I started making this collection of bell recordings in 2001 prompted by a "rediscovery" of some St Martin's Guild peal attempts I had on tape, and a good recording of the Towcester band practicing for a striking competition. Using a minidisc recorder and sound-editing software I have continued to add to the collection. Most of the recordings are of peals and are taken from the ringing room, thus what is presented here is much as the band heard it at the time: rope noise, clapper rattle and all. While this is not necessarily the best position from which to record bells, I believe it gives an interesting - and honest - appraisal of the rings of bells in question, from the perspective of the practioners.
All recordings are optimised in mp3 format. File sizes range from 240k
to 400k, the aim being to reproduce a quality sample of around 30 to 50
seconds duration. Download times will vary accordingly.
Please note that all recordings are subject to copyright and may not be
copied or used for any other purpose without expressed permission from
the owners. In the first instance please contact by clicking here.
Michael Wilby, June 2002.
| Tower | Bells | Method | |
 | Abergavenny, Gwent, Priory of St Mary | 10, 25-0-18 in D | Cambridge S Royal |
| Cast by: Taylor 1948 Recording: College Youths Peal © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Ainderby Steeple, N Yorks, The Campanile | 12, 0-0-18 in G | Bristol S Maximus |
| Cast by: Ceramic bells Recording: St James' Guild peal, March 2002 © Robin O Hall | |||
| Amersham, Bucks, St Mary | 12, 19-0-6 in E | Toronto D Maximus |
| Cast by: Taylor 1983/93 Recording: unsuccessful peal attempt © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Appleton, Oxon, The Balscote Ring | 12, 1-2-16 in Bb | Stedman Cinques |
| Cast by: Gillett & Johnston, Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Recording: Oxford Society peal, Jan 2002 © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Birmingham, , Cathedral of St Philip | 12, 31-0-21 in D | Stedman Cinques |
| Cast by: Gillett & Johnston 1937 & 49 Recording: St Martin's Guild peal © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Birmingham, , St Martin | 16, 39-1-19 in C | Bristol S Sixteen |
| Cast by: Whitechapel 1989-91 Recording: St Martins Band © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Birmingham, , St Martin | 16, 39-1-19 in C | Ariel S Maximus (on the back 12) |
| Cast by: Whitechapel 1989-91 Recording: St Martins Band © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Birmingham, , St Paul | 10, 12-2-13 in F# | Stedman Caters |
| Cast by: Taylor 2005 Recording: The first peal on the bells - Nov 25th 2005, St Martin's Guild © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Bristol, , St Stephen | 12, 19-1-17 in E | Swindon S Maximus |
| Cast by: Rudhall 1759; Taylor 1969 (1-5) Recording: College Youths peal, May 2002 © Jennie Paul | |||
| Canterbury, Kent, Cathedral | 12, 34-3-4 in C# | Bristol S Maximus |
| Cast by: Whitechapel 1981 Recording: College Youths peal, May 2002 © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Chelmsford, Essex, Cathedral | 12, 34-2-22 in C | Cambridge S Maximus |
| Cast by: Warner 1913 Recording: Southwell DG peal, April 2002 © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Douglas, IOM, St George | 12, 18-2-14 in E | Bristol S Maximus |
| Cast by: Taylor 1999/2001 Recording: St Martin's Guild peal, July 2010 © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Dublin, Eire, Christ Church Cathedral | 16, 45-0-20 in B | Bristol S Sixteen |
| Cast by: Rudhall, Murphy, Taylor C18 to C20 Recording: St Martins Guild peal, Sept 2001 © Leslie Taylor | |||
| Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, Cathedral of St Macartan | 10, 20-2-15 in Eb | Grandsire Caters |
| Cast by: T Mears; Taylor (1-4) Recording: Irish Association Peal, March 2003 © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Exeter, Devon, Cathedral | 12, 72-2-2 in Bb | Stedman Cinques |
| Cast by: Various founders C17 to C20 Recording: St James Guild peal, April 2002 © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Grundisburgh, Suffolk, St Mary | 12, 8-0-23 in G | Bristol S Maximus |
| Cast by: Various Recording: Bedfordshire Association peal © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Huddersfield, W Yorks, St Peter | 10, 23-1-12 in Eb | Lincolnshire S Royal |
| Cast by: Taylor 1909 Recording: Southwell DG peal © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Ipswich, Suffolk, St Mary-le-Tower | 12, 34-3-16 in C# | Bristol S Maximus |
