Technical advice on bell installations is provided free of charge by the Bell Consultants and all requests 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 Bell Consultants also offer a bell maintenance course for anyone requesting it. A maintenance course was run in June 2006 at Youlgreave for ringers in the Peak District comprising a morning classroom session and an afternoon of practical work in the bell tower at Youlgreave.
Advice was given to the following PCCs in 2006.
| Alfreton St Martin (8 bells) | The PCC is considering remodelling the existing ring of eight so that the existing 7th becomes the new tenor bell. This will result in a slightly lighter ring of eight, which can be installed in a single level steel frame. A new treble will be required and the existing treble will be recast as the new second. The old tenor will be retained as the clock hour bell. |
| Alvaston St Michael & All Angels (6 bells) | Inspection revealed a loose gudgeon on bell 3, problems with the wheel on bell 6 and a need for refurbishment work on clappers 2, 3 and 4. |
| Ashover All Saints (10 bells) | The new ringer’s gallery is now complete. |
| Baslow St Anne (6 bells) | Recommendations were made to tighten the crown staples on clappers 2, 3, 4 and 6. There were also problems with rope running clearances and the fixings of rope boxes. |
| Blackwell St Werburgh (6 bells) | Following an inspection, recommendations were made to attend to wheel looseness on bells 3, 4, 5 and 6 and to rebush clappers 4, 5 and 6. Pulley 4 should be replaced. |
| Calow St Peter | This church contains a sadly neglected eight bell carillon. Good housekeeping will enable the bells to be played again. (No BRF cost incurred by this inspection). |
| Derby, St Peter (8 bells) | Advice was given identifying the cause and solution to a problem with “sticking” of the tenor during full circle ringing. |
| Eckington Ss Peter & Paul (8 bells) | The two dumb bells are now fully installed and operational. They are effectively bells 6 and 8 in the “new” ring of ten. The first quarter peal (grandsire caters) was rung on 24 November 2006. |
| Great Longstone St Giles (6 bells) | An inspection was carried out in support of a proposal by local ringers to improve the rope circle. An improved rope circle is essential to allow new ringers to be trained. Hartington St Giles (3 bells) In 2006 all administrative groundwork was completed in readiness to install 8 bells by mid 2007. |
| Hathersage St Michael & All Angels (6 bells) | Recommendations were made for checks on clappers 1, 2, 3 and 4. Further investigations will be carried out into why the clapper on bell 6 has a tendency to go up wrong and further recommendations will be made for sound control. |
| Hatton | A visual inspection was carried out of this single bell installation. The single bell, hung outside under a cantilevered gable, has been refurbished to an unknown technical standard. |
| Riddings St James | This church tower has ten tubular bells which are in a derelict state. The inspection confirmed the wisdom of Nicholson Engineering’s proposal to completely remove the bells and frame for refurbishment. |
| Sandiacre St Giles (6 bells) | Refurbishment of the bell installation was discussed at an architect’s meeting at which recommendations were made by the Bell Consultants. This project, however, is being otherwise handled locally without reference to the Bell Consultants. This could be an issue if the PCC ask for financial help from the BRF. |
| Tideswell St John the Baptist (8 bells) | A general inspection was carried out principally to confirm the integrity of the tenor bell’s mounting. |
| Youlgreave All Saints (10 bells) | In 2006 all groundwork was completed to augment from ten to twelve bells (plus a sharp second) during January 2007. |
| Number of Bells | Total Number of Rings | Unringable Rings |
| 12 | 2 | 0 |
| 10 | 5 | 0 |
| 8 | 38 | 0 |
| 6 | 54 | 1 (Sandiacre) |
| 5 | 6 | 0 |
| 4 | 7 | 1 (Elvaston) |
| 3 | 26* | 11 |
| TOTAL | 138 | 13 |
* Swarkstone St James (3 bells) have been rehung for chiming only.
Out of a total of 836 bells, 43 are unringable. This means that 9.4% of peals and 5.1% of bells are unringable.
Footnote. If rain is entering your bell chamber then use of Galebreaker sheet material is often a good solution, although the church architect’s approval should be sought first. Galebreaker is strong PVC coated woven polyester sheeting 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.