Thurstaston Jubilee Bell Project
Last updated 3 June 2002
First Peal scored on augmented ring - see below...
The proposal to augment to a ring of six at Thurstaston has been much welcomed across the Wirral Branch. Funded largely by private subscription from residents of the village and supported by the Bell Restoration Funds of both our parent Chester Diocesan Guild and the Wirral Branch, together with donations from local ringers, this project was finally approved towards the end of 2001.
The 'Jubilee Bell' was cast by Taylors of Loughborough on Thursday 28th March, the occasion being witnessed by a party comprising donors to the project and Thurstaston / Wirral Branch ringers who had been kindly invited by the church to attend the casting.
Prior to the casting, the party was taken on a conducted tour of the foundry and its museum where the fascinating process of casting and tuning was described in some detail.
The Jubilee Bell was delivered on Thursday 23rd May, a day earlier than the rescheduled date, and then lifted into place and fitted on Monday 27th. A service of dedication was held at St Bartholomew's this evening attended by, amongst others, several Wirral Branch members.
The following pictures, taken by your Branch Secretary, show the new bell in the church where it could be seen by the congregation and visitors over the week-end. The new pit was prepared adjacent to the tenor whose rope was fitted to the opposite side of the wheel to enable a better rope circle.
The latest pictures show the bell being lifted into the belfry and then fitted into place to complete the augmentation.
Other photographs record the trip to Taylor's to witness the casting of the Bell.
The first Peal on the six was successfully completed on the morning of Monday 3rd June, the band including local ringer Peter Robson attempting his first peal.
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The Jubilee Bell

Bellfounder's mark and date.

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Revd. Diane Watson
Rector, St Bartholomew 		The Rector and Richard Turner
Tower Captain

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New pit for the Jubilee Bell with tenor seen to the right.

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Ready for the big lift...

.. into the Belfry

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Putting it all together...

... ready to ring!

THE CASTING OF THE JUBILEE BELL

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Picnic in the park - Spot the Ringers!
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A lesson in tuning.
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Pouring molten bell metal into the cast.Jubilee Bell - under the sand!
Solidifying bell metal visible at top.
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