There are nine bells in the tower at All Saints Church. The smallest (1) is the oldest, and a remainder from the previous church on this site. It is the “Saunce” bell, rung to indicate that a sermon will be preached. 

It would be a difficult task, and space here does not allow, to take pictures all of the main peal of eight: they are so closely packed together on two levels. 

I tried to find the one (2, I hope) that featured in the well known 1934 picture (3) of them being removed and taken to Whitechapel for recasting. W.T.Porter & Sons handled the transportation - Fred Nottingham on the left.

The two bells in the cupola of the former Market Hall at the top of the High Street are encased in wire mesh these days to keep the pigeons out. The best pictures I have, in black and white, were taken many years ago on my first visit “up top”.

(4) is the fire bell that used to be rung, from a rope hanging down, to summon the fire crew.

Below it (5), and less visible from street level, is the clock bell that still sounds on the hour. A date on it of 1805, just prior to the completion of the building, disproves the theory in some history books, that it was the bell from the previous wooden Market Hall that stood close by. 

The single bell that used to ring out from the little steeple of Holy Trinity Church came close to being scrapped when, in a dangerous state, it was removed at the time the building had been decommissioned and was being converted for commercial usage. 

It was “rescued” by farmer John White (6) who has since loaned it to the Marlow Museum. Also a single bell, (7) is at St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, and this provided my most hazardous belfry ascent a few years ago. 

Access is via a long ladder and a difficult to open trapdoor high in the roof, and then, another level upwards, squeezing through a very narrow and cob-webbed aperture. 

I doubt if anyone has been up there since, and I don’t think the bell is rung these days. 

(8) is the bell in the courtyard of the former Wethered Brewery, which used to sound to signify the end of workers’ shifts.

(9) can still be heard: it strikes the hours above the Remnantz stable block in West Street, from a cupola, the design of which shows Christopher Wren influences. 

And finally the smallest and saddest bell on the page: (10) unloved and never rung, and surrounded by the remains of an abandoned bird’s nest. I doubt if many readers will know where it is. I’ll keep you guessing until next week.  

Contact Michael at michael@jazzfans.co or call 01628 486571.