Author(s)

A.R. Selby & J.M. Wilson

Abstract

An exciting element of the Millennium celebrations in the United Kingdom is the re- instatement or renewal of peals of church bells in towers throughout the country to welcome in the year 2000. A sum of £3M is allocated towards this work. Many towers will need to be assessed structurally, to ensure their stability under the large dynamic forces arising from the full circle swing of heavy bells. To date the choice of critical stress or deflection parameter, and of a safe limiting value is unresolved. The majority of traditional bell towers are constructed from sandwich form masonry walls, with indeterminate stiffness and mass properties, resting on spread footing foundations of unknown size and depth, and on ill- defined soils. A survey of 19 active bell towers throughout the North of England provides a database of towers each of which is in s

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