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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regarding the Durbar in India. No, it was not
cancelled owing to the death of Edward VII; indeed, it was not cancelled at all.
George V ascended to the Throne in May 1910 following the death of Edward VII.
He was crowned in Westminster Abbey on June 22nd 1911. The decision to hold a
Durbar in India was his own, and it duly took place in December 1911. A reminder
of the occasion is to be seen amongst the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London,
the Crown of India - made especially for the occasion as the English Crown
Jewels may not leave the country.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>One feels that the bells would not have borne the
"Cast in the first year of the reign of George V" inscription if the Durbar had
originally been intended for Edward VII. William Shepherd's article, that they
had been intended for the Durbar, but that this arangement (i.e. the bells,
not the Durbar) was cancelled, seems to me to be more likely.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have a picture of bells being tuned at Warner's
"for the British Empire Exhibition", and there is nothing about the Durbar at
all.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Happy New Year!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>DLC</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=c.j.pickford.t21@tNRx4qL5zb6BDB9soqMxr1aCEas2fApp7VdymXmEkLX0RWrELjMoRZVkwXsnF8AR2n_KceEyy3RdPBswC41YAgyW7xnVddXUfClguwOk.yahoo.invalid
href="mailto:c.j.pickford.t21@BXvrWW2ksCyXmZpf5eOC3YspDzHCca_NWt-vps4Tgny3zaDUKnzECWoPH--qXNAz5Js6Xw7pNeMmwKmSRl_JBCAmylq0.yahoo.invalid">Chris Pickford</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=bellhistorians@yahoogroups.com
href="mailto:bellhistorians@yahoogroups.com">bellhistorians@yahoogroups.com</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, January 08, 2009 9:01
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Bell Historians] Oatlands
Park, Surrey</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV id=ygrp-text>
<P>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Can offer these snippets from the sources
noted:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-GB>Article by William Shepherd in
</SPAN><I><SPAN lang=EN-GB>Ringing World</SPAN></I><SPAN lang=EN-GB>
</SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-GB>1 May 1953 p.286 – bells all dated 1911, but not
installed until March 1913. Bells had been on display at the Festival of
Empire at <ST1>Crystal</ST1> <ST1>Palace</ST1> in 1911, where they were played
by well-known <ST1><ST1>London</ST1></ST1> ringer Fred Newman. Intended to be
sent to <ST1>India</ST1> for the Durbar, but this arrangement was cancelled
and the bells were conveyed instead to the <ST1><ST1>Olympia</ST1></ST1> where
they played a part in Max Reinhart’s famous spectacle, ‘The Miracle’. Warners
had many offers for them (including one from a nobleman who wanted them for
his mansion in <ST1><ST1>Scotland</ST1></ST1>), but Warners stuck to their
original offer of first refusal on them to Oatlands. All inscribed “Cast in
the first year of the reign of King George V. 1911”. The tenor is 12-0-12 in
G.<O></O></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN lang=EN-GB>Report of dedication in </SPAN><I><SPAN
lang=EN-GB>Ringing World</SPAN></I><SPAN lang=EN-GB> </SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-GB>7
March 1913 p.168 – bells cast in 1911 and dedicated on 2 March
1913<O></O></SPAN></P>
<DIV><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Oatlands is in the
eastern side of Weybridge. Ring of eight in a tower built in 1911. Bells cast
by Warners for the celebration of the Durbar of 1911 in
<ST1><ST1>India</ST1></ST1>, but the event was cancelled owing to the death of
King Edward VII. The bells were exhibited at the Empire Festival at
<ST1><ST1>Crystal</ST1> <ST1>Palace</ST1></ST1> and, when the original
commission fell through, Oatlands was given the first refusal on the bells.
They were dedicated on 2 March 1913 (Morgan and Schupke <I>Towers and Bells
Around Guildford</I> (1999) p.54 and notices in the tower)</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I haven't tried the <EM>Bell News</EM> CD, but it
would be worth looking for a report. The 1953 article would also be worth a
closer look (I've only summarised the details here)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>CP</FONT><!--End group email --></DIV>
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