The Abbey Bells

In Fontmell Magna Church are two ancient bells, which may come from Shaftesbury Abbey. How did they get there? In the 16th century, when all the old abbeys were being closed down, the nuns wished to spirit away their treasures. Their bells were entrusted to a carter, who wrapped them up and hauled them slowly away. On the way, a fierce bull bounded out through a gap in a hedge, but when he saw the cart he stopped and eased himself down on his knees as the cart rumbled slowly past. ‘Who knew church bells could be so holy,’ muttered the carter. When they came to Compton, men waiting with shovels to bury the bells. Many years later the bells were found, and in those easier times the bells were hung and rung once more, in praise of the Virgin Mary.