The Bells

The Church has a peal of 6 bells

Until 2021 the largest bell had been the tenor which was 3 feet in diameter and weighed over 400 kg. It was the oldest bell and was cast by Rudhall at Gloucester in 1689 and was known to have the image of a man’s head. It bears the inscription “me resonare; facitt; pietas mors atque volvptas.” In April 2019 the gudgeon (axle)  fractured during ringing and The Diocesan Bell Advisor  recommended that the bells be tuned and rehung, with new fittings (headstocks, wheels and clappers) due to the age and poor condition of the existing fittings. The metal frame was to be cleaned and repainted when the bells were removed. The repair work was delayed by the approval process and the onset of covid.

Discovery Trail Eastnor Primary Children

When the tenor bell was examined at the bellhangers’ works, two ‘heads’ on the crown of the bell were positioned where holes for supporting bolts to the headstock were required to be placed. Following discussions with the Diocesan Bell advisor and other bell experts, it was considered that these heads were  unique and should be retained. The only solution was a replacement tenor: the cost for a new bell was obtained and a donor found.  It was decided to locate the old tenor bell with the other bells in the bell chamber, mounted on a post from the base girder at the side of no 5 bell frame. It is now used as the hour bell for the clock chime.

Of the other bells, four were also cast by Rudhall between 1717 and 1745 and the treble bell was added in 1863, cast by Mears and Stainbank at the Whitechapel bell foundry.

Discovery Trail Eastnor Primary Children

The new tenor bell was cast at Taylors’ at Loughborough on 24 February 2022 with the ‘head’ on the original tenor being reproduced on the new bell. After Whites had tuned the new tenor all 6 bells and the old tenor bell  were returned to the church on 14 March 2022. The installation was completed on 23 March 2022 and the bells are now able to be rung.

Discovery Trail Eastnor Primary Children

The bells are, with their annotations

TREBLE G MEARS & CO FOUNDERS LONDON 1863

  • LAUDO DEUM VERUM, PLEBUM VOCO CONGREGO CLERUM GULIEMO PULLING RECTOR
  • diameter 61.2 cm weight 167 kg Note F#
  • II WHEN YOU ME RING ILL SWEETLY SING AR 1745
  • RECAST 1967 LONDON MEARS
  • Diameter 67.5 cm weight 180 kg note E

THE RING REHUNG AND A NEW TENOR CAST WHITES OF APPLETON 2021

  • 20 (Taylors foundry mark) 21
  • CELEBRAMUS VITAE 
  • Diameter 86.4cm weight 341 kg note A 
  • The Old Tenor which now chimes the hours, 
  • ME RESONARE FACIT PIETAS MORS ARQUE VOLUPTAS 1689 
  • Cast by A Rudhall, Gloucester 
  • Diameter 89 cm weight 347 kg Note A
Services Eastnor Church Clock

Additional funding was secured from the Heritage Fund and local ringers, past and present, were very generous in financially supporting the restoration. The donor for the tenor bell had previously rung as a member of the band when he lived locally. The Hereford Diocesan Guild of Bellringers Bell Restoration Fund awarded a grant of £4200 and the Sharpe Trust £450. Local ringers also assisted by dismantling, lowering and loading the bells for transportation to the bellhangers works at Appleton near Oxford and doing the same in reverse when the refurbished bells returned.

The bells continue to be rung for services, including weddings, and there is a weekly practice, usually on a Monday. The team of bell ringers is led by the ringing master, Alan Bagworth. If you would like further information about the bells or wish to join the team, then please contact him on 01531 635667 or alanbagworth97@gmail.com.

Services Eastnor Church Clock