A lovely set of 12 bells in St Nicks.
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• 1745: New spire erected and tower heightened.
• 1810: On Sunday Morning February 11th “a few minutes before the commencement of divine service, while the bells were ringing the second peal.” A portion of the congregation was already in the church, and the masonry falling to the east “instantly burst through the roof and fell along the centre aisle.” The result was that twenty-five people were killed, of whom eighteen were children. New tower was begun in September
• 1812-1813: A new ring of 12 bells was cast by William Dobson of Downham, Norfolk.
• 1814: First peal on the bells.
• 1815: Tower and lantern completed
• J.J. Raven writes in 'The bells of England' about Dobson’s bells “His greatest work was the twelve of St Nicholas, Liverpool. I have been told that the Liverpool folk were determined to rival St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, bell for bell, but they tied Dobson down too tightly, so that his heaviest peal is not his best.”
• 1825: The fourth was recast.
• 1895: An Ellacombe chiming apparatus was installed. This had been was removed by c1938 and has never been replaced although the holes still exist in the ringing room ceiling behind the present 10th rope.
• 1911: Tenor recast by John Warner & Sons, London and rehung the bells on new fittings. Cast iron stocks, plain bearings. (Taylor’s records per David Cawley)
• C1938: Taylor’s report that Hoffman ball bearings fitted to bells 10-12 at some stage fitted locally. These three bells are reported to run well. There was also a disused clock hammer on the 11th bell. Looking at the old frame drawings, the tenor rope fell approximately where the present 9th rope falls now.
• 1939: Last peal on the Dobson bells.
• C1940 The bells were removed and stored at Taylor’s for the duration of World War II.
• 1941: Church burnt out during a bombing raid. .
• 1952: The old ring of twelve was recast by Taylor’s, a flat sixth and sanctus bells added. Further metal was added to that of the old peal from the church of St. Martin in the Fields, Silvester Street, Liverpool.
Source - Family
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