[Bell Historians] Early handbell ringing

[Chris Pickford]

I think Eddie's reference is now obsolete as "the first ever". When going through the Leicester papers in the early 1970s for Cyril Wratten, I came across the following report from the Leicester and Notingham Journal  of 13 March 1777

Perhaps there never was an instance before Tuesday the 25th ult. of three such capital performances (in the art of ringing) being rung on one and the same day as was done on that, for besides the 10,080 Caters at St. Margaret's, Leicester, and the 10,080 Major at St. Mary's, Shrewsbury; there was also rung on that day at Abingdon, in Berkshire, a peal of 5040, (Ten in) on 10 hand bells, by 5 persons, in 3 hours and 10 minutes, which was the first 5040 ever rung on hand bells in the kingdom; and thought to exceed the course of Treble Bob, (Twelve in) rung on 12 hand-bells by 6 of the society of Cumberland Youths, in London.



The Abingdon handbell peal was also reported in the Cambridge Chronicle of 8 March and the Northampton Mercury of 3 March



Although the details are sketchy, I know of no reason to disbelieve these reports



CP


           
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