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pdgcbr.bsky.social
PDGCBR
@pdgcbr.bsky.social
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Local charity providing information & support to members and friends of the Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers. Covering towers and ringing in Northamptonshire, Rutland and Peterborough.
www.pdg.org.uk
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pdgcbr.bsky.social
Tower of the day
Glaston has a ring of 6 bells that are ring from the nave beneath the central tower. The heaviest bell weighs 378 kg. The bells are from 1598 to 1622 and 1931 to 1937, two rafts of bell additions! There is no regular practice night.
#Bells #BellRinging #Ringing #Rutland
Photo by Kati, Boredgothwithacamera on instagram, with thanks. This view of Glaston shows it's most unusual attribute, the triskele (a 3 armed spiral) inset into the west window. The church is viewed from the west end, and comprises a nave with a porch, a central tower and a chancel beyond. It shows signs of having been built at different times, with the chancel seeming to be wider than the central tower from this view. It is built of rubble with some finer stone for the mouldings and window surrounds. This gives it a rough hewn, rustic, appearance. The central tower is square and not very much taller than the nave and chancel roof. There is then a short (and rather stumpy) broached spire on the top. The sky is a misty blue while the churchyard shows signs of having been mown recently in between the grave markers.
December 9, 2025 at 8:37 PM
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Recent Ringing
The ringers at Peterborough Cathedral rang a quarter peal of Plain Bob Royal prior to the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust Carol Service.
#Bells #BellRinging #Ringing #Peterborough #Christmas
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Image is of Peterborough Cathedral. A broad frontage with 3 arches and 2 towers either side. Ornately carved and with a projecting porch in the lower portion of the middle arch. The green in front is not very evident. The sky is a deep blue and there are just a few wisps of cloud. The sun is shining and there are deep shadows in the arches.
December 9, 2025 at 1:13 AM
pdgcbr.bsky.social
Recent Ringing
A quarter peal was rung at Peterborough St Mary's with a double celebration, the engagement of Michael Christie to Lou Middleton and the safe arrival of Madison Mia Hasley.
Congratulations to all concerned.
#Bells #BellRinging #Ringing
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A modern church in light brown brick against a blue sky, just a few puffy white clouds. The church has a tower and about 2/3rds of the way up a set of lighter bands in brick, where the louvres are. To the left of the tower is the church entrance, with a high canopy over it. In front is a road and some cones and to the right what appears to be 2 people working, maybe dealing with the bushes that are between the church and the road, they have a green piece of machinery that I can't identify!
December 8, 2025 at 10:00 PM
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Recent Ringing
Ringstead church has held a Christmas tree festival. At the weekend, the bells were rung for a quarter peal to provide a musical accompaniment to the trees.
#Bells #BellRinging #Ringing #Northamptonshire #Christmas
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Ringstead tower is visible here, between 2 yew trees. The church is hidden behind the one to the left. In front of the tower is a porch with white gates in the entrance. The tower is square and has several stages, which taper slightly. There is then a robust broached spire with sets of louvres to allow the bell sound out. The sky is blue and the sun is behind the cloud to the left, we can see the light band of cloud around the edges.
December 8, 2025 at 9:52 PM
pdgcbr.bsky.social
Recent Ringing
A band in the area are ringing peals at the rings of 5 bells. They rang at Stoke Doyle on Sunday, ringing an extent (120 changes) of 48 different methods.
#Bells #BellRinging #Ringing #northamptonshire
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Stoke Doyle is a compact Georgian church that would not be out of place in a town, but it is, instead, perched on the edge of a small village. It replaced a much larger medieval church. The church is rectangular, built of a clean cut cream stone. We can see the East end with a pilastered window. In the side wall of the nave there are 4 large arched windows and a door with arched canopy. Beyond is the tower which is square and plain, with a ballulstrate and tapered pinnacles on the corners. The sky is a uniform dull grey, the church yard a lush green.
