[Bell Historians] Re: swaying towers

[David Bryant]

> Ringing at Calne (Wilts) was an experience - the tower swayed like a ship!
> They have handbells on the walls which tinkle as the bells are rung. It is
> no help to realise that this is their second tower as the first fell down
in
> the C18th.

Somerset has quite a number of such towers - the two in Taunton (St Mary's
and, especially, St James'). At the latter, the ropes on hooks on the wall
and handbells on hooks all sway, and if you're stood on the stairs while the
bells are ringing it feels like the tower is about to fall over!

East Anglia is where towers do actually collapse - the flint walling is
often not very strong. SS Simon and Jude in Norwich springs to mind, and
Oxburgh of course.

David