Tolling Day at Sherborne

John Digby, Earl of Bristol, left the church at Sherborne ten pounds a year on condition that its largest bell was tolled for six hours on the anniversary of his death in 1698. The town called 23 September tolling day. By 1826 the tolling had shrunk to two hours, and the six ringers were given strong beer, bread and cheese from Lord Digby’s house, with a sermon at the church in the evening.