English bells and tuning.

In my continuing research to understand Harrison's writings about bell design and manufacturing, last week I tracked down and videoed a set of church bells in Great Coates, near Grimsby Lincolnshire. I beam in the belfry is inscribed "James Harrison 1759".

It seems that this James was the brother of John "Longitude", and these bells were hung about 15 years before Harrison's final manuscript on the manufacturing methods for bells was written.

On Saturday I went to an interesting event in Newbury England, to learn more about the manufacturing and tuning of traditional church bells.

http://www.ringingroadshow2005.org.uk/

There are now two main bell foundries remaining in England;

http://www.whitechapelbellfoundry.co.uk/
http://www.taylorbells.co.uk/

I also met Nigel Taylor from Whitechapel, who seems to be the main UK authority on their tuning.
His site explains how he thinks about tuning and gives some insights into the tuning methods he uses.

http://www.kirnberger.fsnet.co.uk/

I hope to learn more by meeting with representatives from both foundries to explore the details of Harrison's last manuscript, and discover more about what his instructions may mean.

Charles Lucy - lucy@harmonics.com
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