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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Cawston have never been a ring of eight. The two
smallest bells were added by John Taylor & Co in 1925 and were hung dead
from the outset. They are placed on steel channel deadstocks spanning the
central well of a remarkable, tall and massive medieval frame, probably as old
as the magnificent tower. The frame has pairs of bells arranged in swastika
formation around a central well.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>At the same time, the fifth bell was recast and
rehung - this is likewise hung dead on a steel channel deadstock, in its old
position in the frame. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>In many respects therefore, Cawston are an
(Unringable) ring reduced from 6 to 5, the former no.3 bell of
six being now hung dead, and with two trebles for chiming only.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The eight bells are sounded from a free standing
Ellacombe rack on the 2nd floor of this huge and impressive 15th century tower.
The six were formerly rung from the gallery below, itself a marvellous medieval
construction, incorporating both the font crane and the sign of the former plow
inn!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I inspected these bells when Norwich DAC Bells
Adviser in 1976. The five ringing bells are no longer swung and have no ropes
attached; the state of those of the treble of six, 2nd, 3rd and tenor is not
very good. The 4th of six, recast in 1887 by Mears, for Day, is rather better. I
had the bell rung up and concluded that a good deal of work would be necessary
to the frame and all new fittings to the six largest bells, if ringing were
safely to be undertaken here. To hang all eight would need a new frame. Rather
like CJP on Stamford, I think that the present Cawston frame, a thing
of massive beauty, and absolutely coeval with its tower, should at all costs be
preserved; in any case, the bells really need to be lower in the
tower.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>There was a fair bit of ringing recorded on the old
six, right up to and including 1887. Significantly the newspaper reports of
the relevant dates mention many years' previous silence.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>A very happy Christmas to all</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>DLC</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial> </FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=nickwbowden@n23HILbEgtJbx1AcpNT1ienaLVQ5BC_phG6N0-Oyd820QUseMW7pYN-fH-XN0Al6kNwlVcwUYKWU9eDRgyoz39H8praCLNy0_kk.yahoo.invalid href="mailto:nickwbowden@Lccq3_J2FJ1Qn61-QyecJzlrNtndLdHjnv6NGyjQjQmKGGYd41HfxRPGUzByc7tWYeqxzU5OWJjPKK02Za2v2Qk.yahoo.invalidet">Nick
Bowden</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, December 24, 2009 5:58
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Bell Historians] Unpealed UK
Rings of 8</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><SPAN style="DISPLAY: none"> </SPAN>
<DIV id=ygrp-text>
<P>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Can anyone add to this list of unpealed UK rings
of 8?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Baldersby</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Cawston</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Denbigh</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Hartington</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Leamington Spa, RC</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Stamford, S Mary</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Thorpe next Norwich</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Seasons Greetings</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Nick</FONT></DIV>
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