Widnes, Merseyside, St Paul

[Chris Pickford]

Sam's website link provides most of the details. Just a few things to add:

The church was built in 1883-4 and the tower added in 1907 (Pevsner "South Lancs"). There's a picture of the church with the report of the dedication of the bells in Bell News 14 Sept.1907

The inscriptions are:

1-6. CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LONDON 1907. 
7. GILLETT & JOHNSTON, CROYDON. / (CFJ monogram) 5386. Waist: RECAST 1935 / 7 
8. CAST BY JOHN WARNER & SONS LTD LONDON 1902. Waist: CORONATION BELL 1902 / DOUGLAS E. HORTON - VICAR / D.J. BROOKES } / A. CASE } CHURCHWARDENS.

I have an alternative set of diameters - 24.375", 25", 27", 28.5", 3015/16", 333/16", 35.5", 38.875" (possibly from John Wilton - I don't think I measured the bells myself because they were on the floor at Stoneycroft when I saw them there in 1990)

The Taylor inspection was 1933 (not 1923 - a typo in my notes)

As well as recasting the 7th, Gillett & Johnston installed an Ellacombe chiming system in 1935 (date on brass plate on the manual).

The bells were originally in a cast iron frame by Warner 1907, apparently on steel girders (which failed) but the castings were mounted on wooden beams. The fittings were wooden stocks, plate gudgeons, plain bearings, traditional wheels, stays and sliders etc. All with independent crown staples.  Doncaster heads on 1-6, flat tops to 7 and 8 (Ex.inf. John Wilton)

CP           
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