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St Bees |
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Bells & Bell Ringers |
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Bells & Bell Ringers
There is a very active band of bell ringers; ringing times are shown below. The Tower Captain is Doug Sim, Tel. 01946 824898.
The Priory bells shown mouth upwards. English bell ringing is unique because the bells rotate through a full circle. Here they are shown at rest, where they are held by a mechanism which allows the bell ringers to leave go of the ropes and have a rest. They are left in the "mouth down" position after the ringing session has finished. Ringing times Practice night: Non-ringing visitors are welcome at any time into the tower. Should you wish to see what we do, then come up the tower when we are ringing, or ring the Tower Captain, Doug Sim, on 01946 824898 to arrange a visit. Entry is by the external door at the base of the tower by the lych gate. Visiting ringers are always very welcome, but in summer should ring the Tower Captain to ensure there is a practice, as the ringers have a practice break. Sunday ringing continues throughout the year. Visitors Visitors are welcome at any time into the tower. Should you wish to see what we do, then come up the tower when we are ringing, or ring the Tower Captain, Doug Sim, on 01946 824898 to arrange a visit. Entry is by the door to the spiral stair in the graveyard by the lych gate. There are an estimated 45,000 bell ringers in the UK Want to find out more about full circle ringing?...then click on the link below. Central Council of Church Bell Ringers Also, see the website of the Carlisle Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers for other towers in the area. |
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The large Norman tower of St. Bees Priory contains a fine ring of eight bells rung in the English "full circle" fashion. Cast in 1857 by C&G Mears of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, they are tuned to a diatonic scale of F Major and the heaviest bell is 13 hundredweight (650 Kg). They were re-hung and re-tuned by Gillett and Johnson of Croydon in 1953, but they are still in their original oak frame of 1857.