[Bell Historians] Downham Mkt Tuning

[Susan & Christopher Dalton]

> 
> It was your book which highlighted that Poole were one of these rings, but
> no more than that - I haven't looked at the book for months!

[Shame on you! Should be daily reading... C D]
>
> From other bells by the Downham Market founders it's clear that their
> products are variable. I rang on the Osborn ring at Timberland (Lincs) on
> Saturday - very acceptable as a ring, but didn't have time to carefully
> listen to each bell on its own. I've not heard so many bells by Dobson, but
> despite his generally good reputation I can think of at least one pretty
> awful bell of his which I have heard.
>
> David

[You are perfectly right. One or two of the Dobson bells at Sturminster
Newton were poor harmonically even after retuning at Loughborough, but were
corrected by Nigel Taylor at the time of the recent rehanging. Wisbech, too
(two retunings here also, I believe, but both at Whitechapel). And
Peterborough St John, and Diss. I don't remember the Osborn eights at
Sleaford and Godmanchester giving a very true-harmonic impression but some
of his (untouched) five bells at Parson Drove are very accurate. C D]