[Bell Historians] St John and St James, Bootle

[Bryan McCahey]

Sad to hear that the Bootle skyline has lost the very distinctive tower of SS John and James. Sam doesn't exaggerate the bird infestation. A group of us tried to access the tower about 13 years ago. The door to the stair turret opened inwards but the guano piled behind it at ground floor level reached half-way up the door so it was impossible to gain entry. The bell was still roped up and we managed to swing-chime it. Fairly pleasant-sounding, as I recall. Matthew, were any pictures taken before the bell was smashed up?

See http://www.yourlocalweb.co.uk/images/pictures/11/79/ss-john-and-james-orrell-hey-litherland-115739.jpg for a photo of this distinctive octagonal tower.

Bryan McCahey





________________________________
From: Sam Austin <sam0austin at BMhX1OOgYafVfeIGa0CJu3KKMS1Vl60nV-aRWi0Ki2MX_7ewvbSxCGbzywFGc2s2KB-gUp2kSc0ZapaTFa94Gz-0Sg.yahoo.invalid>
To: Bell Historians <bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tue, May 4, 2010 1:57:39 PM
Subject: [Bell Historians] St John and St James, Bootle

   
People who keep records may be interest to know the following:

The church building of St John & St James Bootle was demolished last
week, exactly 100 years to the day the foundation stone was laid.
The bell, was cast by the Warner foundry in 1910 and weighed approx 10cwt.
In recent times, it has been impossible for anyone to lift the
trapdoor to access the bell due to the amount of pigeon guano and
twigs, many people have tried without success,  most recently a bell
hanging company working on behalf of the Keltek Trust.
The tower was demolished with the bell still inside, and was recovered
intact.  The bell was then broken up on site and the metal taken away.

Aye

Sam

 


                 
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