2. Finding the cash
Many potential sources were explored before a positive response was obtained from Waste Management Research Ltd in Lyndhurst which manages a government scheme designed to provide cash for restoration schemes such as this.
The Society is grateful to Cleansing Services Group Ltd who kindly provided 90 per cent of the cash and to Romsey Town Council who kindly provided the remaining 10 per cent required under the terms of the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. The total cost of buying the bell, providing an electrically operated striker, making a suitable suspension and hanging the bell was £4,000. It would have been a lot more if scaffolding had not been set up by Hampshire County Council in order to carry out repairs to the belfry.
Thanks are due to Giles Pritchard, Historic Buildings Architect in HCC, for his co-operation in rearranging the programme to include the hanging of the bell in his sensitive and highly successful extension of the library building. The town now has a library of which to be proud.
3. Installation of the bell
By May 2006, scaffolding around the belfry had allowed repair of the damaged brickwork on its eastern side where the adjacent ornamental chimney had been removed. On 11th May, Andrew Ogden came down from Staffordshire with the bell, its new support and electrical striking gear. The first task was to remove the remains of the old headstock (described No 8) which had been operated by pulling a rope passing through a hole in the roof of the porch. This was well rusted in and to remove it, a gudgeon pin at one end had to be cut away with a hacksaw. The new headstock was then slipped into place using the old bearings and an arm projecting from it was fixed to the side of the turret to prevent it and the bell from rotating.
The bell weighs around 60 pounds and was hoisted up to the platform on the scaffolding using a chain and pulleys. It was bolted to the headstock and the internally mounted striking mechanism was connected to the electricity supply. The button was pressed and the bell sounded well. The installation sequence is pictured here.
Removing the old headstock and fitting the new |
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Hauling up the bell
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Fitted and wired up
This picture kindly provided by Frank Green
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