RW October 15, 1982 p856

Good to see interest in tuning.

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Recently I measured the partial tones of the six bells at Badby near here, a pleasant ring by any standard with a fine tenor of 1822 by John Taylor and Co’s predecessors, Taylor and Sons of Oxford and St. Neots. The ring was retuned by J.T. in 1931 when a new treble was added but most people do not find this bell a very good fit. In those days there was none of the present-day  nonsense of saying "Ah! - here we have a ring of old bells so we must of course cast and tune an ‘old-style’ bell to fit in” and then producing a hideous

sounding bell with a true fundamental but an arbitrarily sharpened hum note. So Badby treble is perfectly accurate as to hum, fundamental and nominal (all C sharp minus five cents of a semitone on A = 440 pitch) and the tierce and hum are correctly E -5 c. and G sharp-5c. respectively. However, above the nominal all hell is let loose if you will forgive the expression. The third or “upper tierce” is F - 10c. and the fourth is 1 sharp - 14c. Then there is a sort of  “upper quint” at A sharp-15c. and an un-named partial at C - 46c. The “super nominal” comes out at D -28 c . (very sharp) and then there follow, in close succession, D + 24c, D sharp-21c., E+ 18c., F sharp -33c., G + 24c., G sharp + 14c., A + 36c. and so on. All these upper partials are out of tune (getting worse as they go up!) and are of course highly discordant. I suspect that by the very prominence of some of them they contribute largely to the bell not fitting very happily amongst its neighbours.

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CHRISTOPHER DALTON. [Everdon] Daventry

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From A  History of Badby Church by GHP

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BELLRINGING.    The bells are rung in the full-circle English manner.  The churchwardens’ accounts show payments of 2s..6d to the ringers on each 29th May  (Oak Apple Day; King Charles II’s birthday, marking his restoration in 1660 – a public holiday until 1859)  and 5th November (Failure of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605)  for over 30 years until 1885 and 5s.. 0d  for the Duke of Wellington  on 11th November 1852, the day of his grand state funeral.  This, with the cost of new ropes reported above, indicates a great deal of ringing in the 19th century. 

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Reg Fennell was the ringer who in 1930 instigated the restoration work. The first ringing after the dedication service in 1932 was undertaken by:  Fred Wilford (from Northampton and a very active Master of the Peterborough Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers, established eight years earlier. He rang at St Giles’, Northampton), Mr A Moore (Daventry), Harry Shimmell (Flore), Mr W Hancock (Willoughby), Mr H Blundell (Northampton) and Sydney Foskett (Bedford, who previously lived and rang in Newnham).  The first full peal was rung on 12th June 1932 in 3hrs. 3mins, consisting of 5,040 changes comprising 1 extent Cambridge Surprise, 2 each of Woodbine, Oxford and Kent Treble Bob Minor, by treble George Hancock,  2 Charles W Smith,  3 Henry W Gayton,  4 Cyril Prindiville,  5 Amos Smart (conductor),  tenor Sydney Foskett, after which it was recorded that the “go” & tone was perfect!  There was regular ringing until 1940. 

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After the nationally enforced cessation between June 1940 and April 1943, Stan Ruddlesden helped organise the ringing until he left the village in 1956, during which time many villagers were taught to handle a bell.  In 1962, Eric Bull, by then the tower captain, complained to the Parochial Church Council (PCC) that only two of the thirty bell ringers in the village turned up to ring!  The latest period of regular ringing began in January 1981 after Geoff Pullin was appointed tower captain in November 1980.  Since Easter 1981, the bells have been rung for most Sunday services, weddings and every Wednesday for practice but, by tradition, not in Holy Week.  Over 80 more people have been trained to handle a bell during this period, both from this and surrounding villages, but still the tower captain sometimes struggles to get six ringers! 

HANDBELLS.    The Church owns a set of handbells.  The bells were ordered from John Taylor & Co of Loughborough in 1957 after a series of money raising events using Newnham handbells. A variety concert, consisting of sketches, musical items and a play, was also organised and played in Badby, Newnham and Staverton. It was performed by bellringers and church choristers: Eric Bull, David Richardson, Peter Box, John Homan, Roy Barnett, Pat Tyson, Andrew & Ruth Tyson, Joan Collins, Dorothy Maplethorpe and Mrs Dickinson, who used to keep the Post Office, which then was housed in a cottage, now part of Casanene.

