Grapevine

By Babrecila

The Bell Tower.

The Manor of Chesterton (Cestretone) St Andrews Church, was rebuilt in cruciform about 1250 in the style known as Early English. This tower holds the Belfry, and there is a plaque on the wall with the following inscription :-
IN THIS TOWER
On Saturday November 19th, 1904, was rung a peal of Doubles, consisting of 5,040 changes in the following methods :- V13; Earl Soham; Delight; Lincolnshire Singles; Hudibras; Primrose; Court Bob; Crambo; Westminster; Stedman and Grandsire. It was rung in 3 hours 10 minutes, by the Old Chesterton Youths.
Samuel Pepys wrote in his diary "......walked to Chesterton to see our old walk; and there into the church, the bells ringing...."
The bells still ring out regularly, despite some of the occupants of nearby new housing trying to get them banned, saying the Sunday bells disturbed them. The locals were furious and petitioned for them to be kept saying if people don't like bells, why buy a house next door to a church. By the way, I can hear the lovely peals from my home and they don't go on for 3 hours as per the marathon.

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