College students build bell tower

Mohammed Usman and Rafad Mohammed with their bell tower

Two teenagers have stunned their college by building a bell tower, based on a former era.

Mohammed Usman, 19, and Rafad Mohammed, 18, both from Rochdale, are studying Bricklaying at Hopwood Hall College.

When they asked for extra work to do in their spare time, tutor Darren Whatmough set them the task from an old syllabus that he stumbled upon.

Mr. Whatmough found the syllabus in the back of a dusty filing cabinet. When he checked the date, he saw that the date was in the 1960’s.

The aged syllabus included plans for a bell tower, which Mohammed and Rafad enthusiastically worked to complete.

The model features an arch with tumbling courses and weathered English bond to the top.

The boys have just finished their work, and are overjoyed at what they have produced.

Mr. Whatmough said: “The model exhibits high quality craftsmanship and attention to detail from the students and is a credit to their interest and commitment to their studies, as well as the extremely high craft skills displayed by their tutors.”

They are both looking forward to their final year at college.

This is their third year with the brickwork department; they started on a foundation programme two years ago and are now studying for the Level 2 Diploma in Bricklaying.