Following hundreds of years of conflict with the monks, often relating to bell ringing, in 1446 an agreement was reached for building the new west tower belonging to the people. This involved demolishing a smaller tower at the north-west corner and the new tower, at a height of approximately 45 metres or 148 feet, was possibly readly for bells to be hung by the 1490s. The tower now contains 10 bells, which are regularly rung by our own ringers and by visiting teams.

At the end of Kett’s rebellion in 1549 William Kett was hanged from this tower. The leader, his brother Robert, was hanged from Norwich Castle. Readers of C. J . Sansoms, Tombland will be very familiar with the fictionalised version of the story and understand the hardship, oppression and injustices of the time.

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