On 6th January 2008 the Bells where rung for the Sunday 10 o’clock morning service and then silenced in readiness for the refurbishment to commence.
Over the next few months Whites of Appleton Ltd., a firm of established Bell Hangers since 1842, would be carrying out the refurbishment. This would consist of the strengthening of the original wooden Bell Frame, re-hanging all six Bells with new Gudgeon’s and Bearings, the refurbishment of the Wheels, the replacement of existing Slider Rails, Sliders, Stays and Guide Pulleys.
Their engineer Mr James Haseldine, a qualified Bell Hanger, was to be in charge of the refurbishment and a small army of willing volunteers made up from All Saints’ Bell Ringers, their friends and families would ably assist him to carry out the work.
It was estimated that the refurbishment of the headstocks and wheels would take approximately four months.
The work was to be carried out in five main phases and would culminate with the ringing and commissioning of the bells in either very late April or early May.
PHASE ONE
Week commencing 7th January the Tower Captain Carl Anthony, ably assisted by Delroy Grey, carried out the necessary preparatory work to allow access to both the Belfry and the Ringing Chamber. This involved removing parts of the wooden ceiling in the Ringing Chamber, removing some of the floorboards in the Belfry and the opening the trap doors in both the Choir Room and Ringing Chamber.
Carl and Delroy opening the Trap Door in the Ringing Chamber
PHASE TWO
On Monday 21st January Mr James Haseldine, the Bell Hanger of Whites of Appleton Ltd. was assisted by the small army of volunteers and started work to dismantle the Bells. They removed all the parts for modification. This consisted of all six Bells being lifted off of the Bell Frame and then the removal of the individual Headstock, Bearings and Wheel from each Bell. All of these parts were then despatched to the Bell Hangers workshops in Oxfordshire.
No Access to the Tower The Bells are lifted The Bells are lowered
The army of volunteers begin dismantling
PHASE THREE
On 11th March the Bell Hangers returned to All Saints’ and commenced work to modify and prepare the Bell Frame in readiness for the re-installation of the Bells.
Firstly eighteen metal Tie Rods were fitted to both strengthen and stabilize the Bell Frame.
James drilling the Bell Frame The position of the new Tie Rods The location of all 18
Tie Rods in the Bell Frame
The next operation required Mounting Plates to be fitted onto the Bell Frame ready to receive the new Bearing Blocks.
The Mounting Plates (Blue) on the Bell Frame The Engineer modifying the Bell Frame
PHASE FOUR
This began on 13th March, well ahead of schedule, with the return from the Whites of Appleton workshop to All Saints’, of the refurbished Headstocks, Wheels and other fittings.
Assisted again by the small army of volunteers, and over a period of a few days these parts were reinstalled back into their original locations in the Bell Chamber.
A Headstock being lifted One of our volunteers The Bells are reassembled
The replacement of the Bells, Wheels and Headstocks is near completion
PHASE FIVE
The final stage was completed over a three-day period, starting on 2nd April and being completed on 4th April.During this time the Stays, Slider Rails, Sliders and Guide Pulleys were fitted.Following this Mr James Heseldine tested each individual Bell by hand. This was to check both the sound of each Bell and that the Clapper was set in the correct position.
James testing the operation and A view inside one of the oldest
sound of each Bell by hand Bells whilst undergoing the test
A final check of the Bell Chamber was then made to see that everything was to the Bell Hangers satisfaction, and most importantly that everything was safe and secure. The last step was to attach all the Bell Ropes and then with the help of a small volunteer force of available Bell Ringers, the commissioning and initial ringing of the refurbished Bells was carried out.
Everyone involved was highly delighted with the final results and outcome of a very successful refurbishment.
Carl, Delroy, James, Eve, John and Margaret testing the Bells
These pictures show the differences before and after the refurbishment.
Bearings Headstocks & Wheels
CONCLUSION
The work was completed well ahead of the proposed schedule and the Clergy, Church Wardens and Members of the Parochial Church Council of All Saints’ Church, Houghton Regis, would like to place on official record their votes of thanks and appreciation to the following for their invaluable contributions, time and efforts, which has enabled a most successful refurbishment to be carried out:
