The Ellacombe Chiming Apparatus

I have occasionally mentioned these devices but what were they, how were they used and who invented them? Well, they comprised a set of cords and pulleys connected to auxiliary hammers which allowed one person to chime (not ring) all bells in a church tower. Invented in 1821 they were the brainchild of Reverend H T Ellacombe, 1790 to 1885, Rector of Bitton, Gloucs from 1817 to 1850. A very devout man the behaviour of the ringers in Bitton Tower appalled his theological beliefs and feelings. He tells us, "they were considered respectable honest men in their way" but then continues; "practices in a country belfry had better be passed over in silence for such things I have seen and heard would hardly be tolerated in a village alehouse. A more drunken set of fellows could not be found." He goes on to recount how the ringers tended to hang about in the churchyard during the service and then ring "a merry peal" afterwards. Oh dear!

Closer to home James R Jerram in the late 1800's installed Ellacombes at Fleet, Long Sutton, *Newton-in-the-Isle and Tydd St Mary. Those at Fleet and Long Sutton have long gone, but that at Newton is intact while at Tydd, a dismantled clavier remains in the ringing room, though whether this is the original I'm not sure. Of interest, the Tydd installation (I believe around 1875 or thereabouts) was put there because their ringers were in the habit of "taking beer into the ringing room and the Rector rightly objected" - or so we are informed by North in his 1882 "Bells of Lincolnshire."

I only heard one Ellacombe expertly used and this was at St John-the-Divine, Leicester, shown on the accompanying photograph. In my youth Sidney Harrison was Tower Captain at St Johns and he was a master on the Ellacombe, chiming a variety of tunes, both hymns and secular, all without music and completely by ear, never any mistakes. Occasionally after Wednesday evening practice he would give us a short recital, always most enjoyable and entertaining. The Easter hymn "Christ Our Lord is risen today", I particularly recall, Sidney's arms and elbows working away at the clavier, St Johns bells singing out above, melody with accompanying chords. Those days have gone as St Johns is now a block of flats and its bells transferred to Peterborough Cathedral where a few years ago I had the pleasure of once more ringing them. As for Rev Ellacombe, I quote a few lines from his 1849 publication, - "Advice for Ringers." He says, "Eyes Open, Eyes Wide, Feet Steady, Tongue Tied" Good advice fellow ringers? I will leave that to your individual opinions

* Not strictly an Ellacombe but rather, I think, of French design but installed by Jerram

John Bennett