HENNOCK BELLS

INFORMATION

ABOUT

Hennock  is a very old church with the tower dating from around 1250 and the rest of the Church around 1450. The font is even older , Norman from about 1170. The ceiling is one of the finest in the country having been restored in the mid seventies

THE BELLS
The tower contains four bells, they all have relatively new headstocks and repaired wheels they have no stays or sliders and whilst intended to be swing chimed, they were capable of being rung full circle and were on occasions up until late 1999.  The Bovey Ringers use to ring there for special occasions such as weddings and it was on one such occasion when a knocking became more pronounced.

On examination concern was raised over the strength of the frame , this was subsequently confirmed by an inspection undertaken by Nicholsons Bellhangers a copy of his report is set out below.

The bells them selves are wildly out of tune 

INSCRIPTIONS 

TREBLE    An Alphabet bell from A to K  - Bell is Circa 1430 by Robert Norton of Exeter and as such is worthy of preservation
2nd           The second bell was recast and re-hung in 1904 as a memorial to the coronation of King Edward VII - 1904 Mears and Stainback, Whitechapel 
3rd            The bell is fifteenth century with a prayer inscribed PROTEGE VIRGO PIA QUOS SANCTA MARIA ( Protect, holy Virgin Mary, those whom I call together ) - Circa 1450 IT, Exeter again                       worthy of preservation 
TENOR     The tenor bell which weighs about 10 cwt was recast in 1637. - 1637 Thomas Pennington II , Exeter  The tenor is cracked in the Crown, however the extent of this cracking is not fully                             known

The current fittings are Circa 1990 when the bells were rehung by Arthur Fidler , so it was sad that the bells became unringable again in such a short space of time 

THE FRAME 

The frame for the three larger bells is medieval and as such of significant historic interest , the treble frame is an extension thought to be circa 17 Century 

At the time a proposal was put to scrap the Tenor and 2nd bell, retain the two older bells on display and retain the frame due to its historic importance and to hang a light six lower in the tower , due to finances the decision was made by the Church Authorities to do nothing so the bells remained unused save the use by an Ellacombe Chiming apparatus.

In 2011 a local project , removed the Ellacombe Chiming Apparatus cut the ends of the frame off and cut channels into the medieval frame to resin bond new ends onto the frame.  This was carried out with the knowledge and consent of the DCA but with little in the way  professional input.  Again representation were made to the Church authorities by the Bovey Tracey Ringers  pointing out that this repair would not allow the bells to be rung full circle , that it would not address the cracks in the Tenors crown and that it would damage the historic frame.  Again an alternative scrapping the two youngest bells and a light six re hang were proposed as an alternative. This was not responded to.

The DCA advice was the bells could only be "low" swing chimed , and the local behind the project , who had no ringing experience started a small group, chiming the bells, albeit they had no input on this and were reticent to seek support form local ringers.   Regretably and not knowing anything about ringing it was broadcast that the bells were ringable again ( they were not)  which resulted in considerable interest which had to be managed. To be clear the bells are not ringable , chiming only .  Details and pictures of the work is available from the link below.