Itchingfield, St Nicolas

I went for a very brief walk after work at Itchingfield. This shows the north side of the church and in particular the timber tower and spire. The tower is 15th Century and is butted up against the west wall of the church, so there is no physical join at all. The uprights are massive oak timbers and in the recent work that was carried out, one of the beams at the bottom has been replaced. Other rotten parts have also been cut out carefully and similarly replaced.

The belfrey itself contains 5 bells which are regularly rung and the whole structure moves when ringing takes place! Being an ex bellringer, I know what this is like and I have experienced the swaying of the tower at a number of churches including Slinfold St Peter and Southampton St Mary among others. It's quite a normal thing, but is quite alarming when you first experience it!