I received this message from a former pupil of The Wells House School today:
"I went to WH in September '59.
There was a bell, but not as shown on the website. It was by the front doors, mounted on the wall - it might have been a ship's bell. It was about 16" high by about 12" at the mouth. It had a crack running up from the mouth, and we were always told to ring it by tapping the clapper rapidly against the same spot. We were told that the bell would crack in half if we bashed the clapper from side to side across the mouth. There was a name on the bell: Swan? I can't remember.
The hallway in from the bell was known as the bell lobby.
The Headmaster, Alan Darval, known to his face by everyone as Beak, would read out on Monday mornings the bell ringing rosta for the week. Every boy who managed to complete his bell ringing duty for a week without any faults, lateness or forgeetting altogether, would be paid 3d. If all the boys in one week performed their duty correctly they would attend a "bell ringers tea party". I can't remember the next period for all correct bell ringing, perhaps two consecutive weeks, but the reward was a half day holiday for the whole school."
I'm still seeking further information about my bell but this was welcome information.
As far as I can remember, there were two bells: yours (or one like it) was used to wake us up by Matron going around the dormitories. The other hang in the Bell Lobby and was as Fido described it: it was used to start and end lessons and other activities. I think that the name of the ship engraved on it was H.M.S. Wild Swan. I was at TWH 1962-1967.
ReplyDeleteHi This Bell was used to get us up in the Morning times, The matron would use it to signal everyone up. It was used the whole time I was there. Friends reunited have a group there are many older pupils who many be able to help you with more information.
ReplyDeleteI went to Wells House from 1980-1985. The bell that has been shown was 'The Riser' which matron used to ring to wake us all up. There was also the larger 'ship bell' which was in the bell lobby.
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