There is a musical composition by Mendelssohn entitled The Evening Bell. It bears the date, ‘Norwood, Surrey, November 1829.’ and is a little piece for harp and pianoforte. The circumstances surrounding the composition are that a large party of friends had been to Roselawn to meet Mendelssohn, who had to return to London that night. He was in high spirits, and had been extemporising on the piano in his best manner, accompanied on the harp by Attwood’s daughter. While the music was in progress a ring was heard on the gate bell. It was the coachman announcing the arrival of the carriage that was to carry him back to London. The summons was unheeded. It was repeated again and again, till at last Mendelssohn reluctantly dragged himself away from his friends.
Back in his lodgings in London, and before going to bed, he sat down and composed the piece, and next day sent it to Attwood and his daughter with a dedication in his own handwriting. The melody of The Evening Bell is frequently interrupted by the gate bell note (A) - an affectionate echo of that musical evening on Beulah Hill.