The Quex Park Society of Change Ringers

The bells at Quex are rung regularly by church bellringers from the local area who are members of the Quex Park Society. The aim of the Society is "to promote the art of change ringing in the Isle of Thanet". Membership is open to any ringer who would like to join us regularly for practice. The Society is generously allowed by Mr Powell Cotton to receive donations and peal fees into its funds. The funds are used to support the ringing and over the years we have bought new ropes, redecorated the ringing room and one of the side rooms. Fortunately the maintenance of the structure is taken care of by the Quex Estate.

The Society is the successor to John Powell Powell's 'Quex Institution of Change Ringing' formed when the tower was first built. Its membership seems to have been drawn from men who worked on the estate and for a number of years William Shipway, a nationally known ringer, was employed to teach them. The Institution's first peal is recorded in the tower, it was 5040 Plain Bob Triples rung on Friday, 26th May 1820, conducted by Shipway. John Powell Powell range the tenor bell. In addition to ringing peals at Quex the ringers visited other towers in the area including St John's, Margate, St Nicholas, Ash and Canterbury Cathedral where the Quex ringers joined with the Cathedral Company to ring the first peal on the recently augmented ten bells.

The Quex Park Society is affiliated to the Kent County Association of Change Ringers. Find their Web Page at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/fwcml/homepage.htm

Practices are held twice a month on the first and third Saturday evening. During the last year or so attendance has improved and we have been able to make much better use of the bells. Touches of basic 10 and 12 bell methods have been rung and Cambridge Surprise Royal. Any ringer is most welcome to join us on a practice night and we are happy to ring anything we are capable of to introduce someone to the tower.

Latest News from the Society

Death of Mr. Christopher Powell Cotton

Our President Mr Christopher Powell Cotton died on Wednesday 12th April 2006 after a short illness. He was eighty-eight years old. This is a great loss to everyone at Quex, to the ringers and to the ringing world generally as Mr Powell Cotton was instrumental in ensuring that the bells at the Waterloo Tower have continued to ring almost 200 years after his great-great-great uncle built the tower. In 1951 the front four bells were recast at his expense. In 1982 all the bells were rehung and the front four bells were moved to a new metal frame on the floor below the belfry. In 1989 when the ninth bell was broken accidentally, it was his generosity that enabled the order for the replacement bell to be placed so quickly. The current building work will extend the life of the building significantly.

At 12 noon on the day of his death the passing bell was rung on the tenor bell - the 'Nine Tailors' followed by a blow for each year of his life. The Museum staff took the opportunity to come outside to listen to the bell and reflect. The Quex Ringers will ensure that our due respect is paid to Mr Powell Cotton's memory through ringing on the day of his funeral and when his ashes are interred in the family mausoleum, which is situated in one of the ground floor rooms of the tower.

Restoration Work

The extensive restoration work that has been going on at the Waterloo Tower has inevitably affected our activities of late. Last year we were unable to ring for three months while the spire was re-fixed to the tower. Each leg of the tower has four 'feet'. A very long iron pin ran from each 'foot' down through the brickwork at the top of each turret and on through a large wooden beam, below which it was fastened with a large nut. These pins had rusted and in some cases become dangerously thin. The pins have been removed and replaced with stainless steel ones. The work involved removing internal brickwork at the top of the turrets and replacing at least one beam. The brickwork has now been replaced and, in fact, looks a lot better than it did previously. The previous brickwork probably was not part of the original construction but why or when it had been put in is not known.

The second phase of the work has not prevented ringing but it has made conditions in the ringing room less than perfect - more akin to a builders' yard sometimes! This work has involved removing bricks to access horizontal iron bands between the layers of brickwork at intervals up the height of the four turrets. These bands have rusted over the years and have begun to push off the outer bricks. The bands are not necessary and so will not be replaced. The new bricks are being made specially and the work that has been completed looks excellent. When this phase is finished (at present they seem to have run out of bricks!), the spire is due to be cleaned and then repainted.

If you would like to get in touch with the Society, please go to the Contact Us page

Directions to The Waterloo Tower

From All Saints, Birchington, go down Park Lane (opposite eastern end of church) for approximately a quarter of a mile. The entrance to the Park is on the left shortly after the start of a belt of trees.

After a few hundred yards there is a white gate which is the entrance for the Museum and its car park. Turn left in front of the gate and follow the roadway marked "Private, Farms only". At each junction bear right, until reaching a garage yard. Cars or larger vehicles may be left here. Leave the garage yard by going straight on from the point you entered it. The roadway swings sharply to the left. About fifty yards further on there is a trackway on the right hand side. This leads to the gate to the field surrounding the tower. Cars may also be left beside the roadway after the sharp left hand bend.

Please remember the Park is part of a working farm. Please make sure all gates are securely fastened. Do not obstruct any roadways with parked vehicles. Do not take dogs, even on a lead, across to the tower if there are cattle in the field.

BEWARE OF SPEED BUMPS ON THE PARK ROADS
ABOUT 5 mph IS RECOMMENDED BY EXPERIENCE!