Bell to ring changes as sculpture

A historic bell which for decades rang at a former Black Country hospital is ringing again – after being used to create an eye-catching sculpture.

The relic dates back to the early 19th century and was originally rang when the building, which later became Wordsley Hospital, was used as a workhouse. It was rescued when the majority of the old hospital site was knocked down three years ago and has been kept in storage ever since.

But it has now been made the centrepiece of a stone sculpture crafted by Wolverhampton-based artist Malcolm Sier and installed at Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital.

It took Mr Sier, aged 50, two months to complete the project, which included restoring the bell, which was made by the Loughborough Bell Company.

The installation is made out of three slabs of Horton limestone and has the words "Be Still" and "Know Peace" engraved on it.

It also features the representation of a sacred mantra fashioned out of metalwork.

Mr Sier, of Chapel Ash said: "With the bell's past in mind and the proposed wish for it to be sited within the Peace Garden, I felt this provided the opportunity to create a piece of work which would change the perception of the bell.

"I also wanted to give the bell a new role and meaning within the surroundings of a modern hospital and the multi-cultural community it serves."

The workhouse at Wordsley survived for 120 years before the majority of the buildings were demolished and replaced with news ones, which in 1904 became the core of Wordsley Hospital. During the First World War, it was used as a military hospital where hundreds of wounded soldiers were cared for between 1915 and 1920.