Riddings Tubular Bells

I have already posted a video of these bells being rung, but as annual maintenance was due on them I decided to film some stuff in the belfry, just for you lot! I banged my head many times whilst up there (thank goodness for the bump cap!) - see what I suffer for you? lol
Anyway, here's some details and a brief history of the bells.
The bells were cast circa 1900 by Harringtons of Coventry and hung in the tower at the church of St James the Greater in Riddings, Derbyshire. Their history for the next century of so is largely unknown, although there is a rumour that one fell through the tower down to the porch below, narrowly missing the priest! But in 2004 a family of bell ringers and regular churchgoers moved into the village, and discovered and subsequently rang the bells for services. It became apparent very quickly that the bells were in a very poor state of repair and it was a case of work being done or the bells being scrapped. They are the only remaining set of 10 Harringtons tubular bells in Derbyshire, so it was decided to restore them to their former glory with a full overhaul of frames, fittings, and, of course, the bells themselves.
The money was raised by a small group from the church, and Nicholson Bell Hangers of Dorset completed the work in time for a rededication of the bells at Easter 2008.
The bells are rung regularly for both Sunday and Wedding services, and if any ringers visiting the Derbyshire area wish to see and/or ring them then message me.
Hope you enjoy the video, please subscribe for more ringing videos!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Tubular
• Bells
• Call
• Changes
• Belfry
• Riddings
• Ridings
• St
• James
• Derby
• Derbys
• Derbyshire
• Church
• Bell
• Ringing
• Bellringing
• Campanology

[teabag1231]

haha, the person at 1:54 looks like a complete gimp...

[8spliced]

@teabag1231 Oi! That's me concentrating and trying not to fall of the precarious planks in the middle of the bells and not get tied up in the wires! :-O

[purplegoffer]

never seen tubular bells before, what a surprise. not much good for an outing though, or is there standing room both side of the ringing framed?

thanks for the video. bumps to the head, occupational hazard really!

[8spliced]

@purplegoffer There's a little room in the ringing chamber, for about half a dozen people, but not much. But if a large group were to ring there (and a sizeable group has once before) then the main church is open and they can be clearly heard in there. So it is feasible for an outing!

[corporalcactus]

Nice one Rich. Practice nights must be very lonely.

[8spliced]

@corporalcactus lol!

[SDfreakazoid]

how's you're hearing??????

[teabag1231]

@8spliced I know :P

[KDowner94]

very good. Ive never seen tubular bells before. I thought that the hammers hit the bells in the middle of the bell not at the top. Thanks!

[LaurieAlex]

Excellent video clip, thanks Rich for sharing this, it is a really good look at the Tubular Bells, and thanks for the demo, they sound great, all your notes are natural, no sharps or flats.