<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0cm;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-GB link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>The date, the location, and the use of lower case lettering suggest to me that this small bell may have been cast by the Ashton family of Wigan.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>I enclose a list of known bells from the Wigan foundry prepared by John Greenhough. You will see that quite a lot of them are found in North Wales.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>There is one rogue entry which needs further investigation: a 1665 bell by Ralph Ashton I at Garstang, St Thomas. I have a strong suspicion that the second 6 is upside down giving a date of 1695, as that would be consistent with a straightforward transfer of the foundry from the Scott family to the Ashtons, around 1694.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>I’ve also attached a picture of one of the two 1723/1724 bells at Heysham, St Peter which was taken just before it and its companion were rehung. The style of lettering is very similar.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>I hope this is some help.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Peter Rivet<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US> Bell-historians <bell-historians-bounces@lists.ringingworld.co.uk> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Peter Furniss<br><b>Sent:</b> 08 December 2022 11:38<br><b>To:</b> bell-historians@lists.ringingworld.co.uk<br><b>Subject:</b> [Bell Historians] Handbell at Ruthin<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>I would welcome any information anyone on this list can give me regarding an old handbell which is kept in the Old Court House at Ruthin.<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>I attach a number of photos of it which I hope will be of assistance.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>It is inscribed "Ruthin Bell 1719" and is approximately 7" tall with a similar diameter. There is what could be a founder`s mark of five lozenges or hearts?<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>It appears to be made of bell metal and to my untutored eye seems a fairly competent casting.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I guess the stirrup handle could be a later addition.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I wonder if it could be a school bell. By that date Ruthin had a well established private school or could it be a Town Crier`s bell. (were Town Criers in existence by that date?)<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Any thoughts, speculation, information welcome.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Peter<o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></body></html>