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bell How we did it

Restoration Plan

The Costs

Savings

 

Tibenham’s ring of 6 bells is one of the top three in Norfolk. The current bells were cast in 1787 and are still in relatively good condition. However, the bells are mounted in a beautifully crafted oak frame dating from 1440 AD. Because of the age of the frame, its movement and the poor condition of the ringing fittings, the bells had been silent over Tibenham for nearly 15 years. We have all worked hard so that the bells have been restored and can be rung again. Pictures of the new bell frame are here.

How we did it

I have left much of the details on the website.  If you are interested in restoring your bells, you may learn from our experience by looking at the Appeal News and Restoration Progress pages.  However, there are certain things that we did:.

  1. Identify stakeholders.  Diocese, Rector, English Heritage, Church Architect, PCC, local Ringers, congregation, village, bell founders.
  2. Make a plan that is agreeable to all and is achievable.
  3. Decide management structure and project management responsibilities.
  4. Start local fundraising.  Whist drives, raffles, prize draws etc.
  5. Seek grant funding.  However, don't wait until you have all the funding in place before starting work.  Break the project down into stages and fund one at a time.
  6. Review the plan  Adjust implementation as necessary.  Don't be too focussed on details, remember the final aim..
  7. Have faith and keep the vision.

The bells have now been restored.  

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The Restoration Plan

We have taken much advice from the remaining English bell foundries, English Heritage and the Diocesan Adviser. Our current plan is to:

Preserve and repair the medieval wooden bell frame, a Grade One listed structure.
Install a new metal bell frame lower down the Tower, because of the instability of the belfry floor support beams.
Retune the bells and rehang them with appropriate fittings and ropes
Repair and replace the floors in the ringing chamber, the silence chamber (which will become the new belfry) and the bell chamber.

The Costs

At current prices, the quotations that for the work indicate that the total cost will be £45,000. This has come down from our initial figure as due to changes in Taxation, most of the work will now be zero rated for VAT.  We have obtained National Lottery Heritage Fund funding allowing the restoration to take place but we will be still paying for this for some time so keep the money flowing in.. 

Savings

  Woody's, a local haulage firm helped us by providing transport for the bells to the bell foundry, saving us £1000,