The doors are generally in good condition,
with minimal decay to timbers at their base. The architect proposed splicing in new timber to the areas of decay, and we have asked that well-seasoned, air-dried oak of similar moisture content to the existing timbers be used. We expressed concern at the proposal to lightly clean the doors and finish with new penetrating oil, and have stated our preference for the existing historic patina of the doors to be retained. We felt that the proposal to re-instate missing diagonal lattice members was not perhaps necessary, as a timber report had suggested that these were not providing structural support to the vertical boards. The purpose of inserting the internal glazed
lobbies was to allow the timber doors to be opened regularly to allow more light to flood the cathedral and to provide a more welcoming entrance for visitors. We have expressed concern over the intention to open and close the doors daily. It is unlikely that they were ever intended to be used in this way, with the presence of a wicket door supporting this view. We have therefore suggested that the doors are regularly monitored for signs of distress and that appropriate action taken if the historic fabric is found to be suffering.
NH
St Matthew’s Church Wookey Somerset
The Society has been exercised about yet another application which would result in the loss for its original purpose of an important 17th-century bell frame. The case also raises important questions
about the extent of a Chancellor’s authority to vary an existing Faculty. Dr John Eisel, bell historian and expert, has
described the bell frame at St Matthew’s, Wookey, thus: “The detail is enough to indicate that the frame of four parallel pits, with one transverse, is of the seventeenth century. An interesting, and unusual, feature is the ledge in the bearers which support the ends of the sills of the five parallel trusses. Each of these trusses have endposts, a feature which would be rather unlikely in the eighteenth century. In the eighteenth century endposts do occur, but not in such a regular and organised way. Moreover, the jointing in the lower sills is a give-away of an earlier date. “My view is that the frame is of the
seventeenth century, and I would have thought of somewhere about the middle of the century, perhaps 1660.” The frame contains six bells, three of which
are on the Church Building Council’s list of historically interesting bells, the oldest being c1480 by a Bristol foundry. A Faculty was granted for refurbishing the
bells with mostly new fittings in the existing frame inAugust 2010, according to details
20 Cornerstone, Vol 32, No 2 2011
St Matthew’s,Wookey, with its ancient wooden bell frame (above), in situ. The SPAB is greatly concerned by proposals to either remove much of the frame, or to relocate the bells to a new frame. The Society is keen that the frame, which is in a very good state of repair, should continue in use for the purpose for which it was constructed some 350 years ago
supplied by a bell hanger with a schedule of work specified by the church’s architect. In granting their certificate for the works the DAC had recommended that consideration be given to removing the canons on all the bells and that the bells were retuned.A subsequent variation to the Faculty, granted by the Chancellor, permitted the bells to be moved via one of the belfry windows. In passing, it seems strange that the practicalities of removing the bells were not sufficiently considered at the time that the original Faculty application was made. We note that it is not accepted good practice
to retune medieval bells. Once the bells had been removed the bell
hanger advised that the frame was unrepairable, following which an architect member visited on behalf of the DAC. His advice was straightforward, that the frame was generally
JOHN LAWRENCE
JOHN LAWRENCE
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