[Bell Historians] Chiming Hammers

[David Cawley]

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St Mary, Low Harrogate:

Former ring of eight bells

Treble, 26.1/4", G, 4-0-9, 1891
2nd, 26.1/2", F#, 4-1-17, 1891
3rd, 28.1/2", E, 4-3-17, 1866
4th, 30.1/4", D, 5-1-17, 1866
5th, 32.1/2", C, 6-2-0, 1866
6th, 34", B, 7-2-9, 1866
7th, 38", A, 9-3-9, 1824
Tenor, 41.3/4", G, 12-3-10, 1866

1-6 and 8 all by Mears & Stainbank; 7th the original church bell by Thomas =
Mears II.. The 1866 bells were the gift of James England, Ironmonger; the =
ring was augmented to eight in 1891 by a subscription organized by Mrs Jame=
s Courtney Haigh.

When the church was rebuilt by Temple Moore a new central tower was erected=
, having only a lofty ground floor and the present chiming chamber and the =
bell chamber above that. Owing to doubts about stability (which persist to=
-day) the bells which were going to be recast anyway were made to a chiming=
scale:

Treble, 23", F, 2-1-13
2nd, 24.1/2", E, 2-3-25
3rd, 27.1/2", D, 4-0-9
4th, 30.3/4", C, 5-1-14
5th, 33.1/2", Bb, 7-1-8
6th, 36.1/2", A, 11-2-19
7th, 40", G, 11-2-19
Tenor, 45", F, 16-3-0

Cast by John Taylor & Co, 1915/16

It was by no means unusual for Taylors to fit ringing-type clappers to stat=
ionary chiming bells at the time when they were operated from a clavier; th=
ey were following continental practice in chimes and carillons.

The three trebles (and especially the two smallest) are significantly light=
compared with the back five, following normal chiming practice.=20=20

There was I understand no plan ever to hang them for ringing; but with prop=
erly weighted trebles they would make a fine ring, though tower conditions =
are not ideal at St Mary's.

What a tragedy about the peal board - one may be forgiven for hoping that t=
he bits were carefully retrieved and might one day be restored.


DLC


----- Original Message -----=20
From: Andrew Aspland=20
To: bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com=20
Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2003 10:59 PM
Subject: [Bell Historians] Chiming Hammers


Today I went to look at the chime of eight at St Mary's, Low Harrogate
(Taylor 1915). I was quite surprised to find that the chiming clappers w=
ere
infact your genuine wrought iron ringing clappers complete with independe=
nt
crown staple and pin with screw down greaser. There was an eye put into t=
he
end of each flight by which means the wires were attached. Baton clavier
and quite responsive to the touch. Are there any other cases of ringing
clappers used for chiming especially from this era.

The eight in the previous church were 15cwt and had one peal rung on them=
-
recorded on a beautiful etched glass, gold and black peal board now sadly=
in
about five pieces. The present tower is 20 feet square and fairly lofty
where there ever any plans to hang them for ringing? Does anyone know who
cast the previous eight?

Lastly there were three different Taylor badges used on the bells. Is the=
re
a definitive list with illustrations to refer to?
Andrew


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