On Friday 27th October, the tenor bell (the largest bell in Woolhope tower) malfunctioned in fairly spectacular fashion. During the usual weekly practice there was a terrific thud heard from the belfry while all the bells were ringing.
Ascending to the belfry, it soon became clear that the clapper had become completely detached from the tenor and was lying on the floor under the bell. The bolt that usually attaches the clapper to the bell had completely sheared off causing it to fly out. Also on closer inspection the wooden slider, which is part of the mechanism enabling the bell to be set or stood, was also damaged.
Broken Slider
This is the wooden slider which unfortunately bore the brunt of the damage as the clapper fell out of the bell.
Sheared Bolt
Here is the point at which the bolt, which usually attaches the clapper to the bell through the crown, completely sheared off.
Bell hangers Nicholson Engineering, who carried out the rehanging in 2015, have been contacted. Hopefully the repairs won’t take too long so we can ring the tenor again in December.
Fortunately we had already planned to practice in Fownhope during the month of November which gives us a little more time. In the meanwhile, we are still able to ring the remaining 5 bells for services, but they may they sound a little more solemn without the tenor tolling behind.
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St George's Church, Woolhope 
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