Bristol Surprise Maximus from Redcliffe

Bristol on the bloody glorious bells of Redcliffe! Ho Ho Ho
Extra Treble 1969 Taylors
1 - 7 1903 Taylors
6b 1951 Taylors
8 1763 Thomas Bilbie
9 Taylors 1903
10 1763 Thomas Bilbie
11 1622 Rodger Purdue
12 Taylors 1903 50-2-21 in B
Brief History:
The earliest record of a ring of bells is from notes made by William Wyrcestre, about 1480, which stated that Redcliffe had six bells with a tenor of 62.2.24. (heavy!!!) Since then various additions and alterations have taken place. William Jeffers recast the fourth in 1572 and in 1622 Roger Purdue recast the tenor to weigh 42.0.27 and the fifth - the later being the present eleventh. The ring was augmented to eight in 1698 when two new bells were cast by Abraham Rudhall. In 1763 Thomas Bilbie recast the middle four bells and in 1823 Thomas Mears augmented the ring to ten. The tenor had been recast at some time since 1622 and weighed 39 cwt. at this point. Mears and Stainbank cast another two trebles to increase the ring to twelve in 1872 and shortly afterwards Taylors rehung the whole peal. This remedial work proved insufficient and at the being of the century Taylors rehung all the bells in a completely new metal frame. At the same time they recast the tenor and eight other bells (1-7 and 9th)
In my opinion, the bells cast by Taylors are just damn good. The extra treble is quite light compared to the treble and is flat.
The Eighth is horrible sounding bell! It is light compared to the ninth and is very flat. However, it does sound much better when rung with back 10 or 12!
The 10th is a lovely bell to ring but as analysis has shown, it too is flat but is unnoticeable. They were considering replacing it but it would be kept in the tower. It is also about 5cwt to light
The 11th is fabulous bell. There is nothing tonally wrong with it. The problem is that it is about 10cwt light and is half the weight of the Tenor!
The flat sixth was not rung so I cant comment!
I would highly recommend to ring here, they are very welcoming and have no objects to anyone of any standards of ringing!

[@simonbellringer]

@lunaticonthegrass111 These have got to be just about the best bells I have ever rung on. They are superb and a must-grab if you ever visit Bristol - though the Cathedral are also an excellent ton 8 :)

[@lunaticonthegrass111]

@simonbellringer I've never done any ringing in Bristol, in fact I think I've only ever been there once. (And that was to look around the university.) I do hope to get a ring here at some point in my life, and probably will. I'd say the best bells I've ever rung on are Howden, ER Yorks. And the best 12, Pier Head in Liverpool.

[@lunaticonthegrass111]

Fab bells! Just a shame about the method issues. (Although I do know that Bristol Max is difficult stuff!)