by the parish, so it would presumably have been the responsibility of the incumbent. 

Servants would be summoned to the main rooms of the rectory such as the dining room, to take orders for meals, refreshments or other tasks. A system of wires connected a bell-pull in those rooms to the bells in the kitchen.