The Tower Extension Project February to June 2004

The tower extension project started on Monday 2 February 2004. The project included:

..........* the removal of all 8 bells and fittings

..........* removal of the old bell frame

..........* complete dimantling of ringing chamber and effects

..........* reshrouding all 8 wheels with deeper shrouding

..........* cutting a new passageway through to the shed

..........* removal of the front panel and insertion of new panels, extending the house by 3 feet

..........* installation of new bell frame and rehanging the bells

..........* making the front portion of the shed into a reception area

..........* refitting and redecoration of ringing chamber

The weather over the first few months was so bad I didn’t do anything much other than dismantling the interior, which left the J & J House very unstable. Fortunately the house was still standing when the weather improved. I had a weeks holiday so I was able to get the ball rolling at last.

To start with I had to lay concrete block foundations. Then I knocked through from the shed into the J & J House, this was easier than I thought although the floors were on different levels. On the second day I removed the front panel (single handed) and propped it up with a piece of 4x2 just in front of where it was to go.

I was lucky enough to still have the original upstairs floor from the J & J House to use as the floor extension. I then made the side panels and bolted the front panel back on. That was a great moment as I could then see just how enormous it was going to be. By the fifth day it was time for the roof which was a lot simpler in comparison and looked the business by the end of my week off when I had covered it with matching roofing felt shingles.

A couple of weeks later I started on the bell frame. Although I had spent many hours designing the new frame in my head, I had no more idea of what to do before I had started the work. So I worked out where I wanted the ropes to fall and then set out the layout as simply as possible. Now all the bells swing east – west with the ropes on the front six falling on the same side of the wheel. The access trap is in the middle as before, and was made big enough for easy access to the bells without danger of being hit on the head by a swinging bell! Once the ground pulleys had been refitted we had a very rough try out.

The next job was the long and laborious task of refitting the ringing chamber with improved padded seating with storage underneath.

On Sunday 6 June 2004 we held the proper try-out, and had 8 people in the ringing chamber for the first time. It was such a joy to ring without sitting at a strange angle crammed in like sardines! We rang a plain course of Stedman Triples which went well. Then we decided to ring a Quarter Peal. My daughter Lizzie could not spend the time as she had homework to do, so Ben Carey was press ganged in to ringing 7/8 and he also agreed to conduct it for us. Within 35 minutes we had scored the first quarter peal.

I am very pleased with how it has all worked out, all the objectives I have set out at the start have been achieved. My thanks for all the kind words of support and encouragement from my friends who regularly ring at the Narnia Campanile.