A Community Installation Project

photo of weights table The whole installation was a Community Project, masterminded by Keith Gatman, Head of Design and Technology at Warlingham School at that time. The project involved many of the pupils from the school, together with local bell ringers, members of St. Mary's congregation, soldiers from the Barracks, (Caterham was then a garrison town), and many other volunteers.

Between January and Easter 1993 many weekends were spent at Warlingham School cleaning up the numerous parts of the bell frame which had been taken there. Meanwhile the six bells and headstocks from Hamer had been transported to Whitechapel for tuning and essential restoration.

During the Easter holidays 1993, work started on the construction of the new frame in one of the school workshops. All the plates had to be cut and drilled, and many parts welded and bolted together. New wheels had to be made for the two new bells. Much work was also required to repair the existing six wheels. The pulley blocks, stays and sliders were also constructed in the school workshops. The existing tubular bells (which date back to 1891) were also removed for renovation.