The Bells
The bells at St Peter’s are a fine ring of eight cast by Taylor’s of Loughborough and installed in a new steel frame in 1959. Around the middle of the 20th century, Taylor’s were renowned for making good sounding rings of bells, particularly heavier rings like the ones installed at St Peter’s. As a result, the Alton bells are very highly regarded in terms of their sound outside the tower and also the ‘go’ of the bells and the sound inside the tower for the ringer.
The bells have needed little attention over the last 60 years and it is now time to overhaul some of the
bearings and fittings, repaint the bellframe and to look at improvements that should be made to ensure the bells serve the church and village well for the next 60 years and for future generations of ringers.
While the bells are a joy to ring for a band able to manage a heavy 8, which was the aim of installing them in 1959, the weight is a bit of a challenge for a local village band and we often ring the 6 lightest bells.
These are not tuned as a true ring of 6 would be and we propose to augment the bells with two smaller bells. This will give a true harmonic light six as well as retaining the current ring of eight and creating a
glorious ring of ten.
The Project
The present bells themselves do not need any work other than surface cleaning. The bells and frame will be taken from the tower to Taylor’s worshop and thoroughly overhauled. The bell frame and headstocks will be shot blasted to remove surface rust and then galvanized and repainted. The bell bearings, clappers and pulleys will be renewed and overhauled.
• While the bells are out of the tower, the boarding behind
the louvres will be replaced with adjustable openings to
allow better control of the sound.
• The oak louvres visible on the outside of the tower will be
renewed.
• Two new bells will be cast to blend with the existing ring
with new frame, headstocks and fittings.
• The clock will be converted to electric winding to give
space for the new bells.
• The 10 bells and frame will be reinstalled in the tower.
Make a donation.
Any donations will be very welcome and will help to ensure that the bells serve the village for future generation. If you are a UK tax payer you can make your donations worth 25% more to us, at
no extra cost to you, through Gift Aid.
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