Alfold: The Guild's new tower

Alfold Bells to End a 90 Year Silence and be Augmented from Three to Six

Alfold is in the extreme south of Surrey, close to the Sussex border. The beautiful old church of St Nicholas has a single wide roof which covers both the nave and aisles surmounted by a small shingled bell turret. The turret is supported by an impressive 15th century oak "cage" with four huge corner posts and small curved braces supporting horizontals - quite different to the diagonal braces supporting Newdigate.

The three Eldridge bells all retain their cannons and have never been turned. The bell frame is oak, probably seventeenth century. When the parish first approached the Guildford Guild with a view to restoration it was not clear why the bells had been silenced, although it was known that around 1913 the bells came to be regarded as "dangerous". An anonymous report noted that "the tenor was part worn by the clapper and near to cracking and the woodwork could not bear the strain of pealing". Shortly after this somewhat exaggerated and pessimistic judgement was made, the turret was struck by lightning. After the tower had been repaired and reshingled, Warners installed new chime hammers and an Ellacombe chiming apparatus. As far as is known the bells have not been rung full circle since, despite the fact that Warners also fitted a new clapper to the treble.

The existence of the Millennium Fund encouraged the parish to consider restoration and augmentation. Unfortunately, Alfold was one of a number of parishes that missed out on this windfall. In addition, the proposals attracted the attention of the Council for the Care of Churches and English Heritage. Both these bodies, as well as the PCC, were concerned to ensure that the existing structure could support six bells rung full circle, and all were agreed that any necessary strengthening of the oak beams should not be detrimental to an attractive and visible feature in the church.

At one stage they proposed that the work be confined to making the existing three bells ringable, but the Guild mobilised its expertise to demonstrate to all parties that a six bell installation was much more attractive and also technically feasible. In March 2001 a working party managed to "lash up" all three bells so that they were sufficiently ringable to enable measurement to be carried out to check tower movement. The test results were very encouraging.

It was well into 2002 before the agreed plan for a ring of six in a new frame lower in the tower finally emerged. The new frame has five bells on one level and one, the third, above. The bells will be rung from the ground floor so some repositioning of the pews is necessary. The beautiful and impressive font, dating from before 1100, was moved from its former cramped position in a side aisle and installed in all its glory in the centre of the ringing circle.

Taylors were chosen to cast three new trebles and make the new six bell frame. A faculty was obtained and the Guild provided a grant of £10,000 and voluntary help with the work. The bells were cast in October and if all goes according to plan, the new ring will be dedicated in December ready for ringing in Christmas 2003.

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Postscript

The bells were dedicated on Sunday 7 December at a well attended and very enjoyable service. Celebratory drinks were served in the adjacent church facilities and speeches made. There was open ringing for all, with the new local team having first go!

A short item about the new bells was broadcast on ITV (Meridian) evening news on the same day.

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