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5 November 2009
Since the bells had come back ten days earlier, Mark Pring, Simon Brewer and their team had been re-hanging the bells, heavy work in confined spaces. Now the bells were ready for their first trial since their refurbishment. All that remained to be done was to get the clock connected to its hands and to get the strike and chime hammers aligned to the appropriate bells.
The sky was illuminated with the occasional bursting firework when the bells started ringing again at 7:45 hrs on Thursday 5 November. This is the sight that greeted a visitor entering the vestry door at 8:08 pm.
Vestry view of the ringers in action
More ringing photographs
Bell ringers and supporters - at one stage there were twenty-five people where in the church, with friends and family supporting the bell ringers, and representatives from the PCC and FOSB.
Bell ringers and their supporters
Some time for reflective chat while getting ready for the next peal.
Getting ready for the next peal
Six ringers in full swing, with Mark, the bell hanger as part of the team, looking thoughtful about his handiwork.
Six ringers in full swing
Group photograph of all present, some of us in our eighties but the youngest three months. Hopefully the bell hanging work just completed will outlast all alive here.
Group photograph of bell ringers and supporters
Group photograph of all the bell ringers present. Bell hanger, Mark Pring (kneeling), no longer thoughtful but clearly happy.
Group photograph of all bell ringers present
5 November 2009
With the bells due to ring this evening some images of the bells rehung in the tower were needed. With Bob's assistance the photographer clambered up among the bells and took these shots of the bell hanger, Mark (of Nicholson's), at work.
Mark hanging the bells (1)
Mark hanging the bells (2)
Simon, John and Bob (in green sweater below) were about to install the bell ropes as I was leaving.
Bob (in green sweater) about to install the bell ropes
This shows the gear box for the hands of the clock and the shaft that drives the minute hand on the north wall of the tower. This is one of three gear boxes at this level.
Drive shaft and gear box for the hands of the clock
26 October 2009
The bells and the clock came back to Lostwithiel at lunchtime on a wet and blustery day. Here we see Robert Peareth, recently Mayor of Lostwithiel, and Simon Brewer, Captain of the Tower (in yellow) carrying two of the six refurbished bell wheels into the church.
Robert and Simon bringing in bell wheels
Simon (on the lorry), Robert (now in yellow) and John Woolley (in blue) attend to the unloading of each bell onto a pallet. The heaviest bell weighs 9.5 cwt (about half a tonne). That's a lot of weight to be whirling about in the cramped confines of the bell chamber. As part of their refurbishment the bells have been fitted with new high spec roller bearings.
Unloading the bells
The lorry has an integral crane and the driver lowers each bell carefully. Crucially the bells have to be marshalled in aisle of the church in the correct sequence for subsequent installation in the tower.
Careful handling
John Woolley and Mark, from Nicholson's, bell hangers, wheel in one of the bells.
Wheeling in one of the bells
In the bell chamber the sockets in the wall where supporting steelwork will rest have been re-cemented and aligned. The work of assembling the steel framework and the heavy iron castings has to be carried out in this cramped space. Hopefully the installation will last another eighty years or more.
One of the wall sockets to support the steelwork
Bell chamber hopefully filled for eighty years or more
The old castings have been checked an refurbished, the rusty old steel joists replaced. Simon stands ready to offload the iron and steel.
Simon ready to offload the iron and steel
This massive bell frame being craned off the lorry makes a striking "H" against the sky. Heavenly? Holy? Happy? Hopeful? Amen to them all!
A bell frame makes a striking 'H' against the sky
Eddie thinks really it's H for Heavy! That tough little hand truck is earning its keep. Mark, Rob and John guide a bell frame onto the waiting pallet.
Mark, Rob and John guide a bell frame onto the waiting pallet
Less trouble to walk it in upright.
Let's walk it in upright!
Onlookers, Graham, Margaret, Eddie and Julie, give their support.
Onlookers give their support
28 September 2009
The Captain of the Tower, Simon Brewer, arranged a coach enabling fifty-six of us to enjoy the following itinerary:
Lunchtime
We had plenty of time to find lunch in the attractive, bustling, and seemingly recession-proof, town of Bridport, where the shops and cafés are small and their owners cheerful.
Bridport town where we had lunch
Works Visit
At 2pm we made our way to Nicholson Engineering Ltd.
Nicholson's Bell Works
Here are the six bells from St Bart's, now fitted with refurbished headstocks and new bearings. The final cleaning of the bells themselves will not take place till just before shipment towards the end of November.
St Bart's bells with refurbished headstocks
For a while we wandered round entranced by all we were seeing and taking in the processes involved with the refurbishment of bells.
