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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>George Dawson has correctly reported what is
still in the Tower. They were originally hung in a timber frame, and
although cast by Mears & Stainbank bear the clockmaker's name, J. W. Benson.
The hour bell is called "Victoria". Between the wars the woden frame was
replaced by a new steel one and equipped with steel headstocks, all of
which which I think was not the work of a bellhanger; had it not been done
the bells would most certainly have crashed to the ground in the bombing of the
Guildhall. Amazingly (and unlike Preston where all the bells were cracked or
broken) the whole ensemble survived in place. I remember as a boy seeing the
bombed-out building and noting the gutted clock dials. The bells were
subsequently rehung in the restored steel frame on the renovated steel stocks,
with new insulation pads and clock hammers, by Mears. A new clock was provided.
Unfortunately with the passing of time, the atmosphere has not been kind to the
steelwork of the bellframe and fittings and to the massive iron grilles which
fill the bell chamber windows.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It is quite true that a proposal has been made to
replace the bells with a cheap synthetic substitute. This would be unworthy
of Portsmouth, more especially as the motivation for the bells was Queen
Victoria's Golden Jubilee, which took place whilst the present Guildhall (or
rather Civic Centre as it now is) was being built. Even more remarkable is their
survival, virtually intact, despite the intense and terrible bombing of the city
in WW2, complete with the Guildhall's reduction to a shell. The five
bells (which are, in fact, of impressive tone themselves) were
virtually the only fittings to pass through the burning (virtually)
unscathed.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The clock hammers are in bad order which probably
accounts for the uncertain sounds proceeding from the tower.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I know that Taylors Eayre & Smith have
recently updated the JT quotation of seven years ago, and I am told that The
Whitechapel Foundry have likewise quoted. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Let's hope that the newspaper campaign is
successful and that the Tories get in and keep their promise about the
bells!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And that the heritage of Portsmouth is safesguarded
and conserved in use.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>DLC</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=editor@cN9av7jkEqIFYdWU1pcFnNOxERCn9WyBJ-fefGm5Gz_i6BMAl_oMAK7Wm4BRp3_EqZ0K5B7HL1lNKQ7uy3wWe9fzkhCympOOOBUh.yahoo.invalid
href="mailto:editor@ZNlrvfdlu1xPS7H-qKNokVdg5lFaSYRqegpYp89SEpQMgSxVbOVuuiDkk4lTMlZPfRlAUJAv8sFCK6Fpq6pjwg.yahoo.invalid">Robert Lewis</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=bellhistorians@yahoogroups.com
href="mailto:bellhistorians@yahoogroups.com">bellhistorians@yahoogroups.com</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, February 21, 2007 5:23
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Bell Historians] Portsmouth
Guildhall Clock Chime</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV id=ygrp-text>
<P>There have been local tv news reports that the busted clock chime at
<BR>Portsmouth Guildhall is to be replaced by "an electronic one" (on cost
<BR>grounds).<BR><BR>They have played a recording of the old chime -
Westminster. Does anyone <BR>know what is currently in the tower (sounds like
they may be tubular bells <BR>or gongs)?<BR><BR>RAL<BR><BR></P></DIV><!--End group email --></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>