A GRUELLING operation to remove a cracked bell from a Hereford church was carried out this week.

The fifth bell was removed from the tower of All Saints Church in the city centre after Hereford-based RRA Architects – which is responsible for checking the condition of the fabric of the church – noticed a crack had appeared during an inspection in 2015.

The fifth bell forms one of a peel of eight bells at the church, which were cast in 1769 by Thomas Rudhall. The treble bell was also removed during the operation.

For the repair work to be carried out, the bells had to be carefully lowered to the ground and three of the eight bells, together with their respective oak bell-frames, were dismantled.

The original lifting hatches within the ringing platform were opened-up to allow the bells to descend to ground level by old fashioned block-and-tackle methods and lots of elbow grease.

Weighing approximately 400kg, the bells were not easy objects to move and a team from John Taylor and Co. bell founders lashed straps to the original roof timbers at the top of the tower to securely lower them to ground level.

The bells were driven to John Taylor’s foundry, in Loughborough, to be repaired.

It is not yet known when they will return to the church.