The Bells of Norwich

Sprowston, SS Mary & Margaret

SS Mary and Margaret, Sprowston
(from David Cawley's collection)

The ancient Parish Church of Sprowston stands well outside the City Boundary, but serves a parish which stretches into the City almost as far as Magdalene Gates. It has a mellow 17th-century red-brick tower which contains three bells formerly hung for ringing, as follows: 

Inscriptions

Treble

inscription band: Anno Domini 1625
waist: (AB/W crest)

2nd

inscription band: J : TAYLOR  FECIT  LOUGHBOR^O.
soundbow: OS . MEUM . ANNUNTIABIT . LAUDEM . TUAM  + MDCCCXLIV  +

Tenor

inscription band: +  :  OMNIS  :  SPIRITUS  :  LAUDET  :  DOMINUM  :

The tenor is one of the 'Burlingham St Andrew' group.

The second is said to have been added to replace a missing bell.  It was cast at Loughborough on 28th June, 1844 and was the first of the many bells which Taylor's have sent to the Diocese.  The records show that the bell was carefully tuned half-way between C and B to form an acceptable interval between a treble and tenor both of which are sharp of C# and A respectively. The result is a pleasant running three. All the bells retain their canons; those of the second are angular. The second also has an unusual crown staple, consisting of a cast-in square bolt over which fitted a clevis which was wedged to the staple and to which the T-head of the clapper fitted. 

When the second was supplied the bells were rehung in new fittings and framework by Joshua Hurry of Norwich.  The oak frame is of lowside type; the fittings consisted of elm headstocks, strap gudgeons, plain bearings,  traditional type wheels, stays and sliders. The old clappers were refitted to the treble and tenor which were not turned. The tenor became excessively worn and had not been rung in full circles for some time. In 1973 swing-chiming ceased, the PCC agreeing in principle to install a ring of six light bells, cast from the metal of the six bells of St Gregory, Norwich, which had been offered to the parish. Although the estimate from Whitechapel was generous it could not be maintained and a year later was to cost ten times as much. The tower was not ringer-friendly in layout, a large boiler occupying much of the ground floor ringing chamber. Much work would have been required to make the first floor soundproof and habitable. The PCC withdrew its acceptance of the St Gregory's bells in 1974. The immediate fittings other than the headstocks were all removed later in the year and a new set of Ellacombe chiming hammers was supplied by the Whitechapel Foundry, with a new manual fixed at ground floor level.

Last Updated 25th January 2003