S2 Ep26: The Folklore of Bells

Good morning from the Norfolk Folklore Society!

Today we are (b)ringing you a feast of folklore all about BELLS. From the ghostly chime of drowned bells beneath the sea to the eerie toll of phantom bells in Norfolk bogs, we’ve jingled and jangled through history to unearth the most enchanting bell lore (basically, Siofra bought a book on bells and they appear to be folklore MAGNETS). It’s an ap-peal-ing episode. Sorry.

Bells have long been a part of Norfolk’s cultural landscape, from church towers to folklore. Whether marking joyous celebrations or mysterious warnings, they are a timeless connection to history, superstition and sound. And then there’s that Christmas song by The Darkness to contend with.

So grab a cup of tea, settle into your cosiest chair, and let the Norfolk Folklore Society take you on a magical journey through the echoes of bell lore.

Here’s what’s tolling in today’s episode:

• Drowned Bells Beneath the Sea: Discover the eerie echoes of Norfolk’s lost village of Shipden, where legend says the church bells still ring from beneath the waves and more drowned bells around our coastline.
  
  
• The Devil and the Tunstall Bells: A devilishly good tale of bells that caught the attention of Old Nick himself.
  
  
• The Bell as Protector and Summoner: Learn how bells have been used to ward off storms, summon spirits, and mark the thin boundary between this world and the next.
  
  
• Witch bells. Not which, witch. But also, which bells.
  
  
• The Haunting Chime: Explore the fascinating duality of bells as symbols of celebration and omens of doom.

Lots of love from Stacia and Siofra 

xxx