Handbells

History

In 1982, Derek and Mary Williams purchased several cardboard boxes of old handbells at an auction in Levin, New Zealand, for NZ$ 1,000. There were several dozen bells, all in a poor state. The clapper leathers and leather handles were hardened and cracked beyond use or had disappeared altogether. Several clapper mechanisms were missing entirely, while others had missing springs, and many were immovable. Some bells were cracked or of poor tone. It is believed the bells came from the Marycrest Convent and Catholic Girls Boarding School located at Te Horo, between Waikanae and Otaki. The Sisters of the Good Shepherd ran the Convent and School. The Convent was founded in 1946, and the School began about 1956. Marycrest closed in 1980. However, the bells appear to be from the firm of John Warner and Sons, which ceased manufacture in 1910, well before the opening of Marycrest. The bells may have originally been at the Sisters of the Good Shepherd establishment at Mount Magdala, Christchurch. Steve McEwan, handbell foreman at the Whitechapel Foundry, noted that the bells had leather work and profiles typical of those produced by the Whitechapel Foundry around 1900. At this time, Warners and Whitechapel co-operated, and Whitechapel made bells that Warners marketed. It is likely, therefore, that the bells are actually from the Whitechapel Foundry. The bells were sent to Whitechapel in 1983 for evaluation and a quote for the renovation work. For several reasons, no work was done on the bells, and they remained in storage at Whitechapel.

Derek and Mary had no contact with the Foundry until 2013. In that year, Derek, Gerald McIlhone and Peter Bill began change ringing on Malmark tune-ringing handbells. Because the Malmark bells have plastic handles and adjustable clappers, they are not entirely satisfactory for change ringing. Consequently, Derek contacted Whitechapel with a view to having some of the Marycrest bells restored. The following reply was received:

Dear Mr Williams, Thank you for your email. After much searching, we find we do have four boxes here containing old bells. The boxes are marked with the name Derek Williams, and the bells are covered with newspapers dated 1983. We have not counted the bells or looked further at their condition as yet, but it would certainly seem that these bells are yours and still with us. We look forward to hearing from you as to how you wish to proceed now. Kind regards, Kathryn Hughes

It is impressive that the Foundry kept the bells stored for 30 years, during which there had been no contact. Derek and Mary arranged for 14 bells to be renovated for themselves: a diatonic 12 in 21D, with a flat 6th and a sharp treble (the sharp treble was a new casting). They also gave eight bells to the Wellington Ringers for renovation, which was intended to form a diatonic scale in 15C. Subsequently, Derek and Mary visited the Whitechapel foundry to inspect the remaining bells. A further 6 bells were selected and given to the Wellington Ringers to extend their 8 to a diatonic 12 in C with a flat 6th and a sharp treble. These bells are still in the tower today. With two new bells added, another four bells were suitable for a 6 in 13E; these four bells were given to Gerald McIlhone. In 2014, Gerald ordered two new trebles to make them an 8. Finally, a very light 7 was identified that would make a pocket set. These were renovated in 2014, and a new tenor bell (C6) was added to make an 8. This set is also in the possession of Derek and Mary. 

39 of the original 67 bells have been saved. The remainder, which were cracked or of poor tone, were sold for scrap