When I became director many years ago, I found the bell hanging on the outside of the old office. It took a number of weeks for me to notice it as the brass was so tarnished it was well camouflaged against the brown cabin wall! One afternoon I took it down to examined it. Inscribed on the outside lip of the bell were the initials, "ARP" on one side, and "G & J 1939" on the other. Attempts at determining its origin and history were unsuccessful. I fashioned a handle out of a few wood spools and a wooden ball and placed it in on the mantle of the office fireplace, a place of prominence where it waited proudly to dispatch it's new duties!

Recently I did a little more research and discovered that our little bell has quite a history. It turns out that the "ARP" stands for "Air Raid Precaution." The bell was used in Great Britain during World War II by the Air Raid Precaution Wardens. The ARP bell's function was to declare an "all clear," letting residents know that it was safe to be outside again.

The following information is from the Plymouth (England) City Museum and Art Gallery web page: 

"Air Raid Precaution Warden’s (ARP) Bell

"There were around 1.4 million Air Raid Precaution (ARP) Wardens in Britain during World War Two. Their duties included supervision of air-raid shelters, enforcement of the night-time 'black-out' and providing help following bomb damage, such as rescue or demolition. Items of equipment such as this hand-bell were essential to the speedy and efficient execution of their duties.

"The ARP Warden Service came into being in 1937, followed in January 1938 by the ARP Act which compelled local authorities to create ARP schemes. Many of Britain's 1.4 million wardens were part-time volunteers. All were expected to have detailed knowledge of their local area.

"The hand bell was intended to be rung to sound the 'All Clear' signal, this could cause confusion with the 'Raiders Passed' signal. The latter was sounded on the siren as a continuous steady note, and signified that enemy aircraft were not threatening that particular district.

"According to Air Raid Precaution Handbook No.8, The Duties of Air Raid Wardens:

"The cancellation of the local gas warning will be by hand bells, rung through the streets of the [warden's] sector. Hand bells may also be used to repeat the Raiders Passed signal but only if gas is not about. Hand bells will in fact be an "All Clear" signal, which is different from the Raiders Passed signal, since the latter will be sounded on receipt of the message from the national centre, whether or not there is gas in the locality."

So our little bell has come a long way, both geographically and functionally! Once signaling that all was safe during very difficult times, it now it rings us into each camp season heralding a safe place for children to explore and play!