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Rural living

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Original poster

The Bells, The Bells!

15 replies

Tentoes21 · 26/05/2019 16:35

Hello MNs

bit of an odd question here but I’m a city gal with no idea of things like this.

We’re relocating to Kent, know the village and love it.
The house is ideal although it’s very close (practically next to) the church.
The clock chimes on the hour through the night. I just found this out today and have never thought to stand and listen from INSIDE the house to see how disturbing it would be.
Now I’ve missed my chance as the sellers are out of time - complete ASAP or no sale.

Anyone live close to an hourly timing clock? Does it drive you nuts at night?
I am a light sleeper and I have a toddler, too - so having not slept for two years I’d be so devastated if these bells meant I never slept again!!

I know no-one can say without being inside the house itself. But if you’ve been similarly close to a church (about 25 metres) in an old building (no double glazing, wooden windows) please share experiences.

Thanks all, sorry this is pretty mundane Blush

OP posts:
CodenameVillanelle · 26/05/2019 16:37

I grew up opposite a church and my bedroom faced it. I honestly never even noticed them but that may be because they were always there. Like anything, you can get used to it.

Perch · 26/05/2019 16:39

I find it oddly reassuring and notice it straight away it it’s not chiming. It’s bell ringing practice you need to worry about 😬for me it’s the background noise to my village, like birdsong, and I like it.

Did you check that you have no church repair liabilities?

StillSmallVoice · 26/05/2019 16:43

I have. Twice. You get used to it and don't hear them, but if they stop for any reason something feels a bit off. I now live on a busy street and honestly don't notice the sound of the traffic. A village next to a church sounds a lovely place to be.

Graphista · 26/05/2019 16:51

I have, I'm a very light sleeper but you learn to tune them out and yes miss them if they're not ringing for some reason.

The place I lived that I'm describing had new people move near to the church who COMPLAINED about the bells (which have been getting rung there for almost 1000 years!!) and even though it was only one complainant the council banned the bells! There was uproar!! So please don't be that kind of new resident it's not on.

floodypuddle · 26/05/2019 16:54

Second perch about the bell ringing practice. Barely notice the hourlies but the practise goes on until 9pm and it considerably louder!

Hopefully your local church will have slightly more sensible hours... Grin

BelindasGleeTeam · 26/05/2019 16:54

You'll get used to it.

Either that or you'll have to move again.

Newyearnewunicorn · 26/05/2019 16:56

As others have said you do get used to the hourly bells and sleep through them. I have lived within earshot of my church Bella
The bells at midnight to ring in the New Year and the Monday evening practice drive me mad as they are never in time!

Just2MoreSeasons · 26/05/2019 17:02

Also live next to a church in a very quiet village. Our bells chime every half hour and on the hour. Doesn't bother us at all, it's actually quite nice. Don't hear it in the night usually unless it chimes once not long after I've gone to bed and I can't tell if it's 12.30, 1.00am or 1.30.
Bell ringing practise however is rather...intense. Especially when you've young babies and they start ringing loudly at 7.30 just as you're creeping out of the door! Sometimes on a hot night with the windows open we have to turn up the tv quite a bit too. But it's short lived, over by 9pm and depending on the bells might be nice. (Ours isn't but our bells are not very tuneful)

TheLastNigel · 26/05/2019 17:23

I live opposite the village church. At first the hourly chiming drove me insane. I'm a light sleeper and it woke up on the hour every hour.
I got some ear plugs. And I gradually just got used to it during the day and eventually i just didn't notice it so much anymore.

I also started bell ringing which is a little geeky but a great work out and also if you can't beat them join them I guess ...

Original poster
Tentoes21 · 29/05/2019 20:12

Thanks everyone for your replies.
Good to hear from those who have been there!
I’m reassured I’ll prob get used to the noise but my, I’m a light sleeper so it may be a deal breaker for me!
I won’t be the person who moves in and then complains. But I may well
not buy the house....ERK.
Thanks all, will update with what I decide

OP posts:
Corndog · 29/05/2019 20:19

We lived next door to a church. The clock was fine. Bell ringing practice was every Friday night and it was torture. A more talentless bunch of bell ringers would be hard to have imagined. They used to play what sounded like three blind mice over and over again for a couple of hours. They entered a bell ringing competition and were told not to enter the following year.

We moved. So were put out of our misery

PinkOboe · 29/05/2019 20:20

It’s Tuesday night practice that I notice. It’s nice though if a bit loud and clangy

Ravingstarfish · 29/05/2019 20:20

Are you sure it’s every night? There’s bell ringing practice Thursday evenings here and on sundays. You do get used to it but to be fair it drives my son potty.

Original poster
Tentoes21 · 29/05/2019 20:31

Ha! Corndog that made me laugh loudly :)
Racingstarfish - the bell chimes on the hour 24/7 (I checked with the Rev!) altho big bells are Wednesday eves and sundays. And weddings. And special events. And... I’m never going to sleep again

OP posts:
Ravingstarfish · 29/05/2019 20:33

Oh wow, that’s a lot of ringing! I don’t think I could cope with that really

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