The twelve bells from size 7 to size 18 (note G) were delivered in 1958.  All bear their size number and the founder’s mark JT except number 13 which has MEARS as founder as it was recast in March 1975 after the original bell was broken.  Their current storage place is recorded in the Church Inventory held by a churchwarden.

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Extracts RINGING WORLD p63, 1932: and p79 1932 and p94 1932

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BADBY, NEAR DAVENTRY, NORTHANTS.-The Rt. Rev. Bishop Lang will dedicate the peal, restored and augmented to six bells by Taylors, of Loughborough, on Sunday, Feb. 7th, at 2.30 p.m.  

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Ringing World 1932 page 123
 

RE-DEDICATION OF BELLS AT BADBY.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE RING AUGMENTED.

The dedication of a new treble, and the re-dedication of the old five bells, with an entirely new frame and fittings, at Badby Church, took place on Sunday, February 7th, the ceremony being performed by Bishop Lang, Assistant Bishop of the diocese, There was a crowded congregation, and, despite the addition of chairs, many had to stand. The service was conducted by the Vicar, the Rev, H . R. A. Cornish, and the address was given by Bishop Lang, D.D. The bells were rung during the service by Messrs. F. Wilford, A, Moore, H Shimmell, F. Hancock, H. Blundell and S. Foskett. The bells are a fine .peal of six, and some very good touches were rung on them after service and during the evening after tea. Visiting ringers were present from Banbury, C. Clarke and others from Bedford, C. H. Webb from Croft, and Mr: J. P. Fidler, of the firm of Messrs. Taylor and Co., Loughborough. The whole of the work is of the highest order, and the ‘go' of the bells reflects very great credit on the Loughborough firm, who have carried out the restoration work.

Tea was provided for the visitors in the Parish Room.

The 2nd, 3rd and 5th bells of the peal were cast by Hugh Watts, of the Leicester Foundry. The inscriptions are as follows:-

1.-For the Glory and Service of God. Given in Thankful Memory of Ellen and Farrer, the Widow and Son of Major Sam Pallin, 1931

2.-Celorvm Cum Chrste Platiat Tibi Rex Sonvs Iste, 1623.

3.-IHS : Nazarenvs Rex : Ivdeorvm Fili : Dei Miserere : Mei, 1623.

4.-Samuell Goodman, John Kibbell, Churchwardens. Matthew  Bagley made mee, 1754.

5.-Rychard Hyne, Vickar of Badby, gave this Bell, 1623.

6.-Taylor & Sons, Founders, Oxford and St, Neots, Augt. 22,1822.

The approximate weight of the tenor is 14 cwt. The treble bears the shield of Messrs. Taylor and Co. 

NB. A full report of the Bishop's sermon at the re-dedication service was published in the Rugby Advertiser Feb 12, 1932 p15

RW 1943 p531
PETERBOROUGH DIOCESAN GUILD.—Daventry Branch.—Meeting at Badby (6), Saturday, Dec. 11th. Bring-food.—W . C. Moore, 5, Williams Terrace, Daventry,  Northants.

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RW 1944 p478
PETERBOROUGH DIOCESAN GUILD.—Daventry Branch.—Meeting at Badby (6 bells), Saturday, Nov. 18th. Usual arrangements. — W . C. Moore, 5, William’s Terrace, Daventry, Northants.

Stan Ruddlesden - former villager

Stan lived from 1949 till 1963 at East View, Brookside Lane. (aged 25 - 39) He refers to the house as Hilda’s house. [His wife was Hilda -buried in the cemetery here- and they lived with her father until moving to Northampton]  His daughter Shirley (now McGill, a ringer at Croydon) was born in Badby and was 3  when they left the village.  Stan was unofficial tower captain and is referred to in PCC minutes  for advice about bells and ropes.  During his time in the village, many villagers were taught to ring. [His son is Ian and grandson Ted]

Info from PDG Annual Reports - members and "comments" in branch report

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• 1949 - 1st post war report of members at Badby: R Barnett†, R Bell, F Fields, A Simmonds, D Bassett, J Fevers, E N Hammond, R Harmer.

