February 2013

This January seems to have been particularly cold, wet and miserable.  For the first time that we can remember, we had to cancel a planned quarter peal attempt on Sunday 20^th January.  Not only had one of the ringers hurt her hand but then two other ringers were snow bound in Oxford and one other was concerned about black ice, leaving us with just four ringers for an 8 bell quarter peal!  Luckily the regular members of the Swanage band came forward and we were able to do general service ringing for half an hour before Evensong.   

 It might not have occurred to you but bell towers, particularly the ropes, bells etc, are susceptible to the weather conditions outside. 

Traditionally our rope tail ends (the bit below the sally) are made of hemp or flax.  In humid air the natural fibres absorb moisture and swell, making the rope a bit fatter and a bit shorter.  Bell ringers won’t notice the rope being 1% thicker but 1% of a 20 foot rope length is a couple of inches! Even on an the 8-10 foot length below the sally is at least one inch difference, so whereas a couple of weeks ago the rope seemed the perfect length, it might now be too short requiring either the rope to be lengthened or the ringer to stand on a box. 

                      Beware!  Ropes shorten in cold damp weather

In winter the ropes also go stiff which is, again, to do with moisture.  In winter the air humidity is regularly high, and low temperatures do not encourage moist ropes to dry out.  As well as the length change due to the swelling of the rope fibres, the swelling fibres pressing more tightly together make the rope stiff.  Also in very cold weather the absorbed water freezes also making the rope stiff and unmanageable.  Many an idle bell ringer can be found attempting the Indian Rope Trick! 

 On a general basis though, damp stiff ropes and wet sallies are just unpleasant to handle.  At Swanage we are very lucky in having good heaters and ventilation up in the tower, keeping the air dryer and warmer thereby reducing the effects of the weather.  Go to Kingston though and as well as stiff damp ropes and wet sallies you will also find wet green mould running down the walls – lovely!