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The history of bellringers & bellringing - Ringing Societies


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Society of Royal Cumberland Youths and associated societies

Associated societies have a green background.

Society NameDescriptionsFrom (year)To (year)Web site
London Scholars Society

This was the original name of the Society of Royal Cumberland Youths. [Research by John Harrison.]

17461747
Society of Royal Cumberland Youths

A Society based in London originally, but now with members all over the world. It was known as the London Scholars Society before it adopted the name 'The Society of Cumberland Youths'. The 'Royal' was added in the 1870s. [Research by John Harrison.]

The Society was founded in its present form on 6th September 1747 as 'The Society of Cumberland Youths'. The manuscripts by John E Osborn, held in the British Library, which was assembled from various source documents in the middle of the 19th century, says that in honour of the Duke of Cumberland's victory at the Battle of Culloden the Society of London Scholars (1702 to 1747) restyled themselves as the 'Cumberland Youths'. No other evidence for this claim currently exists. The word 'Royal' was added to the title during the 1870s. The new title was challenged in the Church Bells (October 1878) but its continued use is now not contested. For further background see the Ringing World (25th September 1997, pages 889 to 898). [Research and observations associated with the Council Library Certificates Collection by Chris Ridley.]

founded 1747 Formerly: London Scholars (1717-1746) [Research and observations associated with the Council Library Badge Collection by Chris Ridley.]

1747https://srcy.org.uk/

Photo

Books in the Council Library

TitleAuthorDateNotesAcquisition Number
Holborn, St Andrew6.ix.1997Society of Royal Cumberland Youths. A service of thanksgiving for 250th anniversary 1044
Newsletter No 1 (Feb 1990) - No 4 (Sep 1990), No 6 (Apr 1991), No 7 (Feb 1992). 250th anniversary newsletter (1997)2268
Rules and Regulations, 18501850 662
Rules of the Society of Royal Cumberland Youths, formerly the Society of London Scholars. Revised A.D. 18911891 1716
Rules and History of the Society, 19791979 1372
Framed handwritten record of a peal rung on a train 31.viii.1923?1923Handbell peal of Bob Major, rung in six counties 3691
Microfilm of SRCY Name Book (1747-1881), ditto (fair copy) and Peal Book (1747-1828) Positive copy /film 1 1704
Microfilm of SRCY Peal Book 1828-86 and 1887-99 Positive copy Film 2 1705
Microfilm of SRCY Peal Book 1900 - 1934 and Name Book 1637 - 1871 Positive copy Film 3 1706
Master fiches for records of SRCY (25) 2476
Microfiches Records of SRCY Name Book 1747-1881 (33 fiches) 2477
Society of Royal Cumberland Youths List of books and other property 1133

Accounts of the lives of members (Navigation at foot of page)

NamePlace(s)Other societiesDate of death
Frederick Paul Adams Location mentioned in obituary: Glemsford13/10/1896
George Akers Location mentioned in obituary: Wanstead29/10/1886
Newland Alderman Location mentioned in obituary: London11/10/1913
George R Banks Location mentioned in obituary: London11/06/1888
John Barber Location mentioned in obituary: West Bromwich10/03/1944
G H Barker Location mentioned in obituary: Ware14/10/1927
John Spencer Barnes Place of Birth: Caston, Norfolk
Began ringing at: Caston
First peal tower: Caston
Towers: Caston (1946-61)
Towers: Chelsfield, Kent (1961 - )
Towers: Spitalfields, London (1971 - )
Towers: St Martin in the Fields (1989 - )
Towers: Sutton Courtney (1958-61)
Location mentioned in obituary: Chelsfield
Central Council of Church Bellringers
Kent County Association
19/10/2019
William Baron Place of Birth: Newent, Gloucestershire
Began ringing at: St. Mary, Prestbury
First peal tower: St. James, Clerkenwell
Towers: St. John's, Waterloo Road, London
Location mentioned in obituary: Lambeth (Waterloo Rd)
19/07/1904
James Barrett Location mentioned in obituary: London28/02/1900
Harry Barton Place of Birth: Eastry, Kent
Began ringing at: St. Mary, Eastry
First peal tower: All Saints, Kingston on Thames
Towers: Southwold 1912. St Margaret's Westminster 1894.
Location mentioned in obituary: Newport (IOW)
Winchester and Portsmouth Diocesan Guild
Winchester Diocesan Guild
26/01/1940
Arthur Burgess Bennett Place of Birth: Felpham, Sussex
Began ringing at: St Mary Magdalene & St Denys, Midhurst
First peal tower: All Saints, Hursley, Hants
Towers: St. Mary Abbotts, Kensington, 1907-1939
Location mentioned in obituary: Kensington
Central Council of Church Bellringers
Suffolk Guild
Sussex County Association
30/03/1939
Ian S Bennett First peal tower: Denby26/01/2024
Frank Bennett Place of Birth: Basingstoke, Hants
Began ringing at: Basingstoke
First peal tower: St. Nicholas, Guildford
Towers: St Nicholas, Guildford 1887-1895 St Peter, Brighton 1895-1907 St Alphege, Greenwich 1907-1912 St Botolph, Heene 1914 St Nicholas Brighton 1920
Location mentioned in obituary: Brighton
Essex Association
Sussex County Association
10/11/1957
Dennis Beresford Place of Birth: Lichfield
Began ringing at: Lichfield Cathedral
Location mentioned in obituary: Petrockstowe
30/06/2011
Richard Bevan Location mentioned in obituary: London 
Revd Peter Neville Bond Place of Birth: Brasted in Kent
First peal tower: In hand, at Cheshunt
Towers: He also rang with the Portsea band, and developed Surprise Major ringing. In 1947 he moved to London and joined the band of St Martin-in-the-Fields.
Location mentioned in obituary: Norwich
04/02/1981
W T Bone Location mentioned in obituary: London04/07/1890
Herbert Jonas Bradley Place of Birth: Knightsbridge, London 
George A Card Location mentioned in obituary: London05/04/1937
Thomas Card Place of Birth: Speldhust, Kent
Began ringing at: Speldhust
First peal tower: Christ Church, Southgate
Towers: Hendon & Finchley 1889. Speldhurst & Tonbridge 1890-1901, Edmonton 1905
24/03/1932

