Historical moment as old Framlingham bell tower is moved

Company news

Jul 11, 2014

A special historical occasion was marked today as the old bell tower at Mills Meadow care home in Framlingham, which dates from the 1900s and was originally a feature of the former Mills Grammar School, was carefully lifted by crane to a new location on site.

The bell tower has been re-positioned in a garden area near the main reception area of the redeveloped Mills Meadow care home to respect its historical significance.

Residents, Liz Austin and Elsie Bearcroft, and Care UK colleagues from Mills Meadow gathered to watch as Care UK’s construction partner Castleoak carefully coordinated the fifteen minute crane lift, carrying the bell tower from the back to the front of the site and gently placing it on its original brick base, which was moved by hand to the new location in advance. 87 year-old resident, Liz Austin, was particularly excited to watch the bell tower move since she was born in Framlingham and attended Mills Grammar School as a young girl.

Georgina Penny, Care UK Business Support at Mills Meadow, said: “Everyone here is delighted that the bell tower will remain pride of place in the new Mills Meadow development, where it belongs, so the historical connection continues and the bell tower can continue to be enjoyed by our residents and by future generations.”

Previously the bell tower stood at ground level as a converted water feature in a central courtyard garden at Mills Meadow, representing its roof height location when it was part of Mills Grammar School. The design of the new Mills Meadow home ensures the bell tower will remain a prominent feature, situated in landscaped gardens which will be visible and accessible through patio doors in the main reception area.

The redevelopment of Mills Meadow care home is part of Care UK’s £60 million investment into ten new care homes and day clubs across Suffolk. The new Mills Meadow, which will provide nursing and specialist dementia care for up to 60 residents, is being developed in two phases to avoid the need for residents to move elsewhere during construction. The new state-of-the-art care home will provide attractive facilities such as ensuite bathrooms, a small cinema, café and hairdressers, as well as an adjacent day club which will provide a regular treat for older people living in their own homes locally.

Mills Meadow residents are looking forward to moving into new accommodation when the first half of their new care home opens in September this year, after which phase two of construction will begin. The grand opening of the whole new home and day club is set for September 2015.

For more information about Mills Meadow or Care UK’s other Suffolk developments visit www.careuk.com/suffolk-new-homes or call 0333 321 0956.