September 17, 2018 1.52 pm This story is over 66 months old

This is why Lincoln Cathedral’s Great Tom has extra chimes

Great Tom is doing double duty
Photo: The Lincolnite

People in Lincoln have noticed that the bells at Lincoln Cathedral have been striking more often recently.

Residents took to the Facebook group ‘You’re probably from Lincoln if’ to debate why the bells had struck more than seven times at 7.20am on Monday, September 17.

The Lincolnite reached out to Lincoln Cathedral to find out why,

The bells usually used to announce the services are currently out of action, so Great Tom is being used instead.

A spokesperson for Lincoln Cathedral told The Lincolnite: “Our maintenance staff noticed a problem with two bells in the northwest tower, which are rung to announce that a service is about to begin, and also are sounded as part of a long-standing tradition to mark particular times of the day.

“While these bells are out of action and are awaiting repair, our vergers are chiming Great Tom to announce services, and are ringing the Cathedral’s largest bell in such a way so as not to confuse these rings with the hour chimes.”

“All are very welcome to join us at services when they hear the service bell chiming.”

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