The Millennium Restoration
For a good number of years a restoration of the bells had been talked about and in 1969 the parish approached the Central Council of Church bellringers Towers and Belfries Committee. They sent their then convener Fred Sharpe a man eminently experienced at producing belfry reports.
He made several proposals The first of which and preferred action was to rehang the eight lower in the tower on a cast iron and steel bellframe. The other proposals dealt with repairs to the existing fittings including fitting new RSJs under the old frame.
There was a strong feeling that something would have to be done with the bells. But when you start a project of this sort with no funds it can seem an almost hopeless task. Money certainly was raised mainly in the form of Flower festivals etc. Estimates were sought in 1975 These estimates were in the region 6 to 8000 pounds for a full rehang in a new frame as Fred Sharpe’s original report. The rehang seemed a long way away, but the ringers never lost sight of the fact that some day something would have to be done and twenty more years would pass with minor improvements taking place mainly to wheels etc but no serious thought was given to a rehang even though the ringers own funds had risen steadily.
In early 1996 the Central Council received a grant of 3 million pounds from the Millennium Commission for the “ Ringing in the Millennium “ bell schemes. We did not rush in an application as you might expect but at our November AGM a suggestion came that we should possibly apply for a grant, The feeling of the meeting being a positive yes. The following few weeks were hectic we had to approach the Vicar and Church wardens for permission obtain an estimate and look towards obtaining grants from other sources all to be done in seven weeks as the closing date for initial applications would be 31st of December 1996.
Luckily The Whitechapel foundry could blow the dust off our estimate and report of 1975 and use this as a guide for our restoration, with one alteration to Fred Sharpes report. Augmentation to a ring of Ten. This particular part of the Scheme would be a gamble in many ways, our reading of the “Ringing in the Millennium“ scheme seemed to encourage ambitious schemes of this sought, and if we could find donors for the additional bells the grant could go towards the rest of the scheme.
It seemed as if this would work as after a pint in the Black Sheep Brewery with Paul Theakston late one Thursday evening a bell was indeed promised, things were looking good, But we had yet to fill in the second stage forms and get ourselves organised. It was at this stage that one of our ringers suggested a former colleague of his from his time at County Hall someone used to high finance and the ins and outs of grant forms and Gift aid etc. It soon became apparent that with additional cost’s the scheme would cost up to £105,000
We held a meeting with representatives from all the organisations within the town, from Parish Council to Cubs and Brownies. This meeting proved that the scheme would have the support we would need if we were to raise our share of the money. At this meeting we felt we ought to ask the question do we augment or should we drop this part of the project. The answer to this question being a
positive yes and this from all the non ringer’s in the room, the feeling of the meeting being that this would be the only time to augment. So much different to the arguments Two Hundred and thirty one years previously.
Further estimates were sought and after a great deal of thought and weighing up the pros and cons it was decided that the Whitechapel proposals fitted our requirements. Our Diocesion bell adviser Dennis Greenwood had been called in and after a try out in the presence of both Dennis and the Church Architect Neil Birdsall, Dennis made a full report feeling that our proposals were the right ones for both bells and tower. He made one suggestion in addition to our proposals, that the three Warner 19th century bells should be recast to make a better splice at the front, as he explained that excessive tuning to the old Harrison bells could then be avoided, With the new bells cast to the Harrison profile. This would then make an ordinary ten into a really splendid ten. We felt that although it would be extra cost it would make sense, And also that the view of the Bell adviser had been fully taken into account would no doubt help our application.
It was at this stage that things slowed down from our initial rush it took a long time to get our grant many months passed by meetings came and went with questions passing to and frow until eventually a descison came. A grant from the “Ringing in the Millennium” project of up to £40,326.00 would be made available being 50% of the cost of rehanging the eight bells in a ten bellframe lower in the tower.
Their grant would not be extended to the two new bells or recasting the three Warner bells
During the summer of 97 one of the supporters of our scheme Bob Broadley died very suddenly at home. It was the wish of his family that monies collected at his funeral in liu of flowers be put toward the restoration and so £2000 came our way from a collecting plate after the service Commercial union also made an offer that would push the total up to the required amount needed to purchase a bell if it could bear Bob’s name. This was something we were very happy to do as Bob was such a well liked member of the community.
Money had continued to come in from personal donations a raffle held at the Steam rally, grants from the Parish Council, Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers, The Cleveland and North Yorkshire Branch of the Yorkshire Association, Harrogate Borough Council, Womans institute and many others.
