The eight bells of St Bees Priory shown in the "up" position, in which they are normally left during rests in a ringing session. When being rung they swing through a full circle from mouth upwards round to mouth upwards, and then swing back again. They are controlled by ropes on full-circle wheels. This method of ringing is know as "English full-circle bell ringing". Bells cast in 1857 by Charles and George Mears of Whitechapel.