A week or so before work was due to start we removed the plastic sheeting and wire netting from the louvres which served as birdproofing. With this removed the bells became noticeably louder !!
With the shutters open the sound of the bells is almost unchanged. Once closed the volume is considerably reduced making it ideal for practice sessions and the teaching of new ringers. It also serves to conserve heat and protect the bell installation from the weather.
The Sound Control Project 2007/08
Phew !! What a lot of gear.
The project would not have been possible without the financial support
of local ringers, The Parochial Church Council, The Clifton Chronicles, The Biggleswade District of the Bedfordshire Association of
Church Bell Ringers, Local Authority Liaison Forum, and National Lottery
Awards for All.
A few years back it was thought that it would be really helpful to the band if the bells were a little more available for practices Quarter peals and peal attempts. As they were their volume outside was too great to allow this to any extent and with the prospect of new housing going up across the road from the Church this situation was unlikely to change.
We decided to embark on a project to have a variable sound control system installed. PCC approval was obtained and a faculty applied for. We then had some fundraising to do. An order was eventually placed with Sound Solutions and once the faculty was cleared they started the installation work in February 2008. Willing volunteers took time out to assist in moving their van load of tools and made to measure parts and panels from ground level to the belfry, tiring work but fun. Once all the gear had been shifted the job was completed and ready for testing later that week.
Work started in earnest on Monday Feb 18th with a van load of made to measure panels tools and other associated material being tranported via a combination of a chaingang up the spiral staircase and a hoist rigged up between the ringing chamber and the belfry.
