This bit of the KCACR website contains updates on the more important work currently going on in the county, plus a good selection of earlier stories. We're keeping a lot of the older stuff just to show what a lot of work is done by a few willing volunteers. A spring (?autumn) clean of the page was undertaken in October 2008, when a lot of repetitive and more trivial items were pruned. Other information about training new bands and so on will be found under the relevant Districts.
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The new and old bells at Sutton-by-Dover. Stahlschmidt doesn't identify the old one in any way other than to describe it as "long-waisted". However George Elphick in 1944 thought it might be of foreign manfacture, and was certainly of the early 13th century, a view shared by Nick Davies and David Cawley when they visited in 1970. It weighs 1-1-24. |
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Retain or remove? This question is increasingly causing problems and delays with restoration projects. The time taken for decisions to be made is increasing and will I fear, have a negative effect on works because people will get fed up with waiting or will not accept spending lots of money to achieve a less than perfect job. The preservationists would have everything left as it is and be it bell frame or building, it will collapse. The Canterbury DAC archaeologist suggested on one job that if the bells could not be hung for ringing in the original frame they should be hung dead. This then preserves the heritage of England in the archaeologist's eye but surely change ringing itself is an even more important part of this heritage and one that will cease if bells are not allowed to be restored to a suitable state of repair.
This said, there has been a considerable amount of work in 2007 and there are a number of projects proposed for 2008.
The definition of unringable, as used by the Central Council, would make around 20 rings in Kent "unringable". As I do not agree with his definition, I reported to the general committee that I would make no return to the 2007 unringable bells survey.
The "Heavy Gang" consists of: "Redleader", Brian Butcher also Canterbury and Rochester Dioceses bell adviser, Alan Andrews, Russell Beardmore, Alan Driver, Keith Finch, Fiona Gowdy, Ivan Hart, Malcolm Hitchcock, Frank Lewis, Peter Sims (H&S), Malcolm Smith and Nigel Spencer. My apologies if I have left anyone out. There are normally a number of locals at any project.
Peter Romney had to retire during the year due to failing health.
Brian G Butcher
Bell Restoration Officer
Note that paragraph 4 below was amended following discussion at the general committee meeting on 23 August 2008.
- By practical help in doing some of the work, or in some cases all of the work, in the tower.
- By financial assistance in the form of a grant.
To download a PDF format copy of these guidelines to assist you in discussions with PCC etc, please click here.
Brian Butcher
KCACR BRF Officer
Dec 2005/Aug
2008
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For many years now there has been a cracked fifteenth-century bell sitting on the floor of the ringing chamber at Sandhurst. Stahlschmidt provisionally attributes this bell to a John Kebyll, with a date between 1460 and 1485. There are records at St Stephen's, Walbrook, of payments being made to John Kebyll for bellhanging. This John was actually a wheelwright, so it's by no means certain that he cast bells. The inscription on the bell is In multis annis resonet campana Johannis (may John's bell ring out for many years), and it is known as the John bell. It isn't clear whether the John in question is Kebyll, but founders in those days were often lavish in their own praise, so it may well be. With the advent of welding techniques to repair bells, it has been decided that the old bell should be reinstated in its rightful place as the fifth of the six, and so the Kent BRF gang were called in to help remove it to safer storage prior to going off for welding and retuning. The photographs show members of the BRF gang preparing to fit lifting tackle, John ignominiously leaving the churchyard on the back of a tractor, and the coins found under the bell. For those too young to remember, the coins are 4 x 2/-, 1/-, 6d, 3d, 4 x 1d (a total of 10/1 or about 50p), and the "new money" consists of a 50p, a 10p, 2 x 2p and 5 x 1p (69p in total). It's appreciated that this sum will not go a long way to paying for the welding of John, but it's an interesting find nonetheless. Many thanks to Richard Cutchey for the photos. |
Further to the note which appeared on this page recently, a brief résumé of the Association's insurance cover is now available here.
