Band re-established at Semley
Following the initiative of a group of enthusiastic locals to create a new band, Mere branch of the SDGR held
Autumn Newsletter
Mere Branch Autumn 2023 Newsletter now available for download Download
Mere Branch Coronation Ringing
Following the King’s Coronation, here’s a quick round-up of just some of the wonderful ringing that took place around our local area
Mere Branch Spring 2023 Newsletter
Download and read our latest Branch Newsletter Download
Sheila Porter (1947-1922)
At the end of September Mere Branch members were very much saddened to learn of the passing of Sheila Porter
Mere Branch Skittles, Quiz and Supper
Mere Branch Skittles Evening Skittles always bring out the friendly rivalries in the West Country and Mere Branch of the
Our branch is spread over a large area from Maiden Bradley in the north to Lydlinch in the south. Stourton Caundle is our most westerly tower and over towards Salisbury, Chilmark the most easterly. Four of our towers are classed as unringable, so we have 28 which are ringable: two of 8 bells (Mere and Gillingham), 17 of six bells, 4 of five bells, 4 of four bells and the three bell tower at Fifehead Magdalen.
A couple of towers are of note historically to the branch:
- Kington Magna was, in 1873, the birthplace of Frank Lewellyn Edwards, who returned to become Rector of the church there from 1908 to his retirement in 1956 – he died on Christmas Eve that year. He was elected Guild secretary and Treasurer in 1913, a post he held for 37 years. A bequest from him formed the basis of the Llewellyn Edwards Bell Restoration Fund.
- Lydlinch’s five bells lay claim to have been one of the few towers to have had its bells celebrated in verse – in ‘Lydlinch Bells’ by local poet William Barnes. This can be seen printed on the inside cover page of the Guilds’ ‘Forms of Service’ booklet.
‘Vor Lydlinch bells be good vor sound, an’ liked by all the naighbours round.’
The Mere branch came into being in 1993 following a decision the previous year to increase the then eight branches to nine. E A Barnett was elected secretary and the branch was formed – from 14 towers from the North Dorset branch and 7 from the Salisbury branch. In 2001, with the demise of the North Dorset branch, further towers were added bringing the number up to the present total of 32 towers.
Michael Williams
Calendar
Towers
Local conditions can affect ringing times greatly so you are advised to contact the tower first if you are planning to visit.
For full tower details including contact information visit the relevant tower page.
Name | Bells | Tenor | Practice | Service | Contact |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bourton St George | 6 | 12-1-6 | Wed 19:30 - 21:00 at Zeals (except 1st Weds at Mere). | 1st 09:30-10:00 | Correspondent |
Buckhorn Weston St John the Baptist | 6 | 11-1-6 | Correspondent | ||
Cann, Shaftesbury St Rumbold | 4 | 6-2-22 | By arrangement in school holidays only. | Branch Secretary | |
Chilmark St Margaret of Antioch | 6 | 12-3-24 | Thu 19:00 - 20:30. Alternates with Tisbury (Wed). Please check before coming. | 10:40 – 11:15. | Correspondent |
Compton Abbas St Mary the Virgin | 5 | 8-0-26 | Tue 3rd 19:30 (please check first). | 3rd 10:30 (please check first). | Correspondent |
Donhead St Andrew St Andrew | 4 | 8-0-1 | Correspondent | ||
