Alverstoke, St. Mary (8, 13-1-19 in F sharp) - The clapper assemblies of this ring of eight have been overhauled. Members of the local band undertook the site work. (Clapper work - Matthew Higby & Co Ltd).
Chandlers Ford, St. Boniface (1, 1-3-25) - Rehanging the 1904 Taylor bell in its western gable arch bell-cote, for swing chiming, with replacement fittings as necessary, completed June 2005. (Whites of Appleton Ltd).
Crawley, St. Mary (5, 6-3-5 in A) - Removal of the canons from the two treble bells, and any remaining crown staple stumps from all; tuning and rehanging of the five bells in the old composite cast-iron frame with oak sills, with new metal headstocks and ball bearings, stays, sliders and runner boards. The wheels were reused, as were all the pulleys (which were replaced by Guild labour in 2001). Work completed autumn 2005; bells re-dedicated 8 January 2006. (Whitechapel Bellfoundry Ltd).
Hawkley, SS Peter & Paul (8, 8-1-25 in A) - A broken gudgeon on the treble bell initiated a closer inspection of the remaining headstocks. Loose gudgeons were also found in the headstocks of the second and third bells. All three headstocks have been replaced with counterparts of fabricated steel and the bells have been rehung with replacement bearing races. Completed November 2005. (Matthew Higby & Co Ltd).
Itchen Stoke, St. Mary (2, circa 2¼cwt) - Overhaul of the gear of these two 1934 Gillett & Johnston bells hung for swing chiming one above the other in a tall two-tier open turret above the chancel arch. The bells hang from wrought iron bar-type headstocks with integral gudgeons running in double row self-aligning bearings, with chiming levers, and wrought iron clappers hanging from independent crown staples. New bearing races were provided for the existing plummer blocks; the headstocks and chiming levers were hot-dip galvanized, new bedplates were made from stainless steel and bolted to the sides of the bell turret to replace the original steel bedplates which had corroded and split the walls. The clappers were replaced. All new pulley boxes were provided re-using the original bronze sheaves but with new bearing races. New bell ropes were provided. The church is redundant and in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. The work was completed during November. (Nicholson Engineering Ltd).
St. John in the Oaks, Jersey, St. John (8, 7-0-4 in B) - Two clappers have been overhauled and new pulley sheaves supplied throughout. (Whitechapel Bellfoundry Ltd). N.B., the status of the problems with the concrete ring beam, relating to the thickness of concrete and damp penetration rusting the reinforcement and splitting the concrete, is uncertain.
St. Lawrence, Jersey, St. Lawrence (1, circa 10 cwt) - Minor repairs were carried out to the John Wallis (Salisbury) bell of 1592 and its gear. A new rope-operated safety chime hammer has been fitted to avoid clocking and a new electrical control unit has been supplied for the existing electrically operated hammer. All ironwork has been painted. (Whitechapel Bellfoundry Ltd).
Alton, All Saints (3, 12 cwt) - The three old bells and the timber bellframe to be removed in January 2006 in readiness for the installation of a new ring of six, tenor circa 6 cwt in B. Installation work should be completed in the first half of 2006. The three old bells have found new homes in Gloucestershire, Cornwall and County Clare, with the help of the Keltek Trust. (Matthew Higby & Co Ltd).
Bramley, St. James (8, 12-0-14 in G) - Overhaul of the headstock, bearings and gudgeons of the sixth bell. (Contractor not known).
Botley, Hants, St. Bartholomew (1, weight unknown) - Eayre and Smith’s web site indicates work has been done but provides no details.
Fawley, All Saints (6, 8 cwt in A flat) - Removal of the canons of the three treble bells and re-hanging the six bells in the existing frame with all new gear. (Robert Parker of Taunton).
Hursley, All Saints (10, 14-0-0 in F sharp) - Replacement of lower, poorly proportioned and increasingly “flexible”, timber six-bell frame of 1880 by Hooper and Stokes with a new steel frame for seven bells and the upper frame to be enlarged to take three instead of the present two. The ring is to be augmented to 12 with mainly new ringing fittings throughout. (Preferred contractor understood to be Whitechapel Bellfoundry Ltd).
Nether Wallop, St. Andrew (5, 15 cwt in F) - Installation of an additional level of foundation joists and associated bracing to the bellframe. Scheduled for the end of March 2006 (Nicholson Engineering Ltd).
Romsey, Abbey Church of SS Mary and Ethelflaeda (8, 24-0-8 in D) - It is understood that the very long saga of securing approval for the rehanging of the 8 bells in a new, stable, frame may be nearing a satisfactory conclusion that meets the requirements of heritage interests concerned with conserving timbers from a mediaeval 5 bell frame. (Preferred contractor believed to be Whites of Appleton Ltd).
Romsey, (Public Library) - Eayre and Smith’s Web site indicates work has been done but provides no details.
Selborne, St. Mary (6, 9-0-20 in A) - Fund raising is currently in progress for the planned augmentation of the ring to 8 with an extension to the existing frame. (Matthew Higby & Co Ltd).
Shalfleet, Isle of Wight (2, 8-1-10 in B) - Removal of cast-in crown staples and rehanging the smaller of the two Mears bells with new fittings in a new steel bellframe. (Matthew Higby & Co Ltd).
Southampton, St. Alban, Burgess Road (1, 7 cwt) - The single bell by Gillett & Johnston (1933) is being rehung with new fittings for stationary chiming. Two support beams are also being replaced with galvanized steel counterparts. Scheduled for completion early 2006. (Matthew Higby & Co Ltd).
Southampton, Church of the Ascension, Bitterne Park (8, 8-1-13 in G sharp) - Augmentation of the ring to twelve, together with some adjustments to the existing ring to maintain a rope circle, and overhaul of the gear if necessary. (Contractor not known).
Southampton, St. Barnabas, Lodge Road (6, 2-3-2 in F sharp) - Rehanging the former service bell for slow swinging as an Angelus bell is in hand at the start of 2006. Also planned is the augmentation of the ring installed in 2002 to 8 by the addition of two new trebles and all new gear. (Matthew Higby & Co Ltd).
Southampton, Holy Family (RC), Redbridge Hill (1, 6 cwt) - There is a possibility that the gear and electronic chiming apparatus for this bell may be overhauled in the mid-term. (It is understood that Matthew Higby & Co Ltd is the preferred contractor).
Southampton, St. Peter, Maybush (1, 3 cwt) - Overhaul of the gear of this 1958 Mears and Stainbank bell is now re-planned for 2006. (Matthew Higby & Co Ltd).
South Stoneham, St. Mary (3, 6 cwt in C) - Three 19th C second hand bells, (two by Gillett and another by T C Lewis of Brixton) have been found to augment the existing ring of three Gillett and Bland bells to six. It is hoped to hang the six bells with all new fittings and framework. (Matthew Higby & Co Ltd).
St. Peter Port, Guernsey, St. Peter Apostle and Martyr (8, 21-1-12 in E flat) - The Jean Baptise Brocard (1736) clock bell which hung outside the spire was taken down in September 2004, its supporting cot having developed a remarkable list to the West during the previous year. The bell is stored in the church pending rebuilding work on the cot. (Contractor likely to be the building company undertaking repairs to the spire and roofs).
Phil Watts