DOCSLIB.ORG

1970-6Lcm.Pdf

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
1970-6Lcm.Pdf of the CAMDEN HISTORY SOCIETY MAY 1970 The Society begins Vane House goes This is the first Newsletter of the Vane House, in Rosslyn Hill, has been Camden History Society and lists the under sentence for some time and now Mr initial activities to be arranged. A crash Anthony Greenwood has confirmed that course is planned for members who want there will be no reprieve. to know the basic history of the three parts of Camden. Research projects The house, better known as the Soldiers' are beginning and publications are being Daughters' Home, is not an .architectural talked about. gem, with .recent additions hiding what grace it had. The preservationist argu- There is no limit to the field of re- ment has, therefore, been rather weak search - very little has been done in a on this ground. This would apply, though, hundred years. The Victorian period, to a number of buildings which ought not for example, has left a great deal of to disappear. What the preservationists material, little of which has been class- have in mind is that environmental reasons ified and documented. The development should have more weight. If a street or of local government, health and education a building is pleasant, but without high improvements, transport and housing architectural merit, should it be saved, progress are all uncharted, just to name all other considerations equal? a .few of the more obvious areas. Vane House was built by Sir Henry Vane The metropolis sometimes makes in the 17th Century. He had been a Gov- people yearn for the rural life of, say, ernor of Massachusetts at the age of 23 'St. Pancras-in-the-Fields', but the qual- and entered Parliament in 1640. He was a ity of life then, even at first acquaintance leading member of the Commonwealth but in research, is a sobering discovery. refused to take part in the trial of Charles The 'highways and byways' mentality is I. After a breach with Cromwell he was all very well but what about the residents? imprisoned but this did not save him from What was their Utopia? To find that out being tried for high treason after the Res - is one of our aims. toration. He was executed on Tower Hill - The Society has set off well with a good Pepys has described this. membership total which could easily be An 18th Century resident was Dr Joseph doubled. The basis of any expansion, Butler, Bishop of Durham, who had a however, should be the activity of present great liking for stained glass. An occupier members and we hope that many will take in the 19th Century was Charles Pilgrim part in the various projects. who gave his name to the lane opposite. A slip is enclosed with this Newsletter for you to return. It is intended to give your officers an indication of the likely response to our first activities although St Pancras Anniversaries firm details and date.s are sometimes missing. It is possible that the crash 1970 course might be over-subscribed as There are a number of anniversaries accommodation is limited, but this is this year in Camden. This first list is something that can easily be repeated. from St. Pancras only. Hampstead and It would assist us, however, if you could Holborn events will appear in future edi- return the slip in the near future. tions. DEATH OF GEORGE WHITEFIELD social history of Camden. This subject, of course, covers a very wide range of Two hundred years ago George White .... activity and we have therefore asked Mr field died. He left his name to Whitefield's Leslie Newman, who teaches local his- Tabernacle in Tottenham Court Road and tory, to organise research projects under to Whitfield Street at the back. this heading. He had a busy, religious life and is said The subject covers treatment of the to have preached over 18, 000 sermons. poor, health, education, customs, commu- Banned from speaking in most churches nication, and the relationship between the he led the vogue for preaching in the open classes. Some of these items could well air. He was an Evangelist, classified as mean long-term research and it is the a Calvinist Methodist, and an early asso- intention to select fields in which findings ciate of the Wesleys. Despite a breach could be produced fairly quickly so as to with John Wesley they had an arrangement give members experience in completing that whoever should outlive the other would a project for discussion by the Society. preach the sermon at the funeral. In fact These findings would, of course, be el- Whitefield was buried in Boston, New igible for publication by the Society. England, and Wesley made his sermon in Tottenham Court Road. The entire chapel was draped in black for six weeks. Transport Project to start HOPE CHAPEL The Society is to set up a Research Pro- In Prince of Wales Road, near the Poly- ject into Transportation in the Borough. technic, is Hope Chapel. It opened there Mr Charles Lee, an expert on London in 1870 with seating for 200. It began in Transport has kindly agreed to give gen- Hatton Garden in 183 7, moved later to a eral guidance to the Project, and mem- site now covered by St. Pancras Station, bers who are interested are invited to fill went north to Camden Town and eventually in the enclosed form. bought the freehold of their present build- ing. CHALK FARM BAPTISTS 1000 Photographs to The foundation stone of Chalk Farm Catalogue Baptist Church was laid in the same year. When, in 