Eastnor Church has a peal of 6 bells, the oldest bell dating back to 1689. However, the tenor bell has not been rung for two years as the headgear had failed. As part of the larger Tower Renovation project, it was agreed that all the bells should be removed for refurbishment this year.
In April 2021, a team of bell ringers and other helpers were assembled to firstly remove the wheels and clappers from the bells before the bells were lowered 70ft to the ground from the Tower. Whites of Appleton, a company specialising in bell repairs, were on hand to supervise the removal of the bells from the tower and their onward transfer to the Whites workshop where they will be retuned and refitted.
The bells were last lowered to the ground in 1926 and their refurbishment is well overdue. A seventh bell known as the Sanctus bell will also be refitted.
An excellent video made by Tim Keyes shows the process of the bells being lowered and then moved to the churchyard where children from Eastnor School were able to look at them. Alan Bagworth, the Ringing Master was on hand to answer questions about the bells and the renovation project.