This curious 18th-century warning in verse seems to have been aimed at bell ringers who arrived late, so still wearing 'spur or hat'.

 

 

This is a belfry, that is free
for all those that civil be
and if you please to chime or ring
it is a very pleasant thing.

There is no musick played or sung
like unto Bells when theyr well rung
then ring your bells well if you can
Silence is best, for every man.

But if you ring in spur or hat
sixpence you pay be sure of that
and if a bell you overthrow
pray pay a groat before you go.

 

You snapped the wooden stop if you 'overthrew' a bell, which would appear to be shamingly unprofessional conduct. The fine, however, was less than that imposed on the hat and spur wearers! The Doom painting over the chancel arch here is regarded as one of the finest medieval wall paintings in the country.

 

Access

Just inside All Saints Church, at the top of All Saints Street.

 

 

 

 

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