The Bells of Mattishall, Norfolk

The church of All Saints' in Mattishall holds a ring of six bells. The treble and second having been cast in 1743 by Thomas Newman. The third was cast in 1617 by John Draper. The fourth being the youngest bell, cast at the time of the most recent overhaul of the bells, in 1903 by Mears & Stainbank of Whitechapel. The fifth was cast in 1652 by John II Brend. The tenor is the oldest bell, having been cast in 1584 by Thomas Draper. The tenor, cast in 1584† and weighing 14 hundredweight and tuned to E, is the heaviest bell to have been cast by Thomas Draper of Thetford & Bury St Edmunds, and as a result is listed for preservation. In addition to the six bells hung for change ringing, there is a Sanctus bell hung for chiming from the ground floor. The bell was cast in c1499†.
The six bells and the sanctus bell are hung in a timber frame and, somewhat uniquely, all swing in the same direction. As a result the frame moves a lot, and while ringing can be felt moving and bumping around. The bells are all hung on wooden fittings, and are hung on plain bearings. The bells were regularly rung up until March 2020, but since have been only been rung on an irregular basis. We visited during the summer of 2022, and even with a very experienced band, the bells are very difficult to ring. In addition to this, some of the garter holes are not in the ideal position, resulting in some very reduced handstrokes! The tenor is also loose on it's headstock and as a result, drops like a stone. Please forgive the less than perfect striking, on this very difficult, although lovely sounding, Norfolk six!
6 bells, 14cwt in E.

[@Dzwonek05]

They sound interesting I can see that they are not easy to ring

[@andrewlubbock5767]

The ringing chamber floor used to slope down towards the Tower Arch, and the Balustrade only half the height you see now! Ringing the 3rd was a little scary!

[@wereswdfgrdesd]

this ringing chamber looks quite big

[@DeclanTheRinger]

ringer ollie you know how you have a vid comming to your chanel on saterday will you still have one coming on sunday cause if so i think you should ring at st catherines church ludham

[@tittums]

There will be a video at 6pm BST on Sunday, as usual. The Bells of Norfolk - Volume II is an annual additional video so you'll get two videos this weekend!
Ludham are on my schedule to record.

[@DeclanTheRinger]

@@tittums yaaaaaaaaay :)

[@patrickmeyer2802]

Tonally they're quite lovely, but the description of that frame sounds like a prime candidate for a rehang.

[@jonathandickenson2928]

We got married here. They used to be quite nice. Good sounding for Norfolk!