the central council of church bell ringers

Library Committee Online Publications

The Library Committee makes available below various publications of interest to ringing historians and collectors of ringing books. Copyright of the images is held by the CCCBR but they may be downloaded for personal use.

Clicking on a reference will open the image file in a new browser window or tab.

The committee would welcome comments on what is available and possible future developments.

Online Publications | Campanology | The Bellringer | Friends Essays | Top

Campanology (16 September 1896 - 10 March 1897)

The first paper solely devoted to ringing was The Bell News and Ringer's Record (usually called Bell News), which appeared between February 1881 and 25 December 1915. This had two short-lived rivals, the first of which was entitled Campanology. The proprietor and editor was William Bedwell and the office was at 221 High Street, Lewisham. Essentially the same as Bell News, it was laid out more as a magazine. In the introductory remarks in the first issue of 16 September 1896 it was stated that "...the necessity of a bright and cheerful journal ... has for years past been plainly manifest". In the pages of Bell News there was no mention of its competitor, but it is evident that this new venture affected its circulation, for a new advertising flyer for Bell News was issued. This is undated, but from internal evidence it dates from February 1897 or soon after, and presumably was issued before the demise of Campanology, the 26th and last issue of which appeared on 10 March 1897. It had paid the penalty of being too similar to Bell News. (John Eisel, September 2000)

The Library Committee is grateful for the permission to use the comprehensive index compiled by the late Cyril Wratten which lists, amongst other subjects, every ringer who rang a peal and every tower mentioned in ringing performances in the journal.

Campanology is also available on CD in one searchable pdf file.

Online Publications | Campanology | The Bellringer | Friends Essays | Top

The Bellringer (5 January 1907 - 1 June 1907)

The threat of a rival journal changed nothing in the format and content of Bell News, and another attempt was made to start an alternative ringers' paper ten years after Campanology. A circular was sent out late in 1906 and the first issue of The Bellringer appeared on 5 January 1907, costing 1d (½p). The editor was William C Hunt, and a major contributor was William Willson of Leicester, who wrote under the pen-name 'Jingle' and who had previously contributed a regular column to Bell News under the same pen name. The opening editorial, without actually naming Bell News, stated that a paper should be published on time, inferring that Bell News was regularly published late, thus appearing after meetings, notices of which had appeared in its pages. It also said that it stood for progress, and lamented the demise of Campanology from lack of support, through a mistaken sense of sympathy to the old. However, despite its brighter approach The Bellringer evidently also suffered from lack of support. Five weekly issues appeared, and then it was admitted that the money that had been set aside to start the paper was rapidly vanishing. As a result the paper became monthly from 1 March at a cost of 3½d (1½p). The ninth and last issue was dated 1 June 1907 and on the front was an apology for its late appearance. It was announced that it would recommence as a weekly paper on 29 June at a cost of 2d, but no more issues appeared and thus it went the way of Campanology. (John Eisel, September 2000)

As with Campanology, the Library Committee is grateful for the permission to use the index compiled by the late Cyril Wratten.

The Bellringer is also available on CD in one searchable pdf file.

Online Publications | Campanology | The Bellringer | Friends Essays | Top

Friends' Essays

Essays on bibliographical subjects are issued to the Friends annually, together with a newsletter. The essays listed below, all by John Eisel unless otherwise stated, can be viewed online.

1. History of the Central Council Library March 1995
2. Indexes March 1995
   Discusses the various indexes available in the Central Council Library
3. Hubbard's Elements of Campanalogia February 1996
   Identifies all the different editions and variants
4. Troyte's Change Ringing February 1997
   Brings together information on various editions
   Troyte's Change RingingAn update January 1998
   Identifies more variants of the various editions
5. Ringing Periodicals February 1998
   A brief history, including samples of title pages
6. Snowdon's Ropesight February 1999
   The background and editions of this important text
7. Reprints of early ringing books February 2000
   List and discusses all early texts from Tintinnalogia to Shipway's Campanalogia and their reprints
8. The Revd H T Ellacombe and his Campanological Works February 2001
   Discusses when and where his work was published, and the different editions
9. Ramblings of a Collector February 2002
   Shares the experience of 40 years of book collecting
10. Snowdon's Standard Methods in the Art of Change Ringing February 2003
    Discusses the many editions of both the Letterpress and Diagrams
11. Publications of the College of Campanology (William Butler) February 2005
    Publications of an unusual venture in teaching change ringing
12. An Exercise in Printing - Beginners' Grandsire and Beginners' Plain Bob February 2005
    Gives the history of Alex Waddington's little books, republished by the Central Council
13. Andrew James Corrigan and his publications on Surprise methods February 2006
    Discusses the history of Corrigan's ground-breaking publications
14. Large Paper Copies of Standard County Works February 2007
    Discusses the limited numbers of large-paper copies printed, and their significance
15. Collectors of Ringing Books February 2008
    Identifies and discusses a number of prominent collectors of ringing books

Online Publications | Campanology | The Bellringer | Friends Essays | Top