After 300 years the church bells at St John’s Piddinghoe are going to be renovated, retuned and restored!
Their sound has rung out through wars, upheavals, pandemics and peace, calling our community to worship, births, marriages and mourning. We’re fortunate that the National Heritage Lottery Fund, a local resident and other fundraising, has enabled us to realise this essential restoration work.
We expect the bells will be taken down on 15-17 November. Hopefully there will be an opportunity to see them in the church before they are transported to Blyth and Co in Newark for restoration.
In the meantime an oral history project will capture our stories about village life to be passed down for future generations. We’re working with a fantastic team of 12 student leaders from Seahaven Academy who will be trained how to ask questions, listen, encourage and record our precious memories by Brighton based oral history organisation Strike A Light. Your memories will go into a physical book, digital resource, be part of our documentary film created by Iris Visual Media Productions, and be at the heart of our exhibition from Autumn next year.
Whether you have just arrived or are a longstanding resident we would love to hear memories of births, marriages, departures, music or faith. Please email us at benpiddinghoebells@gmail.com and we’ll be in touch to arrange a convenient interview time in the New Year. All interviews will be conducted at St. John’s and in the Village Hall by our Oral History team accompanied by their mentors.
We look forward to hearing your stories for the future generations to come!
Ben May, Project Manager
