The Church Tower Project

We are pleased to be able to report that the repair work to the bell tower was completed in early July, slightly ahead of schedule, and to a very high standard.

After the scaffolding had been erected and the stonework examined more closely, some additional essential work was identified which had implications for our budget. Fortunately, our principal donor, the National Heritage Lottery Fund, agreed to these increases in costs. Dismantling of the scaffolding has been taking place in August, after which the tower will stand in splendid dominance over the village once again. We took the opportunity of having the scaffolding in place to remove the clock face and weather vane and send them away for refurbishment. There are no records of this having been done previously, so it may be the first time that they have received attention since they were installed in the late 19th Century. In early August they were returned and refitted in all their new re-gilded glory – many thanks go to Wiltshire Steeplejacks for arranging this for us.

To mark the formal completion of the bell tower project, we will be holding a closing ceremony at St Cuthbert’s on October 4th at 3pm. Details of the programme are still being finalised and will be publicised in due course.