Discover Your Bell Ringing History!

Why do you ring in a gallery? Who were the ringers whose names are on the peal boards behind you? Where can you find an example of an art deco ringing association certificate?

Host Cathy Booth quizzes knowledgeable guests Chris Ridley and Gareth Davies about the amazing range of historical sources at your fingertips to help answer these questions and more.

Thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm of Chris and the volunteers from the historical and archive working group of the CCCBR there are collections of just about everything - belfry artefacts, newspaper extracts, biographies, rolls of honour, badges, the lot!

Gareth goes on to give some great insight in how historians can make the most of these resources and what we can all do to promote them to the ringing historians of the future. All fascinating stuff.

I think they all deserve a certificate! Yes, there’s a collection of those as well …

Top 5 takeaways

• Access many of the resources mentioned in this episode at the CCCBR website History & Archive (cccbr.org.uk)
• Interested in finding out more and the working groups and getting involved? Check out the webpage Historical and Archive – CCCBR or email [e-mail]
• Intrigued by the illuminated peal books? Take a closer look at the St Martin’s Guild SMG Peal Books | (stmartinsguild.org) and College Youths Peal & Name books · Ancient Society of College Youths digital archive · Ringing Archive (ascy.org.uk) websites
• Why not take photos of your own local peal boards and send them in? Help especially needed in Norfolk, Kent and Scotland – see which peal boards are already included at History & Archive (cccbr.org.uk)
• Why not do a bit of research about your tower and ringers, and share with your local community as part of the Heritage Open Days Homepage (heritageopendays.org.uk)

Sponsor: This podcast is sponsored by the Association of Ringing Teachers (ART).  To find out more about learning to ring, learning to teach or other resources to support your ringing go to bellringing.org

Podcast team:
Anne Tansley Thomas
Emily Roderick
John Gwynne
Emily Watts
Cathy Booth

Ringing by:
The Cambridge Youths (supplied by David Richards) and for later episodes, The Liliputters Guild (supplied by Simon Edwards).

For bellringing training and support for teachers and ringers see: bellringing.org