Progress report – week 1, from Tower Captain, Paul:
“Pip and I met the bellhangers Chris and Martin Tuesday evening (24/02/26) and got a grandstand tour of the 11th headstock and the clappers being lowered to the ground whilst the trapdoors were open.
The ringing room trap door was then replaced and we were allowed to go and look at the ringing chamber and go up to the bells, provided we stayed on the mezzanine.
They have made astonishing progress in two days – most of the bells are jacked up on blocks, all the clappers are out, ropes and wheels off the bells. Work still to do this week: take the bearings off the headstocks and take all the equipment to Bridport.
Things that have come up include – the tenor stay has a crack and will need replacing, one of the slider boards (where the slider runs when it engages with the stay) is badly worn and also needs replacing. The tenor clapper has sheared one or two bolts and these will all be replaced with larger gauge nuts and bolts. The frame is in reasonably good condition but will benefit enormously from a good clean down, application of undercoats and final coat of grey paint. Martin will be back next week to start the preparation for painting the frame.”
Photos from Pip:
Photos from Paul:
