Local History
Local bell-ringer and manager of the Heritage Lottery Funded project, Dr Elizabeth Foster, established the local history group(LHG) as a way of engaging with the local community and the Richmondshire Museum.
The LHG was drawn from current and former bell-ringers and some unconnected to bellringing, but related to local ringers from the early part of the 20th century. The Museum of Richmondshire, located in the town of Richmond, generously allowed the LGH to meet on its premises, which provided an appropriate environment for study and reflection about bell ringing and the bells of St Mary's through the ages.
Ringing World Articles
The project team have published three articles in the widely circulated weekly magazine of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringing. This is read by ringers in all countries where the English art of change bell ringing is practised. This includes the Channel Islands, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, the USA, Canada, Zimbabwe, Belgium, Singapore and Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Planning and delivering the project
Chris Pickford FSA Survey
We commissioned Chris Pickford FSA, sometime archivist of Bedfordshire and recognised national expert in Bell Frames, to survey our tower and frame and to produce drawings and a description of the old frame before removal.
Chris's report is shown below along with the drawings and photographs he put together during the survey.
