BELL CONSULTANT’S REPORT 2004

All requests for technical advice should be addressed to the Chairman of the Bells Advisory Committee.  Requests should be in writing with the authority of the PCC.  The Bell Consultants’ out of pocket expenses are met by the Association’s Bell Repair Fund to which many PCCs with a ring of bells in the Diocese are affiliated by paying an annual donation.

The following items of interest occurred in 2004.

Ashover All Saints (10 bells) A faculty has been issued for the installation of a ringers’ gallery.

Barrow on Trent St Wilfred (3 Bells) Excessive frame movement and the intrusive installation of a toilet/washroom in the tower base stopped the bells from being rung.  A remedial scheme proposed by the Bell Consultants has been accepted, a faculty granted, and the work carried out by the Bell Consultants.  The ropes now fall in an anticlockwise circle.

Bonsall St James (6 bells) Eayre & Smith Ltd. has installed a new steel frame, which carries four new bells plus the old number 3 bell and tenor bell.  (The old number 5 bell has been hung dead as the clock bell).  The bells were dedicated on 9 May 2004.  Since dedication there have been complaints from neighbours about the noise levels of the bells.  A sound control scheme has been proposed by the Bell Consultants.

Brailsford All Saints (6 bells) Improvements are in hand to make the ringing circle more user friendly.

Duffield St Alkmund (10 bells) All clappers have been rebushed and the ninth clapper reprofiled to improve striking.

Eckington SS Peter and Paul (8 bells) Installation of two dumb bells is under review.

Hartington St Giles (3 bells) A meeting was held with English Heritage and The Society for the Preservation of Ancient Buildings to discuss the proposed installation of eight bells.  The Council for the Care of Churches also visited the tower on a separate occasion and gave their comments.  An agreed installation emerged from subsequent discussions and a revised request for proposals has been sent to three bell hangers.

Mugginton All Saints (6 bells) The clapper on bell 2 was rebushed.

Old Glossop All Saints (8 bells) The wheels are all showing structural problems and at the time of inspection the sixth bell was unringable.  Repairs are in the hands of the local band.

Osmaston St Martin (6 bells) The canons and the cast in crown staples have being removed from five bells.  All six bells have been rehung on new fittings.

Pinxton St Helen (8 bells) The rope on the treble was jumping its wheel and inspection revealed that the wheel had been incorrectly fitted.  Rectification cured the problem but it is probable that the third wheel needs the same attention.

Sandiacre St Giles (6 bells) Rehanging of the bells in a steel frame has faculty approval but work is not progressing due to tower problems, which must be sorted out first.  Work on the tower is scheduled to be started in the Spring.

Shardlow St James (6 bells) Problems with the canons and gudgeons of bell 4 necessitated use of through-bolts to hold the bell on to its headstock and fitment of new gudgeons and bearings.

Inventory of bells for ringing in the Derby Diocese

Out of a total of 842 bells, 49 are unringable.  .This means that 10.7% of peals and 5.8% of bells are unringable.

Galebreaker is a strong PVC coated woven polyester sheet with closely spaced tiny holes. Placed close up against the inside of the louvres, it stops the birds and rain getting in whilst still allowing ventilation. It readily transmits sound. John Cater has a large, 1.8 metre wide roll which he is willing to sell on at a discounted price of £15.65 per metre.

Keltek Trust is a “sale and mart” for second hand and redundant bells. If your church is interested in second hand bells to augment or replace poor existing bells let one of the bell consultants know.

Mike Banks

Bell Consultant