Keltek Trust: Two Wiltshire projects

The Keltek Trust: Two Wiltshire Projects


	Stratford-sub-Castle, Wiltshire, St Lawrence Up until 1998 St Lawrence possessed only two bells: the treble cast in 1594 by John Wallis of Salisbury and the tenor cast in 1767 by Robert Wells of Aldbourne. Aided by partnership funding from the Ringing in the Millennium scheme a ring of six bells was installed comprising of five newly cast bells and the John Wallis bell. The new ring was dedicated on 11^th October 1998. The Trust acquired the surplus Robert Wells bell using its Bell Rescue Fund and it is now the 2^ndof the augmented ring at Langley Burrell.


	Langley Burrell, Wiltshire, St Peter St Peter's has had a ring of four bells for over four hundred years. The current bells date from 1607 to 1628 and were probably cast by Roger Purdue of Bristol. The inscription on the tenor is: ALLELVYA COME AT MYCALL 1607 A week after the dedication of the new ring


	at Stratford-sub-Castle we visited Langley Burrell to record and tonally analyse the bells. The analysis suggested the ex-Stratford-sub-Castle bell would be suitable as the second of the proposed augmentation to six. This bell together with a newly cast bell have been hung in the treble-pit of the existing wooden four-bell frame. The pre-augmentation 2^nd has been hung above the other bells and its pit taken by the pre-augmentation treble bell. The work was completed on 1^st March 2000. The scheme is a significant milestone for the Trust because it is the first scheme to be completed which incorporates a bell acquired by our Bell Rescue Fund. We are still seeking more funding for our Bell Rescue Fund. Please contact us if you would like to help.