1957, the Church was being re- The Borough Librarian has, in the local constructed, a bottle was discovered history collection, nearly 1000 old photo- underneath the stone, containing a copy of graphs of parts of Camden. These have the Camden and Kentish Towns' Gazette, never been catalogued. The Society has a forerunner of the North London Press. been asked if its members would help in this under the supervision of Mrs Gee, TRAMCARS the Borough Archivist. If you would like to help in this fascinating work, please The year 1870 saw the Parliamentary c0ntact the Secretary. sanction for laying tramways in St. Pan- cras. An article by Mr Charles Lee on the early implementation of tramways in Camden, will appear in a future News- Oldest Ratepayers in letter. St Pancras One of the members who attended the first meeting of the Society was Mr Basil Leverton, a partner in the firm of funeral Social History projects directors Leverton and Sons. They have been in business in St. Pancras since 1789 An analysis of the interests stated by and were then in the area off Hampstead members who completed application forms Road opposite Tolmers Square which was shows a large number interested in the then a reservoir. In 1834 the firm moved to Whitfield Street {then called Hertford New building for Hearts Street) and in 1889 transferred to Ever- sholt Street where the Post Office now of Oak stands. The bronze coloured tower block in Euston Road is the new headquarters of the Hearts of Oak Benefit Society. It was opened by the Queen Mother on April 16th. The Society began in 1842 when twelve NOTE'S AND QUERIES men, dissatisfied with the administration of another Provident Society, met at the Members will sometimes have local his - Bird in Hand tavern in Long Acre. John tory queries which other members may be Hadley was the first Chairman and the able to solve. You are therefore invited landlord of the tavern was treasurer. By to write to the Newsletter with your quest.,. 1863, with over 5000 members, they were ions or else with any other information still using the facilities of the Bird in you think might be of interest to readers. Hand, but then moved to Greek Street in Please address your letters to the Sec- Soho. More expansion in 1875 made them retary. move to Charlotte Street in Camden and in 1906 to Euston Road. Q 1: In his Camden Festival lecture on the Bedford Theatre, Geoffrey SIR JOHN WOLFENDEN Fletcher asked the audience whether anyone knew the name of the archi- becomes President tect. Called the New Bedford Sir John Wolfenden, C.B.E., Director Theatre it was built in the 1890' s and Principal Librarian of the British and the plans of the building have Museum has agreed to be the Society's disappeared. first President. Q 2: Where is the exact site of the orig- Also, Sir John Betjeman,. Sir Colin inal workhouse in the Frognal area? Anderson, Chairman of the Fine Art Commission, and Sir James Brown, Pres- Q 3: What is the derivation of Traitors ident of the Highgate Literary and Scien- Hill on part of the Holly Lodge tific Institution, have all accepted our estate? Miller, in his St. Pancra$ invitation to become Vice-Presidents. Past and Present, erroneously gives Parliament Hill as being called The Society also recommended that the Traitors Hill, but the 1796 survey Mayor of Camden, in office, should be map of St. Pancras shows plainly asked to become Patron of the Society. that is where the Holly Lodge flats Dame Florence Cayford, last year's are at the moment. Miller surmises Mayor, accepted our invitation. that the name arose when some Gun- powder Plot conspirators went there Plaque to Dickens House to watch the Houses of Parliament explode. However, the first refe - As part of the Dickens celebrations this rence found to Traitors Hill is not year the Dickens Fellowship in Doughty until 1691 in the Cantelowes Court Street received two plaques in April, both Rolls.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • London Borough of Camden Structure Chart Down to Divisional Level (All Charts Are As of 27 March 2017)
    th London Borough of Camden Structure Chart down to Divisional Level (all charts are as of 27 March 2017) London Borough of Camden Supporting Corporate Services Supporting People Communities Communications Community Services Adult Social Care Service Children's Customer Services Development Safeguarding and Social Work Finance and Early Intervention High Speed II Procurement and Prevention Education Housing Human Resources (Achievement and Management Aspiration) Housing Support ICT Shared Service Place Management Services Property Strategic and Joint Law and Governance Management Commissioning North London Waste Regeneration and Authority Planning Strategy and Change Corporate Services Structure Chart down to Organisation Level (Chart 1 of 2) Corporate Services (Chart 1 of 2) Communications Service Customer Services (395) Finance and Procurement Human Resources (72) (36) (101) Communications Benefits (51) Benefits (48) Change Team (4) Human Resources – AD Financial Management Service Team (26) Workflow and Scanning (3) Finance Support Team (17) & Strategic Leads (6) and Accountancy (25) Financial Management and Accountancy (1) Financial Reporting (3) Creative Service (5) Administration and Reception (15) Human Resources - Ceremonies and Citizenship Business Advisors (17) Contact Camden (3) Anti-Fraud and Investigations Team (3) Customer Insight and Improvement (11) Internal Audit and Risk Internal Audit and Risk (11) Contact Camden (210) (9) Internal AUDIT Team (4) Print Service (3) Customer Service Team (72) Human Resources – Digital
