-------------------------------1124125710 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit My apologies to members of the group who consider what I am about to ask to be somewhat off-topic. Any replies (complaints?), should probably sent directly to me off-line. I have been doing a little family history research for a friend in Canada and have been surprised to find that her grandfather, Ernest James, was a bell-ringer in Shropshire. Ernest James was born at Woodhouse Fields, some 3 miles SW of Much Wenlock, in 1883 and was christened in Bourton Chapel. By 1901, when I would guess Ernest might have started his ringing career, he is living in Holdgate in a cottage next to the rectory. This is where he would seem to be most likely to ring. His daughter, aged 90, tells the following strange tale: "When I was a little girl, you might not believe that we could hear Maymont's church bells [about 4 miles away] if the air was just right. Father said there was quite a knack to ringing them. Pretty soon, we would hear the coyotes howling in answer to the bells." She has a photo of the family taken outside Holdgate Church. As her father said there was quite a knack to ringing church bells I am hoping that he rang full circle. Discount the reference to coyotes, the old lady has lived in Canada for most of her 90 years! I believe that there are three unringable bells in the tower at Holdgate, and I believe that they hang in a 16/17th century frame. Can anyone tell me more about them? Were they ringable in about 1900? Does the cottage next to the rectory (or even the rectory), still stand? Any information, photos, web links etc. would be gratefully received. I have been told that C J Dalton has done historical bell work extensively in this area and would have details of the bells. I am doing this as a favour, not for any commercial gain Malcolm Bland Kirkby Malham, North Yorkshire _http://www.malhamdale.com/bells.htm_ (http://www.malhamdale.com/bells.htm) Malcolm Bland Kirkby Malham, North Yorkshire _http://www.malhamdale.com/bells.htm_ (http://www.malhamdale.com/bells.htm) -------------------------------1124125710 Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
My apologies to members of the group who consider what I am about to a= sk to=20 be somewhat off-topic.  Any replies (complaints?), should probably sen= t=20 directly to me off-line.
 
I have been doing a little family history research for a friend in Can= ada=20 and have been surprised to find that her grandfather, Ernest James, was a=20 bell-ringer in Shropshire.
 
Ernest James was born at Woodhouse Fields, some 3 mil= es SW=20 of Much Wenlock, in 1883 and was christened in Bourton Chapel.  By 190= 1,=20 when I would guess Ernest might have started his ringing career, he is livi= ng in=20 Holdgate in a cottage next to the rectory.  This is where he woul= d=20 seem to be most likely to ring.  His daughter, aged 90, tells the foll= owing=20 strange tale:
"When I was a little girl, you might not believe that we could hea= r=20 Maymont's church bells [about 4 miles away] if the air was ju= st=20 right. Father said there was quite a knack to ringing them. Pretty soon, we= =20 would hear the coyotes howling in answer to the bells."
She has a photo of the family taken outside Holdgate Church. &nbs= p;As=20 her father said there was quite a knack to ringing church bells I am hoping= that=20 he rang full circle.  Discount the reference to coyotes, the old lady = has=20 lived in Canada for most of her 90 years!
 
I believe that there are three unringable bells in the tower a= t=20 Holdgate, and I believe that they hang in a 16/17th century frame.  Ca= n=20 anyone tell me more about them?  Were they ringable in about 1900?&nbs= p;=20 Does the cottage next to the rectory (or even the rectory), still stand?&nb= sp;=20 Any information, photos, web links etc. would be gratefully=20 received. 
 
I have been told that C J Dalton has done historical bell work extensi= vely=20 in this area and would have details of the bells.
I am doing this as a favour, not for any commercial gain
 
Malcolm=20 Bland
Kirkby Malham, North Yorkshire
http://www.malhamdale.com/bell= s.htm
 
Malcolm=20 Bland
Kirkby Malham, North Yorkshire
http://www.malhamdale.com/bell= s.htm
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