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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The loss (which now seems pretty certain)
includes:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>a) A mediaeval bell of c.1350 relocated from
Atherstone on Stour when Radford bells were restored in 1998</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>b) An important early C17th frame hoisted above the
ring (and suspended on hawsers below the roof) - significant because the older
part (for three bells) was dated, and a fourth (transverse) pit had been added
later. It was quite an early dated frame of c.1615, probably extended in
1636.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>c) Three quite good early C17th bells - two by
Watts 1636 and a Bagley of 1641</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>d) A recently restored and fully ringable
six</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This was, in fact, the frame I referred to in my
paper at the "Perspectives" conference at Worcester - where the relocation
preserved the frame but in a position entirely unsuitable for further study. I
saw it back in the early 1970s (when I knew little about frames) and attempted
to examine it properly in 2001 but was defeated by its position and the lack of
any form of anchoring. I believe that John Eisel and Christopher Dalton saw
it in its original position not long before the 1998 restoration - but
Chris made few notes and John can't find his! The date (c.1615) was
found on a concealed member - hidden when the extra pit was added - but I've
never managed to establish for sure what it was!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This is the third Warwickshire frame supposedly
preserved that has in fact disappeared after a relatively short time. The
others (Walsgrave and Offchurch) both rotted in their churchyards. I have for
some time argued that preservation by record - full archaeological recording -
is preferable, and more informative to future researchers, than retention <EM>ex
situ</EM>. Loss by fire cannot, of course be predicted, but the Radford frame
was really "lost" to historians in 1998.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>All very sad - especially for the parish and for
the local ringers: but a loss for bell history too</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>CJP</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>