WIMBORNE Minster’s historic bells celebrate their centenary this month.

The tower’s ageing eight bells and timber frame were renewed and restored in order to have a brace of 10 bells, complete with a metal frame, in time for the coronation of King George V.

After a dedication ceremony on June 14, they have rung out for services and at national and royal events – including Prince William’s recent wedding - ever since.

Keith Fleming, one of the Minster bell ringers, said: “The condition of the bells was a cause for a concern, so an advisory committee was set up to assist the Minster Parish Church council.

“After many months of deliberations and donors offering to pay to renew and add bells, it was decided to carry out a complete replacement of all the bells.

“A penalty clause had been inserted in the contract to ensure that the bells were to be ready by the coronation on June 22.”

The largest and oldest of the eight original bells was cast in the town in 1629 by Anthony Bond, a travelling bell founder.

The minster bell ringers will mark the centenary with a special peal on June 22.

Ahead of that, on Sunday, the bells will play out on BBC Radio 4’s Bells on Sunday programme at 5.43am and 0.45am. The peal can be heard on BBC iPlayer for a week afterwards.

A tower open day takes place this Saturday, to tie in with the Minster Fair and the Folk Festival.

An exhibition of original photographs of the old bells, taken just before the replacement, is on display at the Priest’s House Museum until the end of June.