Music & Bells

Bell Ringing

Interested in joining us? Bellringing practice is on Thursday evenings at 7.30 pm. We have several new ringers in our tower, and new ringers are always welcome.

Music & Bells

Ringing is about timing, rhythm and teamwork - and new ringers are always welcome.

For more information on our tower and how to begin bellringing, please contact our Correspondent, Diane Biggs, on 07776 182848. You do not need to be especially strong or musical to learn, and our experienced ringers will teach you patiently from the very beginning.

St John’s

Bells at St John’s, Devizes

01St John’s eight bells were originally cast between 1610 and 1747; some have since been recast, and all were rehung with plain bearings in a steel frame in 1902.

02Ten peals are recorded on boards in the ringing chamber. One of particular interest is a peal of 5040 changes of Grandsire Triples rung in February 1920 in memory of Devizes ringers who gave their lives in the 1914–18 Great War.

03Another peal board records one of Grandsire Triples rung in 1962 in honour of the 80th anniversary of the Salisbury Diocesan Guild.

04Until it was stopped in 1940, the curfew had been rung at 9 p.m. for several hundred years.

St John’s · Cast in bronze

The bells & their inscriptions

TrebleNote D

“The Gift of Wm. Willy, Esqr… Js. Burrough Founder 1747.”

SecondNote C♯

“The Gift of Wm. Willy Esqr… Js. Burrough Founder 1747.”

ThirdNote B

“Vivat Rex et Floreat Grex. Ano Domini 1677.”

FourthNote A

“HOPE WELL I.W. 1610.”

FifthNote G

“FEARE THE LORDE 1610.” (Recast 1927)

SixthNote F♯

“Mr. James Sutton… Churchwardens 1697.”

SeventhNote E

“John Jordan and Matthew Figgins, Churchwardens 1677.” (Recast 1905)

TenorNote D · 19 cwt

“Richard Hillier, Mayor… 1677.”

St Mary’s

Bells at St Mary the Virgin, Devizes

01At least four bells hung in the tower in 1498–1500. The clapper of the ‘great’ bell was repaired by John Smith of Bristol in the latter year.

02Some of the then-existing bells were recast by J. Wallis of Salisbury in 1606, and a bell was recast in 1616.

03In 1641 there were five bells; there are now six, the earliest of 1640 and 1663, with later recasting and re-hanging in 1878, 1897–8 and 1915.

St Mary’s · Cast in bronze

The bells & their inscriptions

St Mary’s carries a ring of six. No record survives of the wording cast into each bell, but their founders and dates are well documented.

Treble1663

Cast in 1663, attributed to the Purdue family of founders.

Second1663

Cast in 1663, attributed to the Purdues.

Third1701

Cast in 1701 and recast in 1879.

Fourth1640

Cast in 1640; recast in 1696 by Robert and William Cor of Aldbourne.

Fifth1663

Cast in 1663, attributed to the Purdues.

Tenor1663

Cast in 1663, attributed to the Purdues.

Bell Ringing

Bells at St John’s, Devizes

The bells & their inscriptions

Bells at St Mary the Virgin, Devizes

The bells & their inscriptions

A tradition of nearly a thousand years, still ringing today.

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