History and Archive Workgroup

The history of bellringers & bellringing.

The Central Council's Historical and Archive workgroup has a responsibility to:

  • develop and manage a comprehensive historical and reference resource relating to ringers and all aspects of ringing.
  • make these resources as widely known and appreciated as possible within the ringing community and more generally.

The Council’s existing collection of books, archives and other ringing related artifacts must be the premier source of information on the heritage of ringing. In addition, we are committed to undertake further research and development of historical information to promote and sustain ringing.

Ringing Time Line

1610 Beginning of Change Ringing

1612 Lincoln Cathedral Company of ringers

1637 ASCY

1668 Publication of Tintinnalogia

1672 Society of Sherwood Youths

1677 Publication of Campanalogia

1690 Possible first peal of Grandsire Triples at St Sepulchre's

1715 First peal of Plain Bob triples at Norwich

1717 First peal of Grandsire Caters at St Bride's London

1718 First peal of Grandsire Triples at Norwich

1718 First peal of Oxford TB Major at St Dunstan's E

1724 Society of Cambridge Youths

1725 James Barham born - Leading 18th century ringer who conducted the 40,320 in 1761

1725 First peal of Grandsire Cinques at St Bride's London

1725 First peal of Plain Bob Major at St Brides

1725 First peal of Plain Bob Royal at St Brides

1726 First Peal of Plain Bob Maximus at St Brides

1731 First peal of Stedman Triples at Norwich

1734 Oxford Society

1741 First peal of DNCBM at Coslany

1741 First peal of Oxford TB Royal at St Sepulchre, London

1746 London Scholars Society

1747 SRCY

1751 First peal of Plain Bob Caters at Leeds, Kent

1755 Society of St Martin's Youths

1758 First peal of Oxford TB Max at Southwark

1773 First peal of Plain Bob Minor - Garboldisham, Norfolk

1774 First peal of Kent TB Major at Leeds, Kent

1775 First peal of Grandsire Major - St Mary Matfelon, Whitechapel

1776 Buckingham - the fall of the tower took place only a minute after the ringers left it.

1777 First peal of Grandsire Doubles - St Lawrence, Alton, Hants

1778 First peal of Kent Treble Bob Royal - St Nicholas, Leeds, Kent

1782 Society of Trinity Youths

1784 First peal of Kent TB Royal at Leeds, Kent

1787 First peal of Stedman Caters, Horsleydown

1788 First peal of Stedman Cinques at St Martin in the Fields

1811 Painswich Youths

1811 First HB peal of Oxford TB Major at Sheffield

1819 Henry Haley born - conducted the first peal outside the British Isles, at Philadelphia in 1850

1820 First peal of Kent TB Max at Birmingham

1821 First peal of Superlative S Major at Huddersfield

1822 First peal of Cambridge S Royal at Wakefield

1823 First HB peal of Plain Bob Major at Colegate

1824 St James' Society

1828 First HB peal of Grandsire Triples at Poplar

1835 First peal of London S Major at Norwich

1853 First HB peal of Stedman Triples at Clerkenwell

1858 Big Ben cast

1859 Rev F E Robinson's first peal

1866 First HB peal of Kent TB Royal at Liverpool

1866 First HB peal of Kent TB Major at Liverpool

1868 Waterloo Society

1870 East Derbyshire Ringers' Association

1872 OUS

1873 Dundee Society of Bellringers

1873 First peal of Cambridge S Major at Bennington

1874 West Middlesex Bell Ringers' Association

1874 Guild of Devonshire Ringers

1875 Yorkshire Association

1875 Society of Framland Ringers

1876 Lancashire Association

1876 Jabez Armiger Trollope born - Notable ringer & author

1876 William Henry Barber born - Prominent Birmingham ringer who conducted the first handbell peal in Scotland

1877 Norwich Diocesan Association

1877 Durham Diocesan Association of Ringers

1878 Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Association

1878 East Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire Change Ringing Society

1878 John Sparkes Goldsmith born - Proprietor and first editor of The Ringing World

1878 Bertam Prewett born - Prominent peal ringer & conductor killed in WW1

1879 Winchester Diocesan Guild

1879 Middlesex County Association and London Diocesan Guild

1879 South Lincolnshire Association

1879 CUG

1879 North Wiltshire Guild

1879 Essex Association

1880 Sonning Deanery Society of Change Ringers

1880 Kent County Association

1880 South Yorkshire and East Derbyshire Association of Change Ringers

1881 Great Paul Cast

1881 ODG