    [Show full text]
  • Bloomsbury Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Strategy
    Bloomsbury Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Strategy Adopted 18 April 2011 i) CONTENTS PART 1: CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 0 Purpose of the Appraisal ............................................................................................................ 2 Designation................................................................................................................................. 3 2.0 PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT ................................................................................................ 4 3.0 SUMMARY OF SPECIAL INTEREST........................................................................................ 5 Context and Evolution................................................................................................................ 5 Spatial Character and Views ...................................................................................................... 6 Building Typology and Form....................................................................................................... 8 Prevalent and Traditional Building Materials ............................................................................ 10 Characteristic Details................................................................................................................ 10 Landscape and Public Realm..................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Of the CAMDEN HISTORY SOCIETY No 197 May 2003 the Archaeology
    No 195 of the CAMDEN HISTORY SOCIETY Jan 2003 the Institution Cottage, Swains Lane, tucked behind Lighting up Camden the Highgate Literary & Scientific Institution, still Thurs. 16 January, 7.30pm sporting a ceiling gas lamp. Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church (in the Church itself) As it happens, two of the old component parts of 235 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2 Camden were at the forefront of municipal supply of (Bottom end of Gower Street) electricity - both were vestries which had been very dissatisfied with the operations of the various private We now take lighting, public and domestic, for granted. gas companies. Enabled by Act of Parliament to set up It is difficult to imagine our streets at night lit only by their own generating stations, St Pancras was the first oil or gas lamps and without the aid of shop window in the London field, obtaining an Electric Lighting illumination and the generally brighter night sky that Order in 1883, and Hampstead was not far behind. we have today in London. Electricity transformed our The first experiments by St Pancras consisted of arc neighbourhoods and made them safer, but the enor- lights placed centrally along the centre of Tottenham mity of the task may be imagined. Court Road, and a large stretch of Euston Road. Electricity also made a vast difference in lighting at The story of the development of electrical supply in home, where gas or oil supplies were supplemented Camden is the subject of our January talk, to be given by candles. A visit to Sir John Soane's Museum on by Dr Brian Bowers.
    [Show full text]
  • Local Kamen House Mini Guide
    LOCAL KAMEN HOUSE MINI GUIDE Kamen House Situated on Farringdon Road in the Bloomsbury area, the apartments are close to St Paul’s Cathedral and the financial district. The apartments have superb links to the legal and academic areas of London and are a 15-minute walk to the British Museum. Nearby Underground stations are Farringdon and Chancery Lane, which are both a five-minute walk away. CONTENTS Useful Places .. ........................................................3 More Useful Places .............................................. Medical Services .................................................... 5 Shopping ............................................................... 6 Health & Fitness .................................................... 7 Entertainment ...................................................... 8 Transport Links ..................................................... 9 Useful Places 3 Banks Police Station Halifax Holborn Unit 3 Mid City Place 58-71 High Holborn 10 Lamb’s Conduit St, London WC1N 3NR Place, WC1V 6EA http://content.met.police.uk/PoliceStation/ http://www.halifax.co.uk/ holborn HSBC Bank plc Which number do I dial? 31 Holborn, London EC1N 2HR 999—Police, Ambulance, Fire Brigade https://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/ 101—for non-emergency calls Santander 10 a Leather Lane, London EC1N 7YH http://www.santander.co.uk/uk/index Post Offices Kilburn Post Office 39 - 41 Farringdon Rd, London EC1M 3JB http://www.postoffice.co.uk/ More Useful Places 4 Libraries Places of Worship We can issue you with a library letter which Kings Cross Mosque and Islamic cultural will allow you access into public libraries. centre Closest library to Monticello House (our Sandfield, 8 Cromer St, London WC1H 8DU Study Centre) is Holborn Library 32-38 Theobalds, Road London WC1X 8PA Sandys Row Synagogue 4a Sandy’s Row, London E1 7HW We have a full list of libraries should you require another location.
