The Campanile, Horsted Keynes

8 bells, 19lb 8oz in D

In 2019 Oliver Watson commissioned Matthew Higby & Co to cast and hang a lightweight peal of eight bells in memory of his grandparents, Molly and Peter Watson. In 2021 the eight bells were cast and hung, and collected on 13th December 2021. The bells sat in storage until October 2022, when they were hung in Aylsham, Norfolk.

At Aylsham, the bells were hung by Michael Clements & Oliver Watson, and rung for the first time on Tuesday 11th October 2022. The peal was named The John of Gaunt Ring, after the 14th century Duke of Lancaster. After the Norman Conquest, the Manor at Aylsham was held by the crown and passed to John of Gaunt in 1372. He was able to provide money to the villagers of Aylsham for the building of a large new church, named St Michael & All Angels, and still stands today.
The first quarter peal on the bells was rung on Monday 17th October 2022, and consisted of 1344 Plain Bob Major rung in 43 minutes, conducted by James Kirkcaldy of Exeter Cathedral. Whilst in Norfolk, the bells were the home of the ‘Society of Aylsham Campanile Youths’, which met on alternate Tuesday evenings. 38 quarter peals were rung on the bells in Aylsham. On Saturday 13th January 2024, the first peal was rung on the bells. 5056 changes of Plain Bob Major was rung in 2 hours and 18 minutes, conducted by Colin F Salter of ‘The Wolery’, Ipswich.

In September 2024, the bells were moved to Horsted Keynes, West Sussex. Hung by Ollie Watson and Kye Leaver, the bells were rung for the first time in their new home on Friday 6th September 2024 to a quarter peal consisting of 1260 changes of Grandsire Triples rung in 35 minutes, conducted by Fraser A Storie of Addington. In its new location, the ring was renamed ‘The Campanile’. The first peal on the bells in Horsted Keynes was rung on Thursday 14th November 2024 in 2 hours and 10 minutes, conducted by Ollie E P Watson. Consisting of 5040 Minor (7 methods), the peal was his first as conductor and was rung for H.M. The King’s 76th Birthday. The peal was attributed to the Society of Aylsham Campanile Youths. 

In 2026, a new treble bell was cast by Matthew Higby & Co to augment the ring of eight to nine. This augmentation makes The Campanile the only ring of nine in the world. The fittings of the new bell consists of a wheel reused from the extra treble of the former ceramic twelve at Ainderby Steeple, with the timber frame, headstock and clapper made by John R Norris of Hurstpierpoint, who taught Ollie to ring in 2012. The treble hangs above the 2nd and tenor and is roped as not to effect the rope circle of the back eight.