Taking it all in
Wandering round entranced
Once we had grown accustomed to out surroundings, Andrew Nicholson, greeted us and outlined the work being carried out. The steel joists that had been supporting the cast iron bell frames had been found to have rusted to an alarming degree and new joists were being fabricated and would be cleaned and hot galvanised before delivery.
Andrew explains the work in progress
This is the framework for the lower four bells. A second tier is yet to be fabricated that will double the height of the structure and carry the remaining two bells and their cast iron frames.
The lower part of the framework
One of St Bart's bell wheels is displayed beside the bell-ringer in the pink jacket. The heaviest bell weighs 9 cwt (nearly half a ton). As she said it is scary to think what is whirling about over the ringers' heads! The ringers are clearly concentrating on what Andrew is saying.
Attentive ringers with one of the bell wheels
Closer view of bell wheel
Andrew holds his audience spellbound.
Andrew holds his audience spellbound
The steelwork has to come apart so that the ends can be inserted in wall sockets in the tower, making the design of the steelwork a more complicated than might at first be imagined.
Complex joints allow for reassembly in the tower
A general view of the workshop. Under a green tarpaulin on the balcony is the St Bartholomew's church clock.
General view of the workshop
Simon Brewer, captain of the tower and organiser of the visit with Richard Stearn, who, as project manager, has obtained the funding for the tower and bells project and has driven it forward dauntlessly.
Simon and Richard
Heavy machinery and assembled experience.
Heavy machinery and assembled experience
Andrew Nicholson.
Andrew Nicholson
In the machine shop.
In the machine shop
The grey casting attached to the orange headstock is fitted with a grease nipple and houses a double ball race bearing. It rotates at the slightest touch.
Bearing and headstock
Richard and Andrew in conversation.
Richard and Andrew in conversation
Looking at a bell cleaned and ready for delivery: to the right is a substantial machine.
Three bell-ringers and a substantial machine
Clearly the visit has been greatly appreciated.
Visit greatly appreciated
Thanking Andrew for a great visit. With the hands of the clock awry and the bells silent, the longing to get the lostwithiel bells and clock back is palpable.
Thanking Andrew for a great visit
Lyme Regis
A little later in the day - a view of Lyme Regis harbour looking east from The Cobb.
Lyme Regis harbour from The Cobb
9 July 2009
The clock, bells and their supporting framework all had to be loaded onto a lorry and taken to the bell hangers works for refurbishing. The lorry had its own crane which made loading easier.
First onto the lorry was the clock
Six bells and some of the framework awaiting transport
The clock being joined by the first of the six bells
Pendulum and clock weights
Captain of the Tower loading the fourth bell
A bell-ringer and a churchwarden are bystanders
A pause provides a moment for mirth
The corroded steelwork that had held the bells aloft
The fruits of fundraising provide a spectacle
With the bells on now for the ironwork
Captain, bell hanger and Deputy Mayor load a frame
Loading nearly done
Loaded
6 July 2009
The church clock at St Bart's belongs to Lostwithiel Town Council. Robert Peareth, in his capacity as Deputy Mayor, came along to affirm the Council's ownership before the clock was removed for refurbishment.
The clock is the property of Lostwithiel Town Council
Robert Peareth, Deputy Mayor, is proprietorial
Lostwithiel Town Council's clock mechanism
2 July 2009
This was the day when Captain of the Tower, Simon Brewer with his team of volunteers lowered the six bells so that they can be taken away for refurbishment and then replaced in a new frame. The Mechanics of a Church Bell.
The manufacture of the new frame and related refurbishment is being carried out by the specialist bellhanging company, Nicholson Engineering Ltd. The work is expected to take three months. FOSB has made a grant of £8,000 towards the cost.
Some of the volunteer team
Simon Brewer, Rob Peareth, John Woolley
"This one's mine!" Lowering the last bell
Margaret Burgess (bell-ringer), Simon Brewer (Captain)
Let's get the clapper out!
Mark removing the clapper
Three of the bells in the transept
Some of the bell wheels
Clock hammers which are used to strike the
outside of the bells - when they are stationary!
29 July - 11 August 2007
The ever popular Charity Shop opened on Tuesday 29 July and will run on until Monday 11 August. To mark this event's tenth year the shop will be open for two extra days.
FOSB Charity Shop 2008
10 June 2008
With the funds in place, work has started on this project. The Project Manager, Ian Philipson, very kindly took the FOSB Secretary's camera up the scaffolding to take these photographs. FOSB has made a grant of £32,000 towards this project.
