Those with longish memories may recall that 24 years ago, Longcot was celebrating the rehanging and augmentation to eight of the bells at Longcot. What people may be less aware of, is that 300 years ago, Longcot tower fell down, taking the bells with it. In 1722, a new ring of six was hung in the rebuilt tower. These fell derelict in the 1960s and were silent for over thirty years until the 1998 Millennium Bells scheme.
The Longcot Carol Service was held on Sunday 18th to celebrate the joint 300th anniversary. It was preceded by a quarter peal and general ringing for the service after the quarter. There was another opportunity to ring the bells after the service which had a “bells” theme and a display of material from 1998.
Tony Crabtree – Tower Captain, Longcot