Peal Statistics

Statistics sourced from the annual reports of the Council Peal Analysis Committee will be shown here

The tables will need to be digitised first. A job for 2024.

Peal board photos

Records 1 to 5, of 5 
◁◁▷▷ 

Reigate, Surrey 27/04/1878

Details

High Wycombe, Bucks 15/03/1914

Details

High Wycombe, Bucks 20/11/1946

Details

Kingston upon Thames 28/05/1984

Details

Rochester, New York, USA 22/11/2015

Details

Peals

For those who have a pealbase login, the society analysis has totals since 1910.

Society of Royal Cumberland Youths and associated societies

Associated societies have a green background.

Society NameDescriptionsFrom (year)To (year)Web site
London Scholars Society

This was the original name of the Society of Royal Cumberland Youths. [Research by John Harrison.]

17461747
Society of Royal Cumberland Youths

A Society based in London originally, but now with members all over the world. It was known as the London Scholars Society before it adopted the name 'The Society of Cumberland Youths'. The 'Royal' was added in the 1870s. [Research by John Harrison.]

The Society was founded in its present form on 6th September 1747 as 'The Society of Cumberland Youths'. The manuscripts by John E Osborn, held in the British Library, which was assembled from various source documents in the middle of the 19th century, says that in honour of the Duke of Cumberland's victory at the Battle of Culloden the Society of London Scholars (1702 to 1747) restyled themselves as the 'Cumberland Youths'. No other evidence for this claim currently exists. The word 'Royal' was added to the title during the 1870s. The new title was challenged in the Church Bells (October 1878) but its continued use is now not contested. For further background see the Ringing World (25th September 1997, pages 889 to 898). [Research and observations associated with the Council Library Certificates Collection by Chris Ridley.]

founded 1747 Formerly: London Scholars (1717-1746) [Research and observations associated with the Council Library Badge Collection by Chris Ridley.]

1747https://srcy.org.uk/

Photo

Books in the Council Library

TitleAuthorDateNotesAcquisition Number
Holborn, St Andrew6.ix.1997Society of Royal Cumberland Youths. A service of thanksgiving for 250th anniversary 1044
Newsletter No 1 (Feb 1990) - No 4 (Sep 1990), No 6 (Apr 1991), No 7 (Feb 1992). 250th anniversary newsletter (1997)2268
Rules and Regulations, 18501850 662
Rules of the Society of Royal Cumberland Youths, formerly the Society of London Scholars. Revised A.D. 18911891 1716
Rules and History of the Society, 19791979 1372
Framed handwritten record of a peal rung on a train 31.viii.1923?1923Handbell peal of Bob Major, rung in six counties 3691
Microfilm of SRCY Name Book (1747-1881), ditto (fair copy) and Peal Book (1747-1828) Positive copy /film 1 1704
Microfilm of SRCY Peal Book 1828-86 and 1887-99 Positive copy Film 2 1705
Microfilm of SRCY Peal Book 1900 - 1934 and Name Book 1637 - 1871 Positive copy Film 3 1706
Master fiches for records of SRCY (25) 2476
Microfiches Records of SRCY Name Book 1747-1881 (33 fiches) 2477
Society of Royal Cumberland Youths List of books and other property 1133

