Future of church bells in Brooke is secured for another century

John Ash in the bell tower at St Peter's Church at Brooke which has received a Heritage Fund Lottery grant towards the cost of rehanging the bells. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2016)

Villagers are celebrating after securing the future of their

church bells with a grant of almost £60,000.

Cash, from the Heritage Lottery Fund, will pay for work at St Peter's Church in Brooke, in south Norfolk.

The £58,900 will go towards the cost of rehanging its six bells, with the bells removed from the tower, given new fittings and bearings and rehung in the tower in a new steel frame.

Bellringers at St Peter's Church at Brooke which has received a Heritage Fund Lottery grant towards the cost of rehanging the bells. From left, Charles Wilde, John Ash, Sandra Chenery, Dawn Pullan, Adrian Carey and his wife Sarah, and Paul Norris. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2016)

New fittings were last installed in 1912 and this project should see them lasting for the next 100 years.

Dawn Pullan, the ringing master, said: 'This really is great news and we would like to thank all those who have helped put the project together over the past years.

'We look forward to the bells being heard throughout the village for many years to come.'

The six bells were installed in the existing timber frame in 1758 by Joseph Mallows of Dereham and have been rung since then.

Once finished, the bells in the new frame should be easier to ring.

It is hoped that more people, especially younger ones from the village school and Scout group, will take up the ancient skill of bell ringing.

Robyn Llewellyn, of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said he was 'delighted' to be supporting the project.

St Peter's is an Anglican church in Brooke with Saxon origins and a round tower.