It's official!

At last the bell is officially mine. Here I am picking it up from the TAB site managers' office. After 120 years the bell is on its way to a new home in Sway where it can be seen awaiting some tender loving care.

Bell Tower for sale

The old school must once have had another bell in a separate bell tower which can be seen in previous photos. A lady offered to buy this but withdrew when she realised it was too big for her garden. I had a good look but decided not to make an offer. So here it is. Not often do you see a bell tower for sale. I will find out what happens to it.

Saved!

Here is the bell carefully guarded in the site Manager's office. It shows the way the bell frame was linked to the inside of the building where the bell handle was controlled. I suspect that close inspection will reveal quite a challenge to my limited restoration skills - but I am sure I will find someone willing to help me. Thoughts are now turning to a way of displaying the bell - on a double brick wall with a pitched roof?! Not sure about having the bell pull in a bedroom so some innovative thinking is required.

Demolished

Remember that lovely old school building photos of which appear in earlier posts? Well here it is today. All those memories of children who went to the school in its heyday from the 1890s. I wonder how many heard the school bell ring?

A great day

Demolition has started. 'Should have mentioned it yesterday' said Ruth this morning. I was at the site within 10 minutes. No sign of the building where the bell once hung. No sign of the bell. After a few anxious moments I was able to attract the attention of the site manager. He assured me that the bell had been rescued and he had been told of my interest. I was able to inspect the bell. Quite a surprise. I had wondered how the bell was rung. Well I had my answer. The bell frame was connected through the wall of the building to a bell pull inside. A formidable set of fittings - all still intact. Lots of rust and grime and a formidable restoration project made me ponder.
Undeterred, as soon as I got home I telephoned my contact at TAB Projects Ltd., the demolition contractor, and made an offer for the bell.
Late afternoon my contact Alison told me the bell was mine! The agreed payment would be donated by TAB to charity. A really nice gesture. I will collect the bell soon and then the challenge of restoration and display can begin. I will be posting photos as soon as I can. I took some today but they didn't come out. A chap cannot get everything right!
A great day.

Signs of life

Bulldozers have moved in. But no demolition yet. Now on red alert waiting by the 'phone.

False Alarm!

A worrying day. I think the bell has gone. So said Ruth today. She had driven past the school and seen bulldozers on site showing signs of action.
A quick call to the demolition contractor's office. I was assured that the bell had not gone. I would be contacted as soon as the bell is removed. All this implies that I may get the bell. I assured the girl in the office that I would offer a fair price for it.
Must now be patient. Again.