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<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>I visited St.Katharine Cree with
Christopher Dalton on 12 March 2002, particularly to look at the frame. We
thought the frame rather earlier (in part) than 1754, and the fittings may be
somewhat later. Here are some extracts from the notes I made at the
time:</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><I><SPAN
lang=EN-GB>Bellframe</SPAN></I></B><SPAN lang=EN-GB>:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Apparently a four-bell frame of
c.1630-40 later adapted in two phases – first to take five (perhaps c.1710) and
eventually six (probably 1754). Pre-Civil War and pre-Fire. Bells hung
anti-clockwise with an awkward and very tight rope circle. Tenor pit built into
the stair well, and other pits make use of the belfry windows – the treble swung
diagonally into the west window, the third into the south widow and the fourth
into the east window. Originally three parallel pits with gallows ends on the
east side (for bells swinging E/W) and a transverse pit to the west for the
tenor. Only the fifth pit is unaltered. Tenor pit shortened on the south the
accommodate the treble.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Third pit
inserted across the western end of the two parallel pits containing bells 2 and
4. Trusses of sills, braces (13”) and long heads. Jack braces in the north side
of the tenor pit only. Posts for the gallows ends. The treble pit consists of
two short trusses of c.1710 – one with a reused head (with bearing notch now
facing the wall) - forming an open-ended pit with an iron bar linking the heads.
Iron bar in the north end of the tenor pit too. The pit for the third seems to
be the most recent alterations – probably of 1754 – and the introduction of new
timber to form the western head of this pit has destroyed evidence of the
original arrangement.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Bells 2 and 4
hang towards the east of the original pits - the fourth swung well out into the
belfry window and the tower wall has been hollowed out to allow the second to
swing. Clearance grooves in the heads and braces, and also in the posts
supporting the gallows ends. There are some carpenters’ marks. The frame is
supported on two N/S beams (one to the east of the stair turret and the other
near the east wall), with an E/W beam between them towards the south of the
tower</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><?xml:namespace
prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P><B><I><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; LETTER-SPACING: -0.15pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Fittings</SPAN></I></B><SPAN
lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; LETTER-SPACING: -0.15pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">:
The printed list produced by John Wooding of Whitechapel (successor to Edward
Simmons) refers to work here, c.1810. Bells now (including the tenor) all on old
oak headstocks with strap gudgeons, stock hoops and plain bearings with wooden
covers. Wheels removed. The fittings were overhauled in 1911 by Mears &
Stainbank<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>who provided new
supporting ironwork and refurbished the clappers.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ropes are attached to the clappers for
chiming. </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>So perhaps not a contemporary installation of 1754 (a view supported now by
DLC), but certainly not a Thomas Mears lash-up of c.1840 as wrongly identified
by Rod Bickerton</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>CJP<!--End group email --></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>