Kirriemuir Heritage Trust excited to see more Barrie bells emerge

More examples of a J. M. Barrie rarity have emerged as a curtain call to the celebrations surrounding the 150th anniversary of the Kirriemuir author’s birth.

A busy 2010 programme kept the writer’s home town in the spotlight and among the artefacts unearthed in connection with the Peter Pan creator was a brass bell.

The first example of the hand bell was unearthed ahead of an anniversary cricket match at Kirrie Hill in September and local historians believe it was a memento of the sports pavilion opening in 1930, when Barrie also received the freedom of the town.

Another bell has now popped up, and Kirriemuir Heritage Trust officials are keen to piece together more of the history behind it.

“Since the first bell was found another two have come to light one here in Kirrie and another in Fife which was bought in St Andrews about 15 years ago,” said the trust’s David Orr.

“We didn’t think there would be only one bell produced for the pavilion opening, but we’re really not a lot further forward in knowing the full story behind them and would love to get any more information.”