December 8, 2025 at 9:40 PM
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Recent Ringing
A peal was rung at Woodford Halse, in 7 different minor methods. According to records, this is only the 10th time a peal has been rung on these bells.
#Bells #BellRinging #Ringing #Northamptonshire
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Woodford Halse church sits down the slope from us. It's an ironstone church, with, from the left, a square tower, nave with side aisle and chancel. There is an array of grave markers in front of us and the sky is a generally threatening grey.
December 7, 2025 at 4:35 PM
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Recent Ringing
At Rothwell, the monthly first Friday peal was rung successfully. They rang a new method and named it Cheaney Surprise Royal. Cheaney is a Northamptonshire shoe manufacturer, a nice local link.
#Bells #BellRinging #Ringing #Northamptonshire
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Against a deep blue sky, with white puffy clouds, we see Rothwell's tower. This is mostly ironstone, with some banding in different shades of cream to russet. The tower has 4 levels. The lowest has the door and 4/5 sets of columns & arches carved into it. The second is banded, but plain. The third has the clock and a window (the ringing room) and the 4th has the double louvres. There are pinnacles on the corners of the tower and a flag pole/weather vane thing sticking up from the middle of the tower. The tower is viewed up a slope and appears to be leaning away from us. The remainder of the church is hidden from view by a wall and bushes to the right and by trees to the left.
December 6, 2025 at 5:38 PM
pdgcbr.bsky.social
Tower of the Day
Geddington church has a ring of 6 bells, which are rung from a gallery. The heaviest bell weighs 605 kg. The 6 bells were made by 6 different founders, from 5 different centuries. The bells are rung, but there is no regular practice night.
#Bells #BellRinging #Ringing #Tower
Pretty sure the picture of Geddington church is on the wonk! The tower is a clean cut cream stone, with a large gold numbered black framed clock. There are large louvres before a slender spire pierces the blue sky. The church is to the right of the tower from this view and has a series of 6 square headed windows in a clerestory above a side aisle. There is also a porch on this side. To the left of the tower is the war memorial.
December 5, 2025 at 6:50 PM
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Recent Ringing
The Regular Thursday quarter peal group kicked off December with a quarter peal at Cold Ashby. They rang Cambridge Surprise Minor and claimed it to be "Just for fun!" 😃
#Bells #BellRinging #Ringing #Northamptonshire
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December 5, 2025 at 5:10 PM
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Recent Ringing
The monthly Burton Latimer band rang a peal this week. They rang Yarningdale Surprise. It turns out that there's an aqueduct on canal near Stratford upon Avon with this name. #WhoKnew
#Bells #BellRinging #Ringing #Northamptonshire
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December 4, 2025 at 8:50 PM
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Events
The first Saturday in December sees Guilsborough holding their last branch event of the year, a practice at Welford from 3 pm. All welcome.
#Bells #BellRinging #ringing #welford #guilsborough
December 3, 2025 at 5:28 PM
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Recent Ringing
There was an advent procession on Sunday ad the cathedral bell ringers rang a quarter peal for the occasion. They rang Cambridge Surprise Minor, on the heaviest 6 bells in the tower.
#Bells #BellRinging #Ringing #Peterborough
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Image is of Peterborough Cathedral. A broad frontage with 3 arches and 2 towers either side. Ornately carved and with a projecting porch in the lower portion of the middle arch. The green in front is not very evident. The sky is a deep blue and there are just a few wisps of cloud. The sun is shining and there are deep shadows in the arches.
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 PM
pdgcbr.bsky.social
Recent Ringing
A peal was rung at St Mary's Peterborough. This was in London Surprise Major and it was Thomas' first peal in the method.
The peal was rung for St Andrew's day and Advent Sunday.
#Bells #BellRinging #Ringing #Peterborough
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A modern church in light brown brick against a blue sky, just a few puffy white clouds. The church has a tower and about 2/3rds of the way up a set of lighter bands in brick, where the louvres are. To the left of the tower is the church entrance, with a high canopy over it. In front is a road and some cones and to the right what appears to be 2 people working, maybe dealing with the bushes that are between the church and the road, they have a green piece of machinery that I can't identify!
