[Bell Historians] Bell Hanger, Chepstow.

[john]

Strangeley enough I had an enquiry from a lady yesterday about the term 'bellhanger' saying that she couldn't believe there was enough wpork for Victorian bellhangers.   I sent her the following extract from 'Lincolnshire bells and bellfounders' in reply :

_

%   %   %   TRADESMEN DESCRIBED AS 'BELLHANGERS'   %   %   %

 

The various Trades Directories for the nineteenth century include a considerable number of tradesmen who are listed as bellhangers under the general heading of Whitesmith, Locksmiths and Bellhangers.    It seems very unlikely that these tradesmen did not, in fact, hang tower bells and were responsible for installing and maintaining house bells, which, before the introduction of electrically powered bell systems, were installed in many private houses.    This seems to be confirmed by White's 1882 Directory in which 'Bellhangers' and 'Church Bell Hangers are listed separately.    The following are a few examples extracted from the Post Office Directory for 1866  :

 

ASKEW     J. W.     Bath Row     STAMFORD   

BROOKS     Thomas     Elmer St South     GRANTHAM  

GINGER     William`     West End     ALFORD     

MERTON     Edward     Queen Street     MARKET RASEN   

WESTMORELAND     W.     Scawby     BRIGG   

 

 
           
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