[Bell Historians] Widnes, Merseyside, St Paul

[David Cawley]

It goes to show the truth of the saying, that no two bell historians (or bell anything) will ever agree on a set of diameters. Here is yet another set of diameters for Widnes taken by J. P. Fidler & Paul Taylor on 17th August 1954 on another inspection:

24.5" ; 25" ; 26.5" ; 29" ; 31" ; 33" ; 35.5" ; 39"

Pryce Taylor did inspect them in the 1920's (no precise date but his inspection book 3, p.3 - could that be the one CJP was thinking of?) and JPF yet again on 20th November 1959, by which time only the 7th had a wheel, the two outside steel joists carrying the frame sills were corroded through and the frame side castings were light, the wheelside casting of the 7th being broken. "I should not like to rehang bells in this frame even if the RSJ were sound" - JPF. JT&Co quoted for part new fittings and a new frame; alternatively tuning, all new fttings and frame. Clearly, nothing was done.

DLC
  

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Alan Buswell 
  To: bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 3:11 PM
  Subject: Re: [Bell Historians] Widnes, Merseyside, St Paul



  Apologies if I've come in a bit late and the info is already given - I've been away.

  G&J WIDNES No 7. 5386. 35 7/16". 8-0-15. A 450. 23/08/1935.

  AAJB.
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Chris Pickford 
    To: bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com 
    Sent: Friday, December 12, 2008 11:51 AM
    Subject: [Bell Historians] Widnes, Merseyside, St Paul



    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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