1882 Durham and Newcastle Diocesan Association

1882 Worcester and Districts Association

1882 Midland Counties Association

1882 Bedfordshire Association

1882 Stoke on Trent Archidiaconal Association of Church Bell Ringers

1882 Bath and Keynsham United Deaneries of Change Ringes

1882 Salisbury Diocesan Guild

1883 Society for the Archdeaconry of Stafford

1883 United Counties Association

1884 Eastern Counties Guild

1884 Hertford County Association

1884 North Lincoln Association

1885 Sussex County Association

1886 Hereford Diocesan Guild

1886 Andenham College Youths

1887 East Derbyshire Association of Church Bellringers

1887 Chester Diocesan Guild

1887 North Notts Association

1888 North Middlesex Association

1889 Leeds and District Society

1889 Middlesex Association

1889 St Martin's Guild of Change Ringes for Birmingham, Aston and the surrounding districts

1889 James George's first peal

1890 Bath and Wells Diocesan Association

1892 Heavy Woolen District Association

1893 Worcester Cathedral Guild of Voluntary Bellringers

1893 Llandaff Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers

1894 Towcester and District Association

1894 South and West Middlesex Guild

1894 First peal of DNCBC at Bristol

1895 Central Northants Association

1897 Ely Diocesan Association

1897 Truro Diocesan Guild

1898 Irish Association

1898 Cleveland and North Yorkshire Association

1899 Lincoln Diocesan Guild

1899 Dudley and District Guild

1901 First peal of Bristol S Major at Brighton

1903 London County Association

1903 First peal of Yorkshire S Major at Sheffield

1904 First HB peal of London S Major at Romford

1905 Rev F E Robinson's 1,000th peal

1907 First HB peal of Bristol S Major at Romford

1908 First peal of Cambridge S Max at Ipswich

1921 First peal of Yorkshire S Royal at Chesterfield

1923 First peal of Rutland S Major at Bolsover

1924 First peal of Pudsey S Major at Bolsover

1924 Brian Price born - Notable ringing composer who introduced the use of singles into Surprise

1924 Wilfrid Moreton born - Prominent Yorkshire ringer who founded the Hereford Ringing Course

1927 First peal of Superlative Surprise Maximus - St Mary le Tower, Ipswich

1928 James George's 1,000th peal

1929 First peal of Yorkshire S Max at Ipswich

1933 First peal of London S Royal 3 at Beddington

1933 First HB peal of Cambridge S Major at Oxhey

1934 First peal of Bristol S Royal at Beddington

1940 Great George Cast

1946 First HB peal of Yorkshire S Major at Bushey

1947 First HB peal of Cambridge S Royal at Leicester

1947 First HB peal of Cambridge S Max at Leicester

1950 First peal of Bristol S Max at Leicester

1951 First HB peal of Kent TB 14 at Leicester

1959 First peal of Loninium S Max at Ashton

1969 First HB peal of Kent TB 16 at Watford

1974 George Ernest Fearn died - Prominent Birmingham ringer

1976 First HB peal of Cambridge S 14 at Langley Marish

1998 Frank Muir died - Famous comedian who rang in his youth

In This Week - 02/10/1910 - Harvest Festival

History and Archive

Image credits:

The belfry had received considerable attention, a feature here being an ingenious arrangement of corn into the shape of a church bell. Sheaves of wheat and a quantity of fruit and vegetables were also used with good effect

More information at:

The Bucks Standard, 08/10/1910

For more interesting events like this, buy a copy of Bill Butler's book - On This Day - from the Central Council Shop.

There are also more at Things to ring for.

Pealbase also has a lot of historical events On This Day. Mostly derived from peal records but also including Bill Butler's collection.

Welcome

This website has been created to bring together various strands of research that relate to ringing and ringers. Information that Central Council Committees generated in the past is being combined here in a website and database.

Going forward, new information and lines of research will be uploaded to this central resource by History & Archive Workgroup members. The database will also record changes to the information.

Database technology allows us to add extra value by identifying links between the various sources. So, by searching for a subject in one area, you may find information from another. This takes time to populate though.

If you are interested getting involved in any aspect of this, please feel free to get in touch.

CCCBR Library news

The Library Collection is moving to Loughborough. Details here.

