Last updated 19:27, Thursday, 20 November 2008

THE NEWLY-restored Market Bell will soon ring out loud in Cockermouth for the first time in years.

BUTTER BELL: Master joiner Steve Stainton, with the refurbished 'Butter Bell' ready for the grand opening of Market Place

The ringing of the ancient bell, which traditionally opened and closed Cockermouth’s weekly market days, will round off an afternoon of celebrations in Market Place on Saturday, December 6.

The bell dates from at least 1679, and was last used to open and close the market in 1910.

It is also known as the ‘butter bell’.

Steve Stainton, 46, master joiner at Stainton Joiners, on Challoner Street, has been working on restoring the bell for around four weeks.

He is working with Alan Dunn, of Embleton, who has re-engineered the bell.

Steve said: “I was asked to restore the bell by Chris George and I have spent around four weeks trying to get it right.

“Alan has been helping a great deal, and we are making it fully operational again with a new clacker.

“I will be fitting the bell into place and I am looking forward to seeing what it looks like fully restored. It’s nice to be involved in a little bit of history.”

The celebrations will include a farmers’ market from 9.30am with entertainment planned for the afternoon.

This will include Belfagan Women’s Morris, street theatre, a performance by the Gardenelles folk duo, a champion sausage competition, cookery demonstrations with Annette Gibbons, and carol singing with the Cockermouth Mechanics Band and Castlegate Singers.

There will be a lantern parade at 4.30pm and the first ringing of the Market Bell at 5pm.