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After a day of fitting up lifting tackle the previous Saturday the BRF gang were busy at work on 26 April 2007 lowering the bells before loading onto transport destined for Whitechapel. After being tuned and having their three new companions cast, they will head off to Somerset where Matthew Higby will construct the necessary fittings before they come back to Kent. The picture shows the tenor being tilted somewhat to get it through the door — it's possible that this bell may be a bit heavier than the 18cwt currently quoted. It was cast in 1740 by Robert Catlin, who probably built the frame. The three new bells were cast at Whitechapel on 11 May. There was a bit of a delay before the job was completed and it wasn't until the end of January 2008 that the bells were back in situ. There was a tryout on 25 January and Redleader Butcher tells us that they have have tuned up really well and on completion of various adjustments should be a good 8. |
On Saturday 12 January 2008 the KCACR's BRF Heavy Gang descended on Mereworth to remove the six bells there. There is a massive plan here to virtually rebuild the tower and refurbish the whole church, at a total cost of not far short of a million quid. The removal of the bells was a fairly standard operation, but the bells themselves and their collection from the tower merit a few words.
The founder of these bells, Joseph Eayre, seems to have cast only these bells in Kent (though if anyone knows different please get in touch). He, according to H B Walters' book, built a foundry "of brick in the form of a bell" at St Neots in about 1735. One of his successors in business was one Robert Taylor, who eventually became the first of a long line of founders of that name at Loughborough. It's an interesting thought that Taylors have once again incorporated an Eayre into their management.
As mentioned above, the dismantling job was fairly routine, being completed in around 5 hours. However, the state-of-the-art tackle used to remove the bells from the porch onto the lorry was quite something. Redleader was positively emotional as he gazed at the radio-controlled operation of the crane. One has to admit that the gear was pretty impressive, with a hook the size of a decent dinner plate and a lifting capability of around 7½ tons (tonnes even).
The tower is liable to remain bell-less for quite some time, due to the work about to be carried out on the tower structure, but keep an eye on this site, because this is where the news will appear.
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The tenor, cast by Joseph Eayre in 1746 |
The lifting gear — note the man with the control pad below the bell |
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Lifting gear with the tower as a backdrop |
The radio control which Redleader would love to have as part of the KCACR Heavy Gang's kit (we don't actually know what he'd do with it, but we have to humour him) |
Thanks to Brian Butcher for the photos.
The Central Council Bell Restoration Committee have come up with a new category of "unringable". Their definition of an unringable ring is one where "a local band would have difficulty ringing the bells continuously for 15 minutes without a break". OK, if they want to create a new category, it may be better as I have suggested to John Barnes, to use a numbered scale which gives an idea of the condition of the bells, such as used by the Suffolk Guild and what I like to call "the rickety scale". I fear that if bells are listed as "unringable" then many ringers will consider them in some way dangerous and make no attempt to ring them. Also John was saying how much progress has been made in reducing the number of unringables. I think this new definition will only serve to "top up" the unringable figures considerably. On this basis, I have not forwarded information on towers in Kent that might be considered for this new category for the 2007 CC unringables survey. The definition as used would, I calculate, make around 20 rings in Kent "unringable".
Brian Butcher
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The new treble has been delivered to Lynsted, and local ringers are fabricating their own frameside (there is already supporting metalwork). The BRF will be installing shortly to augment this ring to a six. The "pre-used" bell was part of a clock chime at Perry Hill, Catford. It was cast by Warners in 1889 and weighs in at around 4cwt. |
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A call to the BRF to fix a new rope seemed a fairly routine sort of job, but Detling was a little unusual. Firstly access had to be via a longish ladder, since there were no steps or spiral staircase to the bellchamber. Secondly, the bell turned out to be one of Joseph Hatch (of Ulcombe)'s earliest bells. He started business in 1602 and worked until around 1639, and the bell at Detling is dated 1603. (The fifth at Waltham and the third and tenor at Egerton were cast in 1602.)
