Bell Restoration Fund

The HCACR Bell Restoration Fund is a registered charity (No. 264847) which exists to provide grants to church authorities to help them provide, maintain or improve bells and bell installations, or maintain the fabric of towers and belfries. The area covered by the Fund is the county of Hertfordshire, although churches in the parishes of Chipping Barnet, Monken Hadley and Great Stanmore are also eligible.

The Fund was created in 1972, since when the value of its assets and the size of the grants awarded have increased steadily. Grants totalling over £227,000 have been made since that time. Apart from investment income, the Fund’s income comes from, and as a result of the activities of, ringers within the county. Many towers make an annual donation equivalent to the income from one wedding, there are donations – many covenanted – from individuals, and the Association usually donates its surplus income each year to the Fund. The Association subscription is traditionally set to ensure that around 50% of subscription income can be made available in this way.

Church authorities wishing to apply for a grant from the Fund should send full details of the proposed work, planned timescales, the present fund-raising status, and all estimates received, to the BRF Secretary.

Following an application for a grant, then, once the Fund’s Secretary has all the required information, the Fund’s Trustees will meet to discuss the application. If they decide that the proposed work is eligible then they may make a recommendation for a grant at a following Association General Meeting – usually the Annual General Meeting at the end of the following April. The Association itself decides whether to award a grant, and if so then how much, based upon the Trustees’ recommendation. Any grant is usually payable at the completion of work, although earlier payment is sometimes possible.

The grants awarded by the Fund since its creation are shown in the table below.

Anybody with any interest in the bells of Hertfordshire is encouraged to donate. For a gift aid and/or standing order form with bank details, please contact the BRF secretary who will be delighted to hear from you!

YearTowerGrant AmountEstimated CostPercentPurpose
2023Great Amwell5000745826.62Tower repairs
2023Hitchin470470010.00Rope Guides
2023Tring400400010.00Refurbishment
2022Weston300277510.81Stay box
2022Hertford, All Saints25002027512.33Rehang
2022Bishop’s Stortford1350012796210.55Augmentation
2021Little Munden50004772510.48Replace Bell Frame
2021Redbourn250102024.51Rebush Clappers
2020Furneux Pelham2928549053.33Lower Ringing Room
2019Cottered2000815624.52Augmentation
2018Norton15044433.78Clapper Repair
2018Much Hadham70006227511.24Refurbishment
2017Broxbourne5000524969.52Tower repairs
2017Thorley25027009.26Wheel
2016Great Stanmore1000250004Bell repairs
2015Widford60003500016Tower repairs
2015Ware75007500010Tower repairs
2014Bushey100009000011Major work
2013Pirton1000550018.18False ceiling
2012Baldock100007700001.30Tower repairs
2012Hitchin110001590006.92Major work
2011Aston20020819.61Bearings
2011Graveley1000133967.46Tower repairs
2011Apsley End60003500020.00Refurbishment
2010St Ippolyts795393920.18Bell repairs
2010Sandon20001446713.82Tower repairs
2010Sandridge50002898717.25Refurbishment
2010Bushey Heath200113017.70Ropes
2009Hertford St Andrew25051348.73Bell repairs
2009Hemel Hempstead1300650020.00Refurbishment
2009Northchurch10036027.78Clapper repair
2009St Albans St Michaels1000983810.16Refurbishment
2009Hatfield2000826724.19Bearings
2009Weston90003774823.84Turning & refitting
2009St Albans Abbey107263400003.15New ring of 13
2008Pirton50002081524.02Rehanging
2007Walkern848402321.11Bell repairs
2007Codicote250117521.28Tower Repairs
2006Bishop’s Stortford30002158813.9Bell repairs
2006King’s Walden45003092814.54Bell repairs
2005Great Berkhamsted700567512.33Sound proofing
2005Monken Hadley500200024.93Bell repairs
2005Thorley1000240504.15Tower repairs
2004Great Gaddesden20001900010.53Tower repairs
2004Welwyn1000350028.57Bell repairs
2003Sawbridgeworth100009600010.42Tower repairs
2003Kings Langley11062017.74Bell repairs
2002Little Wymondley50002200022.73Augmentation
2002Ware2000500004Tower repairs
2001Ashwell2500300008.33Tower repairs
2001Wallington25060041.67New ropes
2000Hemel Hempstead1000340002.94Tower repairs
2000Knebworth1000900011.11Tower repairs
1999Stocking Pelham50055009.09Rehanging
1999Bishop’s Stortford, Holy Trinity50097005.15Rehanging
1999Great Offley2500300008.3Rehanging
1998Westmill2500390005.3Rehanging
1998Sandon25002200011.4Augmentation
1998Kimpton1000600001.67Tower restoration
1998Ashwell500420011.9Overhaul fittings
1998Great Amwell30083036.14Clapper refurbishment
1997Potten End500290001.7Chime
1997Northchurch1000640015.6Bell repair
1997Great Offley2500300008.33Rehanging
1995Lilley500450011Augmentation
1995St Albans, St Stephen500375013Bell repairs
1995Ridge2000410005Rehanging
1994Barkway2000210009.5Rehanging
1994Flamstead20002000001Tower repairs
1994Hertford, St Andrew1000750013Partial rehanging
1993Benington1000400025Rehanging
1993Bushey Heath13053024.5Repairs
1993Standon2500350007.1Rehanging
1993Lilley1000390002.56Tower repairs
1993Abbots Langley20002000010Rehanging
1992Barnet2000280007.1Rehanging
1990Harpenden500320001.5Recasting
1990Essendon1500370004Augmentation
1990St Albans, St Peter15001400001.1Restoration
1989Albury40046489Bell recast
1989Bishop’s Stortford20042005Overhaul
1988Kings Langley500300002Tower repair
1987Lilley60086127Augmentation
1987Harpenden506008Clappers
1987Hertford, All Saints150153110Clappers
1987Tring1000250004Rehanging
1987Berkhamsted15044163Repairs
1985Codicote500100005Rehanging
1985North Mymms1000180606Rehanging
1985Great Hormead506158Bell repair
1985Widford50090006Rehanging
1985Hinxworth150153510Rehanging
1984Anstey25027379Bell repair
1984Aldbury500177403Augmentation
1983Hemel Hempstead10002500000.4Tower repair
1982Kimpton50093575Augmentation
1982Great Munden20030047Bell repair
1981Hunsdon100100010Rehanging
1981South Mymms100300000.3Tower repair
1981Furneux Pelham500100005Rehanging
1980Little Hadham500206424Augmentation
1980Rickmansworth25057643Bell repair
1980Harpenden200200001Tower repair
1980Knebworth200300000.7Tower repair
1979Ware500220002Tower repair
1979Nettleden200138714Rehanging
1978Little Gaddesden071000New 6
1978Watton-at-Stone500148034New 8
1978Albury250135518Augmentation
1977Lemsford30044507New 6
1976Ashwell100150000.7Tower repair
1976Rushden10015027Augmentation
1975Stevenage5030017Bell repair
1974Sarratt10047621Rehanging