Ministry of Supply Tank Factory Test Track

The Test Track

Little evidence remains of the Ministry of Supply tank factory in Leyland. However, following a tipoff and while reviewing information about Lower Farington Hall we discovered that part of the test track surface can still be seen today.

Located at the north end of Hall Lane, most of the original track has been lost to the development of industrial units, but the road structure still follows the route of the original track. At the north west end, the original track surface can be seen behind large gates.

The location of the test track can be seen clearly in the two images below.

Barnoldswick, St Mary le Ghyll

The parish church of Saint Mary le Ghyll. 6 bells; 630 kg in Ab.

The Bells

The church of St Mary le Ghyll is situated close to the Lancashire & Yorkshire border. It has a pleasant sounding ring of six bells in the key of A flat. The second, third and fourth were cast in 1723 by Abraham II Rudhall with the treble cast in 1870 by John Taylor & Co. and the fifth and cast is 2007 and the sixth cast in 2009 by Taylors, Eayre & Smith. There are almost no neighbours which make the tower popular with peal bands.

Getting There

Withdrawn Peals

I have rung in the following “peals” which have been withdrawn.

Performance 1

Non Association
Minster-in-Sheppey, Kent
Phildene Lodge
Friday, 29 July 1977 in 1h 28 (15 in C)
5,040 Plain Bob Minimus

1–2 Raymond A Hutchings
3–4 Phillip R J Barnes (C)

This peal has been flagged as not complying with the Central Council Decisions. Handbell peals of Minimus were not recognised by the Central Council.

Performance 2

Carlisle Diocesan Guild
Shap, Cumbria
St Michael and All Angels
Thursday, 1 August 2019 in 2h 38 (7–2–19 in G)
5,040 Surprise Minor
One extent each of Queen Mary Surprise, King Edward Surprise, Norwich Surprise, Dylan Thomas Surprise, Kelvinbridge Surprise, Cambridge Surprise, and Primrose Surprise.

  1. Clarissa J E Carol
  2. Jane Holland
  3. Andrew J Holland
  4. Raymond A Hutchings
  5. Kevin M Price (C)
  6. Andrew W Gordon

Rung in memory of The Revd. Stanley E Ablewhite, Vicar of Brough and President of the Cumbrian Association during the 1980’s, who died recently.
Peal withdrawn: Dylan Thomas Surprise, Kelvinbridge Surprise are false in a 720.

Performance 3

Lancashire Association
Rainhill, Merseyside
St Bartholomew
Friday, 30 August 2019 in 2h 38 (2–2–6 in F)
5,040 Surprise Minor
One extent each of Norwich Surprise, Bourne Surprise, Caithness Surprise, Dylan Thomas Surprise, Kelvinbridge Surprise, Cambridge Surprise, Primrose Surprise.

  1. Nicola J Galton
  2. Andrew W Gordon
  3. Andrew J Holland
  4. L Martin Daniels
  5. Raymond A Hutchings
  6. Kevin M Price (C)

100th peal of Seven Surprise Minor – 2
Remembering Kenneth Daniels, Martin’s Father, who died on 30th August 2012).
Peal withdrawn: Dylan Thomas Surprise, Kelvinbridge Surprise are false in a 720.

Performance 4

Carlisle Diocesan Guild
Thursby, Cumbria
St Andrew
Thursday, 9 January 2020 in 2h 39 (6–2–22 in A)
5,040 Surprise Minor
One extent each Bourne, Hull, Dylan Thomas, Kelvinbridge, Cambridge, Primrose and Norwich.

  1. Ruth M Gilbert
  2. Jane Holland
  3. Andrew J Holland
  4. Peter H Gardner
  5. Kevin M Price (C)
  6. Raymond A Hutchings

Remembering Nigel Gilbert, whose 50th Birthday would have been today.
Peal withdrawn: Dylan Thomas Surprise, Kelvinbridge Surprise are false in a 720.

Stanley, Christ Church Cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral, Stanley, East Falkland

Christ Church Cathedral in Stanley is the most southern Anglican Cathedral in the world.

It has five bells which were cast in 1904 at Whitechapel Foundry by Mears of London. They were installed by the clock-maker J W Benson of London in 1905 as the chiming and striking bells of the clock installed at the same time.

The bells are 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8 of an eight with the tenor tuned to A♭ and weighs 9-0-9 (860 kg). The front four bells have clappers with flights while the tenor has a loop at the end of the clapper. It appears that the tenor was originally intended to be chimed as a service bell and can still be chimed from the entrance to the Cathedral. The front four bells have ropes tied to the flight of the clapper with various pulleys in place. I understand that this was an adaptation made later by the local ringers to enable all five bells to be chimed from the ringing room.

Details of the bells

My thanks to Tim Jackson from the Dove website for the following:

2. 24.5″ 3.2.9 1576 Hz (G+9c) [-10c]

3. 26.375″ 4.0.2 1400 Hz (F+4c) [-15c]

4. 28″ 4.1.9 1253 Hz (Eb+12c) [-7c]

7. 34″ 6.1.13 921 Hz (Bb-21c) [-40c]

8. 38″ 9.0.9 840 Hz (Ab+19c) [datum]

All bells carry the inscription, “J W BENSON LIM. LONDON E.C. 1904” on the top band. Bells 2, 3, 4 and 7 are further inscribed “CATHEDRAL FALKLANDS” on the waist. The tenor is inscribed “MAY GOD BLESS ALL WHOM WE DO CALL” and “ORISSA DEAN IN MEMORIAM GEORGE MARKHAM DEAN DIED 1st APRIL 1888”.

Photographs

Dedication of the bells and clock.

Ropes in the ringing room

The bells

The bells

The bells showing chiming ropes and clappers

Visiting the Church

Pretty much the only ways of getting to Stanley are by ship or fly. The Cathedral is in Ross Road on the harbour-side and is adjacent to the whale arch. I understand the bells are often rung before the morning service on Sunday. Unfortunately, I arrived too late and on a day when the local ringers were not there. Not wishing to miss the opportunity to ring, I obtained permission from the priest to enter the tower and chime the bells.

Yarkhill, St John Baptist

Yarkhill church, Hereford. Bells cast in 2011 by Whitechapel Bell Foundry Ltd

Fabian Steadman, sometimes referred to as “The Father of Change Ringing” was born in the village of Yarkhill and was baptised in the church on 7th December 1640. His father, Francis, was rector at St John’s between 1625 and 1671. It was during that time that a ring of four bells was installed in the tower. A new light ring of eight was installed in 2011 with the bells cast by Whitechapel Bell Foundry Ltd. The tenor bell weighs 228 kg and the ring is tuned to D. There have been discussions about hanging the old ring of four so they can be sounded again. But at the moment, no concrete plans have been made public. The lightest three of the bells were cast in 1671 by John II Martin. The fourth bell, the tenor, was cast in 1636 by John Finch.