We are committed to preserving four of our old bells, one of these dating from 1420 for future generations – but we need your help. Please donate to our cause and join with us to preserve Elmley Castle St Mary’s four old bells and cast new bells to replace them.

Cast during the reign of Henry V, our 1420 bell would most probably been heard by Elizabeth 1. Arriving from Worcester, Elizabeth stopped off at Elmley Castle Manor on Saturday 20th August 1575. Our fine village pub ‘The Queen Elizabeth’ is named after this exciting visit to our rural village.

No longer suitable for full circle English style ringing, the four old bells will be seated together and have chiming hammers fitted to them. This will allow them to be chimed easily by an electromagnetic hammers and accessible for anyone to ring.

Our bell frame and support timbers will also need to be replaced due to their structural integrity becoming weakened over 150 years of use. This restoration process will preserve the four listed bells of Elmley Castle and ensure the Newley cast bells will ring out for centuries to come.

The photograph below shows the splits in one of the foundation timbers which need to be replaced.