[Bell Historians] 1837 female Bellringer

[Anne Willis]

>Obviously today there are just as many female as male bellringers, and
>in many towers the girls outnumber the men. However I have been told
>that bell ringing was once an all male activity and the photos of
>ringers from the past would support this. 
>Does anyone know if this was a general situation or were there
>exceptions and when did women become involved. 
>The reason I ask is that in Canewdon one Elizabeth Daukins (also spelt
>Dakins) was paid for the bell ringing at Canewdon Church in 1837 and
>again in 1839, there are other ringing payments in the years in
>between but no names are recorded. 
>Was it really that unusual to have a female bellringer and possibly
>even tower captain, at that time?
>Brian Meldon 


At Holy Trinity Bradford (on Avon) there was one Ann Bull who tolled the
tenor in the 1790's.  She also polished the brass chandelier.


'To Ann Bull for 133 Burials for the Great Bell	£6/13/-'



Anne