[Bell Historians] Diagonal bellframes

[david at r...]

I am aware of a few diagonal bell frames in the Worcestershire area.

Strensham frame was probably turned through 45 degrees by Abraham Rudhall I in 1705. The central portion of the frame for 2-4/6 and 6/6 has the original curved braces, but with long heads. Rudhall's extension for 4/5 (now 5/6) is x-braced, and Taylor's modifications of 1911 for 1/6 has a king post. It is possible to work out where the frame used to be from the positions of old (square) rope holes in the floors.

The frame is in very good order despite having never been strengthened with tie bolts, and the tower is certainly strong enough to cope with the fact that the forces from the bells are concentrated into the corners of the tower, rather than in the same plane as the tower wall which would normally be its strongest direction.

The same is not the case at Powick. These are, strangely enough, also a 1705 Rudhall job with 1,2,3,4 around each corner, with 5+6 in the middle. The rope circle is as a result rather poor. This tower moves quite a bit when the bells are rung. The frame was strengthened and supported on large RSJs about 8 years ago.

The William Savory 4-bell frame at Abbots Morton is also diagonal.

The frame in the 1763 Capability Brown church at Croome D'Abitot has 5 of the 6 pits swinging diagonally, with the 4th swinging parallel to a wall.

I seem to remember that Nottingham S. Mary is diagonal (and fairly mobile) too.

David Bagley


sem at u... wrote:
> 
> 
> Does anyone have any data on bells which are/were hung diagonally in the
> tower (rings of five and above)ie what is good/bad about such installations
> and how common they were.
> Thanks
> Sue Marsden
> PS I already know about Ramsey, Hunts
> 
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