THEY are ringing the changes at one Hampshire school. Marchwood Junior's has been given a special bell which used to hang near the gunpowder store at an armaments depot in the parish.
The Thunder Bell was used to raise the alarm if an electrical storm was in the area.
Workers hearing it took steps to protect the 21,000 barrels of gunpowder and cut the risk of an explosion caused by a lightning strike.
Marchwood Parish Council has given the bell to the school after acquiring it from the Museum of Naval Firepower in Gosport.
Thought to be more than 100 years old, the bell is used to signal class changes.
Head teacher Steve Bassett said: "The Royal Naval Armaments Depot was in Marchwood for more than 150 years. It was built in 1815 and extended in 1856, immediately after the Crimean War. Gunpowder was stored in special buildings known as magazines before being transported to Portsmouth and loaded on to warships.
"The Thunder Bell will be a constant reminder to pupils and staff alike of the great part the depot played."
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