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Bell chamber floor Water damage - hole in the floor	Bell chamber floor Water damage - hole in the floor	Bell chamber floor Holes fixed!

I am pleased to say that all the work has been carried out by volunteers (with only £140
coming from our church funds) and that was for the waterproof membrane paint itself)
Early indications are that it has been a success - only time will tell!

Towards the end of the project the floor in the bell chamber needed to be repaired from the water damage.  (Just in case any repairs fail some plastic trays have been bought & put in strategic places).

The tower battlements As we found them. The tree was big!	The tower battlements Repaired, pre-waterproof.	The tower battlements Slates waterproofed.	The tower battlements Battlements waterproofed.
Raining on west side Waterproofing holding back the rain.	Raining on south side Waterproofing holding back the rain.

Bell frame rust Caused by the tower leak	Bell frame rust Caused by the tower leak	Cure-rust treatment Frame rubbed down & degreased first	Red oxide painted Applied on to the rust cure
Red oxide painted Applied on to the rust cure	Painted bell frame First coat on the red oxide	Painted bell frame New coat of paint	Painted bell frame Painted to the rear - front yet to be done!
Painted bell frame Unpainted on the left - What a difference!	Painted bell frame Shining head-stock	Painted bell frame From a different angle.	Some painting volunteers Barry & Jeanette

Bell Tower Leak Repair Project 2011

For many many years there has been a leak in the Walsoken tower.  The leak meant that we could not leave our bells up too long because the treble would fill with water (A nice surprise was waiting for any unsuspecting ringer when they pulled off in lead).  In 2011 at the request of the Church Council an investigation was made of the bell chamber floor to see if the long term water damage had made the floor unsafe - this was the starting point of the leak repairs.

Investigations showed the following issues;
1) The floor to the bell chamber was 'rotten' through about 2/3 of its depth, in places, due to the leaks.
2) The long reported rusting bell frame was due to the leak.
3) There was 'vegetation' growing in the battlements causing part of the leak..
4) The floor of the battlements was in a poor state with the mortar cracked & crumbling in places.

This is a brief account of the rectification works carried out in 2011.
For years the annual maintenance company had said that the bell frame needed to be immediately painted to stop further rust.  If left the rust issue would be far more than an aggravation but would become very serious.  So the first order of events was to clean the bell frame, de-rust & repaint it.

The root cause of the leak then needed to be investigated.  Otherwise we'd be back to square one!

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