I’m on a quest to do some unusual things in London to celebrate what a great city it is. One of them is to visit the bells and bell ringing towers for the English nursery rhyme, Oranges and Lemons.

And not to do things by halves, this is my first time in a ringing room and I’m at the great bell of Bow, at St Mary-le-Bow, in Cheapside!

For those not familiar with the nursery rhyme, to be considered a proper Cockney, you’d have to be born in the East End of London, traditionally within the sound of these great bells.

I didn’t have a clue what was going on but it was a wonderful sight. Concentrating on the sounds and rings from the bells puts you in a meditative state.

A welcome respite from the chaos and noise of daily London life.

(cross-posted here with more photos: http://thephotostoryofmylife.tumblr.com/post/70575964758/19-december-2013-says-the-great-bell-of-bow)