麻豆社

Since 1553, the bells at Berry Pomeroy Church in South Devon have rung out around the village and surrounding countryside.

In fact, the ancient bells at the Church of St Mary might date back even further than their earliest recording in the mid-16th century.

It's thought that four of the eight bells at the church are the originals, so it's hardly surprising that after more than 450 years, they were in need of some TLC.

The restoration has cost around 拢60,000

Parts of the 15th century church tower had also fallen into disrepair.

So, at the end of 2007, the bells (the heaviest one weighing 17-hundredweight) were carefully removed and taken to Loughborough Foundry for restoration.

The bells remained silent until 1 May 2009, when they rang for the first time since the restoration work.

During the period without the bells, the church came up with a 'make-do' solution: "We've had a CD of bells playing out over loud speakers," said churchwarden Bernard Hawkins.

"It wasn't Devon bell ringing, it was bell ringing from Kent, so it wasn't quite the real thing at all. It just wasn't the same.

"We've been waiting for a long time, and now it's great to get the bells back."

Norman, left, has been a ringer since 1945

Eight bell ringers from across South Devon were drafted rang the bells for a wedding ceremony on 1 May, when the Devon peal could again be heard across Berry Pomeroy.

Among them were Norman Mortimore, who has been a bell ringer since 1945, and 75-year-old Margaret Jones, who has been ringing for 35 years.

Bell ringing is hard and potentially dangerous work - and so is climbing the narrow, spiral stone staircase. "But if us oldies can do it, then so can the young ones," said Norman, who also rings at Kingskerswell Church.

At least there is some resting time between ringing in and ringing out - time which Margaret puts to good use: "I do my knitting," she said.

Margaret Jones knits between ringing

"I don't like to waste time. I could bring a book but it's rude to read in company.

"And well, I'm amazed at the job they've done here - it's wonderful."

The 拢60,000 restoration was made possible thanks to a fundraising campaign - although more money is needed.

The church became internationally well known after it was used for the wedding scene in the 1995 film adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, starring Hugh Grant, Kate Winslet, Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman.

A celebration of the return of the bells is being held at the church on Saturday 16 May 2009, with bell ringing by local campanologists from 10am - 4pm.

You can listen to some interviews and to the bells by clicking onto the audio link on this page. And there are more photographs in the gallery.