Trips up the tower

Often hidden from view, church towers are magical places.  From here, some of the sounds that speak of an English soundscape sre made:  the regular chimes of the church clock:  peals of bells to mark services, weddings, joyful anniversaries, solemn funerals.

Climb Kildwick’s tower to hear our ancient clock ticking.  Installed in the mid-1860’s, it has been marking the time for over 150 years.  Its chimes are unique – not heard in any other tower and were designed for the old ring of 6 bells.

Please note that this tour involves climbing over 50 steep, narrow and uneven steps.  It is not suitable for the infirm or those who have issues with enclosed spaces.  We welcome accompanied children but we cannot accept bookings for someone under eight years old.
Tours are limited for safety reasons to six people.  The actual tower visit will take 30 minutes but, for the whole experience, allow an hour.

Book your place here on the Eventbrite website

… but read on…

Your tour will start in the ground floor where you will have a short safety briefing and a quick introduction to what you will see.  When the previous tour exits the tower, you’ll climb to the clock chamber (a turn to the left) where a guide will show you our venerable Cryer clock.  If they are visible, you’ll see the enormous weights which are wound up three times a week.

Don’t spend long there.  The bells await!  Another curl of the stairs brings you to the bell chamber door.  Climb a bit past it and then step across the gap into the ringing chamber.  Your guide will help you and keep you safe.
The eight bells are hanging there silently.  They have a strange “presence” – read Dorothy Sayers’ ‘The Nine Tailors’ for an evocative description of a bell chamber.
Exit the bell chamber carefully and make your way down to ground level.  Keep at least one hand on the rope handrail!

Once down, the next tour will take your place – but you have a while to talk with the ringers in attendance and to find out a little more about the fascinating and absorbing art that is Bell Ringing.

We have some souvenirs available – and you can look at the display of the work that we need to do if these magnificent bells are to keep ringing to mark our passage through life.