Higham Ferrers - The Church Bells—The proposal to rehang the peal of six bells in the graceful church tower of the old corporate town of Higham Ferrers has led to many enquiries as to their size, age and weight. Ringers throughout the district are pleased to learn that after being in bad condition, with one bell cracked, for some years, there is now a probability not only of the peal being rehung and the defective bell recast, but very possibly two trebles added to complete the octave. It is to be hoped the necessary funds may soon be forthcoming, and the bells put in “ringing trim,” ready for the Association meeting next Witsuntide. When the tower and spire fell down in the year 1631, several of the bells were no doubt cracked, for the second and tenor bear the date 1633. The third and fourth are not dated, but although cast by the same founder (Watts of Leicester), are evidently much older, being most likely, two of the bells which survived the downfall. The fifth appears to have been recast by the same man three years later. The present treble came from Taylor’s foundry at St. Neots, seventy years ago, not an entirely new bell, however, but a recast of the old treble which tradition says has been melted down once or twice before, being on one occasion cracked by the workman striking it with a hammer just as he had finished fixing it to its “stock.” Higham folk are proud of their largest or tenor bell. It is one of the many good specimens of work sent out from the ancient Leicester foundry, and in tone and weight is very similar to its near neighbour the “Great Bell” of Irchester. Should the proposed increase in peal be carried out, there will be no difficulty in finding men in the town well able to take the ropes and ring the bells in scientific manner. With a ring of eight bells of moderate weight, hung on a modern plan, the inhabitants of Higham may look forward to a treat in the way of peals of triples and major, and the belfry walls, it is to be hoped, may soon bear record of a complete “five thousand” rung in Higham steeple by Higham men.

The inscriptions and diameters of the bells are given below:—