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Tune ringing on handbells - some history |
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Beginnings Although handbells have been used in many cultures for centuries, William Cor (1696-1722) of Albourne in Wiltshire was the first bell-founder to to cast handbells in a sand mould and attempt to tune them with a file. Handbells were subsequently used by tower bell ringers to practice change-ringing, whose popularity exploded in the late 17th and 18th centuries following the publication of Tintinnalogia in 1668 As the technology improved with better tuning and clapper design, larger sets of handbells were used to play tunes. "Church bands" were also an influence in the development of tune ringing, after the Puritans decreed in 1644 that all organs should be removed from church. These church bands played a variety of instuments, often from galleries erected for the at the West end of the church. The novellist Thomas Hardy was a great church band entusiast. They feature in his novel "Under the Greenwood Tree". West Gallery Music Association - Home Page Whilst in England in 1844 the Great Showman Phileus T Barnum heard a tune-ringing team called the Lancashire Ringers and he arranged to bring them to the United States for a concert tour. Being a showman, he decided to dress them in Swiss Alpine costumes and call them “Swiss Bell Ringers.” These Englishmen spoke nothing but English, so it was suggested that they not speak in public. However, Barnum said that if they spoke in their native Lancashire dialect, no one would know that they were speaking English! From the advent of change ringing in the 17th centrury, till the middle of the 19th century, bells were rung for a variety of purposes, including as a form of recreation for the ringers (hence the term 'the exercise'), and bells were rung for a variety of civic and secular celebrations. Bell ringers operated more or less independently of the church and often a single bell was tolled by the sexton for religous services. However Victorian reforms lead to many changes in church life, including the relationship between the ringers and the clergy, who wanted the ringers to become more closely drawn into the worship of the church, and to improve their conduct. In the nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, the North of England was home to the best handbell tune-ringing teams in the world, each ringing up to 140 bells. These groups, which were mostly male and often pub-based, rehearsed, performed and competed with the same seriousness as brass bands, with an annual competition at Belle Vue competition in Manchester from 1855 until 1926 Their story, however, is much less known. This story, of working-class musical activity, fierce local rivalry, and mass entertainment is showcased in the recently deposited archive of the Handbell Ringers of Great Britain at Heritage Quay in Huddersfield. More detail can also be found in Peter Fawcett's book Ringing for Gold - £16.50 : HRGB Sales, Handbell Ringing Shop
Old Alresford handbell ringers There was an active team of tune ringers at Old Alresford in the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's
Cheriton handbell ringers We also have details of tune ringing in Cheriton right up to the early 2000's. We have a detailed account of the history of the Cheriton handbell ringers which can be viewed here. There is also an interesting set of photos in the tower, including those of the Crockford family, who were tower captains from 1848 - 1992.
Cheriton Handbell Ringers in the HH Inn, cica 1960. Left to right, Jack Holder (Snr), Derek Burns, Jack Holder (Jnr), Geoff Harfield.
Four generations of the same family were tower captains at Cheriton from 1848 - 1992 Tichborne ringers Tichborne also posesses a set of 15 handbells, although at the moment we do not know much about their use. However we do have some old photos of the ringers:
Tichborne ringers rules - typical of those adopted after Victorian 'Belfry Reform' Can you help? We are currently researching the history of bellringers in the area, and other teams such as those at Bishops Sutton and Ropley. If you know more or are related to any of the people in these photographs, please get in touch with us via handbells@bellringing.co.uk |
