Skip to content

Ringing in Derbyshire

Ringing is great in our area!

In 2024, ringers from in and around Derbyshire scooped an impressive 3 global awards for:
🏆 Youth Ringing
🏆 Inspiring Ringing Leadership
🏆 Promoting Ringing

Click the Map to open an Interactive Map of Towers

Bellringing Derbyshire Facebook page – News and events – For anyone interested in bells in our area – Please Like, Follow and Share!

There are 144 bell towers in Derbyshire
All of them are different, and with bells of different sizes and ages.
Some of the bells in Derbyshire were cast as long ago as 1370, while the newest ones were cast in 2024.

There are about 700 ringers in Derbyshire
Most are members of the DDA (Derby Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers), and some are members of EDWNA (East Derbyshire & West Nottinghamshire Association of Church Bell Ringers).
Both associations arrange regular ringing meetings, and the DDA organises a wide variety of events, including outings and visits, competitions, ring and lunch events, training courses, Derbyshire Young Ringers events, socials and more.

There is specialist training equipment in at least 18 Derbyshire towers
This is not necessary to learn ringing, but can be used to enhance aspects of ringing training.
The Gordon Halls Ringing Centre at Eckington runs courses and events for ringers, on various aspects of ringing as well as belfry maintenance, and has computer simulators, a ringing workstation, dumbells, CCTV and video playback equipment.

Look out for tower tours and ‘have a go at ringing’ sessions
– Some towers run these on special days.
Chesterfield’s Crooked Spire gives regular tower tours during the warmer months.

Go on a Tower Tour at Chesterfield’s Crooked Spire
See the 10 bells close up and the famous spire close up inside and out, plus stunning views from the parapet.

Bellringing at some Derbyshire Towers

You may notice that the ringers have a look of concentration on their faces – They are really enjoying themselves!

Young Adults ringing at Old Brampton
Ringing the 8 heavy bells at St Luke’s Derby
Half-muffled Call Changes on the 10 bells at Chesterfield’s Crooked Spire
Melbourne on TV – The final of the National 12-Bell Contest
The 6 bells at Clay Cross – and the room between the ringers and the bells
Ringing the 4 ancient bells at Sutton Scarsdale
Hartington’s 8 bells
Alfreton’s 8 bells
Ringing 8 of the 10 bells at Derby Cathedral – Half-Muffled, so the bells sound loud then soft
The 8 bells at Crich – Sadly they are in need of repair before they can be rung like this again
Young people ringing the 6 bells at Old Brampton for Christmas
Breadsall had 2 new bells installed 2024 to make a ring of 10 – Here are the original 8 bells being rung
At Barlborough – A Bolsover TV reporter has a go at ringing