[Bell Historians] Charlton Adam, Somerset

[matthewhigby at qkxLqQmKD-_Fzi84X6mHcsx1335hdJf6pSRb8ZbcXP4-iMEce2j5G8-9-5uQhMt2aAPOk_04ymOxp-QwS5I.yahoo.invalid]

In a message dated 14/02/2007 04:54:50 GMT Standard Time,  
richard.offen at 9XiAKcoch5MS6mpcQ_d5VCySWw1rsIg-RyB1YAahnBnprcT8GsCRfkWTUOewkiFa3L85kO_mhRTc3swGBfVhMSs.yahoo.invalid writes:

Interesting, isn't it that a comparison is often made between the  
careful conservation of an historical organ and a ring of bells. The  
big difference is that, quite often, once carefully cleaned and  
conserved, the action of an historic organ can be light, responsive and  
a pleasure to play ...not sure that the same could ever be said of a  
ring of bells hung on eighteenth century  fittings!

Richar



Agreed!
 
Speaking as a contractor who declined to quote for anything except the  
modern fittings route! I am told that several other contractors also  declined to 
quote.
 
 
When I was consulted by the architect, I asked - Do the parish know what  
they are getting out of a "conservation" scheme? If they are looking for a  ring 
of bells on which they can train and maintain a local band, then perhaps  they 
will run into problems. If they are looking for a ring of bells which can  be 
rung by experienced ringers only, on what could well be a limited  basis - 
well perhaps they will be OK.
 
Looking after several local rings hung on late 19th/ early 20th C fittings,  
I know how much extra care and maintenance an old style ring need. I  lost 
count of the number of times the tenor clapper fell out of our old  tenor at 
Chilcompton - inc twice in one week!

 
The whole scheme at Charlton Adam has been handled by a firm of  conservation 
architects, who want to keep as much as possible (as is their way).  Sadly 
none of these are ringers, and refuse to be advised by ringers. I was told  that 
the proposal was to keep as much of the original installation as possible,  
including the timber headstocks, wheels, plain bearings etc.
 
Charlton Adam bells could easily be rehung with modern fittings, within the  
CCC code of practice, for much less money than they want for the 
"conservation"  restoration. 
 
Sorry - this makes me sound very anti-conservation which is far from the  
truth, but I am also a realist. I agree that the bellframe at Charlton Adam  is 
worth preserving, and I am sure that the scheme to strengthen it (devised by  
Adrian Dempster) will work well. As with all projects, whoever the contractor,  
I always want to see a good job done. I hate seeing money being  wasted, 
which is what if feel will happen in this case.
 
Nuff said.......
 
Matthew
 
           
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