THE HURWORTH BELL RINGERS

All about the Bells of Hurworth All Saints.

Five of the six bells were cast in 1872 and the sixth in 1877 all by J Taylor & Co. of Loughborough, Leicestershire. The largest bell (the tenor bell) weighs 17.5 cwt.

The Sanctus bell is much older dating from 1682 and was cast by Samuel Smith of York. It is listed by 'The Council for the care of Churches'. The inscription  on this bell is 'GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO. LEONARD WASTELL. RECTOR. 1682'.

The bells were originally hung on wooden headstocks in a wooden frame. Over the years maintenance, in terms of replacing bearings etc., has been done but the frame gradually deteriorated until there was considerable movement, whenever the bells were rung, creating a 'battering ram' effect  on the tower. The only solution was complete restoration with a new frame. This new frame is a cast iron structure, designed to eliminate all movement thus making the bells easier to ring and avoiding damage to the tower.

The bells had to be re-tuned by the original makers in preparation for re-hanging.

The restoration work was carried out by F. Pembleton, a master bell hanger from Glapwell near Chesterfield. It entailed removing the bells from the tower and dismantling the old frame, designing and constructing a new frame together with new fittings for the bells. The new frame had to be lifted into the tower, the bells hoisted up, installed and left in working order. When this was done, the clock striking mechanism needed to be re-connected.

Whilst the bells were out we repaired the tower, renewed much of the bell chamber floor, treated everything against timber infestation and put new sound insulation in the floor between the 'bell chamber' and the 'ringing chamber'. (We removed over 30 bags of rubbish and debris!)

The total cost of the project, including the renewing of the clock striking mechanism, was over £30,000.

Diameter of the Hurworth All Saints bells :