One of the nation's best-loved chimes will be ringing out again clearer than ever over the rooftops of Cambridge – thanks to the technical expertise of a small band of engineers from Kier.

A team led by Barry Johnson, Chief Engineer of Kier Engineering Services, has devoted many hours to designing and supervising the installation of 13 new bells and a new bell frame in the tower of Great St Mary's Church, overlooking King's College.

That's because Barry and graduate engineer Luke Smith are both bell ringers at the Grade I-listed university church, which is where the familiar Westminster chimes of Big Ben originated over 200 years ago.

The Cambridge Quarters, which have been chiming the hours at Great St Mary’s ever since being composed for the church in 1793, fell silent earlier this year so that work could start on replacing the 18th century bells, which weigh up to 1.5 tonnes and were causing the church tower to sway noticeably, making it tricky to ring them.


Having joined in ringing the bells at Great St Mary's almost every week since his undergraduate days in Cambridge some 40 years ago, Barry Johnson, who lives with his family in the city, offered to act as project manager in his spare time, while Kier Engineering Services was commissioned by the church to design a new structural steel bell frame.

Another key member of the KES team who assisted with the project was senior design engineer Andrew Barnard. He carried out architectural work, including a raised ceiling to expose the fine oak beams in the ringing chamber, plus new window lights and a viewing platform in the bell chamber for tourists, who regularly climb the 130ft tower to enjoy panoramic views. Construction design & management (CDM) co-ordination services were provided by Tony Ashworth, head of KES compliance services division.

In a series of closely co-ordinated operations, the 12 old bells, some dating back as far as 1723, were lifted out by mobile crane in April and 13 new bells, cast at a foundry in Loughborough to be slightly lighter and a semitone higher, were swung over the top of the church tower and lowered into place this month, after the newly-fabricated bell frame had been assembled inside.

While the new bells will ring out for church services and peals, five of the original bells will continue to sound the historic clock chimes every quarter hour, as they have done since the Cambridge Quarters were first heard.

"To be able to create this new installation is a wonderful and unique experience for a bell ringer like me, and I shall be delighted to take part when the new bells are rung for the first time," said Barry Johnson.

(GK/BMcc)