[Bell Historians] Fw: Crowle, Worcs (was steel bells)

[Mark Regan]

Nothing like a challenge David.

 

Let's get Old St Martin's Worcester ringing and then look at what else need
to be done next

 

Mark

 

Mark Regan

22 Sebright Avenue

Worcester

WR5 2HH

 

01905 354339

07971 573688

 

-----Original Message-----
From: bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com [mailto:bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of David Beacham
Sent: 17 November 2009 11:04
To: bellhistorians at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Bell Historians] Fw: Crowle, Worcs (was steel bells)

 

  

You may listen to Crowle bells by visiting http://freespace.
<http://freespace.virgin.net/david1.beacham/Crowle.mp3>
virgin.net/david1.beacham/Crowle.mp3  This mono-recording was made (in the
ringing chamber) nearly 40 years ago; but nothing has changed.

 

The back five of the eight (tenor 10cwt approx) are by John Martin, of
Worcester, 1667. They were augmented to eight by Barwell's in 1897
(Q.Victoria's Diamond Jubilee year). Nothing has been done to them since.
Martin cast a similar ring of five for Clifton on Teme in 1668 (which are
now a six.)

 

I have not seen any tuning figures for Crowle, but what makes them sound out
of tune is the 5th being sufficiently sharp so that if bells 2-7 are rung as
a six, they sound much more nearly in tune - as a six.

 

What makes them sound so much worse is that there is no intermediate chamber
and they are very loud in the ringing room. They also go very badly and are
very odd-struck (and some slip-wheel very readily, too). When, about 25
years ago as bell adviser, I reported on them I described them as the "worst
bells in Worcestershire" (which is true) hoping that it might jolt them into
action; but it failed to do so. They did, however, have some badges made for
visiting ringers to purchase, which bore the above legend.

 

There is no local band (although there is a ringer in the village who, I
understand, is now on the PCC) and the bells only get rung for weddings by
imported ringers. A couple of ringers from nearby have, over the years, kept
the bells going with running repairs, but I have long expressed the view to
them that they are doing the parish no favours by their efforts, and in my
opinion it would be better to let them become unringable; maybe the church
will then take up the challenge. Others may disagree.

 

Notwithstanding their 'awfulness' a total of 59 peals has been rung on them
since 1905, the last being in 2000. They used to be popular with the late
Gerald Hemming, and back in the 1920s/30s (when presumably their 'go' was
better even if their sound was not) the late Sydney T Holt, a very gifted
conductor, lived in the village and about half of the above peal total was
rung during that period.

 

If my successor as DAC bell advisor can jolt the church (and this
well-heeled village) into action and get the bells restored it would really
make my day!

 

DB

 

 



           
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.ringingworld.co.uk/pipermail/bell-historians/attachments/20091117/003f70f8/attachment.html>