The Central Council's Historical and Archive workgroup has a responsibility to:

  • develop and manage a comprehensive historical and reference resource relating to ringers and all aspects of ringing.
  • make these resources as widely known and appreciated as possible within the ringing community and more generally.

The Council’s existing collection of books, archives and other ringing related artifacts must be the premier source of information on the heritage of ringing. In addition, we are committed to undertake further research and development of historical information to promote and sustain ringing.

Ringing Time Line

1610 Beginning of Change Ringing

1612 Lincoln Cathedral Company of ringers

1637 ASCY

1668 Publication of Tintinnalogia

1672 Society of Sherwood Youths

1677 Publication of Campanalogia

1690 Possible first peal of Grandsire Triples at St Sepulchre's

1715 First peal of Plain Bob triples at Norwich

1717 First peal of Grandsire Caters at St Bride's London

1718 First peal of Grandsire Triples at Norwich

1718 First peal of Oxford TB Major at St Dunstan's E

1724 Society of Cambridge Youths

1725 James Barham born - Leading 18th century ringer who conducted the 40,320 in 1761

1725 First peal of Grandsire Cinques at St Bride's London

1725 First peal of Plain Bob Major at St Brides

1725 First peal of Plain Bob Royal at St Brides

1726 First Peal of Plain Bob Maximus at St Brides

1731 First peal of Stedman Triples at Norwich

1734 Oxford Society

1741 First peal of DNCBM at Coslany

1741 First peal of Oxford TB Royal at St Sepulchre, London

1746 London Scholars Society

1747 SRCY

1751 First peal of Plain Bob Caters at Leeds, Kent

1755 Society of St Martin's Youths

1758 First peal of Oxford TB Max at Southwark

1773 First peal of Plain Bob Minor - Garboldisham, Norfolk

1774 First peal of Kent TB Major at Leeds, Kent

1775 First peal of Grandsire Major - St Mary Matfelon, Whitechapel

1776 Buckingham - the fall of the tower took place only a minute after the ringers left it.

1777 First peal of Grandsire Doubles - St Lawrence, Alton, Hants

1778 First peal of Kent Treble Bob Royal - St Nicholas, Leeds, Kent

1782 Society of Trinity Youths

1784 First peal of Kent TB Royal at Leeds, Kent

1787 First peal of Stedman Caters, Horsleydown

1788 First peal of Stedman Cinques at St Martin in the Fields

1811 Painswich Youths

1811 First HB peal of Oxford TB Major at Sheffield

1819 Henry Haley born - conducted the first peal outside the British Isles, at Philadelphia in 1850

1820 First peal of Kent TB Max at Birmingham

1821 First peal of Superlative S Major at Huddersfield

1822 First peal of Cambridge S Royal at Wakefield

1823 First HB peal of Plain Bob Major at Colegate

1824 St James' Society

1828 First HB peal of Grandsire Triples at Poplar

1835 First peal of London S Major at Norwich

1853 First HB peal of Stedman Triples at Clerkenwell

1858 Big Ben cast

1859 Rev F E Robinson's first peal

1866 First HB peal of Kent TB Royal at Liverpool

1866 First HB peal of Kent TB Major at Liverpool

1868 Waterloo Society

1870 East Derbyshire Ringers' Association

1872 OUS

1873 Dundee Society of Bellringers

1873 First peal of Cambridge S Major at Bennington

1874 West Middlesex Bell Ringers' Association

1874 Guild of Devonshire Ringers

1875 Yorkshire Association

1875 Society of Framland Ringers

1876 Lancashire Association

1876 Jabez Armiger Trollope born - Notable ringer & author

1876 William Henry Barber born - Prominent Birmingham ringer who conducted the first handbell peal in Scotland

1877 Norwich Diocesan Association

1877 Durham Diocesan Association of Ringers

1878 Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Association

1878 East Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire Change Ringing Society

1878 John Sparkes Goldsmith born - Proprietor and first editor of The Ringing World

1878 Bertam Prewett born - Prominent peal ringer & conductor killed in WW1

1879 Winchester Diocesan Guild

1879 Middlesex County Association and London Diocesan Guild

1879 South Lincolnshire Association

1879 CUG

1879 North Wiltshire Guild

1879 Essex Association

1880 Sonning Deanery Society of Change Ringers

1880 Kent County Association

1880 South Yorkshire and East Derbyshire Association of Change Ringers

1881 Great Paul Cast

1881 ODG

1882 Durham and Newcastle Diocesan Association

1882 Worcester and Districts Association

1882 Midland Counties Association

1882 Bedfordshire Association

