Repairs to mansion's bell tower

Advertisement

Tyntesfield's bell tower is lifted off by a huge crane

A delicate operation has taken place at Tyntesfield estate in North Somerset to remove the manor house bell tower for repairs.

The 10m (33ft) spire was lifted off the tower by an 88-tonne crane which was brought in specially for the job.

A rope was placed around the spire and beams placed underneath it, then the crane lifted the top of the tower off.

The roof will now be stripped, and the oak timber frame repaired and reroofed with clay tiles.

The work will be carried out in public view at the mansion and is due to be completed by the end of the summer.

Senior buildings surveyor Tim Cambourne said: "Removing the bell tower is a significant moment in the restoration project here at Tyntesfield and it's a pretty impressive sight - the crane completely dwarfs the house."

Public donations

The bell will be fitted with a new clapper so that it can ring again.

The National Trust has asked anyone with information on Tyntesfield's bell to get in touch.

Tyntesfield House near Wraxall is considered to be one of the greatest Victorian private houses to have survived intact.

Following the death of Lord Wraxall in 2001 the National Trust began emergency fundraising to save the estate for the nation.

Through public donations and a grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, £25m was raised in 100 days.

In 2006 Tyntesfield secured a further £20m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the work of transforming the house and gardens is under way.