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OS: SP017357
Dumbleton, St Peter
The Parish Church of St Peter [listing] is in the south of Dumbleton at the end of Main Street and beside the entrance to Dumbleton Hall. It is set in a large, well maintained churchyard. I park roadside on Main Street.
In the north(ish) face of the tower is a door which opens onto a wooden spiral staircase that leads up to the ringing chamber. The chamber is surprisingly small considering the bulk of the tower but the reason is the very thick walls and a solitary narrow window. The room has shoulder height wainscoting, a low ceiling and all of it is painted. There are a couple of benches proving seats for those not ringing the 6 bells. Ringing is a little tricky as all the ropes, except for bell #3, are close to the wall. In addition, the ceiling is very low and there are square holes in the ceiling to allow free movement of the ropes. My reach was just about to ceiling level.
2012-07-26 [ expand ]
I visited for the first time on Thursday 26th July 2012 to join their weekly practice.
We were a little late getting started since the key to the tower had been lost -- not easy for such a huge key -- so another one needed to be located. I only rang bells #3 and #4. We rang some Rounds and Call Changes and touches of Grandsire Doubles and Plain Bob Doubles.
After the ringing I was invited to join the ringers at the nearby Dumbleton Hall for a drink. A very sociable bunch of ringers.
2019-09-14 [ expand ]
I returned on Saturday 14th September 2019 as the 2nd tower [1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th] of the Welford on Avon ringers 2019 Tour.
I started by ringing up bell #5. I rang bell #3 for Plain Bob Minor followed bell #5 for Stedman Doubles. I finished by ringing the tenor for Rounds & Call Changes and then down.
The bells don't seem to have got any easier to ring since my first visit, they are all hard work but #2 proved particularly tricky.
The Bells
The tower has a ring of 6 bells with a tenor weighing ~11-0-0 in G. Dove's Guide includes details of the bells at St Peter. There is some additional information provided by The Gloucester & Bristol Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers.
