The Willoughby Group of Parishes Website

Mumby Church Bells

Clock Restoration & Church Bells

The Mumby Church Clock
The clock was built in 1816 by J. Ellerby and Son of Ashbourne, Derbyshire.
Its early history is unknown and we have no record of its installation.
It is a three train arrangement, the centre train being for the clock itself and the outer trains driving the hour and the quarter striking.

The escapement is unusual for this type of clock and is known as 'Pin and Palett'.

The clock ceased to be used in 1972, when no-one could be found to perform the task of winding up the drive weights and lubricating the mechanism. The weights were lowered, taken off the ropes and stored in the corner of the tower as a safety precaution.

In early 1994, our vicar the Revd Daffyd Robinson raised the idea at a public meeting of restoring the clock to its former glory. This challenge was taken up with great enthusiasm by two Mumby residents Steve Mugglestone and Paddy Stapleton.

On June 20th 1994 they made a start. Their first job was to remove the many years of accumulated debris of straw, twigs and dust which had been deposited by the birds, who had gained access through a broken window. This lay to a depth of about a foot over the floor and clock cupboard and windowsills. The whole clock chamber of the tower was also cleaned out.

Over the next few weeks, the clock mechanism was thoroughly washed and scrubbed with diesel oil to remove all the old oil and dust. Then the bearings were also cleaned and re-oiled. The brasswork now gleaming, it was time to de-rust and paint the iron framework. Then for the moment of truth. The clock was re-started for the first time in 22 years and ... IT WORKED!!!

Attention now turned to the ropes, pulleys and weights that drive the clock. The rope was taken off and, as far as possible, the twists were removed. It was then thoroughly cleaned and re-oiled. Next the pulleys were taken down, cleaned and renovated. Then the whole thing was re-assembled and the full load of weights was put back on.

he two outer trains which, when coupled by wires and levers to the church bells would strike the hours and quarter hours, were also cleaned and oiled. These however, have been disconnected from the main clock train as not everyone in this day and age wishes to be disturbed by the sound of the bells at all hours of the day and night.

Following the restoration and cleaning work, the clock was allowed to run for a week before being stopped so the clock face could be restored and repainted in its original colours, these being a black skeleton frame, white minute divisions and gold numerals and hands. This was carried out during early August 1994 by Steve and Paddy who painted half the face each, Steve being left handed and Paddy being right handed.

The job was completed by 2nd September 1994, with the clock running and keeping good time having been regulated. Paddy and Steve will continue the weekly task of winding and maintaining the clock and are determined it will not deteriorate to its previous poor condition again.

With this in mind, during intervals when not working on the clock and in an effort to keep out any farther bird infestation, they have restored the three windows in the clock chamber They also replaced the old dilapidated door in the clock chamber with a window which gives a birds eye view into the nave of the church.

Paddy and Steve continue with the maintenance of the church and can be found there every Wednesday morning from 9.15 to 9.45a.m. Why not call in. They are always willing to show visitors around.

The Mumby Church Bells

THE FOUNDERS
The treble (No.1) was cast by James Harrison of Barton-on-Humber in 1820, who cast about eighty bells in Lincolnshire between 1789 and 1833. He was a well known founder who also cast bells for Newcastle and Lincoln cathedrals.

The treble has a diameter of 35 inches and weighs 8cwt. The 2nd and 3rd bells were cast in 1420 by an unknown medieval founder who worked in Cambridgeshire. Most of his bells are to be found there but many are also to be found in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. The 2nd bell has a diameter of 37 inches and weighs about 9cwt and the 3rd has a diameter of 41 inches and weighs 11cwt.
The inscriptions on both are in Latin. The 2nd bears the inscription "Sit nomen Domini Benedictum", the translation of which is 'Blessed be the Name of the Lord'. The inscription on the 3rd is 'In Multis annini Resonet Campana Johannis' which translates as 'For many years may Johns bell resound'. The inscriptions are written in black letters and have crowned capitals.

The tenor (4th) was cast by Nottinghamshire founder Daniel Hedderly, who is known to have cast about 75 bells between 1723 and 1759. He cast the lightest ring of four in Lincolnshire in 1740 at Scremby. He cast 'rings' of bells but, as his bells 'don't sound very good', not many of his bells survive This particular bell which has a diameter of 44 inches dates from 1737 and is the heaviest of the four main bells, weighing about 15cwt. Its inscription reads 'My Roreing Sound Warning Doth Give That Man On Earth Shall Not Long Live'.

THE PRIESTS BELL This much smaller bell also looks to be the work of Daniel Hedderly and is thought to have been cast at the same time as the tenor bell but, as the bell is blank this can not be verified.

The total weight of the Mumby bells is about 3 tons.

THE BELL FRAME
The bell frame is a substantial timber construction in which the bells are suspended. It appears to have been a three bell frame, type 'Z' and partly type 'V but, when the treble bell was added in 1820, the frame was extended to a type 'S'. Bells 1,3 & 4 swing E-W and No.2 swings N-S.

CHURCH RESTORATION
As you can imagine, restoration work to the church is an on-going project. In the early part of 1998 restoration was started on the tower, with a great deal of masonry and structural work needed. The parapets and pinnacles were removed and refurbished before being replaced. This phase of restoration was finally completed in early June 1998.

However, there is still more to be done. A great deal of fund-raising happens in the village throughout the year with quizzes, garden partys etc. Concerts are held in the church throughout the year featuring a wide variety of musical styles and catering for all musical tastes, and there is also a very successful art exhibition held in the church every spring with artists from not only the county, but all over the country eager to exhibit their work.

We hope you have enjoyed your visit to our church and you will return to visit us again.