ABINGDON BELLS: PhotographsPHOTOGRAPHS
Click on any image to enlarge it.
Plate 1.
A general view of the belfry interior looking north east showing the
relationship of the two tiers and the supports for the upper frame.
This also shows the steel support added below the middle of the top frame in 1961.
Plate 2.
A general view of the bells from above, showing the top frame (left)
and the positions of bells in the east side (nos. 5 and 6) and
in the parallel pits (nos. 1, 4, 7 and 8 left to right).
This view also shows (centre) the sound chute installed to improve
the audibility of the bells in the top tier.
Plate 3.
Detail of the double jack-braced return section in the south end of the pit of the ninth bell.
The sill of this truss is halved over the corresponding sill on the west side.
Notice the flat plates on the heads, the angle-plate and the tie rods.
The cast iron headstock on the bell dates from 1961.
Plate 4.
Detail of the double-jack-braced truss between the eighth and ninth bells,
looking west. Again, notice the ironwork added at various dates to strengthen
the structure and improve the rigidity of the frame.
Plate 5.
A general view lower bellframe looking north towards the fifth bell (right)
and illustrating the relationship between the parallel (left) and end-to-end (right) pits.
This view also shows the modern iron spacer bar between the pits of bells 5 and 6 and
the broken end of an older bar.
Plate 6.
Another view of the same area, looking north-east, showing the bracing and
spacer bar between bells 5 and 6 in more detail.
Notice the sound chute in the pit of the fifth bell.
Plate 7.
Detail of the spacer section in the west pit between the ninth (front) and tenor bells.
Notice the curved brace, the iron T-plate on the head and the long bolt along the horizontal member.
Plate 8.
Another view of the same area looking west, showing (foreground) the stepped head
in the eastern truss of the pits of the ninth and tenor bells and the spacer section beyond.
Plate 9.
Detail of the stepped head between the pits of bells 9 and 10 looking east
showing the cut-outs in the woodwork and the position of the joining members.
Notice the parallel braces side-by-side below the heads.
Plate 10.
Detail of the stepped head looking west, showing the parallel braces
between the heads and sills in structural context.
These braces are bolted together where they cross.
Plate 11.
The top frame of 1885-6 looking north-east towards the east end and the pit of the third bell.
This view also shows the supporting woodwork and the sound chute (right).
The frame is of standard Victorian timber lowside construction.
Plate 12.
The west end of the top frame, looking north-west and showing the second bell.
Plate 13.
A general view of the belfry towards the seventh and eighth bells with the sixth beyond.
This photograph illustrates the fittings provided in 1961 by Frank White, of Appleton.
Notice the block in the headstock on the seventh replacing the timber around the canons
of the old bell which was recast in 1970.
Plate 14.
The Mears & Stainbank tenor bell of 1885 (recast from one of 1764 by Lester & Pack)
and its 1961 fittings by Frank White of Appleton.
Plate 15.
The peal board in the ringing room recording the first full peal on the bells,
rung at the second attempt on 29 May 1886 – a few weeks after the dedication of the augmented ring.
Plate 16.
The stone tablet in the ringing room commemorating the rehanging of the bells in 1961.
© Copyright 2006, Chris Pickford