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We'll start with the photograph from page 2 (above, on the left). One can hardly miss the wires running through many of our pictures. They attach directly to the "keys" as you can see in the photograph to the right. Pressing down on a key pulls the wire down—it's extremely simple. The wires go up through the ceiling to the next level. The complicated-looking attachments are simply used to adjust the tension in the wires. (The tension changes due to weather variations, so it is helpful to be able to adjust it.) Note that this photograph was probably taken before we learned how to do that.

Next, the wires pass straight up to the second level, past the apparatus that at one time would have controlled the quarter hour chimes (now they are managed by a more modern mechanism that we turn off and on before and after each performance).

The wires continue through to the third level, where they pass over pulleys that send them in the necessary directions. On the far left of the photograph to the left, one can see the wire attaching to the clapper that rings the bell. One of the Pealers plays one of the keys (by pushing down), which pulls the wire down, which comes all the way up to this level and finally pulls the clapper, which rings the bell. That's all there is to it! The system is remarkably simple. (There are other mechanisms involved, such as springs to return the clapper to its original position in some cases, but the basic process is very straightforward.)

That's the end of this section of the tour. Don't leave yet, though—there is plenty to see on the way back down! (Or, you can check out some photographs of the bells if you haven't seen them yet or would like to see them again.)

• photo gallery: the bells
• head back down

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