Historic bells add public appeal to walkway

For whom the bells toll: Two of the fire bells put up around the city to warn residents of fire in the 19th and early part of the 20th century have become a feature on the riverside walkway. The bells and the belfry built for them by EIT Tairawhiti students were installed near the Peel Street Bridge yesterday morning. Former firefighter Keith Watts (pictured) drove the relocation project. Picture by Paul Rickard

Two historic fire bells in a specially-made belfrey are now on permanent display near Peel Street Bridge to the delight of the man who instigated their relocation project.

Contractor Currie Construction started installing the belfry (bell tower) next to the riverside walkway at 6am yesterday, with the assistance of a CR Taylor crane.

Retired Gisborne firefighter and fire service historian Keith Watts made a submission to Gisborne District Council three years ago to position the bells where they could be in public view.

The tower and bells had been stored at Gisborne fire station.

The belfry was constructed by EIT Tairawhiti students 12 or so years ago.

“I am absolutely rapt with the end result,” Mr Watts said yesterday.

“It has been three long years to get to this point but it’s been well worth it to see the tower and the bells on display where people can see them alongside the river.”

The two fire bells were among those bought by Gisborne Borough Council in the years after a fire in 1877 destroyed 20 buildings.

“The fire bells were originally installed to alert residents to fires, as no such mechanism or organised firefighting organisation existed back then,” Mr Watts said.

“The larger bell at the top of the belfry was a fire bell located in Ormond Road on the former Knox Presbyterian Church site just past Rua Street.

“It was purchased after the First World War by the family of Gisborne serviceman Robert Douglas, who was killed in France.”

The smaller bell was originally placed at the Gladstone Road-Bright Street intersection in 1909.

“It was moved from there — when trams were introduced in Gisborne — to behind the fire station. That was in 1915.”

It was still there when Mr Watts joined the New Zealand Fire Service in l972.

“It was called the Victoria Bell because it was made in England in the time of Queen Victoria.”

The bells were made by a United Kingdom company, which also made the bells in the Town Clock.

The clock bells were originally in the old city post office tower in Customhouse Street.