Faeries and Bells

‘Neither Sleep, Neither Lie, Inkberrow’s ting-tang hangs so high’

There are many references in folklore to faeries leaving an area after being disturbed by the installation of bells in churches. Traditionally, bells were used as it was thought they drove away evil spirits, so when faeries began to be demonised the association of faeries hating bells also began. Like other aspects of faerie lore however, there is contradictory instances of faeries using bells themselves. For example, the Faerie Queen in the Ballad of Thomas the Rhymer had her horses mane ‘hung with fifty silver bells and nine’. Perhaps it is only the large iron bells the Fae find unpleasant, while little ‘tinkerbells’ are perfectly acceptable.

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