Removal of 5th Bell
The fifth bell was taken out of the tower on Thursday 9th April and sent away to Soundweld in Suffolk for the crack to be repaired.
The work was carried out by bellhanger Graham Clifton from Whites of Appleton, assisted by a team of Hampreston band members. Also helping on the day were Gay, Pauline and Shirley, who made tea and coffee and provided refreshments. Photographs were taken by Jack Pease (see below).
It was thought that the second bell and the tenor would need to be moved (and then rehung) in order for the fifth bell to be removed from the belfry, as the trap-door lay directly beneath the pits for these two bells. However, it was only necessary to move the tenor up onto the frame and, with some careful manoeuvring, the fifth bell was successfully passed through the trap-door and lowered into the ringing chamber below.
Finally, the bell was loaded onto White’s lorry using a forklift truck kindly loaned by a neighbouring farm and then driven away to be delivered to Soundweld.
The repaired fifth bell will return to Hampreston for rehanging on Thursday 21st May.
Hampreston Bellringers 