|  This is a record of a good partnership between the bell foundry and local volunteers in re hanging a ring of six bells weighing between 13 and 4 cwt. It had been clear for some time that the bells in Holy Trinity, Bosham, needed attention. A report by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry confirmed this. An appeal for funds for an urgent re shingling of the spire gave the opportunity to appeal also for the bells; and so the work was authorised.
At the suggestion of the Sussex County Association of Change Ringers, it was agreed that certain work could be undertaken by local effort and this lead to the foundry taking over £1000 off their estimate - a saving of some 25%. This work included:
Dismantling the six bells and lowering the fittings.
Transporting the fittings to and from the foundry.
Tightening the nuts and bolts in the bell frame.
Painting all the iron and steel.
Hoisting the new fittings into the tower.
We felt that we could take this on because of the support offered by the Sussex County Association. In the event the Association was able to give that support just where it was needed - in supplying blocks and tackles, planks, baulks of timber and in bringing the new fittings back from the foundry. We would have found it hard going too if the Association team, encouraged and helped by a bevy of wives and girl friends, had not humped those heavy headstocks up one floor to the bottom of the hoist one evening at about ten o'clock.
The parish produced John (Captain of the belfry and retired Esso executive), George (ringer and retired Naval Commander), Norman (retired dentist), Simon (ringer and between college and first job) and Tom (ringer and studying for A levels). While the last two were only available in the holiday period, their enthusiasm and ability to dodge up and down the ladders in the dismantling phase was much appreciated by those with older legs. The others saw the job through and were able to provide at least two and usually three to work full time 9am to 5pm (or whenever) each day with Trevor, the immensely experienced bell hanger from the foundry. The volunteers could and did handle all the major humping and transport problems, but the experience and guidance of Trevor was essential when working on the bells themselves, which was done largely in the capacity of the required "mates" for Trevor. Very quickly a team spirit grew up.
The dismantling and initial preparatory work involved removing the wheels, lifting the bells by chain hoist, turning them through 90 degrees and lowering them on to timber baulks, each in its own pit. Then the headstocks and clappers were removed, as were the sliders, runner boards and stays. The cast-in clapper staples inside the bells were cut out. The canons were cut off nos. 1,2,3 and 6 - Trevor's power driven cutting disc made short work of this - but the canons were left on nos. 4 and 5 at the behest of the Diocesan Arts Council in view of the special nature of these bells. (The bell metal so removed was sufficiently valuable to be returned to the foundry who allowed its value off the final bill.) Then each bell was hand bored through the centre of the crown, which meant in the case of nos. 4 and 5 going through the canons as well and proved one of the most laborious tasks of the whole procedure.
Three months later the new fittings came back. There were metal headstocks to replace the old wooden ones - cast iron for nos. 1,2,3 and 6, prefabricated for nos. 4 and 5 and arched to accommodate the canons - all on steel gudgeons to suit the existing bearings. These had been modified to suit the existing bearings. These had been modified to give greater clearance on the end plates. The clappers had been annealed, refaced and welded on to the new top-ends with stainless steel bolts in tufnol bushes at the point of swing and independent staple bolts for bolting up through the bell and headstock. The wheels had been adapted for the new headstocks and fitted with new rims - indeed one (no.6) had been completely remade. New sliders, runner boards and stays completed the inventory.
As each headstock was fitted, a wooden pad was placed between it and the bell, all brought together accurately and held by a temporary centre bolt. The headstock was so positioned at an angle to the original line that the clapper will strike on a new part of the bell. Four holes were hand drilled in the bell to enable four bolts to secure the headstock. It was then possible to remove the centre bolt and fit the clapper staple bolt in its place. All nuts are on top of the bells for easy access. Setscrews on either side (nos. 1,2,3 and 6 only) enable the clapper to be accurately positioned for even striking. As nos. 4 and 5 have canon retaining headstocks these setscrews cannot be fitted and clappers must be adjusted as best they can by tapering washers.
The chain hoist was used to lift and swing the bells back on their bearing seatings. The wheels were fitted to the headstocks. Metal braces were bolted across the two halves of the wheels to stiffen them and keep them true. The new stays, runner boards, sliders and slider pins were secured in place. Final adjustments were then made - cutting the runner boards to get the correct set of the bells, adjusting the clappers, attaching the ropes, repainting all iron and steel surfaces and reconnecting the clock hammer.
Those of us who shared in this work found it a fascinating experience even if we discovered muscles we did not know we possessed! Certainly our share in the actual work has led not only to a glow of achievement but also to a much clearer understanding of the technicalities of bell hanging. This must lead to a greater care being taken of the bells and indeed already a "Bell Maintenance Book" has been instituted. Hopefully this will mean that such things as turning grease caps on guide pulleys and tightening the nuts and bolts on the bell frame will be attended to regularly. Even the need to take out and repaint the staple bolts on all clappers in ten years' time is faithfully set out. Other adjustments, the renewal of ropes etc. will be written in.
A few abiding memories - the patience of Trevor with his makey-learn team; the ingenuity o Simon and Tom in finding finding different, and hopefully easier, ways of lowering wheels from the belfry; the effort of getting a one and five eights drill through four inches of metal by hand; the discussion of Trevor and Norman (the dentist) on their respective experience of drills; the ability of a six part purchase to twist at the bottom of a fifty foot hoist; the relief when all that heavy gear was hoisted up in the course of a single morning; the sight of Trevor standing astride the bell frame swinging the bells by hand to check the striking; the pride of seeing the finished job.
Was it worth the effort? Yes certainly in every sort of way. Please pass the embrocation.
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