    [Show full text]
  • Reference Name/Description Address Ward CIL Funding Total Date
    CIL Funding Reference Name/Description Address Ward Date Agreed Total Belsize Terrace, adjacent to/junction with no. 41a LCIL011 Belsize RA Notice Board Belsize £725.15 10/05/2017 Belsize Lane NW3 5AU 1. Belsize Village, Belsize Lane and 2. Belsize LCIL057 Belsize Community Safety (CCTV) Belsize £92,000.00 11/04/2018 Park Gardens/ Englands Lane Belsize and Swiss Cottage Market Area: Swiss Belsize and Swiss Cottage Air LCIL056BE Cottage Farmers Market, Adamson Road, Eton Belsize £2,510.00 25/05/2018 Quality Monitoring Avenue, Winchester Road Wac Arts, The Old Town Hall, 213 Haverstock LCIL120 Inside Out Wac Arts Belsize £25,000.00 08/08/2019 Hill, London NW3 4QP LCIL137 NW3 School Run Belsize £1,035.00 17/10/2019 Belsize Community Library Chairs Belsize Community Library, Antrim Road London LCIL058 Belsize £7,528.80 14/11/2019 and Extractor Fan NW3 4XN Restoration at Belsize Community Belsize Community Library, 8 Antrim Grove, LCIL106 Belsize £12,840.00 12/12/2019 Library Belsize Park, London NW3 4XN CIL Funding Reference Name/Description Address Ward Date Agreed Total LCIL226BL Belsize Streatery Belsize Village, NW3 Belsize £18,636.62 03/07/2020 Belsize Community Library COVID- Belsize Community Library, Antrim Grove, LCIL248 Belsize £23,674.00 05/11/2020 19 Support Belsize Park, London NW3 4XP Gays the Word LCIL105 Gays the Word Video 86 Marchmont Street Bloomsbury £54.51 31/05/2019 Bloomsbury 33 Conway Street 14 Goodge Place 27 Tottenham Street 19-21 Ridgemount Street 3 Huntley Street (new lamp column) LCIL110BL EV Charge Points Bloomsbury Bloomsbury £20,584.00 25/07/2019 Endsleigh street, east side, junction with Tavistock square.
    [Show full text]
  • September 2009
    CONTENTS Page Notices 2 Articles 4 Books and Publications 7 Conferences and Courses 8 Lectures and Events 10 Exhibitions and Galleries 13 Local Society Meetings 14 NOTICES Newsletter : Copy Dates The copy deadline for the following issue of the Newsletter is 15 November 2009 (for the January 2010 issue). Please send any items for inclusion to Meriel Jeater at Museum of London, London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN, or you can email me at [email protected] **************** LAMAS Lecture Programme 2009 All meetings take place at the Museum of London on Tuesday evenings at 6.30pm – refreshments from 6pm. Meetings are open to all; members may bring guests, and non-members are welcome. 13 October 2009 River and Environment in the Neolithic and Bronze Ages , Jane Sidell, Inspector of Ancient Monuments London, English Heritage (joint lecture with London Natural History Society) 10 November 2009 Early Roman Quarrying and Building Stone Use in London and South-East England , Dr Kevin Hayward, Research Fellow at the University of Reading and finds specialist, Pre-Construct Archaeology 8 December 2009 Rebels and Infidels at the City’s Village Hall: the Radical Collections at Bishopsgate Library , Stefan Dickers, Library Special Collections Manager, Bishopsgate Institute, London Stefan Dickers is the Bishopsgate Library Special Collections Manager and looks after its extensive special collections on London, labour history, free thought, humanism and co-operation. He is also secretary of the Archives and Resources Committee of the Society for the Study of Labour History and sits on the committees of the Socialist History Society and the oral history consortium Britain at Work, 1945-1995.