| Cast by: Taylor 1976 - 1999 (1 M&S) Recording: Bedfordshire Association peal © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Kensington, London SW7, The Institute | 10, 38-1-15 in C# | 4-Spliced S Royal |
| Cast by: Taylor 1892 Recording: St Martins Guild peal, Dec 1994 © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Leamington Spa, Warks, St Peter (RC) | 8, 16-0-4 in F# | Stedman Triples |
| Cast by: Taylor 1905 Recording: Quarter peal - Easter Sunday 2004 © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Leigh Sinton, Worcs, Lower House Farm | 12, 0-0-2 in C | Rounds |
| Cast by: Servants bells Recording: © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Llandaff, S Glamorgan, Cathedral | 12, 24-1-15 in Eb | Bristol S Maximus |
| Cast by: Whitechapel 1993 Recording: College Youths peal, May 2002 © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| London, EC, St Mary-le-Bow | 10, 53-0-22 in B | Call Changes |
| Cast by: Lester & Pack Recording: The back 10 of the pre 1933 Bow Bells © St Mary-le-Bow | |||
| London, EC, St Mary-le-Bow | 12, 54-0-12 in B | Call Changes |
| Cast by: Gillett & Johnston 1933 (mostly) Recording: The 1933 Gillett twelve which were lost in WW2 © St Mary-le-Bow | |||
| London, EC, St Mary-le-Bow | 12, 41-3-21 in C | Bristol S Maximus |
| Cast by: Mears & Stainbank 1956 Recording: College Youths peal, Feb 2002 © Robin O Hall | |||
| Melbourne, Victoria (Aus), St Paul's Cathedral | 12, 29-1-12 in C# | Stedman Cinques |
| Cast by: Mears & Stainbank 1889 Recording: St Martin's Society peal, April 2001 © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Newport, Gwent, Cathedral | 12, 21-1-20 in D | Cambridge S Maximus |
| Cast by: Taylor 1913; Gillett & Johnston 1939 (1-5) Recording: College Youths peal, May 2002 © Jennie Paul | |||
| Nottingham, , St Mary | 12, 35-2-23 in C | Bristol S Maximus |
| Cast by: Gillett & Johnston 1935, Oldfield 1595 (11th), Eijsbouts 1980 (1 & 2) Recording: Towcester & Districts Peal © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Oxford, Oxon, Cathedral | 12, 31-0-23 in D | Stedman Cinques |
| Cast by: Various founders Recording: Oxford Society peal, Aug 2002 © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Oxford, Oxon, Magdalen College | 10, 19 cwt in E | Bristol S Royal |
| Cast by: Various founders Recording: East meets West peal, Apr 2001 © Robin O Hall | |||
| Oxford, Oxon, New College | 10, 20 cwt in Eb | Spliced S Royal |
| Cast by: Various founders Recording: Oxford Society Peal © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Oxford, Oxon, St Mary Magd. | 10, 7-2-8 in A | Spliced Royal "Bond Series" |
| Cast by: Taylor Recording: Oxford Society Peal, April 2003 © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Oxford, Oxon, St Thomas | 10, 11-2-6 in F# | 33-Spliced S Royal |
| Cast by: Taylor 1992-6 Recording: St Martins Guild attempt at 11880 changes, Apr 1996 © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Peterborough, Cambs, Cathedral | 12, 21-1-20 in Eb | Bristol S Maximus |
| Cast by: Taylor 1902 & 28; Whitechapel 1986 Recording: College Youths peal, Dec 2001 © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| St Mary's Platt, Kent, Piltdown House Campanile | 12, 22 lbs in Eb | Bristol S Maximus |
| Cast by: Bowditch & Higby 2000 Recording: First peal on the bells (conclusion). © Phillip R J Barnes | |||
| Stourbridge, Worcs, St Thomas | 12, 18-2-8 in E | Bristol S Maximus |
| Cast by: Taylor 1928 - 99 Recording: Oxford Society peal © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Surfleet, Lincs, St Laurence | 12, 12-0-9 in F | Stedman Cinques |
| Cast by: Norris (2) C17; Taylor 1902 - 32 Recording: unsucessful peal attempt, Feb 2002 © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Towcester, Northants, St Lawrence | 12, 23-1-16 in Eb | Erin Cinques |
| Cast by: Taylor 1897 & 1989 Recording: Local band practice for the 1999 12-bell contest © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Towcester, Northants, The Rack | 6, 0-0-4 in A | Beverley S Minor |
| Cast by: Handbells hung for ringing Recording: Towcester & Districts Assn peal, Nov 2001 © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Worcester, Worcs, All Saints | 12, 20-1-1 in Eb | Toronto D Maximus |
| Cast by: Rudhall, Mears, Whitechapel 1692-1977 Recording: College Youths peal, Apr 2002 © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| Worcester, Worcs, Cathedral | 12, 49-2-0 in B | Cambridge S Maximus |
| Cast by: Taylor 1928 Recording: College Youths peal, Jan 2002 © Michael P A Wilby | |||
| York, N Yorks, St Wilfrid | 10, 18-0-21 in F | Spliced Royal "York Series" |
| Cast by: Gillett & Johnston; Taylor (1-2) Recording: St Martin's Guild Peal, March 2003 © Michael P A Wilby | |||