We have had a relatively quiet year during 2011 by our usual standards. It can be seen from the list, that there has been a significant reduction in the amount of bell restoration projects being undertaken compared to previous years.
In March we carried out inspections of the bell installations at St James, East Tisted and St Mary, Newton Valence. The tower at East Tisted contains a ring of three bells, Treble (Ellis Knight I 1635), 2nd (Joseph Carter 1590) and Tenor (Ellis Knight I 1623). The Joseph Carter bell is of particular interest as it carries some of the Wokingham foundry marks, those of Roger Landon 1448. The installation was found to be in relatively good order.
The ring of five bells at Newton Valence, Treble (William Knight I 1523?), 2nd (Henry Knight 1620), 3rd (Ellis Knight 1623), 4th (John Taylor 1871) and Tenor (John Warner 1880) has seen little maintenance since the original ring of three bells was augmented to form a ring of 5 in 1871. In 1991 tightening of the frame and fittings was carried out by members of the Alton and Petersfield District. Most of the bell fittings and running gear are worn to varying degrees. A full report on the condition of these two installations has been passed on to the church authorities.
We carried out a service on the installation at St Nicholas, Chawton and at the same time we fitted some plate washers to the backs of the stays to prevent the bolt heads pulling through the wood. We also repositioned two of the pullies in the intermediate chamber to prevent the rope from rubbing on the ceiling boss. Some repair to the masonry work was also necessary.
On behalf of the BRF Trustees we inspected the finished works at both All Saints, Dummer and St Michael and All Angels, Bullington.
The work at Dummer was to rehang the bells in the existing frame with all new fittings and running gear. One of the bells was found to be cracked, and required some welding. The bells now ring very nicely.
The work at Bullington was a conservation restoration of the existing ring of three bells, Treble (Joseph Carter 1599), 2nd (Henry Knight III 1680) and Tenor (15th Century John Barbor Salisbury?). The bells have had there cast in crown staples removed. Some of the existing fittings have been refurbished, including wheels, headstocks and clappers. The bells have been rehung on all new gudgeons, bearings and bed plates. New pullies, sliders, slider rails and a new set of ropes have also been fitted. Two steel girders have been installed to give extra support to the wooden bellframe along with new tie rods and bell supporting irons etc.
It is not very often that we get to see this type of rehang, however it was obvious that a lot of thought had gone into this restoration, and the finished work has produced a very fine old style ring of three bells.
The conservation re-hang at West Tytherley is well under way and the bells are now ringing, but the work is not quite complete.
To assist with the proposed works at Buriton. This will involve removal of clappers and pullies, and to assist the bell hanger with reinstallation, and cleaning of bearings etc.
We will be making an effort to complete the rest of the bell stock surveys for the Alton and Petersfield District, and to complete unfinished survey forms. There are plans for 2012 to scan electronically the existing completed survey forms, with a view to archiving in the Guild Library the original paper versions.
Once again, I would like to thank all my colleagues for generously giving their considerable time and effort throughout the past year.
| Income | Expenditure | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £.p | £.p | ||
| Balance b/f | 284.69 | Balance c/f | 284.69 |
| £284.69 | £284.69 | ||
(Account not used during this year)
Roger Barber