Photos

hello, again a scanned picture from Vinzelle village. What you can gess in the parc is the year 2000 monument.

Note from the net (http://www.hibberts.co.uk/collect/vinz.htm):
The village of La Vinzelle is in the Lot Valley a few miles from Conques. It is built on a steep hillside several hundred feet above the River Lot with spectacular views across the valley. The church, dedicated to St. Roche, has three small bells. In 1870, a new large bell was donated to the village by a well-to-do local. It was cast, according to its inscription, by Triadou Cazes Pourcel at Rodez (a large town to the south). It is much too big for the church tower and was eventually hung in a stone bell cote on a rocky outcrop above the church. In the picture on the left, you can see the tower of the church (on the right) with the bell cote on the hillside above it. The village is justifiably proud of this bell. The signs to the village advertise it as a major attraction, and tourist guides gives much information on 'La Campana Bella'. The bell cote is open to public access (though a sign asks vistors to avoid ringing the bell so as not to disturb the peaceful atmosphere). Further pictures of the village and bell can be found here.

The bell hangs in a rather flimsy wooden frame on plain bearings. It is has canons and is hung by straps on a very large wooden headstock typical of this area which counter-balances the bell, allowing it to be easily swung by hand. It has a cast-in staple and a conventional clapper. Unlike most bells in the area it is still swung by rope and lever rather than by electric motor. The inscription on the bell reads 'Bienfaituer et donateur de la cloche par Mr OUILLADES Jean cachet de fauille; Melle Adéle DHAUTERIUES bien Faitrice; Mr J. Peuch curé. Fait á Rodez par TRIADOU CAZES POURCEL (1870)'. I have no information on this bellfounder so far, though I have found information on bells cast by a founder called Cazes Pourcel at Villefranche, a town not too distant from either Rodez or La Vinzelle, in 1893.
Best regards
JMarc