The Headstock
The headstock is the horizontal block of wood or metal which is what the bell is attached to by its canons. Most early bells have a wooden headstock as it was easier to carve the slot to accept the canon in and also easier to strap the bell too. Bells today mostly have a metal headstock. The bell can be bolted to a metal headstock and this material makes them a lot stronger than wooden ones too.
On listed bells, the canons aren't allowed to be removed during restoration therefore a different headstock is created unless they continue to use wooden headstock. In the event they restore the bells and remove the canons. Any bell which is listed will keep their canons and have a canon retaining headstock.
On either end of the headstock are small metal pivots which stick out. These slot into the bearings and is the point of rotation for the bell to swing on. The pivots are named gudgeons.
On most bells which have just a peg canon, their headstock has a bolt which goes right the way through the headstock and the peg.
On listed bells, the canons aren't allowed to be removed during restoration therefore a different headstock is created unless they continue to use wooden headstock. In the event they restore the bells and remove the canons. Any bell which is listed will keep their canons and have a canon retaining headstock.
On either end of the headstock are small metal pivots which stick out. These slot into the bearings and is the point of rotation for the bell to swing on. The pivots are named gudgeons.
On most bells which have just a peg canon, their headstock has a bolt which goes right the way through the headstock and the peg.
Detached headstock: Horne, St Mary the Virgin - Surrey
Metal headstock: Eastbourne, St Saviour & St Peter
Wooden headstock: Duncton, Holy Trinity
Peg canon headstock: East Grinstead, Former church of St Luke
Metal headstock: Eastbourne, St Saviour & St Peter
Wooden headstock: Duncton, Holy Trinity
Peg canon headstock: East Grinstead, Former church of St Luke
