The stairs and bell-chamber are very clean and there is plenty of electric lighting throughout. Access to the nave roof void is gained from an arched opening in the east wall of the bell-chamber.

The mouth of the bell and lower frame members are positioned some nine or ten feet above the bell-chamber floor and level with the louvre openings. Consequently a ladder is required in order to inspect the bell in detail. The interior of the spire is completely open to the bell-chamber although small access platforms are positioned at various levels.

The bell is hung dead from a steel girder by means of U bolts passing through its canons (see Picture Gallery). It may be "clocked" (struck) using the rope tied to the clapper flight and drawn over a pulley. However, it has not been in use at least since the time of re-dedication of this church, formerly St Anne, in 1991 when the parish was combined with those of the former Birkenhead, St Peter (Cathcart Street) and Birkenhead, St Mark (Slatey Road) to form the present 'Parish of Birkenhead Priory'. The rope now descends only to the belfry floor. Previously it was drawn over two further pulleys to the rope hole in the south-west corner and thence to the tower basement.

It was roped to its present position by locals in the belief that the installation was not safe for regular use. Whilst the installation is not actually dangerous, the securing bolts through the canons allow the bell to move on its girder rather more than is desirable.

There is clear evidence that this bell was formerly hung full-circle, namely the presence of the wooden headstock complete with stay attached, the slider pin and, from marks on the frame, the former presence of a pulley block, as may be seen in the Picture Gallery. There is also wear on opposite sides of the soundbow, but more marked where the clapper is now able to strike whenever used.

The bell, which had plain bearings, has a cast-in crown staple. There are two moulding wires at the bottom of the soundbow, three above and two lines of two at the shoulder. The inscription was difficult to decipher due to corrosion and, while it seems probable that the date of casting lies adjacent to the bellfounders name, there was no means of determining the figures for the date. However, the church was built sometime during the period 1846 to 1850 and is seems most likely that the bell was cast at this time.

Regarding the bell-founders, Preston & Ross of Liverpool, the following information can be found in Gores' Directory of Liverpool and its Environs for 1845 - 1849 (published by J. Gore & Son, Castle Street, Liverpool).

Preston & Ross appear to have traded traded as brassfounders and coppersmiths between 1845 and 1849 so the bell must have been cast between these years. The firm is listed under 2 Mount Street. Liverpool in the 1845 directory, moving to 42 Henry Street, in the vicinity of Duke Street by 1847. Prior to 1845, a firm trading as Preston & Co. brassfounders and coppersmiths traded from 16 Suffolk Street, (off Duke Street) Liverpool. By 1851, it was trading from the Henry Street premises as Fawcett, Preston & Co. One Henry Robert Preston would appear to be the common denominator in each case.

The only other Preston & Ross bell so far discovered is an 1847 casting of approximately 9 cwt at Holy Trinity Church, Walton Breck, Anfield, Liverpool.

Bryan J McCahey and Peter F Humphreys
March 2003

All the above detail was determined during inspection by Bryan McCahey, Peter Hughes and Peter Humphreys during their visit on Friday 14th February and from discussion with Mr Arthur Smith, Churchwarden, who kindly accompanied the above during the inspection.