The Hermione is a replica of Lafayette's frigate construction of which began in 1997 in Rochefort. It was on board the original ship that the Marquis de Lafayette helped the American insurgents.
The Quarter Bell
In the 18th century, when the Hermione was built, there were two bells on board the ship.
The first one, smaller and installed in the centre of the boat, was used to sound the watches. To announce the start of the (4-hour) watches, the leader of the watches would prick (ring the bell) 8 times. With the help of an hourglass lasting half an hour, he then came to prick the bell every half hour in a degressive way (7 strokes, 6 strokes...), until the end of the watches.
When the next watchmen heard the last bells, they were preparing to take over. To ensure a permanent watch on board, the day is divided into quarters - often 6 - which last 4 hours.
Today, this bell is still used, but only to prick every hour.
The bell of life on board
At the front of the Hermione, there is a bigger bell which made it possible to announce the events of life on board: meals, mass or even glas..