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The photo on the left shows a general view of the bell. Note the massive skirting of the soundbow (an attempt at tuning), and the fact that the bell has been quarter turned at some point — not too long ago, judging by the newish paint on the clapper and the relatively modern headstock. The date (1603) is clearly visible in the photo on the right. |
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The inscription reads "Joseph Hatch made me 1603". The bell is 27" diameter and probably weighs around 2½ to 3 cwt. The leaflet in the church says that there were originally four bells in the tower, the others being sold in 1861 to pay for new pews (no souls, those Victorians). However there is only a frame for three, and there are only three old holes in the floor below, so it seems that a bit of artistic licence is involved here. Stahlschmidt, writing in 1887, also reckons that there were originally three. It has to be said that Detling's bell is not one of the more musical Hatch offerings, but at 404 years old it's not doing too badly.
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Well, we'd suspected it for some time, but the photos above say it all. Brian (Redleader) Butcher seems to have changed his colour scheme for these shots, kindly supplied by Peter Romney. Unfortunately Peter doesn't tell us what Brian was actually doing at Borstal, but there seems to be a bell involved, so it must be alright. . . . later that week . . . Brian brings us up to date on Borstal, the story so far. It seems that Peter was approached to investigate the single bell, since there was a rumour that it was cracked. The problem was found to be the clapper assembly which had been fabricated from a piece of metal strap and a short length of cord supporting half a sash weight to strike the bell! The bell is a John Warner job, 1878, 22" diameter (just over a hundredweight probably) and sounds a note of --- well let's just say it sounds! A replacement clapper will be provided in due course |
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Below are some pics of the single bell installed at St Luke's Hawkinge. This is the bell from St Michael's Hawkinge which must be one of the most travelled bells in Kent. It was taken out when the church was sold as a residence over 10 years ago. It was stored at Brian Butcher (KCACR Bell Restoration Officer)'s house until it was offered to Waltham as one of their new trebles. It was then taken to Waltham and transported to Hayward Mills in Nottingham and then to Taylors. It was found to be too light and was transported back to Brian's place. It visited Chartham for their flower festival and finally on 27 January 2007 was installed in the "new" church at Hawkinge on condition that it is returned to KCACR if no longer required. The bell has no inscription, is thought to be 14th century, is 25¼ inches in diameter and sounds approximately F sharp.
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The photos show the new church at Hawkinge, the
old bell (tastefully painted gold) |
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Two photos have recently arrived in webmaster's in-tray. The fellows on the right are reasonably recognisable, but the other two? Surely cameras haven't been around THAT long? Readers with very long memories may identify them though. Suggestions, please, on a postcard to webmaster (well, I suppose an email would do in 2008) |
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The bells were removed by the KCACR BRF gang on 6 August 2005, and although this is only a light ring, it was a very tricky job as there was no height to lift in the tower, and a temporary gantry had to be constructed to get the bells out of the frame. However, that was not the end of the problems because the organ is under the tower and there is no trap cut in the ringing chamber floor. So call out the stonemason to remove part of the mullions from the window into the church, and the local builder to erect a scaffold (though to say this was rickety would be an understatement), and we are then ready to lower.
"Quite the trickiest job I've done in all the years I've been doing it", said Redleader Butcher, KCACR Bell Restoration Officer
This shot of the scaffolding gives some idea of the difficulties faced at Nettlestead. |
The BRF gang at the end of the job — it looks as though a cake of soap wouldn't go amiss! |
The dedication of the new treble took place at evensong on Sunday 9 October. The church was fairly well packed, and a number of ringers were in evidence from various parts of the county. The service was conducted by the Vicar, with not one, but two bishops in attendance. Bishop John Hine, Auxilliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Southwark (RC) led the intercessions, while Bishop Michael Gear, Honorary Assistant Bishop of Rochester, delivered the address and performed the blessing ceremony. The bells were arranged on the floor, tastefully decorated with Harvest Festival garlands, and rehanging was to commence on the following Monday.
