The Bells

The first bells to be mentioned in the church are the 'iiij bells in the steple with a sanctus bell' in 1542. The central tower was probably rebuilt to its present height between 1602 and 1610, and by 1732 it housed four bells:

During a general restoration of the tower in 1882 these bells were recast by Taylors of Loughborough and two new bells were added. As a memorial of Queen Victoria's Silver Jubilee, the octave was completed in 1887. They were rehung in 1897 and 1936.

In 1995 the bells and wooden frame were removed and a new metal twelve bell frame was fitted by Eayre & Smith. At the same time the internal masonry of the tower was repaired and sound control installed. The bells were rehung on new bearings and two new trebles added, bringing the ring up to ten. The two additional new bells provide Derbyshire with its first ring of twelve bells. All four new bells were cast by Eijsbouts of Astens in Holland and are not 'Simpson tuned' but made to the same 'sound profile' as the eight 19th century Taylor bells.