Accounts of the lives of members (Navigation at foot of page)

NamePlace(s)Other societiesDate of death
Frederick Paul Adams Location mentioned in obituary: Glemsford13/10/1896
George Akers Location mentioned in obituary: Wanstead29/10/1886
Newland Alderman Location mentioned in obituary: London11/10/1913
George R Banks Location mentioned in obituary: London11/06/1888
John Barber Location mentioned in obituary: West Bromwich10/03/1944
G H Barker Location mentioned in obituary: Ware14/10/1927
John Spencer Barnes Place of Birth: Caston, Norfolk
Began ringing at: Caston
First peal tower: Caston
Towers: Caston (1946-61)
Towers: Chelsfield, Kent (1961 - )
Towers: Spitalfields, London (1971 - )
Towers: St Martin in the Fields (1989 - )
Towers: Sutton Courtney (1958-61)
Location mentioned in obituary: Chelsfield
Central Council of Church Bellringers
Kent County Association
19/10/2019
William Baron Place of Birth: Newent, Gloucestershire
Began ringing at: St. Mary, Prestbury
First peal tower: St. James, Clerkenwell
Towers: St. John's, Waterloo Road, London
Location mentioned in obituary: Lambeth (Waterloo Rd)
19/07/1904
James Barrett Location mentioned in obituary: London28/02/1900
Harry Barton Place of Birth: Eastry, Kent
Began ringing at: St. Mary, Eastry
First peal tower: All Saints, Kingston on Thames
Towers: Southwold 1912. St Margaret's Westminster 1894.
Location mentioned in obituary: Newport (IOW)
Winchester and Portsmouth Diocesan Guild
Winchester Diocesan Guild
26/01/1940
Arthur Burgess Bennett Place of Birth: Felpham, Sussex
Began ringing at: St Mary Magdalene & St Denys, Midhurst
First peal tower: All Saints, Hursley, Hants
Towers: St. Mary Abbotts, Kensington, 1907-1939
Location mentioned in obituary: Kensington
Central Council of Church Bellringers
Suffolk Guild
Sussex County Association
30/03/1939
Ian S Bennett First peal tower: Denby26/01/2024
Frank Bennett Place of Birth: Basingstoke, Hants
Began ringing at: Basingstoke
First peal tower: St. Nicholas, Guildford
Towers: St Nicholas, Guildford 1887-1895 St Peter, Brighton 1895-1907 St Alphege, Greenwich 1907-1912 St Botolph, Heene 1914 St Nicholas Brighton 1920
Location mentioned in obituary: Brighton
Essex Association
Sussex County Association
10/11/1957
Dennis Beresford Place of Birth: Lichfield
Began ringing at: Lichfield Cathedral
Location mentioned in obituary: Petrockstowe
30/06/2011
Richard Bevan Location mentioned in obituary: London 
Revd Peter Neville Bond Place of Birth: Brasted in Kent
First peal tower: In hand, at Cheshunt
Towers: He also rang with the Portsea band, and developed Surprise Major ringing. In 1947 he moved to London and joined the band of St Martin-in-the-Fields.
Location mentioned in obituary: Norwich
04/02/1981
W T Bone Location mentioned in obituary: London04/07/1890
Herbert Jonas Bradley Place of Birth: Knightsbridge, London 
George A Card Location mentioned in obituary: London05/04/1937
Thomas Card Place of Birth: Speldhust, Kent
Began ringing at: Speldhust
First peal tower: Christ Church, Southgate
Towers: Hendon & Finchley 1889. Speldhurst & Tonbridge 1890-1901, Edmonton 1905
24/03/1932

Peal Statistics

Statistics sourced from the annual reports of the Council Peal Analysis Committee will be shown here

The tables will need to be digitised first. A job for 2024.

Peal board photos

Records 1 to 5, of 5 
◁◁▷▷ 

Reigate, Surrey 27/04/1878

Details

High Wycombe, Bucks 15/03/1914

Details

High Wycombe, Bucks 20/11/1946

Details

Kingston upon Thames 28/05/1984

Details

Rochester, New York, USA 22/11/2015

Details

Peals

For those who have a pealbase login, the society analysis has totals since 1910.

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