Great Ness, St Andrew
6 bells, tenor 7-3-17 in B Almost ground floor SY4 2LD SJ 397190
Sunday: currently no ringing - check with tower correspondent
Treble, 2, 3 and Tenor were cast by Gillett and Johnston of Croydon in 1932. 4 was cast circa 1480 at the Worcester foundry and 5 by Thomas Clibury I of Wellington in 1634. The bells are hung in a two-tier metal frame with the third above the others. The lower frame is of H sections (Pickford 5.1: A2, B4, C5, D6, E1) with the third bell in a low sided frame above. The bells all have modern fittings but the hanging dynamics of 4 and 5 might well be adversely affected by their canon retaining headstocks and some less experienced ringers may find accurate striking rather challenging.
There is adequate parking on the approach road to the church. The ringing room door is up three steps at the back of the nave and is perhaps more inviting in the summer months. A toilet has recently been fitted in the church. Great Ness itself has no facilities other than a letter box. A filling station/shop and 'The Old Three Pigeons' (usually reliable in serving good food) can be found a mile away at Nesscliffe.
The third bell
The fifth bell
Detail of the inscription on the fifth bell
Detail of the decoration on the fifth bell
The date on the 5th, with 4 reversed
Detail of the inscription on the fourth bell
The head used as a stop on the fourth bell
The G & J bell number above
with the date of the former Tenor below
The Gillett & Johnston logo
The founders of the Treble, 2, 3 and Tenor