    [Show full text]
  • Performance Changes Caused by Increases in Camden Libraries’ Opening Hours
    PERFORMANCE CHANGES CAUSED BY INCREASES IN CAMDEN LIBRARIES’ OPENING HOURS In January 2009, Camden Council increased the opening hours of its public libraries. However, it did not increase the opening hours by a constant number or a constant proportion, but by a method which favoured bigger libraries. CPLUG had argued strenuously against this, but to no avail. CPLUG’s Concerns The suggested reason for increasing Camden’s library opening hours was that it would enable more people to visit the libraries. CPLUG did not disagree with this assumption and attempted to ensure that the available resources were allocated where they would do the most good, rather than where was most bureaucratically convenient. This “value for money” argument went unheeded. One of CPLUG’s major concerns was the effect that a large allocation of resources to the Swiss Cottage Library (library no. 3 in map below) would have on the surrounding smaller libraries. In the recent past, this library has benefited when other libraries have not. Thus, the public increasingly has tended to use Swiss Cottage in place of the local libraries. It is to be expected that this cannibalisation of the user pool will lead to a continually reinforced downward spiral for the small libraries and is a recipe for eventual library closures - very bad news for those who have difficulty travelling. It is also bad for community cohesion and for the environment. It is tempting to assume that the cost of implementing the opening hours changes is simply proportional to the change in those hours. However, the size of the library has a marked affect on the cost.
    [Show full text]
  • Built a Camden Council Estate
    Your guide to council services Inside: Includes: your pull-out four page newsletter guide to activities for council tenants and leaseholders in Camden this summer 100 YEARS of council housing Handy council contact details Local people Volunteering Sports and fitness Local places Recycling camden.gov.uk | Summer 2019 Proud to care? Find a job that suits you Live in north London and looking for flexible and rewarding work or training in the care sector? Or do you want to develop your skills and career within the care sector? Visit proudtocarenorthlondon.org.uk Website launches 18 June 2019 2 InsideInside Making a difference Somers We make Camden Town Local jobs 3 Contents Cover story 100 years of council housing 5, 13-16, 20-21 Now in Camden News and consultations 6 Housing Four page newsletter 13-16 Regulars How to… 8 Day in the life 9 Recycling 10 Focus on… 12 Housing news 13 Working for Camden 18 Local history 20 The long read 24 Why don’t you... 26 Useful numbers 28 Listings 29 How to get into… 30 My Camden 31 Features We make Camden 17 Your new Mayor 19 West End Project 22 Making a difference 23 Busting jargon 27 Published by Camden Council Distribution from 10 June 2019 Cover image: Vanessa Berberian @CamdenCouncil facebook.com/lbcamden You can request your copy of the Camden camden.gov.uk [email protected] magazine in large print, audio format or in 020 7974 5717 another language by phoning 020 7974 5717. 4 Celebrating 100 Now in Camden years of council housing This issue we’re celebrating the centenary of the Housing and Town Planning Act, passed in 1919, which gave councils the power, and money, to build homes for their residents.
    [Show full text]
  • If You Would Like This Information About Camden Black History Month in Large Print Or Braille, Audiotape Or in Another Language, Please Contact 020 7974 4590
    If you would like this information about Camden Black History Month in large print or braille, audiotape or in another language, please contact 020 7974 4590. 4590 4590 4590 4590 London Borough of Camden Tel: 020 7974 4590 Email: [email protected] www.camden.gov.uk/blackhistorymonth 4590 Published August 2006 4590 Design: www.priceassociates.co.uk BLACK HISTORY MONTH OCTOBER 06 CELEBRATING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF BLACK COMMUNITIES IN CAMDEN most events are free something for everyone www.camden.gov.uk/blackhistorymonth www.camden.gov.uk/blackhistorymonthwww.camden.gov.uk/blackhistorymonth Welcome to Black History Month in Camden 2006 Camden is proud to present a fantastic Black History Month programme for 2006 that celebrates the achievements and history of Black African and Caribbean communities who live and work in the borough. I am delighted that this year’s theme is “the spoken word.” As a linguist myself I place great value on the use and importance of language. The activities this year cover a wide range of different forms including rap, writing, song, film and performing arts. These events involve many local groups and organisations, ranging from the Roundhouse to Nostalgie Ya Mboka, a local Congolese radio station. Although I only became Leader following the local elections in May, I have been a Camden Councillor in West Hampstead for over 12 years and have the pleasure of working with many of the groups and organisations taking part in Black History Month. I am really pleased that the events cover the length and breadth of the borough, as well as catering for many different tastes and interests, and that most are free or low cost.
