The Bells of Long Stratton, Norfolk

One of the few videos on TH-cam that shows the correct way to begin raising the bells. St Mary the Virgin's Church in Long Stratton sits right beside the busy A140 road from Cromer to Ipswich. The round tower holds a ring of six bells, with a tenor of 9-3-27cwt and tuned to Ab. The bells are a mixed bag; with the tenor cast in 1789 by Thomas Osborn, the fifth in 1652 by John II Brend, the fourth and oldest bell was cast in c1320 by Thomas de Lynn (with it being one of only four bells cast by this founder between 1320 and 1335, it also being their oldest and heaviest), the third and second in 1734 by Thomas Newman and the treble in 1904 by Mears & Stainbank of Whitechapel, London. There is a clock bell that weighs a little over one hundredweight and was cast in c1550 by Austen Bracker. Only seven bells were cast by this founder, with this clock bell being the lightest. The bells are hung in a metal frame, on one level, made in 1904 (at the time of Mears & Stainbank's augmentation of the ring to six) by George Day & Sons of Eye, Suffolk.
In 2012 the six bells were rehung with new fittings, in the existing frame, by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry Ltd. The bells were not tuned. The bells are very easy to ring and strike, as can be seen from our very enjoyable raise and course of Cambridge Surprise Minor.
Long Stratton is perhaps best known within ringing circles as being the location for the annual 'Christmas Eve Peal'. A peal had been rung on the bells for 65 consecutive years, with the last being in 2019, with the 2020 peal unable to be rung due to the pandemic. A handbell peal was rung instead, inside the church, but the 65-year run on the tower bells having been broken in 2020.
Recorded during the summer of 2023.
6 bells, 9-3-27cwt in Ab.

[@DeclanTheRinger]

ringer ollie how do you make good and intresting vids?

[@RingerOliver59]

I can suggest a tower? For a video?

[@tittums]

Of course!

[@RingerOliver59]

​@@tittums St Peters mancroft.

[@tittums]

@@RingerOliver59 I've already recorded them, but the video is not public. I'll send the video to you on WhatsApp,

[@wereswdfgrdesd]

@@tittums interesting tower