The 6 bells at Morchard Bishop are one of the toughest rings on the competition calendar in Devon, being odd struck, a long rope draught and the bells are not the easiest on the ear. They are a demanding ring in every sense of the word.
The bells last had any real work in 1900 when they were rehung by Thomas Blackbourn in a cast iron frame, the bells are by a mixture of founders treble and 4th by Mears & Stainbank 1897, 2nd by Thomas Castleman Bilbie 1788, 3rd & 5th by William Evans 1742 & 1743 respectively and the Tenor by Evan and William Evans 1724 and weighs approximately 15cwt and is in the key of F#.
This recording from outside is what the judges would have heard and forms part of the winning test piece from Saturday 9th September. There are plenty of clips and trips along the way in the striking, but overall, we were fairly pleased as they are very much a challenge.