Secrets from the Ringing chamber....
The Nine Tailors
When our web site first went live in May 2000 we received an e-mail from Florida USA which commented that with "one more bell " we could have "The Nine Tailors". - Not being familiar with the secret world of the ringing chamber I asked Jeanne our tower captain what this meant.
Apparently the Nine Tailors were the bells rung to announce the death of someone in the village. Nine bells* were rung for a man, Six for a woman and three for a child. This was followed by one stroke for every year of the person's life. The villagers would then know who had died - the word Tailor was originally Teller. The title The Nine Tailors was used for a book by Dorothy L. Sayers.
Old Cleeve, not to be out done by its lack of a ninth bell modified the above scheme to three bells, two bells and one bell; for men, women and children respectively and kept up the tradition fervently until the second world war when the bells were silenced, only to be used to announce an invasion. After the war the tradition has been revived for a limited number of "special" deaths - the last being that of Lucy Nuttall . Jeanne the tower captain has booked hers already, and says anyone who would like their passing marked in this way is welcome to contact her (ante, rather than post mortem - I imagine would be preferred!). She also adds that it is better to die on an even number of years please - otherwise the tenor bell gets stuck half way.
*Post Script: Another e-mail received from Alan Taylor in the UK says in fact few places, barring some cathedrals in earlier centuries, would have had nine bells, so it was often one bell rung nine times.
The Bells of Old Cleeve
Perhaps it is better known that bells often have names or dedications - the bells of Old Cleeve have the following:-
Treble bell: Diameter 26": 4cwt. note F
TAYLOR LOUGHBORO MCMXXIV (1924)
PAROCHIA DEDIT DONO (The parish gave the gifts)
A C Harman Rector. GS Lysaght TS Gooding Churchwardens
2nd Bell: Diam. 27.5" 4.5cwt note E
As above but with the title DEDIT DONO (Gave the gifts)
3rd Bell: Diam. 29.25" 5.5cwt note D
J.Taylor & Co. Founders Loughborough 1884
SURSUM CORDA (Lift up your hearts)
4th Bell: Diam. 32" 6.5cwt note C
As above but with the title LAUDA ANIMA MEA DOMINUM (Praise the Lord, O my Soul)
5th Bell: Diam.35.25" 7.5cwt note Bb
As above but with VIGILATE ET ORATE (Watch and Pray)
6th Bell: Diam. 36.75" 8.75cwt note A
As above with GAUDETE IN DOMINO (Rejoice in the Lord)
7th Bell: Diam. 41.5" 13.5cwt Note G
As above with IN MEMORIA AETERNA ERIT JUSTUS (The just man will always be remembered)
Tenor Bell: Diam. 46.5" 19cwt Note F
As above with IN HONOREM DEI OPT. MAX. ET IN MEMORIAM MATRIS PIETISSIMAE HANCE CAMPANAM CUM V ALIIS ECCLESIAE BEATI ANDREAE P.C.C. FILIAE MAERENTES ANNA ET SUSANNA A.D. MDCCCLXXXIV DIGNUS ES DOMINIE QUI GLORIAM ACCIPIAS Rev:IV.V.II
(In honour of the best and greatest God. In memory of their most dutiful(devout) mother her grieving daughters Anna and Susanna saw to the provision of this bell with five others, to the church of Blessed Andrew. AD 1884 You are worthy, O Lord, to receive the glory)
Claire Timms 25/05/00