VIDEO: Horsham celebrates 250th bell-ringing anniversary

Horsham MP Jeremy Quin was among dignitaries invited along to take part in the Horsham Festival of Bells 250.

It is the 250th anniversary of the first peal of 5040 changes rung at St Mary’s parish church in the Causeway.

The Bell Meadow mini-ring was set up in the Carfax Bandstand enabling the public to have a go.

Plus various performance hand bell ringing groups have been entertaining passers-by.

A rope-making demonstration was set up in Medwin Walk and Horsham Museum has been holding a Henry Burstow exhibition - Burstow was famous Sussex ringer.

There has also been a rare chance to watch a demonstration of bell-ringing at St Mary’s Parish Church.

On Monday (April 11) a peal attempt will be made by a local band using the original method composition taken from the Horsham peal book.

Although the term ‘a peal of bells’ is used to describe a ring of bells the term ‘peal’ has a very specific meaning to bell ringers.

In the English system of ringing the bells are rung in changes and no change is repeated until the ringing method is completed. If seven bells are rung in a method until every change has been completed, then 5040 unique changes will have been rung taking around three hours to complete. To be recognised as a true peal no change can be repeated and no breaks in the ringing are allowed.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be among the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make our website your homepage at www.wscountytimes.co.uk

2 Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wscountytimes

3 Follow us on Twitter @wscountytimes

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!

The County Times – always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.