The Bell Restoration Fund is a registered charity which provides financial assistance to churches in the county of Dorset for the purpose of maintaining or improving their bell installations. Examples of recent works which we have helped to fund are listed. (Further information can be found at the bottom of this page):
2025 Bridport
Lifting and cleaning of the main bearings, replacing the Tenor bell crownstaple and improving the roping of the 7th bell. (John Taylor & Son)
2025 Frampton
Bells restored, new headstocks fitted and the frame strengthened. (John Taylor & Son)
2024 Loders
Bell frame and bell fittings restored. (John Taylor & Son)
2024 Powerstock
Rehang and restore the bells which are the heaviest six in Dorset and, unfortunately, were no longer safe to ring. (John Taylor & Son)
2024 Worth Matravers
Bell bearing, clapper & stay overhaul. (Nicholson Engineering). This was part of a £500,000 church refurbishment project.
2023 Corfe Mullen
Replace failed gudgeon and repair damage caused by the Failure (Nicholson Engineering). More information at https://parishofcorfemullen.church/st-huberts-bells/st-huberts-bells.html
2020 Puddletown
Work was to install new Headstocks with new ball bearings fitted to Bells 5 & 6. All 6 clappers were also removed and restored to
improve their ringing characteristics.
2019 Lychett Matravers
Refurbishment of the bells by John Taylor & Son
2018 Child Okeford
Remodelling of four bells to make a new lighter ring of six by Matthew Higby & Co
Further Information About the Fund
The object of the Fund shall be to advance the Christian religion by providing financial assistance to churches in the county of Dorset (as defined by central government in 1983 or any future dates) for the purpose of maintaining or improving their bell installations by making grants to them. Maintenance and improvement of a bell installation shall be deemed to include the following:
(a) Taking out an existing ring of bells, supplying and installing a new frame and fittings, recasting the bells and erecting the same.
(b) Taking out, overhauling and re-clappering existing bells, supplying and installing a new frame and fittings, and re-erecting the bells.
(c) Taking out existing bells, overhauling existing frame and fittings and recasting or overhauling and re-clappering said bells and re-erecting.
(d) Augmentation and bringing existing bells, frame and fittings into an adequate state of repair.
(e) Other major repairs to bell, frame, fittings and tower.
(f) The provision of bells, frames and fittings and erection of same in churches which previously had none.
(g) The acquisition of bells from churches within the County of Dorset declared redundant, for subsequent re-deployment and/or casting.
Applications are welcome from any Tower in Dorset. Please contact the Secretary via dcacbr@gmail.com with details of your project and a copy of the quotations from your selected Bell Hangers.
Donations can be made at https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/charity/dorset-county-association-of-church-bellringers-bell-restoration-fund