THE bells of Abberley Tower rang out joyous recitals of different tunes all year round a century ago, according to "Crowquill's" jottings in Berrow's Journal for this week of 1902.

"The bells of Abberley sing their song from the towering campanile which, standing alone on a hill upon the vast Abberley estate and near to the Hall, is plainly visible from Ombersley and Cleobury Mortimer, both about eight miles distant.

"Through blossom-tide and fruit-tide, through sowing, reaping and garnering, the carillons ring out their old-time ballads, their hymns, their patriotic and martial airs. Beginning at six in the morning and every three hours subsequently, except at midnight and 3 a.m., the music of the bells is heard over the quiet pastoral country.

"They have a different air for every day in the month and special tunes for special occasions. The four quarters of the British Isles are represented by the national airs, The roast beef of England, Auld Lang Syne, The Bluebells of Scotland, The Men of Harlech and the Four-leafed Shamrock.

"On New Year's Day, the carillons play-act that they are church bells, and treat the country round to special chimes. Oh come and mourn with me awhile is the hymn which on Good Friday issues its solemn invitation over the bare-boughed, flowerless lands. The Easter hymn rings forth on Easter Day. Christians Awake or Hark the herald angels sing' is played on Christmas Day, while the warning strain of A few more years shall roll is to be heard as the year is dying. On patriotic occasions, the bells ring out God save the King and The soldiers of the King.

"The Abberley campanile was erected 14 years ago by the late John Joseph Jones, squire of Abberley, and is said to be after the model of one at Eaton Hall, belonging to the Duke of Westminster. The tower itself rises 160 feet, the weathercock another 10 feet, and an extensive view, including Worcester Cathedral, the Bredon and Clee hills and the Wrekin, is obtained from the roof.

"At the summit of the belfry hang the great bells, to the number of 20, the largest weighing four tons. The carillons are rung, primarily by a cylindrical weight of 17 cwt, acting as does that of a clock.

"The tunes are produced by means of seven mahogany cylinders, each about 6ft long, 1ft in diameter and 3ft in circumference and resembling on a magnified scale those of musical box. Needless to say, the machinery necessary for working the whole is on a most elaborate scale."