December 2, 2025 at 8:44 PM
pdgcbr.bsky.social
Recent Ringing
A quarter peal was rung at Castor, it was Deborah's 100th quarter and they chose to ring Centenary Little Bob Triples. It also remembered Daisy and Charlie 'the Gingers', Deborah and Steve's Cocker Spaniels.
#Bells #BellRinging #Ringing
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2 russet Cocker Spaniels are sitting, looking eager, in a field of long grass, with yellow flowers
December 2, 2025 at 8:38 PM
pdgcbr.bsky.social
Recent Ringing
A band of 3 people rang a quarter peal at Water Newton. The tower only has 3 bells and this is most likely the first quarter on the bells. Takes all sorts...
#Bells #BellRinging #Ringing
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Water Newton is a dinky little church. To the left of the image is the square tower, topped with a broached spire, To the right of this is the nave with 3 windows above the side aisle roof. Then the chancel is lower with 2 square headed windows and the glimpse of an East window. The sun is shining on the south side of the church, which is of a golden stone, slightly roughly hewn in places. The church roof is tiled. The sky is mostly grey, with fissures of blue. The church yard is green and there are a variety of trees visible on either side of the church.
December 2, 2025 at 8:18 PM
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Recent Ringing
A band with members of both the Peterborough and Leicester Guilds rang a quarter peal of Plain Bob Minor rang a quarter peal at Stoke Albany.
#Bells #BellRinging #Ringing #Northamptonshire
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A snowy scene of Stoke Albany. We are viewing the church from alongside the East end. There's a lot going on here. There seems to be a nave with a small 3 light window. There are 3 windows in the side wall. There is then a side aisle with a much larger 5 light window. Beyond is the square tower, we can see the crenelated parapet poking over the top of the roof line. There is a thin layer of snow across the churchyard and the sky is grey with odd breaks, looking a lot like cracks in an icy pond.
December 2, 2025 at 7:54 PM
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Recent Ringing
The Towcester branch hold a dinner each year. This year they attempted a peal in the morning. It didn't happen, so they rang a quarter peal instead.
#Bells #BellRinging #Ringing #Northamptonshire
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We're looking at the West end of Pattishall church. It is above us, in a raised churchyard, with a grassy churchyard on a rising slope. The West end comprises a tower and 2 side aisles visible. A sandstone construction with ironstone facings lit by a setting sun, it is golden. The tower consists of 3 stages, the lower having a door and dual lancet window. The mid section has the clock (~7:50 by the way). The upper section has an opening divided into 2 louvres. There's then a small space before the top of the tower. The sky is a clear blue of a summer evening.
December 2, 2025 at 7:35 PM
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Recent Ringing
The monthly Farmer's Market at Higham Ferrers was accompanied by a quarter peal of Grandsire Caters.
#Bells #BellRinging #Ringing #Northamptonshire
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The church looks low, but only because the spire is so tall. The nave & clerestory are visible, in local sandstone with ironstone banding. 2 large windows are visible in the nave wall. Above, the tower is extended by the spire, with is buttressed at its base and has 3 sets of lights moving up to the top. The sky is almost entirely blue and the tree visible to the right has bare branches.
December 2, 2025 at 7:28 PM
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Recent Ringing
The regular Thursday quarter peal group rounded off the current organisation with a quarter of Stedman Triples at Woodford. It's an excellent but tricky method and it was Andrew's first as conductor.
#Bells #BellRinging #Ringing #Northamptonshire
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The tower and spire of Woodford church stands out against a blue sky. The photo is taken from the shadow of houses and we're also looking down the slope to the church. There are railings between the road and the churchyard. The tower is of local stone and is quite plain, we can see 3 stages. There is a small window in the second stage and a set of louvres in the 3rd stage. There is a carved parrapet and pinnacels on each corner before the spire continues upwards. There are 2 lights in the octagonal spire. The spire is about the same colour, a reddish grey, as the tower itself. We can't see the church, it is hidden by the trees and house to the left of the tower.
