[Bell Historians] Date touch history

[Gareth Davies]

The Cambridge ringers rang a series of date touches in the 1840s under the leadership of John Carr.

This report of the 1847 effort suggests producing a composition was a bit of a trial. Carr also charged the Cambridge Youths for the cost of the paper and ink he used in doing so.

"Change Ringing-Saint Mary's Bells ringing the Date of the Year.-Tuesday last being the day appointed for the interment of the mortal remains of our lamented Chancellor, the Duke of Northumberland, the company of change ringers of Great St. Mary's, in this town, rang a solemn muffled peal of Grandsire Triples, comprising 1847 changes, (the date of the year,) which lasted upwards of an hour and a quarter. This peal was, after considerable difficulty, composed by Mr. John Carr, the leader of the company. In consequence of the bells moving alternately from their own place to another, at the rate of 30 changes a minute, the treble bell returns to her place every 14 changes, except in the last lead, which, by a multiplicity of calls, or extremes and singles, effects it; so that the date of the year can only be rung once in 14 years. The band was arranged in the following order:- Mr. York 1st. Mr. Skinner 5th. Mr. Page 2nd. Mr. Driver 6th. Mr. Carr 3rd. Mr. Rocket 7th Mr. Wright 4th. Mr. Wilby 8th. conducted by Mr John Carr. It may correctly be said, that this peal was struck as truly as chimes, and changed eighteen hundred and forty seven times. Very many many persons had congregated to hear the ringing, which had a very solemn and beautiful effect."
Cambridge Independent Press - Saturday 27 February 1847 p2

Gareth

> On 6 Jan 2023, at 20:35, Neal Dodge via Bell-historians <bell-historians at lists.ringingworld.co.uk> wrote:
> 
> From Felix Farley's Bristol Journal, 29th Dec 1764 edition:
> "Yesterday was rung at St Mary Redcliff's, 1764 Grandsire Tripples, it being the date of the year, by eight men viz...."
> 
> On Fri, 6 Jan 2023 at 20:00, John Harrison <john at jaharrison.me.uk <mailto:john at jaharrison.me.uk>> wrote:
> In article <129428109.12819071.1673034447931 at mail.yahoo.com <mailto:129428109.12819071.1673034447931 at mail.yahoo.com>>,
>    Andrew Aspland via Bell-historians
> <bell-historians at lists.ringingworld.co.uk <mailto:bell-historians at lists.ringingworld.co.uk>> wrote:
> >  The Leeds ringers (Yorkshire) were ringing date touches in the late
> >  1700s and early 1800s. 
> 
> Thank you.  So in round terms, date touches have been round for centuries
> not decades.
> 
> It would be interesting to know what sort of compositions they were using
> in those early days.  Did they pick and choose the 'easy years' or did
> they produce the awkward lengths as well.
> 
> -- 
> John Harrison
> Website http://jaharrison.me.uk <http://jaharrison.me.uk/>
> Using 4té and ARMX6, both running RISC OS
> 
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> 
> -- 
> Many Thanks 
> Neal Dodge
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