(Click to enlarge)

Andrew at work on the bell's handle.

In the foreground you can see one of the earlier bell attempts, and to its right, a sheet or wrought iron cut to shape. This sheet will form the body of another bell later on in the series of experiments.

(Click to enlarge)

A partly finished bell handle, and a rod, ready to be worked into shape.

Festival of British Archaeology 2009

On Tuesday, Andrew Murphy, blacksmith at St Fagans continued the challenge to make a replica of an early medieval bell, begun by Tim Young earlier in the week. While Tim, had worked on brazing the body of the bell, Andrew worked on the handle. This is a loop which passes into the bell so it can be held from the top, while the bell’s clapper hangs from a hook inside.

Andrew had several attempts at replicating the shape of the original bell’s handle over the course of the day, with each attempt getting closer to the form we were after, and the event was enjoyed by the public throughout the day.