ArchitectureThree architectural styles
can be seen in the tower; the lower part is early English, built in the 13th
Century; the middle part is Decorated; and the upper part, which houses the
bells, is Perpendicular.
The diagram shows a typical layout of a church tower with bells, although
at Eccleshall we have a clock chamber between the belfry and the ringing
room.
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Ringing Room - 312 steps above ground
Eccleshall has a ring of eight bells and a small 'call bell' that is used
when a band of ringers is not available. The rope for the call bell passes
through to the rear of the church and the ring of eight bells, which form a
chromatic octave, are rung in this room.
On starting to ring we sound the bells in sequence from the lightest,
known as the treble through to the heaviest, known as the tenor. We can then
vary this sequence either by calls being made to tell certain bells to swap
place (known as call change ringing) or by each ringer changing the position
of their bell according to a pre-arranged pattern ( known as change
ringing). Various change ringing patterns or 'methods' are displayed on the
ringing room notice board.
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The entrance to the tower and the bell ringing room. The size of the doorway
gives visitors an idea of how narrow and tight the steps are. Medieval and
castle like. |
Clock Chamber - 53 steps above ground
This chamber contains a hand wound clock manufactured in 1899 by Joyce
of Whitchurch, Shropshire. It drives the clock faces on the outside of the
tower and a wire connected to a 'hammer' in the belfry strikes the
tenor bell on the hour and half hour. During ringing this hammer is wound
back to prevent if obstructing the path of the tenor bell.
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Bell Chamber - 77 steps above ground
Originally Eccleshall possessed a ring of six bells in a wooden frame.
The larger five bells were cast by Abraham Rudhall of Gloucester in 1710 and
it is also possible that he cast a sixth bell at the same time. There were
certainly six bells by 1873 when the lightest bell was sent for recasting to
Taylor's bell foundry in Loughborough.
By 1948 the bell frame had become unsafe and ringing was halted.
Eventually in 1954, the old frame was replaced by a steel 'A' frame and all
the bells were rehung on ball bearings. The new frame had an extra two
spaces and these were duly filled in 1956 by the addition of two bells, the
gift of the Lowe family of Sugnall.
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Ringing the BellsThe bells are bolted
to metal beams known as 'headstocks' and these rotate at either end in a
sealed ball race, making the bells easy to move. Attached to the headstock
is a wooden wheel that guides the bell rope. When rung, the bells are spun
in a complete circle and balanced in the mouth upwards position after each
stroke. This allows the time interval between strokes to be controlled so
that the bells can be rung in a n orderly manner. At the end of ringing the
bells can be rested against a wooden stay that prevents the bell from
turning all the way over.
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