I receive an email from Joanne French of the Eastern District a welcome invitation to a two hour ringing practice at St Marys Swineshead. I have not previously visited this church with its impressive tower topped by a spire rising to 160 feet and I’m a little apprehensive about climbing those spiral steps to the ringing room, which as a youngster I would have ascended two at a time. Outside the church and at the entrance to the tower steps I meet Luke Tobin, Brian Plummer and Robert Simpson, Elloe District members who encourage me, Luke, with a laugh offering to give me a push . Luckily my legs are up to the task and out of breath I make it to the ringing room where Joanne is encouraging efforts to ring Stedman Triples and Double Norwich Major, the latter as its name implies, being rung originally ( about 1771) in the city which bears its name. I enjoy participating in both methods, the general standard of ringing being particularly good.
The date of the above was Saturday, January 13th and I was keen to hear the bells of Swineshead as they were cast by Thomas Osborn at that remarkable Downham Market foundry in 1794, the same year as Osborn cast our original five bells at Gedney. His bells are of fine tone, superior to many cast at that time, those at Gedney being tonally equal to modern “Simpson” tuned bells. At Swineshead North tells us there were prior to 1794, four bells, founders unknown though the treble carried the latin inscription “in multis annis resonet campara Johannis” ie “ For many years John’s bell resounds” Whoever John was, his bell and the other three went to the melting pot at Soundings Alley ( the site of Osborns foundry) in 1794 where their metal was incorporated into a new ring of eight bells. The treble to these carries the inscription “ William Ellis Subscriber” Wonder who he was and did he subscribe towards the cost of what was a major undertaking? I like the inscription on No 5 bell.
In wedlock bands all ye who join
With hands your hearts unite
So shall our tuneful tongues combine
To laud the nuptial rite.
These eight bells remained unaltered until in 1883 No 4 bell was recast by Taylor and in 1922 the tenor was recast by Mears and Stainbank. Without more research I do not know why this work was necessary . Finally all eight bells were re-hung by Eayre and Smith in 2004 . I enjoyed ringing and listening to them. Like our Gedney bells, their tone is good, a credit to that Downham foundry, now long gone. On behalf of the participating ringers , many thanks to Joanne for organising a pleasant Saturday morning practice. John Bennett