BELLRINGERS from Stoke Fleming have been to a London foundry to see new bells being cast for the village’s St Peter’s Church.

They were invited to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry to witness the once in a lifetime experience.

The much heralded renovation work on the church tower is now under way.

Elliott Construction, a local building firm, has moved in and scaffolding has been put up inside the tower so that trapdoors can be cut in the lower floors to allow the removal of the old, corroded steel supports and the bells.

Eight volunteers involved in the project went to the bell foundry in the East End of London to watch the casting of two new bells which will be incorporated in a new frame alongside the original six bells.

During their visit to the 300-year-old foundry, they watched the very traditional process of pouring the molten, golden-coloured bell metal into specially prepared moulds.

Tower captain John Dietz said: ‘It was really exciting and a great privilege to be able to witness the casting of our own bells. A unique experience for us.’

Once the castings have cooled, they will be cleaned up and put in a giant lathe to remove very small amounts of metal to tune the bells to fit in with the existing ring.

Then they will have their fittings attached so that they are ready for installation in the new frame.

The new bells have been sponsored by the company Johnson Matthey to celebrate its bi-centenary in 2017. The firm has a long association with Stoke Fleming: one of the founders, Percival Norton Johnson, lived in the village and is buried in the church.

There is a window and wall plaque in the church dedicated to him.

Representatives from Johnson Matthey also attended the casting.

If all goes according to plan the old bells will be removed during the week beginning March 14 and taken to Whitechapel to be refurbished ready to be reinstalled in the tower in July.

The refurbishment project will cost more than £135,000 and has been supported by many local donors, charities and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

For news of the work as it progresses, visit http//:www.stokeflemingtower.org