Berkeley Bells

View of Bell 1 - Taken by mhs 06 Oct 2014

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View of Bell 2 - Taken by mhs 06 Oct 2014

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Text associated with bells. - Taken by mhs 06 Oct 2014

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Berkeley Bell Tower - Taken by War Memorials Trust 17 Mar 2016

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Bells dedication (2 are war memorial bells) - Taken by War Memorials Trust 17 Mar 2016

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Inside the bell tower - Taken by War Memorials Trust 17 Mar 2016

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Memorial bell - Taken by War Memorials Trust 17 Mar 2016

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Treble in situ. Inscription visible. - Taken by Timothy P.T. Soanes 25 Oct 2017

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Treble in situ from above. - Taken by Timothy P.T. Soanes 25 Oct 2017

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Second in situ from above. - Taken by Timothy P.T. Soanes 25 Oct 2017

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Second in situ. - Taken by Timothy P.T. Soanes 08 Nov 2017

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Close-up of inscription on second. - Taken by Timothy P.T. Soanes 08 Nov 2017

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Overall view of bells from above. Treble and second bottom right. - Taken by Andrew A. Ward 18 Nov 2017

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Overall view. 2nd on right with treble behind to right. - Taken by W. Peter Yardley 18 Nov 2017

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Second in foreground with treble behind (bells 'up'). - Taken by Timothy P.T. Soanes 18 Nov 2017

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South side of tower - Taken by W. Peter Yardley 25 Dec 2017

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Reference WMO/187880

Address:

St Mary the Virgin Church

Church Lane

Berkeley

GL13 9BN

England

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In 2016, WMT gave a grant towards this war memorial. As it has been a number of years since the grant was given, we would like an up-to-date condition survey and photographs to be added to this war memorial record. Can you help?

Status: On original site

Type: Other

Location: Internal

Setting: Inside a building - public/private

Description: Bells

Materials:

Metal Metal (any)

Lettering: Unknown

Conflicts:

First World War (1914-1918)

About the memorial: Treble and second bells provided by the Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Association of Change Ringers to remember those who lost their lives in the First World War.They are hung with 8 older bells in the freestanding Bell Tower Bells within a Grade I listed tower

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Condition Level:

Comments:

During 2017 the bells (of which the treble and second are First World War memorials) were rehung on one level and retuned, plus building work was carried out on the tower. This has resulted in a transition from a moderately difficult ring of ten, of which the fourth bell had been unringable since early 2010, to a much easier to ring and much better sounding peal of ten bells.
During the last week of March and first week of April 2017 work was carried out to remove the bells, fittings and cast iron frame sides from the tower and transport them to the bellhangers’ works in Loughborough. The corroded early 1920s upper frame support beams were removed and scrapped. While the bells were at the works a new steel support grillage was manufactured; the bells, frame sides and metal fittings were cleaned by grit blasting; the existing frame was modified to fit the new layout; all fittings were refurbished or replaced; all ten bells were retuned in order to tone down the harsh harmonics, especially the sharp hum notes that were especially noticeable for some of the bells; the new steel grillage, frame sides, frame ends, bearings and headstocks and other fittings were assembled followed by dismantling and galvanising of the new steel grillage and painting of the cast iron frame sides. 
While the bells were away, building work was carried out on the tower. This included replacement of the ringing chamber lath and plaster ceiling; repair of the clock chamber timber floor; repair of the masonry crack in the wall of the bell chamber caused by rusting of an upper bellframe support beam end; repair and replacement of the louvres in the south wall of the tower; pointing of the crack on the outside of the tower with lime mortar; treatment and repair of the areas of spalled concrete on the bellchamber reinforced concrete ceiling; replacement of the asphalt on the roof, with new lead flashings being fitted all round plus fitting of a stainless steel collar to the base of the leaking flagpole support stand in order to prevent further ingress of water onto the bells. 
During the period September, October and early November, 2017, a new belfry floor was installed; the new steel support grillage for the bellframe was installed and grouted into new pockets in the belfry walls; the cast iron frame sides and new steel frame ends were installed followed by the bells and their fittings. Work was then carried out to lead each bell rope from the belfry through the clock chamber to the ringing room ceiling.
This work was supported by grants from the War Memorials Trust; Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund; Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust and the Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers, plus several generous private donations. 
The first service ringing on the rehung bells was half-muffled for the Remembrance Service on Sunday 12th November, 2017. Since then the bells have been in regular use.

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Grants to support the repair and conservation of war memorials are available from the charity War Memorials Trust if it has raised funds. Support is focused on war memorials in Very bad or Poor condition or where there is a serious Concern.

Before applying for a grant you should read the advice available on War Memorials Trust`s website. The What we can and cannot fund helpsheet explains what types of work the charity can fund.

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Inscription:

On the 2nd bell: 'Mears & Stainbank 1921 To the glory of God and in memory of our brethren who fell in the Great War 1914-1918 these two bells were presented by the Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Association of Change Ringers and friends.'

Names:

No names of the fallen are given, but the names of the vicar and churchwardens are given on the treble (1st) bell.

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Listing grade:

Curtilage

Listing URL:

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1090634

Unique listing reference number:

1090634

Conservation area:

Information Required

Local list / Historic environment record:

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Claim Custodianship

Custodian name:

St Mary the Virgin Church Berkeley

Custodian website:

http://www.stmarys-berkeley.co.uk/