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</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'>My assumption up to now has been that “alphabet bells” are the work of illiterate founders who had inherited a set of letters from their predecessor, but maybe somebody can come up with a better idea.<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><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>Ronald East via Bell-historians<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, August 10, 2023 8:22 AM<br><b>To:</b> Bell Historians <bell-historians@lists.ringingworld.co.uk><br><b>Cc:</b> Ronald East <ronald.east@btinternet.com><br><b>Subject:</b> [Bell Historians] Alphabet bells<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p>Could anyone please explain why alphabet bells were cast? We have a fine example on display at Carlisle Cathedral cast in c1380 by John de Kirkham. It is only missing the letters U, W and X.<o:p></o:p></p></div></div></body></html>