MORPETH CLOCK TOWER BELLRINGERS
EST. 1706
Please note that ringing is currently suspended due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
About
We are a group of volunteers who ring the bells in Morpeth Clock Tower. Founded in 1706, we are the custodians of a 300-year-old tradition of bell ringing in Morpeth in the English Change Ringing style. This is an ancient art that is almost unique to the British Isles.
Located just off the Market Place in the heart of town, the Clock Tower continues to play an integral role in modern civic life. We provide ringing for civic events at both local and national level, including: Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering Day, Morpeth Summer Fair Day, Remembrance Sunday, Armistice Day and New Year.
To ensure the continuation of this English custom, we actively engage with the local community to promote our art and to recruit future generations. We train people of all ages (from 9+) and from all walks of life. We like to maintain good associations with local youth groups such as Scouts, Guides and Boys' Brigade from which we recruit new band members.
Information

VISIT
The Clock Tower is open to the public three times a year. Guided tours of the tower are given by members of The Society. Tours include seeing the inner workings of the clock mechanism and having a go at ringing the bells. Admission is free, but as a voluntary organisation, we gratefully accept donations. The three open days are:
-
The Saturday of Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering Weekend (always the Saturday after Easter);
-
Morpeth Fair Day (always the 2nd Sunday in June), and;
-
Heritage Open Days (usually the 2nd weekend in September).

PARTICIPATE
Ringing practices are held on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 until 9:00 p.m. Visiting ringers are welcome to join us on our practice nights. Please get in touch with the Tower Captain or Secretary to let us know you're coming. We also hold occasional simulator practices. Please check Latest Updates to see when the next one is taking place. All ringers are welcome. The bells are also available to visiting bands outside of practice evenings. Organisers of ringing outings, quarter peals and peals should contact the Secretary at least a month in advance of their intended visit to make arrangements.

LEARN
We train people of all ages (from 9+) and from all walks of life to ring the bells in this ancient tower. If you are interested in learning the ropes we would love to hear from you. We offer a range of traditional and modern technology training aids to enhance the learning experience. These include a fully integrated simulator and CCTV system that allows beginners to learn in silence with computer-generated bell sounds (no noise disruption for our neighbours) while seeing how their strokes translate into bell movements in the bell chamber. Details are available from the Tower Captain and Secretary.
Discover
This artwork was produced by a local ringer in 1952. It is a slight corruption of the dialect version.
Latest Updates
Contact
SOCIETY OFFICERS 2020/21
SEND US A GENERAL ENQUIRY
WHERE TO FIND US
TOWER CAPTAIN
SECRETARY &
CHILD PROTECTION
TREASURER
WEB EDITOR
(click on names to send e-mail)