It all started some years ago with a new Abbot and everything went bad from then on. The new Abbot disappeared but things never returned to what they were.
There was a time when the Abbey bells seemed to be always available. Then there was a change of Abbot. The regular practice was no longer possible and had to be changed. Then we started having cancellations - often at short notice. Things just got worse. On our last visit (branch meeting) we were told only 12 people in the tower at a time! It was pre-arranged as we booked a meeting room too. The installation of the speaker system is a bit of a giveaway. Appearances can be deceptive....
In the past there have been problems trying to book them even 18 months in advance. More recently two or three bands have managed to get them with only about six months notice. There is something very strange about Buckfast.
When I rang here on 2nd April 2005 we rang all 12 with Hosanna. Can't remember if we had permission or not! It was the Saturday in the Easter Octave so thought it appropriate. Ho Ho Ho
Our source for this bit of information was Fr Paulinus. He was at the Abbey when the bells went in. 3rd Oct 2003 was the first time all 12 and Hosanna had been rung together. How did you get permission to swing Hosanna?
As far as I know there is no local band so they don't get rung much. They have been very difficult to get for a number of years - hopefully things are changing slowly.
I've heard tales of it getting very close to the balance before someone shortened the rope. It would be easy enough to fit a stay and slider but a bit annoying having to replace it all the time
@pianistdu74 I have tried google translate- "There are 8 bells around, Hossana is ground 2 and the other from C 4 C 3 by: do if the ground do re mi fa, hosanna is manue or electric, the other hand, the famous Change Ringing Sorry for the translation if it displays a few words in French!" - Almost wish I hadn't bothered ;-) Hosanna is manual. I will try to get a proper translation of your text soon.
@simonbellringer It was for a recording. Just experimenting with sound. We rang all 14 at one point. That was 'interesting'. Hosanna is rarely rung. Death of an Abbot or Pope, Easterday I think. We got permission to ring it for the devon ringers carol service last year.
Not sure you have the correct assumption that 12 plus Hosanah was the first occasion in 2003. Left Devon in 1997 and had rung regularly on Sunday am with Tony Davies, Richard Newman, Frank Mack, etc. One Saturday afternoon - of the regular monthly meeting - John Haywood, etc had the 'full set' going round. Fr Paulinus Angold was one of the two 'locals' to join the band. RPH
+Richard Heath Sorry for later reply. It was Fr Paulinus who told us he'd never heard the 12 with Hosanna until then. Of course he was very old and may have been a little forgetful/confused but he was still capable of stimulating conversation. Ringing at the Abbey was stopped again this month for 'Health & Safety' - A fraid rope or something this time I been told.
This bourdon bell at Buckfast Abbey is not designed to be rung full circle. Due to the fact it has a counter balanced clapper, it can only be rung 180 degrees.
@ProfMoose I am surprised to hear that Hosannal is so rarely rung. I was at Buckfast Abbey on Sunday August 6, 1995, and was very surprised to hear a very large bell ringing just for Sunday mass. It was definitely Hosanna that I heard that day. It was ringing solo. It was the feast of transfiguration, but you would not expect something special to be rung for such a small feast. From wat I noted at that time, at noon a bell an octave higher was rung (must have been the 9th of the peal), ...
@ProfMoose ... and for the other services a small bell was rung (a minor third higher than the treble of the peal). After the complines the eight largest bells of the peal were chimed.
Apparently the Abbott didn't want the bells ringing on Easter Sunday this year, so don't hold your breath! We did get them for our tour a couple of years ago but had to book them well in advance!
@WrongAndHome There is a long story here. Short version - they never did! This was for a CD. The band were very unhappy with the standard of ringing and wanted to come back and re-record but both the production company and the Abbey said No. We thought it would be a shambles and it was.
Il ya 8 cloches autour, hossana est en sol 2 et les autres de do 4 a do 3 en faisant : do si la sol fa mi re do, hosanna est manue ou electrique, les autres manuel, le fameux Change Ringing Pardon pour la traduction si ça affiche quelques mot en français !
No. The rope is too short. If it were longer maybe but it would be very interesting if it went over and the rope tangled round something. It can be easily swung by one person but usually there are two or three to get it going.
Shame the bells didn't settle as it sounds like there is an under rated twelve at Buckfast-when people mention the best twelves, I've never heard Buckfast mentioned but they do sound fantastic on this recording even through the striking isn't too hot.
@shippingforecast Also ironically enough the day Pope JP II went to his rest - I'd say it's certainly appropriate to make a big noise during the Easter Festival.
Rung be real people - usually only one:-) It's the 7th (or is it the 8th?) heaviest bell in the UK. I guess it's around the 3rd or 4th heaviest swinging bell. I think York has the heaviest hand swung bourdon.
GP is swung daily at 1pm? I've heard it a few times. There are some pics of it on the web but it's a bit crowded by its own frame:-( I think Gt Tom is tolled for the death of the monarch. Never rung at Winchester :-(
+ProfMoose when are people allowed to ring that bell? Do they have to have a good experience with ringing the twelve or strong lungs and biceps, or what?
With a very big chain block or a windless and a lot of hard work! There's a photo somewhere, may not be on the web, of it going up. For some reason it went up on it's side.
I don't like to say where my home tower is. Bit too modest ;-) It's big and in Devon (Not Buckfast). Been ringing for longer than I care to remember - you'd think I'd be getting good at it by now......
Here's a personal 'Want" I would very much like to ring a 1/4 of grandsire cinques..... Half Muffled... With Hosanna swinging all the way through..... That would sound amazing!
90 graden luiden met krukas vliegende klepel en krukas.Bij stilhangen slaat de klepel nog 1 keer.En dat bij een zeer zware klok van 7500kg en de combinatie van het chance ringing 5*****
