Avington, Hampshire - New Peal.

[matthewhigby at NIsLAT3vgoIcBAUBEgibWSjnvRAjvop318i0O91rf8wJmenvZzg8wMrcFGJTC3WReDY03D-VUiq4ispxNA.yahoo.invalid]

Avington, Hampshire – an appeal.
 
For many bell enthusiasts – the name “Avington, Hampshire” will start  
ringing alarm bells! Sadly the complete ring of six bells, by Pack & Chapman  in 
1771, were scrapped in the 1960’s, to fund repairs for the Church roof.  
Admittedly at least 2 of the bells were  cracked and one broken, by the time the 
bells were sold – and they were far from  ringable - some members of the Bell 
Historians list will remember the DLC tale  of Jack Fidlers inspection, and the 
3rd bell falling from its  headstock, onto the tenor below! 
The fine Georgian tower and timber bellframe has laid unoccupied ever  since, 
apart from a small 15” Mears bell, which was purchased from Mears at the  
time of the scrapping.
 
Recent donations from a former resident of the Village, and the  Keltek Trust 
have funded the installation of a new steel six-bell frame and the  purchase 
of three second hand Mears bells (two ex St Stephen’s Lansdown and  another ex 
Fort  William). These will be  hung as the back three of a peal of six (Tenor 
approx 6 cwt in B). This project  is due to be completed during September 
2008.
 
Two additional bells have now been found to augment the bells to five  (one 
Llewellins & James bell ex Misterton, Somerset and a Murphy bell ex St 
Nicholas, Cork). These have been  offered to Avington at cost price, both bells being 
purchased a fraction of  their current scrap value. Matthew Higby & Co Ltd 
have offered to supply  fittings and hang the bells at cost price – to encourage 
the augmentation. 5  bells being of much more interest to ringers in general.
 
The PCC have accepted the offer of the two additional bells, and are  
currently applying for grant aid from both local and national charities. The  bottom 
line is – they need to raise £3700 to purchase the two additional  bells and 
to hang them as the treble and second of a peal of five. Any donations  towards 
this worthy project would be gratefully received by the parish or the  Keltek 
Trust, who have kindly offered to collect donations on behalf of the  Parish.
 
Any questions – please contact me offline.
 
Matthew Higby
 
Matthew Higby & Company Ltd,
Church Bell  Engineers,
Jasmine Cottage,
The Street,
Chilcompton,
Bath,
BA3  4HN.

www.bell-hangers.com



   
           
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