The history of bellringers & bellringing - Historical ringing prints

Introduction by Chris Ridley

Over the last twenty years I have attempted to collate collections of ringing memorabilia that have not previously been comprehensively catalogued. These include metallic ringing badges, society membership certificates and campanology themed historic prints. This has proved to be timely as changing fashions and the advent of modern technology has resulted in such items no longer being produced by many ringing organisation. Previous examples are also often lost when ringers die and their property is disposed of.

The first catalogue produced was on metallic ringing badges in 2002 which was subsequently adopted by the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers and made accessible electronically. This has continued to be developed and added to as new examples and varieties come to light. An article on the topic was published in the Ringing World 23/30 December 2011 on page 1292. It is interesting that while many examples could be easily sourced and purchased cheaply prior to the article, the market has since become more competitive reducing the opportunities to acquire early badges at a reasonable cost.

Although I envisaged the membership certificate catalogue to be more readily produced this proved to be an ever more difficult task as examples have infrequently been retained, and society officers rarely have any knowledge of the history of membership certificates for their organisation. A first version of this catalogue was completed in 2019. An article was likewise published in the Ringing World 2 March 2012 on page 228.

This catalogue is the third representing historic ringing prints. It contains examples grouped under 17 broad themes. Inevitably some illustrations are pertinent to more than one category – where this arises they have in some instances been replicated for easy reference and completeness of each section. Although not strictly prints the catalogue includes some other illustrations, such as examples of illuminated peal book records, which are very artistic and might usefully add to the design aspects of the catalogue.

Prints come in many different forms and this catalogue attempts to capture key illustrations. Some personal preferences have inevitably arisen, but I hope the work proves to be a useful resource to historians and those looking for publicity illustrations. The intention is to maintain the catalogue as an electronic version to allow easy access and amendment or updating as appropriate. Given IT developments and the possibility that an e-version may become obsolete at some future date, this paper copy has been prepared for prosperity.

June 2020

© C Ridley 2020

Introduction by Chris Ridley

Over the last twenty years I have attempted to collate collections of ringing memorabilia that have not previously been comprehensively catalogued. These include metallic ringing badges, society membership certificates and campanology themed historic prints. This has proved to be timely as changing fashions and the advent of modern technology has resulted in such items no longer being produced by many ringing organisation. Previous examples are also often lost when ringers die and their property is disposed of.

The first catalogue produced was on metallic ringing badges in 2002 which was subsequently adopted by the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers and made accessible electronically. This has continued to be developed and added to as new examples and varieties come to light. An article on the topic was published in the Ringing World 23/30 December 2011 on page 1292. It is interesting that while many examples could be easily sourced and purchased cheaply prior to the article, the market has since become more competitive reducing the opportunities to acquire early badges at a reasonable cost.

Although I envisaged the membership certificate catalogue to be more readily produced this proved to be an ever more difficult task as examples have infrequently been retained, and society officers rarely have any knowledge of the history of membership certificates for their organisation. A first version of this catalogue was completed in 2019. An article was likewise published in the Ringing World 2 March 2012 on page 228.

This catalogue is the third representing historic ringing prints. It contains examples grouped under 17 broad themes. Inevitably some illustrations are pertinent to more than one category – where this arises they have in some instances been replicated for easy reference and completeness of each section. Although not strictly prints the catalogue includes some other illustrations, such as examples of illuminated peal book records, which are very artistic and might usefully add to the design aspects of the catalogue.

Prints come in many different forms and this catalogue attempts to capture key illustrations. Some personal preferences have inevitably arisen, but I hope the work proves to be a useful resource to historians and those looking for publicity illustrations. The intention is to maintain the catalogue as an electronic version to allow easy access and amendment or updating as appropriate. Given IT developments and the possibility that an e-version may become obsolete at some future date, this paper copy has been prepared for prosperity.

June 2020

© C Ridley 2020