[Bell Historians] Beamish Museum Church

[RobertLewiseditor at T6tBpTgsQLZVauRdSHzWZyX4VHzhj1ov2orNsGdTeaMPn91i4c0KXFzY_oqBiRiaAJwyO649zT7y7dHvT-aW_U-poBs.yahoo.invalid]

I see from news reports that the former Church of St. Helen, Eston, 
Teesside, which has a small tower, has been reconstructed at the 
Beamish folk museum.

Anyone know anything about any bells (presumably a single one) in 
relation to this church - or plans to put anything back in the tower 
at Beamish? (Looks as though it might be capable of housing a light ring!).

The church (Grade II listed) seems to have had an interesting 
history, with medieval origins it served as a Parish Church till 1884 
when a larger church was built nearby. In 1889 it became a cemetery 
chapel, before being returned to parochial status in the early 1920s 
as the Church of Teesville, an early 20th century development, until 
a new church was built. The last parochial service was held in there 
on December 30th 1962. The church then resumed its earlier role as 
cemetery chapel, with the final funeral taking place in 1985. After 
that it was plundered, vandalised and totally burnt out, facing 
demolition before EH granted permission for the dismantling and later 
reconstruction at Beamish.

See http://collections.beamish.org.uk/pages/estonchurch

RAL