Hessequa, Melkhoutfontein, United Reformed Church

Abstract

Currently the small bell of the church has been taken into custody. The bell shows a small indent on the crown. Apart from a moulding ring above the sound bow and one on the lip, the bell only shows the emblem of the foundry Barwell from Birmingham in the UK. In the emblem one finds the initials J and B on either side of a cross entwined with a B (for Birmingham) in an oval of oak leaves. It is the maker’s mark of James Barwell. Unfortunately, it is not possible to get a precise idea about the time of founding apart from the period during which the Barwells had been casting, namely between 1870 and 1920. James Barwell’s sons Edward and Arthur H. joined the factory from 1890 onwards until the foundry stopped in 1920.