REVIEW OF BELFRY RESTORATION ACTIVITY

Works completed during 2008:

Abbots Ann, St. Mary (6, 10 cwt) - Overhaul of clappers and pulleys. (Matthew Higby & Co Ltd.)

Avington, St. Mary the Virgin - The first stage of the work is complete, to install a peal of three bells (Tenor 6 cwt) complete with new fittings, in a bellframe laid out for six bells. (Matthew Higby & Co Ltd.)

Herriard, St. Mary, (3, 7 cwt) - Augmentation to six using two redundant bells (ex Christ Church, Hampstead) and one new bell. Retune existing treble and tenor. Build new 2-bell frame alongside the existing timber frame. (Matthew Higby & Co Ltd.)

Froxfield, High Cross, St. Peter, (6, 5-2-0) - Re-hang existing six bells on all new frame and fittings, bells to have canons and crown staples removed and to be retuned. (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. (Hayward Mills Associates.)

Work planned or in hand for 2009 and beyond (current status not known):

Arreton, St. George, IOW - A proposal to augment the ring of six bells to eight subject to structural engineers report and faculty. If the work goes ahead the two new bells will be cast by The Whitechapel Bell Foundry. (Nicholson Engineering Ltd.)

Avington - The second phase of this project is to augment the three bells to five. Two bells are available for this. One supplied by Matthew Higby, and the other has been offered by the Keltek Trust. (Matthew Higby & Co Ltd.)

Bishop’s Waltham, St. Peter - Overhaul of ringing fittings including resizing of wheels to improve "go" and general "ringability". A new bell is to be cast to replace the existing fourth (Clement Tosier 1712) which will be hung above for chiming. (Nicholson Engineering Ltd.)

Bramshott, St. Mary the Virgin - Overhaul to some of the clapper assemblies. (Nicholson Engineering Ltd.)

Chawton, St. Nicholas - The existing ring of six bells is to be replaced by a new ring of six, with a Tenor of 6 cwt in B hung in a single tier bellframe. The four T.C Lewis bells are to be found new homes. The two remaining bells from the existing peal of six (old 3rd Wokingham 1420 and the old 5th Henry Knight 1st of Reading 1621) will be rehung above the new ring of six for chiming only. (Matthew Higby & Co Ltd.)

Dummer, All Saints - To rehang the five bells with new fittings and running gear in the existing metal frame, also overhaul of Sanctus bell. Some building works will need to be carried out before hand to form hatch ways. Subject to faculty. (Contractor Unknown.)

Hannington, All Saints - A scheme to augment the existing three bells to six is planned, using one redundant bell located by the Keltek Trust and two new bells. A good deal of strengthening work to the timber tower will need to be undertaken, and the bells rehung with new fittings in a specially designed bellframe. The existing bellframe is to be preserved intact, in a newly constructed intermediate chamber. New safer access to the turret is to be provided. (Matthew Higby & Co Ltd.)

Holybourne, Holy Rood - A new ring of eight bells are to be cast by Whitechapel to Gillett and Johnston Profiles with a Tenor of 7 cwt and hung in a new frame and fittings. The three existing bells (Treble Wokingham 1420, 2nd Richard Eldridge of Chertsey 1600 and 3rd Richard Phelps 1728) are to be hung above as clock bells. Subject to Faculty. (Whites of Appleton Ltd.)

Newnham, St. Nicholas - A restoration of the two larger bells, (Henry Knight 2nd 1662 and Henry Knight 1st 1602) with the current Treble (William Hazlewood 1498) to be retired for use as a service bell. Three second hand bells will be acquired through the Keltek Trust to augment the ring to five. Subject to Faculty. (Contractor believed to be Whites of Appleton Ltd.)

Portsmouth, Cathedral of St Thomas of Canterbury, (10, 25 cwt) - Augmentation to twelve. Subject to Faculty. (Contractor believed to be Matthew Higby & Co Ltd.)

Shanklin, St. Saviour-on-the-Cliff, IOW - Replace pullies and fit flapper boards to intermediate chamber. (Nicholson Engineering Ltd.)

Whitwell, SS Mary and Rhadeghund, IOW - The six bells are to have their canons and cast in crown staples removed and then retuned. They will then be rehung in the existing frame with new fittings and running gear. Some strengthening of the upper bellframe will also be carried out. (Whitechapel Bell Foundry Ltd.)

Roger Barber