Time and Tide Bell


Time and Tide Bell is an art project made up of bells, designed by UK sculptor Marcus Vergette and Australian bell designer Neil McLachlan, installed at coastal locations in the UK. The first one was placed at Appledore, Devon, in 2009 and the seventh at Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire in June 2019. at least six further bells are planned, and funding obtained from the National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2018 will allow for up to sixteen bells in all to be installed.
Each bell rings around high tide; the bells provide a reminder that rising sea levels caused by climate change will make the pattern of their ringing change. There is every chance that some of the bells will have to be relocated in the twenty-first century.

Location of the bells

LocationDate installedNoteCoordinatesImageRefs
Appledore, Devon, England
Bosta Beach, Great Bernera, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Trinity Buoy Wharf, London
Aberdyfi, Gwynedd, WalesBeneath the pier
Cemaes, Anglesey, WalesAlso known as St Patrick's Bell
Morecambe, Lancashire, EnglandOn the north side of the landward end of the Stone Jetty
Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, England
Harwich, Essex, EnglandNext to Low Lighthouse
Par, Cornwall, EnglandPar Beach
Brixham, Devon, EnglandBreakwater Beach
Happisburgh, Norfolk, England
Isle of Wight, off Hampshire, EnglandUnder development
Redcar, North Yorkshire, EnglandUnder development

Associated artworks

Sounds from the bells are featured on Vergette's album Tintinnabulation, released in March 2023 by the label Nonclassical.
The Time and Tide Bell Organisation have commissioned COTIDAL, a film by the Devon-based artist Tania Kovats. The intention is for the completed film to track high tide around the UK, and be 24 hours 50 minutes long. The first hour long chapter premiered in Appledore in September 2022.