The first reference to eight
bells at Writtle appear in the Churchwarden’s Accounts of 1758. In 1787,
Robert Patrick of Woodford furnished an estimate for recasting the bells but
before he could do so the Tower collapsed in 1800 destroying the ring of
eight bells. The Tower was rebuilt in 1802, but Thomas Mears of Whitechapel
did not install the new bellframe and ring of eight bells until 1811.
The old eight bells were always difficult to ring and this difficulty had
worsened in recent years due to the increasing flexibility of the old wooden
frame and wear and tear of the fixtures and fittings. To overcome this
difficulty, the ringers proposed replacing the old frame with a new metal
one located slightly lower in the tower. At the same time augment the bells
to ten.
At the Belfry AGM on 21 January 2000, members unanimously agreed to the
proposal and a sub-committee was formed to take the work forward. In March
2000, the PCC approved the proposal in principle and meetings were held with
the Honorary Diocesan Technical Adviser, structural engineers, and the
Central Council of Church Bell Ringers and formal estimates for the work
were commissioned.
The PCC met on 21 September 2000. On the agenda was a feasibility report,
prepared by the bellringers, summarising the findings of the technical
experts, discussing the quotations and making a number of recommendations.
The report was approved. We now had permission to progress the augmentation
project and to start fundraising. An Appeal Committee was formed.
At the PCC meeting on 29 November 2000, an amendment to the feasibility
report was presented for twelve bells in a thirteen-bell frame, rather than
the ten agreed at the September meeting. The argument in favour of twelve
bells was that to add two smaller semi-tone bells would provide a light
eight in a true diatonic scale that would greatly help in teaching eight
bell methods and in teaching learners.
The Writtle All Saints Bell Appeal was formally launched on 4 March 2001,
with a target of £130,000. The launch was a tremendous success. In the few
weeks leading up to the launch sponsors for five bells were pledged and
another was received on the day. Over 170 people attended and viewed an
exhibition, a demonstration of method ringing on handbells and listened to a
presentation by Tower Captain, Phil Stephens. On the day we received
donations of a further £2,400.
By April 2001, pledges to sponsor seven of the twelve bells had been
received. This, together with some other very generous donations, brought
the total raised to just over £40,000.
Fundraising continued, the main aim being to keep the project in the
minds of the community and to appeal to a diverse audience as possible.
Events included two Teddy Bear Parachuting days and a Teddy Bear Aerial
Runway, a Balloon Race, Tower Tours, three Barn Dances, a Coffee Morning,
three Quiz Nights, a Handbell Concert, a concert by the Essex Police Band
and a nationally advertised Open Day of all 31 Towers in the South East
District of the Essex Association.
Immediately after the first Quiz Night in September 2001, two further
donors came forward to sponsor the 8th and 9th bells!
Immediately after the first Quiz Night in September 2001, two further
donors came forward to sponsor the 8th and 9th bells!
Change Ringers, which was founded at Writtle in June 1879, agreed to
grant us £12,800 for the 10th bell in its 125th anniversary year. Later that
month the Diocesan Advisory Committee met and approved the first stage of
the Faculty application.
Fundraising continued throughout 2002. Protracted negotiations began with
English Heritage. In June the Appeal passed the magic £100,000. On 29
November 2002, we were delighted hear that our application for a grant from
the Chelmsford Borough Council Jubilee Community Fund had been successful
and that we had been awarded £21,000 for the new tenor bell. That news meant
that we had achieved our target of £130,000. However we now needed to raise
an additional £10,000 to cover the cost of lifting and securing the old
bellframe under the tower roof in order to meet the concerns raised by
English Heritage.
It was not until November 2003 that we received the really good news that
the final stage of the Faculty had been signed. This meant that the order
for the new bells could at last be placed with Taylor's of
Loughborough. A milestone in the life of All Saints, Writtle!
Suddenly after a period of relative inactivity it was all go! Site
meetings took place with the Church Architect, Planning Supervisor and Eayre
& Smith; method statements and health and safety statements were drawn up;
confirmation was received that there were no bats in the belfry! The old
installation was faithfully recorded for posterity; the clock was
temporarily removed and staged payments agreed and cashflows drawn up.
A salvage company was contacted about disposal of the old wood and steel
supporting beams and specifications for new steel ladders to access the
tower were drawn up. Protective and safety clothing was ordered, and a
pallet truck and scaffold boards were acquired.
Work began in earnest on 2 January 2004, the day after the 160th and last
peal on the old bells, when the bells and fittings were removed. They were
delivered to Whitechapel Bell Foundry later that month for onward delivery
to Seattle. The old bellframe was lifted up to the tower roof by the end of
January. During February the old belfry floor and wood and steel supporting
beams and staircases were removed. Pockets were cut into the walls for the
new bellframe. In March the new metal frame was delivered and installed and
during April the lengthy process of grouting the frame in place was
completed.
Meanwhile the new inscriptions were agreed and a schedule of castings
received from Taylor's. For the castings of two bells or more coach trips
were arranged for donors and parishioners. In all over 100 people travelled
to Loughborough to witness the momentous occasions throughout January,
February and March.
On 14 May, the sun shone and local school children turned out as the new
bells were delivered and placed in the Church. On 16 May, a Hallowing
Service took place, a truly memorable and moving event for all that
attended. The following day saw the first five bells installed in the tower.
By 19 May all were installed together with their fittings. The new access
ladders and belfry floor were also installed.
Stephen Colley from Eayre & Smith expertly commissioned the bells and a
test ring took place on the evening of 27 May. The scene was therefore set
for the Dedication and Thanksgiving Service on Saturday 5 June. For those
interested in statistics, 24 pockets were cut in the tower walls and filled;
20 bags of cement and 3½ tons of ballast were used and since the 2 January
the work has involved over 1,500 man hours and the consumption of about
1,000 cups of tea!
The new bells are heavier, providing a richer more mellow tone. The note
of the tenor (the heaviest) is D and it weighs 31½ cwt. The twelve bells
provide us with several combinations that may be rung together, the main two
being a ring of ten in the key of D major and a lighter ring of eight in the
key of A major. The project will reward Writtle with bells that are much
easier to control, easier to learn on and a ring of bells that will provide
a gloriously rich sound on a par with the best in the country.
The people of Writtle were very involved in this project right from the
start. They have helped with and taken part in a variety of fund raising
events, they have donated money, and individuals and families within the
village have sponsored nine of the bells.