Preparations were being made for the bells being taken out and a last peal would rung be just before the event this occasion being not without incident. The ringer of the third bell experienced great difficulty after the first hour and it turned out that the bell’s gudgion had snapped, a potentially very dangerous thing, luckily the break had occurred just inside the gudgion housing We also experienced the same difficulties the following morning for Sunday Service on 30th august 1998 this being the last ring on the bells.
Although the Warner bells had been assigned to the melting pot Ian Johnson had made enquiries about there use elsewhere this resulted in a conversation
with the Rev Clive Mansell of Kirklington, with the result that Alan Hughes of Whitechapel tested the two sets of bells and made a report that they would splice together very well with tuning. After finance was sorted out they were purchased from Masham.
The fact that Kirklington now has a ring of six bells in place of its old three has been achieved with considerable local assistance a D.I.Y Bellframe made from galvanised steel section, locally made wheels and a considerably generous donation from a resident who also supervised the transport of Masham bells to and from London.
The Bells were removed from the tower by Martin Waldron the Whitechapel bellhanger on 7th and 8th of September 1998 with local assistance.
Activity in Masham included the making of the Bellwheels by our own local bellwheel maker’s T Atkinson & Son with timber provided by the Swinton Estate. A local builder cut holes in the tower walls and cast the concrete pad stones for the frame, Martin returned to fit the frame in mid November this we achieved in four days again with local labour.
On the 13th of November a bus full of ringers and supporters made the trip to the Foundry for an unforgettable experience a guided tour around the foundry where we saw our old bells, and the Kirklington bells. All the industrious activity which took place on site the ear splitting experience of tuning, And the scene of hot bell metal being poured into prepared moulds, the bells with which we would be ringing in the new Millennium.
In the weeks up to Christmas the labour force met again to install a floor under the bellframe. All being complete before Martin returned on the 4th of January 1999
All this time we had carried on with regular practices at Burniston and Wath which also included ringing for Sunday Service as neither of these towers have bands.
The return of the bells will be remembered for a long time in Masham all being lined up for a photo call after which the “Black Sheep Bell” Treble was turned mouth upwards for a traditional Baptism being filled with the appropriate ale after which a free for all ensued. Seven bells being lifted up the tower on that day the rest waiting till the following day. By Thursday evening a try out was possible with assistance from ringers from other towers the bells were well and truly put through there paces. With the feeling of those assembled that they were truly a splendid ring and that the foundry could be justly proud of them. The new bells are an excellent splice and the ninth and tenor have not touched by the tuning machine making them truly one of the few old style tens in Yorkshire.
Other work in the tower to be carried out included removing most of the old floor under the old frame to allow more sound out. The fitting of sound control to the inside of the louvres, and adjustments to the ringing room door to allow more vision of the ropes. And also recommissioning the Church clock this piece of restoration must rank as one of the finest examples of the clock restorers art it is truly a thing of beauty, the work being carried out by Geoff Newey of R Newey & Son. York
On the 6th of March we had our annual ringers dinner, the guest speaker being Alan Hughes. The following morning we gathered again for the dedication of the bells by the Bishop of Ripon.
We are now actively involved in teaching our new volunteers to ring so that we can all ring in the new Millennium.
The weights and inscriptions of the restored bells.
Treble. From Black Sheep and first to sound 5-0-7
Whitechapel 1998
The sheep hear his voice; and he calleth his own
sheep by name and leadeth them out
John 10 : 3
2 Then comes Bob Broadley in the round 5-0-15
In memory of R F Broadley (Bob) 1928 - 1997
A true man of Masham
Whitechapel 1998
3 Masham Millennium we will chime 5-2-23
In memory of the Mallabys bellhangers
who in 1862 augmented this ring to eight
Whitechapel 1998
4 As ten bells ring on into time 5-3-24
The gift of the ringers
Whitechapel 1998
5 Look to my brethren whilst the peal i lead 6-1-23
In grateful thanks to the people of Masham, and
others, who made this Millennium project
possible.
Whitechapel 1998
6 We to the tribles motions muft take heed J.H 1766 7-1-0
7 In various courfes we are taught to range J.H 1766 7-3-17
8 In singles doubles and in triples change J.H 1766 8-3-17
9 Of every peal is rung by different scheme.
James Harrison of Barrow
C wardens 1766 Will Wrather, Jos Calvert, Thos Smothwaite
11-1-11
Tenor. Of dodge and bob and rounds at the extream 1766
Ed moifes vic Momento Mori J.H. 13-1-21 |
