The Bells of Saint Mary's

The church tower was completed in 1478 and the first mention of bells was in the inventory taken in 1552 when there were five bells and a Sanctus bell in the tower.

A new frame was installed for these bells in 1550. In 1602 Richard Holdfield of Cambridge recast at least three of these bells. John Darbie of Ipswich recast the tenor bell in 1682. The fourth bell of the five fell down in 1772 and was recast at the Whitechapel bell foundry in 1773.

On the installation of the clock by Thwaites and Reed of Clerkenwell in 1800, a clock bell, cast by Thomas Mears was installed. This remains and is now the oldest bell in the tower. A sixth bell was added in 1806, also cast by Thomas Mears. With the exception of this sixth bell, all the old bells were recast by Mears and Stainbank in 1872; the tenor bell had been cracked since 1863 and was not in use.

In 1895 Mears and Stainbank cast two smaller bells to complete the octave and in 1902 John Warner added two further bells to make the present ring of ten bells and recast the 1872 tenor bell. At this time the bells were rehung with completely new fittings in a new composite framework of cast iron frame sides and wooden sills.