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.
The terms of reference for the Bells Advisory Committee can be found on the DDA website.
Help setting up new projects.
Sandiacre, St. Giles (6 bells) Technical assistance was given throughout the year in support of the restoration project for a remodelled lighter ring of 6 bells.
Belper, St. Peter (8 bells) A design was submitted for replacing the existing sound control with a better engineered system.
Whaley Bridge. Technical advice was given for a possible new installation of bells.
Technical Inspections.
Inspections were carried out at Alvaston, Stoney Middleton, Belper, Killamarsh, Crich, Dinting Vale, Church Broughton, Heath and Old Brampton. All inspections result in a comprehensive technical report, some of which appear on the DDA website.
Engineering Work.
Bonsall, St James the Apostle (6 bells) Assistance was given to remove the cracked 3rd bell and to reinstall it following repair by Soundweld and Taylors Eayre & Smith.
Derby, St.Peter, (8 bells) Help was given to seal the north and south sound-control doors in the tower louvre openings. This resulted in 10dbA sound reductions in these directions.
Old Brampton, SsPeter and Paul (6 bells) Taylors Eayre & Smith were assisted in moving the tenor rope away from the clock case.
Other Activities
Shirland, St Leonard (6 bells) The PCC has applied for a Faculty to rebuild the 6 bell frame in an improved layout on new foundation beams.
Alfreton, St Martin (8 bells) Remodelling of the 8 bells based on the 7th as the new tenor bell. The bell chamber floor beams have been confirmed as 16th and 17th century and so must be retained. Nearly 50% of funds has been raised and a Faculty application will be made soon.
Youlgreave, All Saints (12 bells) Installation of sound control awaits funding
Number of Bells |
Total Number of Rings |
Unringable Rings |
12 |
2 |
0 |
10 |
5 |
1* (Ashover*) |
8 |
39 |
0 |
6 |
53 |
2+2* (Sandiacre, Shirland, Church Gresley*,
Chapel en le Frith*) |
5 |
6 |
1* (Chelmorton*) |
4 |
7 |
1 (Elvaston) |
3 |
25 |
10 |
TOTAL |
137 |
13 + 4* |
Note. *These are otherwise ringable bells which are prevented from being rung by structural concerns with the tower. In this category are Church Gresley, whose tower has foundation problems, Chelmorton whose tower has structural problems due to the loads imposed by the spire, Chapel en le Frith where poor quality building work must be resolved and Ashover which is suffering from severe ingress of rainwater. This creates a total of 27 unringable bells in this category. We can have little or no technical influence over the resolution of these problems.
Thus taking all categories of unringable bells, 73 out of a total of 843 bells are unringable. This means that 12.4% of peals and 8.7% of bells are unringable.
Galebreaker.
If windblown rain is entering your bell chamber via the sound openings, then use of Galebreaker sheet material is often a good solution. (Please note that 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.