Soft lime mortar and no buttresses plus a lot of flints and other stones to lessen the cost of bricks has resulted in the loss of the full force of the bells. Swinging these massive lumps threatened to bring the whole lot down.
What has been done is in some ways better, the clappers are now worked by ropes to the ground floor. The same rich sound but a fraction of the power so that in and around the Church they sound good but no longer can they summon the faithful of the village.
A bonus now is that would-be campanologists can simply pull on the cords in complete safety. Its such a good experience a nearby bucket has been collecting very useful donations and the sound brings the whole thing to life.
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