    [Show full text]
  • Resume Wizard
    Creative Culture: Architecture in London Field Study Semester FALL 2015 Class code CORE-UA 9722002 Instructor Details Dr Alan Powers [email protected] 020 7387 31543 07858521690 Class Details Architecture in London: Field Study Mondays 2.00-5.00 Room tbc. Prerequisites A serious interest in learning about British architecture and the history of London; enthusiasm for the subject, an ability to use one’s eyes and ask questions, combined with a commitment to consult and to read recommended texts, plus a tolerance for wet and cold weather on field trips. Class Description The course will trace the history planning and building in London from the 17th to the 20th centuries, investigating the history of western architecture during this period more broadly, and the social and economic background in Britain that shaped the city. The classroom sessions will involve illustrated lectures, amplified by discussion. The field studies will develop the themes by visiting parts of London that display successive movements in style and social thinking. Small group tutorial sessions will be held in preparation for the essays. Desired A broad understanding of the history of London and of its architecture. Outcomes A greater understanding of the history of British architecture, and of British history, as illuminated by the actual experience of buildings in London. A better ability to see: to use one’s eyes to study and understand buildings, combined with an ability to recognize and interpret architectural styles. Basic knowledge of the literature in the field and its underlying methodologies. Assessment First essay (up to 2,000 words): 30%; second essay (up to 3,000 words) 50%; Components final visual image test 20%.
    [Show full text]
  • Of the CAMDEN HISTORY SOCIETY
    No 147 of the CAMDEN HISTORY SOCIETY Jan 1995 Memoirs of a Coroner Advance Notice Thurs 19 Jan, 7.30pm Please put these dates in your diary: St Pancras Church House, Lancing Street, NWl Thurs 16 March: From Primrose Hill to Euston Road- talks by the researchers of our new publication on this One of the lesser-known buildings of St Pancras is the area of Camden. Coroner's Court tucked away behind St Pancras Gar- Sat 25 March: Walk around St Giles-in-the-Fields con- dens, near Old St Pancras Church and it is here that ducted by Ruth Hayes Douglas Chambers has acted as coroner for a number Thurs 6 April: David Sullivan on The Westminster of years. The coroner is one of the oldest offices in Corridor English law and yet his functions are not fully under- Fri 12 May: Anniversary Dinner stood by the general public, nor are the powers of an Thurs 18 May: Dorian Gerhold on Road Transport inquest. Mr Chambers will be our speaker in January before the Railways to tell us something about his job and to recall some of Thurs 15 Jun: Annual Meeting at Holy Trinity Church, the more interesting cases overwhichhe has presided. Finchley Road Thurs 20 Jul: Christina Gee on John Keats Sat 5 Aug: Outing to Stowe Pre-fire Churches in the City Thurs 21 Sept: Richard Tames on the history of Soho of London Thurs 19 Oct: Helen Lawrence recital of Camden asso- ciated music Thurs 16 Feb, 7.30pm Thurs 16 Nov: Dr Colin Cunningham on Alfred Burgh House, New End Square, NW3 Waterhouse Thurs 7 Dec: John Allen on Erno Goldfinger and Wil- The Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed much of low Road medieval London.
    [Show full text]
  • Bells in and Around Birmingham: a Survey and History
    BELLS IN AND AROUND BIRMINGHAM: A SURVEY AND HISTORY (PART 1: PREFACE, EXPLANATORY NOTES, INTRODUCTION, LOCATIONS A-E) Chris Pickford Version date: 29/09/2020 Preface Not long after I took up ringing in 1966 I began collecting information on the bells in Worcestershire (where I was at boarding school) and Warwickshire (where my parents lived). I date my first ‘serious’ visits to April 1968 since when I have been working intermittently on comprehensive surveys of bells in the two counties. The prospect of tackling a large urban area like Birmingham was always a rather daunting one and for a long time I skirted round it. However, when I took on the role of Bells Adviser to the Birmingham Diocesan Advisory Committee in 1987 I decided to pick up the challenge and during the course of the next couple of years managed to visit nearly every belfry in the area. The work originally led to the creation of a Diocesan Inventory (rather in the format of the present National Bells Register) and the updating of the Council for the Care of Churches’ preservation list for the Diocese. I stepped down as Bells Adviser in 1998 but in 2003-4 - following a return to the Midlands - I did some further survey work and wrote up the entire work in its present form. Since then I have tried to keep it up to date as best I can. I never intended this to be a book - and long ago gave up talking of books to replace Walters’s books on the Church Bells of Warwickshire (1910) Church Bells of Worcestershire (1925-31) - as this sort of study is too specialised (and too detailed in this form) for traditional publication.
    [Show full text]