November 28, 2025 at 5:08 PM
pdgcbr.bsky.social
Tower of the Day
Gayton has a ring of 6 bells, which are rung from the ground floor. The heaviest bell weighs 684 kg. Three bells date from 1726, then one each from 1727, 1821 & 1931. There is no regular practice night; they are rung occasionally
#Bells #BellRinging #Ringing #Tower #Northamptonshire
Photo: John Salmon We are looking at the church from the East end. In front of us is the chancel and 2 side aisles, with a pitched roof to the central element and a 5 light window. On either side are the side aisles, which appear to be unsymmetrical, with the right hand side being wider and a more shallow pitched sloping roof than the right. The tower is at the far end of the church. We can see an edge of a window just over the roof line and an upper stage, with 2 louvres before the pinnacles and crenelations. The whole church is of am ironstone, with the varied colour of stone that usually displays. The sky is blue, but there are bare branches on the tree to the left of the tower, suggesting early spring. The photograph is taken from under a tree, as we are ins shadow, as are the gravestones immediately in front of us.
November 27, 2025 at 8:56 PM
pdgcbr.bsky.social
Tower of the Day
Fotheringhay church is an ornate building that was once larger. There are 6 bells, the oldest of which is from 1595. The heaviest bell weighs 529 kg. Practice is Friday, in rotation with other towers in the benefice.
#Tower #Bells #BellRinging #Ringing #Nothamptonshire
Photo by Simon Pearce A stunning black and white image. Fotheringhay church stands in a field, against a sky with the sun peeking out from behind a cloud. The church is highly distinctive, with the lantern on top of the tower. We can't see a lot of details of the church, with the light behind it, but there is a hint of light coming through windows. In an aerial view, we can see the church sat in the green church yard with fields beyond. From here it's possible to see how the octogon sits on top of the square tower and how truncated the church is, with no chancel, someone's thrown up a wall with some big old buttresses.
November 26, 2025 at 9:17 PM
pdgcbr.bsky.social
Recent Ringing
Congratulations to the band at Marston St Lawrence that rang a quarter peal to celebrate Mick Scott's 80th, rung by 2 daughters and a grandson. It was Conor's first quarter, Lisa's first on an inside bell and Richard's first as conductor
#Bells
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In this picture of Marston St Lawrence, taken by Chris Droffats, the photo is taken from the West end. We are looking at the 4 light west window, in the west end wall. The is a side aisle with a square headed window in the end to the left. It looks like the nave is slightly higher than the chancel and the tower is beyond. It is off a mottled stone, a mix of cream and shades of brown. There is a neatly tended churchyard and a row of grave markers.
November 25, 2025 at 9:27 PM
pdgcbr.bsky.social
Recent Ringing
The Cold Ashby bells were rung to a quarter peal of Grandsire Doubles. This was the first quarter peal for Richard and the first of Grandsire for Roger. Congratulations to both.
#Bells #BellRinging #Ringing #Northamptonshire
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November 25, 2025 at 9:08 PM
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Recent Ringing
A band went to Corby to ring a peal, but there were issues. They were able to rang a quarter peal instead.
#Bells #BellRinging #Ringing #Northamptonshire
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November 25, 2025 at 9:02 PM
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Recent Ringing
The regular Thursday night band rang a quarter peal of Plain Bob Major at Long Buckby. It was Andrew's first quarter peal on 8 bells.
#Bells #BellRinging #Ringing #Northamptonshire
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Long Buckby church stands behind a line of pollarded trees, looking like green lollipops. The tower is square and of a coarse cut ruddy stone, with paler more finely cut stone for the corners of the tower and window mouldings. The tower looks quite rough hewn. There's a black circular dial clock on one face, a crenelated parapet and a tall, white flagpole. glimpsed through the trees is a modern extension to the side of the tower, but we can see very little of the church itself. The sky is blue with a few puffs of white cloud.
November 25, 2025 at 8:56 PM