Donhead St Mary St Mary the Virgin | 6 | 9-1-10 | Wed 19:30 - 21:00. By arrangement. | By arrangement. | Correspondent |
East Knoyle St Mary the Virgin | 6 | 12-0-8 | Mon 19:00 - 20:00 | Variable. Please check first. | Correspondent |
Fifehead Magdalen St Mary Magdalene | 3 | 8-2-0 | Branch Secretary | ||
Gillingham St Mary the Virgin | 8 | 24-1-12 | Mon 19:30 – 21:00 (not Bank Holidays). | 09:20 – 09:55. | Correspondent |
Hindon St John the Baptist | 6 | 9-0-0 | Tue 19:00 - 20:00 | 1st, 2nd and 4th 09:00 - 09:30. 3rd 17:30 - 18:00. | Correspondent |
Kington Magna All Saints | 5 | 14-3-3 | Thu 1st and 3rd 19:30 - 21:00. | 2nd and 4th 10:30 – 11:00. | Correspondent |
Lydlinch St Thomas a Becket | 5 | 16-0-0 | Wed 19:30 - 21:00. By arrangement. | 2nd 10:25 - 11:00. | Correspondent |
Maiden Bradley All Saints | 6 | 13-2-7 | Tue 19:30 - 2100 | By arrangement. | Correspondent |
Margaret Marsh St Margaret | 5 | 3-3-3 | Tue By arrangement. | 1st 10:30 (please check first). | Correspondent |
Marnhull St Gregory | 6 | 19-0-2 | Wed 19:30 – 21:00. Please check first. | 09:30 – 10:00. | Correspondent |
Melbury Abbas St Thomas a Becket | 5 | 7-2-27 | Mon 19:30 – 20:30 except BHs (please check first). | 2nd and 4th 10:45 - 11:15 (please check first). | Correspondent |
Mere St Michael the Archangel | 8 | 23-0-0 | Wed 1st 19:30 - 21:00. | 2nd and 4th 10:30. | Correspondent |
Motcombe St Mary the Virgin | 6 | 7-0-7 | Thu 19:30 - 21:00 (please check first). | 2nd and 4th 09:00 - 09:30 | Correspondent |
Sedgehill St Catherine | 5 | 4-0-0 | UNRINGABLE Chiming only. | None | |
Semley St Leonard | 6 | 26-0-12 | Thu 1st and 3rd 19:00-20:30 | By arrangement. | Correspondent |
Shaftesbury St James | 6 | 8-0-4 | By arrangement. | 1st and 3rd 09:00 - 09:30. | Correspondent |
Shaftesbury St Peter | 6 | 12-2-26 | By arrangement. | 09:00 – 09:30. | Correspondent |
Silton St Nicholas | 6 | 9-0-10 | None With Zeals. | 09:45 – 10:25. | Correspondent |
Stalbridge St Mary | 6 | 17-3-10 | Tue 19:30 - 21:00 | 09:00 - 09:30. Please check first. | Correspondent |
Stour Provost St Michael and All Angels | 4 | 14-0-0 | UNRINGABLE | None | |
Stourton St Peter | 6 | 13-0-24 | Wed 19:30 - 21:00 with Zeals. Contact correspondent. | 09:30 - 10:00 (alt Bourton/Stourton/Zeals - please check first). | Correspondent |
Stourton Caundle St Peter | 4 | 10-0-0 | Correspondent | ||
Sturminster Newton St Mary | 6 | 16-0-18 | Wed 19:30 - 21:00 | 1st, 3rd and 4th 10:25 - 11:00. 2nd 09:00 - 09:30. | Correspondent |
Tisbury St John the Baptist | 6 | 16-0-9 | Wed 19:00 - 20:30. Alternates with Chilmark (Thu). Please check before coming. | Please check. | Correspondent |
West Knoyle St Mary the Virgin | 5 | 12-0-0 | UNRINGABLE | None | |
Zeals St Martin | 6 | 10-3-23 | Wed 19:30 - 21:00. Occasionally at Stourton, please check (1st in month at Mere). | 09:30 - 10:00 (alt Bourton/Stourton/Zeals - please check first). | Correspondent |
Committee
Chairman | Len Roberts | |
Vice Chair | Michael Williams | |
Secretary | Michael Williams | |
Asst. Secretary | Fred Shotter | |
Treasurer | Nick Dallison | |
Ringing Master | Nick Dallison | |
Asst. Ringing Master | Martin Ostler | |
Training Officer | Judith Williamson | |
Publicity Officer | David Hurrion | |
LEBRF Trustee | Keith Woodward |
Contact ...
Messages will be forwarded to the Branch Secretary
Messages will be forwarded to the Branch Secretary