The new treble suspended from scaffolding poles at the base of the tower. |
The front five at Aylesford were removed on Saturday 10 December 2005. They will be transported to Whites for new headstocks and fittings. A first was scored* when we were asked to lower an old font that had been collecting dust in the tower. [Though we were once asked to move a safe from one end of a church to the other — Ed]
* "Oh no it wasn't" was the response from David Cawley to this remark. He goes on to say
"Aylesford is certainly not the first time that the Association has moved a font. When the former parish church at Burham was demolished in about 1980 we were asked to remove the bells. There are some pictures of this operation in progress on Lovesguide (see under the lost rings section). Quite apart from getting the largest — destined to be the service bell at St Michael, Maidstone — into Fr Gibbons' Transit, we made use of his services to transfer the middle bell to the Old Church, down by the river (whence it was subsequently stolen). There was a very large and heavy Norman font down by the west door of the Victorian church, and the team pressed the Transit into service to transfer that down to the Old Church as well; you can still see it there, a tribute to the varied skills and talents of the KCACR."
Thanks David — glad to see you visit the site!
The 4th (as is the 5th) is a Michael Darbie bell, a fairly rare itinerant founder. There are two bells by him at Meopham, and he had a go at recasting Great Dunstan at Canterbury Cathedral in 1663 (though it only seems to have lasted until 1684, so we don't know how good it was). H B Walters, writing in 1912 describes his bells as "wretched productions"! |
Two rather large lumps of font safely at ground level. |
[Brian Butcher writes:] I attended site after reports of the tenor dropping badly, and the headstock was removed for inspection. The County Treasurer was seen to have pulled the gudgeon from the headstock!! The gudgeon had broken just inside the gudgeon plate of the wooden headstock and was holding on by about a 10mm (say 3/8") of overlap. The picture shows the gudgeon which appears to have been neatly cut. Sabotage at St Dustbins!!!! surely not.
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An interesting installation this, with the bells hanging on two levels. 1 3 5 on top swing one way with 2 4 6 on the lower level swinging the other way. The 5th is the oldest ringing bell in Kent (1325). The tower is quite small to accommodate a 14cwt six.
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An inspection in late 2004 at Patrixbourne (3, 4½ cwt) revealed some interesting fittings on the treble. These probably date from 1644. Note that there are no nuts visible, and the bolts are tightened by means of butterfly wedges (just visible top centre). The others have rusted away over the years, and the bell is just a tad insecure! |
News in from Brian Butcher brings us up to date with the BRF's adventures on 27 April 2002
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The two pictures above show the 3rd and 4th at Bicknor. This is a 2½ cwt steel ring of 4 which some "ringers" attempted to ring recently, and the BRF gang were called in to see what they could do to repair the damage caused. |
This is the single bell at Molash which has gone to Taylor's for refurbishing. English Heritage feel that the headstock should be preserved. We're not sure whether preservation in the form of turned eggcups would satisfy EH — does anyone else have any ideas? (This bell has now been rehung for lever chiming.) |
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These are a few shots of the heavy gang at work on Dover in March 2002.
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The seventh sitting on the pavement by the KCACR publicity blurb |
Arthur King (left) and Redleader Butcher preparing to lift the sixth |
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Brian and Peter being interviewed by the press |
It's a long way to terra firma! |
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Not another crash about! |
Seven of the eight waiting for collection |
A light job for the heavy gang on 2 February 2002 when we took out the pair of bells at Hartley near Meopham. Neither was especially large, but the lighter one is one of the oldest bells in Kent. The exact date of casting is not known, but its founder, Robert Rider of London, was in business between 1351 and 1386, so it seems likely its guarantee has expired. The picture below (from Brian Butcher) shows the Rider bell.
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Part of the small inscription "Robertus Rider Me Fecit" can be seen around the crown. One of the cannons (on the right of the picture) has been broken and a bodged repair has been made so that the strap in the centre is now attached to the argent of the bell. The bell was quarter-turned and the other four good cannons were used as attachment points. The main work that was needed was a pair of new clappers and fittings, and the bells were rehung by the BRF gang on 23 March 2002.
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Picture above (also from Brian Tremain) must be the one everyone's been waiting for. It's a very rare shot of the BRF heavy gang with their latest trophies |
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Picture above (reproduced with thanks to Brian Tremain) shows Red Leader pausing for breath as he prepares to lift the tenor up the steps |
Throwley: The 3rd headstock has been removed and a replacement is being made.
