The Bells of Scottow, Norfolk

Today I had originally planned to upload a video of the bells at Cromer however yesterday I was treated to a surprise ring at a tower I have wanted to visit for a long time! Yesterday was my 18th Birthday and the day was filled with ringing for Advent Sunday. We started with ringing at Stratton Strawless for their 'Cafe Church', then onto Marsham for their Eucharist. Back home for a birthday breakfast before swiftly moving off to Felmingham for a quarter peal on the back six of the lovely ring of eight there.
After this I was told that we were going to have a drink at a friends house but when we arrived there we drove straight past and towards Coltishall as apparrently they had forgotten something and had to pop to he shop. I said ''Ooooh this is near Scottow, I've always wanted to ring there!''. We arrived in Coltishall and drove straight past the shop and towards Scottow church. I said ''Scottow church is just up the drive there''. Up the drive we turned and into the church car park. Anna then said ''Oh look, what are the other ringers doing here?!''. It was only when he car was turned off that I clocked onto the fact we were ringing here. The best surprise ever for a very special birthday!
After ringing here we went onto Lammas to ring a quarter peal for Advent Sunday evensong. After we finished (with a perfect catch in pop-goes-the-weasel!) we descended the tower to find out that the church had found out it was my birthday! The organ started and the whole church sang happy birthday! This was a day filled with memories and one I will never forget!
The church of All Saints in Scottow is located just next to the former Coltishall airbase in North Norfolk. The church has a very distinctive look with the tower, perhaps, being the most striking. Firstly the louvered windows have been somewhat 'de-poshed'. According to ringers, the center corbel of the windows and associated stonework has been cut away as it was 'too posh for the village'. Secondly, the tower is very tall and very thin which leads onto the reason I particularly wanted to ring here! Since structural problems were found in late 2009, the bells have been rarely rung and with a 30-minute time limit placed on all ringing at the tower. Because of this peculiarity, it automatically found its way onto my bucket list of towers. The ring of five bells, which were cast in 1713 by Thomas Newman, were augmented and rehung in a new cast iron frame in 1935 by Alfred Bowell. The bells are hung at the top of the tall thin tower and because of this it has caused a number of cracks to appear, hence the limitation on ringing. The augmentation, as you will hear, wasn't altogether successful in terms of sound. They are, to me, a lovely ring of bells and I can't wait until the next time I can ring there!
I must extend my thanks to Andrew, Anna and Richard for arranging a lovely day of ringing and in particular this wonderful surprise!
-o0o- Infomation -o0o-
Location: All Saints Church, Scottow, Norfolk.
Bells: 6 bells, 10-2-14cwt in Ab.
Date: Sunday 28th November 2021.
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