The first bells

Having got rather tired of indoor life, Pete and I went to Crowland to do some botanical recording. We weren't expecting to find much, but a rather unedifying roadside ditch turned up a set of rare aquatic species characteristic of the ancient fens. Clearly, it's worth going out botanising in January!

Before returning home we dropped in at Crowland Abbey (see extra). You can read all about its history here. I'd walked round the outside several times, but today we ventured inside. It had a very peaceful atmosphere, but I was particularly fascinated by the bell tower and the bell ropes. Apparently Crowland Abbey was the first church in England - and among the first in the world - to have a tuned peal or ring of bells (circa 986). The chimes of the present bells were the first to be broadcast on wireless radio by the BBC on 1 November 1925 and at 90 feet, the 'pull' or ropes are the longest in England.