Despite being built well over 100 years ago, Par's grand old Trenython Manor has just given up another of its long hidden secrets.
Staff at the old building, designed by an Italian architect at the commission of General Garibaldi back in 1872, have just discovered an ancient bell within the shadows of the rooftops.
And although the manor house is punctuated with Italianate flourishes, the bell is 100% English in origin.
Dating back to 1868 it was made in Whitechapel, London, at England's oldest bell foundry.
The Whitechapel foundry has been making bells for 500 years and has produced such notable names as Big Ben, Philadelphia's Liberty Bell and, as recently as last year the Olympic Bell used to open the Games in London.
Weighing in at an impressive half a ton and made mostly of copper, it bears the inscription, Robert Stainbank and chimes in either C or D.
It is believed that the bell was probably used fully during Bishop Gott's residency of the manor.
Recovery of the bell from its rooftop housing is to begin soon with plans to display it in the great hall of the Manor house hotel building.
A spokesperson for the manor said: "Once relocated, the bell will be seen by guests arriving at reception where it will be lending its weight to Trenython's tally of fascinating features. Ring it on, we say."