1882 Stoke on Trent Archidiaconal Association of Church Bell Ringers

1882 Bath and Keynsham United Deaneries of Change Ringes

1882 Salisbury Diocesan Guild

1883 Society for the Archdeaconry of Stafford

1883 United Counties Association

1884 Eastern Counties Guild

1884 Hertford County Association

1884 North Lincoln Association

1885 Sussex County Association

1886 Hereford Diocesan Guild

1886 Andenham College Youths

1887 East Derbyshire Association of Church Bellringers

1887 Chester Diocesan Guild

1887 North Notts Association

1888 North Middlesex Association

1889 Leeds and District Society

1889 Middlesex Association

1889 St Martin's Guild of Change Ringes for Birmingham, Aston and the surrounding districts

1889 James George's first peal

1890 Bath and Wells Diocesan Association

1892 Heavy Woolen District Association

1893 Worcester Cathedral Guild of Voluntary Bellringers

1893 Llandaff Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers

1894 Towcester and District Association

1894 South and West Middlesex Guild

1894 First peal of DNCBC at Bristol

1895 Central Northants Association

1897 Ely Diocesan Association

1897 Truro Diocesan Guild

1898 Irish Association

1898 Cleveland and North Yorkshire Association

1899 Lincoln Diocesan Guild

1899 Dudley and District Guild

1901 First peal of Bristol S Major at Brighton

1903 London County Association

1903 First peal of Yorkshire S Major at Sheffield

1904 First HB peal of London S Major at Romford

1905 Rev F E Robinson's 1,000th peal

1907 First HB peal of Bristol S Major at Romford

1908 First peal of Cambridge S Max at Ipswich

1921 First peal of Yorkshire S Royal at Chesterfield

1923 First peal of Rutland S Major at Bolsover

1924 First peal of Pudsey S Major at Bolsover

1924 Brian Price born - Notable ringing composer who introduced the use of singles into Surprise

1924 Wilfrid Moreton born - Prominent Yorkshire ringer who founded the Hereford Ringing Course

1927 First peal of Superlative Surprise Maximus - St Mary le Tower, Ipswich

1928 James George's 1,000th peal

1929 First peal of Yorkshire S Max at Ipswich

1933 First peal of London S Royal 3 at Beddington

1933 First HB peal of Cambridge S Major at Oxhey

1934 First peal of Bristol S Royal at Beddington

1940 Great George Cast

1946 First HB peal of Yorkshire S Major at Bushey

1947 First HB peal of Cambridge S Royal at Leicester

1947 First HB peal of Cambridge S Max at Leicester

1950 First peal of Bristol S Max at Leicester

1951 First HB peal of Kent TB 14 at Leicester

1959 First peal of Loninium S Max at Ashton

1969 First HB peal of Kent TB 16 at Watford

1974 George Ernest Fearn died - Prominent Birmingham ringer

1976 First HB peal of Cambridge S 14 at Langley Marish

1998 Frank Muir died - Famous comedian who rang in his youth

In This Week - 02/10/1910 - Harvest Festival

History and Archive

Image credits:

The belfry had received considerable attention, a feature here being an ingenious arrangement of corn into the shape of a church bell. Sheaves of wheat and a quantity of fruit and vegetables were also used with good effect

More information at:

The Bucks Standard, 08/10/1910

For more interesting events like this, buy a copy of Bill Butler's book - On This Day - from the Central Council Shop.

There are also more at Things to ring for.

Pealbase also has a lot of historical events On This Day. Mostly derived from peal records but also including Bill Butler's collection.

Welcome

This website has been created to bring together various strands of research that relate to ringing and ringers. Information that Central Council Committees generated in the past is being combined here in a website and database.

Going forward, new information and lines of research will be uploaded to this central resource by History & Archive Workgroup members. The database will also record changes to the information.

Database technology allows us to add extra value by identifying links between the various sources. So, by searching for a subject in one area, you may find information from another. This takes time to populate though.

If you are interested getting involved in any aspect of this, please feel free to get in touch.

CCCBR Library news

The Library Collection is moving to Loughborough. Details here.

  © CCCBR. Material on this website may be freely used for any purpose in connection with the promotion of bell ringing. For any other purpose please contact us, Central Council