John Taylor & Company recast the third, and fifth, bells in 1899. According to North (“Church Bells of Bedfordshire”), the fifth bell at Houghton Regis is the earliest dated in the county. In 1552 it appears that the ring had been increased from four to five bells, but was again reduced to the original number, the reason being explained in the Inventory for that year:
“Item iiii belles and ye v bell Mass not payd for and therfore yt wass solid to pay yt.”
Customs of bell ringing formerly observed at Houghton Regis. The tenor was first rung up as a sermon bell, and then ‘dropped in’ with the others when chiming began, and so gradually lowered, after which it was tolled until the service began.Treble used to be rung at 7 a.m. and was called ‘first peal’.Christmas peals were rung at midnight, 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., and the old year was rung out and the New Year in.
It was usual to ring the fifth bell for a vestry, town or parish meeting;also as a ‘Fire bell’.The ‘Gleaning bell’ was rung at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.The bells were rung on May 29th to commemorate the Restoration of King Charles 11, and on November 5th in remembrance of Gunpowder Plot the bells were raised and ‘fired’ (i.e. clashed) together at intervals, breaking into round after about six ‘fires’.
