Bells are very often the oldest artefacts in a church building but usually they are hidden from view and most people know very little about them. It is remarkable that the oldest bell in the Diocese of Lincoln has been calling the faithful to church for over 850 years. The first edition and a reprint of this book sold out soon after publication and I have decided to produce a completely new second edition. This will be published by subscription on 28 October 2009 and will cost £45. Although the official date for the submission of subscriptions has now passed I am still able to accept yours if you overlooked this. You may not get your details in the published List of Subscribers but if this is OK with you please The number of pages overall is approximately 445. 795 buildings containing a total of 2522 bells have been visited. Most of these are churches but the bells in 39 schools and 40 other secular buildings have also been recorded. An important addition to this second edition is an appendix of 59 letters from bellfounders and others relating to the bells of Lincoln Cathedral written in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. These culminate in the recasting of Great Tom and make fascinating reading particularly to industrial archaeologists. A chapter is included on the history of bell founding in the county in which archaeological evidence for casting 'on site' is recorded. The major bellfounding industries at Barton on Humber, Lincoln and Stamford have been thoroughly researched and recorded. There is also evidence of bell casting at other places in the county including Market Rasen, Snitterby and Spital in the Street. Brief details of founders of Lincolnshire bells from outside the county have also been included. The recent interest in bell frames has been recognised. The county possesses a number of frames parts of which date back to the sixteenth century and earlier.
A leaflet detailing the contents of the book can be found here
Revised: 12/10/2009 (acah)
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