8 December 2007
Nearly 140 people came to support the FOSB Christmas Concert organised by Liz Neal featuring 25 of Canoryon Lowen (Happy Singers) under Nick Hart, alternating with 45 members of the Mevagissey Male Choir under Angela Renshaw. During the course of the evening the audience were also required to perform by singing four carols. The programme was wide-ranging and both choirs were inspired. The finale, with the combined choirs singing "Speed Your Journey" (Verdi arr Northcote), was awesome.
It was a truly memorable evening that held us spellbound and put us into an good frame of mind to enjoy our Christmas celebrations. It raised £612. The picture shows FOSB Chairman, Alan Lowman, thanking the performers.
25 August 2007
FOSB Stall at Polpero Fishermen's Choir Fête, Trewether, Lostwithiel
FOSB had a table at this event with a display board and promotional literature. After the wettest summer since records began, it was a relief to have the event under a cloudless sky!
31 July - 13 August 2007
The ever popular Charity Shop, in 2007 in its ninth year, raised a grand total of £2,725 (nearly £500 more than last year). Thanks to everyone who contributed to this tremendous result: to everyone who gave items to stock the shop; to the brilliant team who sold the goods, poured tea and coffee and made everyone welcome; and to all our customers who came and spent their money.
FOSB Charity Shop 2007
We sold books and a bike, toys and trinkets, clothes and china - is this Lostwithiel's biggest re-cycling event of the year?
1 - 15 August 2006
Each year our donors keep surprising us with the quality, quantity and variety of the items they bring along to be sold, and the enthusiasm of the shoppers who come to buy them. These two photographs were taken on 1 August 2006 just after the doors opened at 10am.
FOSB Charity Shop 2006 immediately after it opened
14 - 18 June 2006
Flower Event in St Bartholomew's Church with a concurrent display of old Lostwithiel records. What with the hot weather and the Football World Cup, many must have gone to the beach or have been watching TV. Those who came enjoyed the event.
2006 Flower Event with display of old records
10 - 15 May 2005
Flower Event in St Bartholomew's Church
(Daphne du Maurier Festival event)
A steady trickle of visitors came to this six-day event, and their comments were often complimentary and sometimes enthusiastic. Here are two of the eighteen displays.
Pulpit and Southwest Window
Sat 7 May 2005
A Victorian Spring Garden
(Daphne du Maurier Festival event)
By kind permission of Sir Richard and Lady Trant.A typical Victorian garden of flowering shrubs at its best at this time of the year. Walks all around the garden, croquet lawn. Cream Teas. Raffle.
The sun shone on the garden which is clearly much cherished. Music was provided by Lostwithiel Town Band. The whole event was altogether delightful.
The Entrance Drive and the Conservatory where cream teas were being served
Music by Lostwithiel Town Band (Spire of St Bart's 3/4 right) and Copper Beeches
Guests strolling
8 April 2005
Palm Court Music Provided by
The Springwell Players
with Grahame Lee (piano)
Notwithstanding that the Pope's funeral at the same time on the same day had an adverse affect on attendance, the event provided a most pleasant way to be relieved of some money. The range of music was considerable with some real gems and spirited songs.
The Springwell Players performing at the FOSB Coffee Morning
December 2005
New Gas Fired Central Heating System
A new gas fired central heating system was installed by Christopher Dunphy Ecclesiastical Ltd. FOSB contributed £16,000 towards the cost of this project. Quite apart from the most welcome improvement in comfort during services and other events, maintaining a minimal background heat at all other times throughout the winter keeps the damp at bay and helps to preserve the fabric of the church.
20 October 2004
Featuring Jenny Coverack as Kathleen Scott
This is a moving play of the woman behind Captain Robert Scott, the Antarctic hero. The performance Jenny gave at St Bartholomew's Church Hall on 20 October 2004 held us spellbound. The acoustics of the hall were excellent and the atmosphere of the whole event delightful. We enjoyed having the co-author of the play, Robert Edwards, with us for the event.
Jenny arrived in the morning and with bubbling enthusiasm soon had us helping to install her props. Her meticulous attention to detail was striking and she made the whole process of setting up and carrying out the technical rehearsal great fun.
Stage set up and Bob Moody with Jenny for a technical rehearsal
Bob Moody at the control panel
Robert Edwards, co-author of the play and Jenny Coverack as Kathleen Scott
St Bartholomew's Church Hall, Lostwithiel, 20 October 2004
17-22 July 2004
At the Exhibition - pictures - quilts - turned wood
Largely paid for by funds raised by FOSB.
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St Bartholomew's Church Roof Restoration Autumn 2003
© 2003 Kitty Chanter Menendez
and (last photo taken April 2004) with the job done
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