• 1950  R Barnett†, R Bell, F Fields (Rep) , A Simmonds, D Bassett, J Fevers, E N Hammond*, R Harmer, S Ruddlesdon (sic).

• 1951  R Fields (Rep), G Timms, E Bull, S Ruddlesdon, N Jordan.

• 1952  R Fields (Rep), G Timms, E Bull, S Ruddlesdon, N Jordan.

• 1953  E Bull, N Jordan, G Timms, A Simmonds, S Ruddlesdon.

• 1954  E Bull, N Jordan, G Timms, A Simmonds, S Ruddlesdon.

• 1955 Nil (NB Stan Ruddlesden does not appear as a member at Kingsthorpe until 1956)

• 1956  Miss P Tyson, E Bull

• 1957  Miss P Tyson, E Bull (Rep),  P Box (who additionally appears as member and (R) for Newnham!)

• 1958  Miss P Tyson,  E Bull,  P Box (R) (as above)  Miss S Yates.

• 1959 Miss P Tyson,  E Bull,  Miss S Yates

• 1960  E Bull  (“At Badby, because of impending tower repairs, service ringing only is permitted”   Br Sec report)

• 1961  E Bull   (“Badby,  unsafe masonry”)

• 1962  E Bull

• 1963  Nil    (“Still not able to visit Badby for a meeting”)

• 1965   (“13 meetings held, one of which was an evening meeting at Badby, the first meeting to be held there for 11 years, the lapse being due in the main to tower repairs.”)

† Roy Barnett MBE (d: 29/11/14 aged 93) was in later years an elder of  Badby United Reformed Church.  His MBE marked his setting up in 1986 of the Mite Scheme with UNICEF to save children's lives in the third world. He told Richard Piner and me during 2014 that he was a ringer - a fact that was new to us!

RW 1977 p607

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N. American Guild

The Rick Dirksen’s Tourists

Rick tells us:—

Since Winchester, our trip has progressed quite smoothly. On Monday we joined Frank Price and rang towers near Bristol including Christ Church Bristol, where the girls watched — in awe — a course of Clyde Surprise Royal, before concluding the day with a birthday dinner for one of our number. Tuesday . . . John and Beryl Baldwin led us on a tour of the vales and moors of southern Wales, including another half dozen towers and a lovely tea at the Baldwin’s home. At Ebbw Vale we were joined by Jack Alsop who had visited Washington in the summer of 1970. Wednesday morning was spent at a Swindon Launderette restoring our suitcases to civilized condition. We then proceeded to the vicinity of Oxford where Harry Badger and Marie Cross introduced us to some new towers. On Thursday our old friends from Washington, Geoff and Linda Bagly, assisted by George Morris, showed us the beautiful northern region as well as the best of British home cooking. We grabbed eight towers this day, including Arthur Jopp’s remarkable 10. On Friday , we had the great privilege of spending the morning with Peter Minchen and wife, watching the making of a bell rope, and receiving invaluable instruction in the art of rope-splicing. From there we proceeded to tour Warwick Castle and Coventry Cathedral, arriving for the evening at the Youth Hostel in Badby, Northamptonshire, where, with the assistance of Richard Waddy and Pat Chapman , we were enabled to ring the Daventry 10 and the six at Badby.

Now we’re off to Leicester et al.

RICK DIRKSEN

and later at RW 1977 p1118:

Friday was designed as a kind of "rest" day, with only visits to Warwick Castle and Coventry Cathedral on the itinerary. With Lynda Bagley’s assistance, however, we were treated to a visit with Peter Minchin where we learned all about rope-making, splicing and many other things. That evening. Richard Waddy had arranged for us to ring at Daventry Priory, and with Pat Chapman's assistance, we also managed to get a ring at St. Mary's, Badby, just a stone's throw from the most primitive hostel of our trip.

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RW 1971: This advert appeared about 26 times:

TOWER CLOCKS converted to ELECTRIC DRIVE      No more winding—discard ropes and weights. AUTOMATIC CHIMING

Consult:— HARTSHORN of DAVENTRY Ltd.  BADBY, DAVENTRY, NORTHANTS.  Telephone: Daventry 2156.      341

Most Major methods by Guild. THE NEW METHODS. ALL GROUP B.

Badby: — 38— 14— 58.12.36.14— 14.38— 56— 78

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