The headstock at Throwley |
Denton: This was an inspection for DAC — pictures below.
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There are two early 15th century bells at Denton (Stahlschmidt says they were probably cast by Richard Cresswell, who was in business in 1440). The photos are both of the tenor, and the one on the right shows that the clapper is striking the lip far too far down. |
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Milton next Gravesend: The bells have been inspected and some repairs are required to the third wheel. In addition, with a bit of routine maintenance, they should soon be ringing again. New information as at mid January: A secondhand wheel from the 3rd of the old installation at High Halstow has now been fitted to the damaged 3rd, and the bells are ringable again. However further work will be done in due course to the clappers and ground pullies. A trap needs replacing under the 4th to stop it shouting. A more detailed description, with some more photos, appears on the Rochester District website (thanks for the link Gareth).
Mundella School, Folkestone: The clapper fell out of the bell and Red Leader's daughter works here so he got volunteered to repair the bell. Access being the main problem, a scaffold was erected and the bell removed. A local engineering firm refurbised the fittings and a new clapper was fitted.
Murston: At the request of the DAC we inspected the strange installation for safety. There are five bells hung on the roof as a chime. The bells were transferred from the News of the World offices in London in 1963. We have made the bells secure and a decision on their future is being made by the locals. They are cast to ringing spec and so if they decide to get rid of them, they should provide some useful bells for someone.The bells were, as the letter to me stated, "supported by no recognisable engineering method" (see picture).
Seal Chart: Inspected with a view to repairs / restoration. Probably the most difficult bellchamber access in Kent!
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" . . . some repairs are required" seems to be a bit of an understatement at Milton next Gravesend |
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Mundella School |
Two of the bells at Murston |
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Thank you card from the kids at Mundella School |
So you think you have access problems huh? This is the view from the bellchamber door at Seal Chart — and there are two more bells above |
Seal: Whitechapel have replaced most of the fittings on these bells with some assistance by us.
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This slider and runnerboard from Seal can't really date from 1885, when the bells were rehung — or can they? Has anyone out there seen kit like this before? Following the plea above Dickon Love tells us that in 1848 C & G Mears (predecessors to Whitechapel) provided a new frame for five bells, so it looks as though that's when they were installed. Thanks, Dickon. |
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Lamberhurst: Inspection and
cleaning up of bearings took place on 10 June. One of the bearings was badly
damaged and needed replacing, but all the others were OK after liberal use of
paraffin. All the clappers were rebushed by Whitechapel and the bells were back
in action on 1 July, after the the heavy gang installed the clappers and new
bearing bolts. |
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Greatstone St Peter: Installation of a single bell and frame, supplied by Alistair Coney in memory of his mother Rosemary. The bell is by John Warner, 1871, 17" diameter and weighs around 80lb. The existing 9" bell may stay or be removed.
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Greatstone church and the bell in its new frame. The village is just south of New Romney and Littlestone |
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Smarden: : This work is now in hand with Hayward Mills. We have dismantled the bells which have been left standing in their pits. [See photos below.]
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Alan Andrews lowering some kit to ground (Smarden) |
The 1921 Alfred Bowell treble in its pit (Smarden) |
The 4th at Bexley was removed for recasting on 4 January. The new bell will be fitted with a metal headstock and there is a possibility that the other bells will also be fitted with metal headstocks at a later date.
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Two shots of Bexley's new 4th at the foundry. The bell was back in the tower on 22 February. The photo at the top is of the bell leaving the church. |
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St Andrew's Deal: Brian was asked to inspect this installation and found a 3 to 4 cwt bell by Mears dated 1850. The bell was originally hung for swing chiming between two beams but the wheel has almost gone and the bell is now clocked. The bell will probably be removed prior to major works on the spire and then refitted. There is some interest in installing a light ring of 6. [The picture definitely shows a lonely looking bell, so five more mates would seem to be a good idea — Ed] |
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As a change from pictures of bells, how about this shot of the BRF trailer. To the uninitiated it may look like a twin Portaloo, but to those on the BRF SubCommittee it's HOME! We're told that its predecessor is being allowed to RIP (Rust In Peace) |
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