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Dorset’s Dead Ringers

Bell ringer, Edward Hart paid the ultimate price in September 1884 when he failed to release his bell rope in the belfry of  St Nicholas Church, Winterborne Kingston (featured). Hart was a 34 years-old sawyer from Sturminster Marshall and was taking part in a peal with other ringers to celebrate a local wedding.

The unfortunate man got entangled in his rope and was pulled up to an overhead beam. There, he suffered a severe blow to his head and then he fell heavily to the floor. He was never to speak again. Medical assistance was obtained immediately from a Bere Regis doctor but the unlucky woodworker died just four days later. As it was reckoned the occurrence was purely accidental, an Inquest was considered by the Coroner to be unnecessary. To prevent bell ringers flying into the air, foot straps (below) were invented. However, it seems this health and safety measure never really caught on.

Reverend William Russell Ware Mortimer was struck by a 10 cwt swinging bell in July 1957. It happened when the Rector was showing a party of Sunday School children round the belfry of St Andrew’s Church, Okeford Fitzpaine. He was honouring a promise to the children to do this. Bells had been left in an ‘up position’ ready for ringing at the evening service. A notice was in place explaining this. Sadly for the luckless cleric, death was instantaneous. The Coroner commented:

‘A clergyman being killed in such a manner in his own church, after taking a service there, is quite beyond the understanding of the human mind.’

He had been the Rector of Okeford Fitzpaine for fourteen years.

(Sources: Blandford and Wimborne Telegram - 5th September 1884 & Daily News (London) - 24th July 1957.)




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