[Bell Historians] e-bay photo

['David Cawley' davidl.cawley@btinternet.com [bellhistorians]]

Matthew is probably correct – I’m afraid I was writing without my Caldey / Prinknash notes; what is worse I still cannot find them L

 

I believe that the Bells first went (with the two ringing Bells replaced with slightly heavier ones ) to the original Prinknash Abbey, across the valley from its modern counterpart; to that they were later transferred, and more recently two of the smaller ones were stolen, replacements being cast also by Taylors. As if that wasn’t enough, owing to the fall in the number of vocations, the new Abbey then closed and the Bells were all sold to Keltek. I am told that their future may lay outside the British Isles.

 

As latterly hung at Prinknash, the Bells hung in a steel cage and fitted with stationary headstocks excepting the two replacements of 1931 which were fitted with ringing stocks, gudgeons and bearings, all of 1931, but no wheels. An Ellacombe Chiming apparatus was attached to the case. They are truly lovely toned bells.

 

Thanks to Bryan for bringing this to our attention. I’ve just been outbid for the pc. Hmm

 

DLC

From: bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com [mailto:bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com] 
Sent: 02 September 2016 21:11
To: bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Bell Historians] e-bay photo

 

  

Sorry to question DLC (never usually required!) - but I am almost certain the two swinging bells (which remain at Caldey) were 3 and 7 of the octave. Those two were replaced when they moved to Prinknash (1931 from memory). 

 

Best wishes,

 

Matthew

 

 

 

 

  

No  - I’m pretty sure that it is neither Roman Catholic (at the time) nor Ireland. The mitred figure appears to be Abbot Aelred Carlyle, who was at the time the Anglican Abbot of Caldey. The attendant monk has the distinctive tonsure of the Caldey Anglican Benedictines. 

 

Abbot Aelred ordered two Bells, both hung for ringing, from John Taylor & Co about 1910; another six, hung for chiming were added shortly after (the Abbey Church tower is not big enough for a 20-cwt ring of 8).  I suspect that the photo on the card if of the Tenor being installed. It and the treble are still at Caldey, hung for ringing: this Cistercian Rule requires only two Bells. 

 

The Benedictines (who became RC in 1913) reclaimed the middle six about 1930 and they were hung for chiming with a replacement tenor and treble added, outside the new Abbey at Prinknash.  They have more recently been acquired by Keltek.

 

DLC

 

 



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