Ringing up and down in peal is an exercise in bell control with the added benefit that when it is done well it sounds super. Beware; it takes a lot of practice for something that looks so simple to sound so good.  If you can ring good rounds and raise and lower a single bell without difficulty, then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to raise and lower a bell in peal. 

For your first attempts, choose a bell towards the back end.  Don’t just follow the bell immediately in front of you when the rounds quicken – by the time you’ve seen the bell you’re following start a stroke, it’s too late for you to react and start yours.  Instead listen to and watch all the bells ringing in front of you in the change.

As with all ringing it is important to listen to the striking in each row and to only make continuous small corrections as the speed of the ringing changes. To raise and lower with others demands good control of the bell as you have to adapt to the speed of the others – it’s good teamwork practice.

If your band very rarely ring the bells up and down you could organise a course or practice through contacting ringers in other local towers, or why not ask a local ringing society if they can help.

Once you can raise and lower on an inside bell, complete another challenge by learning to lead from the treble.

Borrow or buy the Raising and Lowering DVD from the ART online shop

Completed one of your 50 things?

If you’ve completed one of the 50 Ringing Things, tell us all about it via Facebook or write a blog!