For whom the tide bell tolls

At first glance from a distance the bell looks like a small moon lander stuck into the shore with a wave catcher dangling underneath. It’s one of several Time and Tide bells installed around Britain’s coast as a public artwork project. These innovative bells owe their design to a collaboration between Dr Neil Mclachlan and sculptor Marcus Vergette. Using computer modelling they’re able to create a bell which sounds a melody from several notes in sequence when struck.

Cast from bronze in Sheffield and weighing in at nearly a tonne, the bells sit in a harness made specific to where they’ll be placed. Several, like that at Cemeas Bay, are fastened into the shore, while the one at Aberdovey is unique in being suspended below a wooden pier and held in place by metal rods.

Anglesey has artist Helen Grove-White to thank for their Time and Tide bell. She had the opportunity to meet Marcus

AT FIRST GLANCE FROM A DISTANCE THE BELL LOOKS LIKE A SMALL MOON LANDER STUCK INTO THE SHORE WITH A WAVE CATCHER DANGLING UNDERNEATH.

Vergette and suggested that one of his bells be placed on the island. He didn’t need to be persuaded since he’d also wanted one there, so the pair explored the coastline together to find a suitable site. From inception, it took three years for the idea to become reality. Officially known as St Patrick’s Bell after the Christian saint who, according to legend, was shipwrecked on the island in the year 440, its launch was celebrated by a traditional band.

Installed in April 2014 by engineers from the Wylfa nuclear power station, it has a message for any visitors who are tempted to manually ring the bell: “Please respect the local residents by waiting for the tide to ring the bell. Os gwelwch yn dda parchwch y trigolion lleol trwy aros am y llanw I ganu’r gloch. Diolch.”

Over time seawater creates a patina on the bronze, changing its colour. The colour can vary depending on water conditions in the different locations, but is usually some shade of blue like the one at Ceamas Bay.

So far seven bells can be found across Britain, with more in development. Funding has come from the Arts Council, the National Lottery and private donations. All the bells include a locally chosen inscription, and Anglesey’s is from the poet

Glyndwr Thomas:

Tawel ei chnul uwch heli, Enw Sant yn ei llais hi, Cloch a’i thraw yn dweud o’i thrig Dragwyddol weddi Padrig.

Above the waves, melodiously, sounds

The name of a saint, so fair, A bell whose knell is here to tell Patrick’s eternal prayer.

The youngest generation will eventually come to know if the Time and Tide bell needs to be moved landwards due to sea level rise predicted by climate scientists. Let’s hope not, otherwise they’ll know that the bell tolls for both them and the sea…