THE BELLS AND BELFRIES OF DORSET
by Christopher Dalton
Of all the counties of England and Wales, few can compare with Dorset for the rich diversity, interest and quality of its bells, both pre-Reformation and post-Reformation. These books represent a detailed survey, including assessments of historical significance, quality of craftsmanship and tonal/musical character. The superb illustrations draw attention to many fine artefacts which have, because of the difficulty of access, often escaped the notice of those many people with local, historical or musical interests; and they serve as an extensive resource for the specialist making local or comparative studies.
This major work of bell research and analysis illustrated by high-quality black-and-white photography is published in three soft-cover volumes (246 x 190mm) pp.1026 by UPPER COURT PRESS ISBN 0-9538616 -0-0 / -1-9 / -2-7
- Part 1 Introduction; glossary etc.; parishes A – G
- Part 2 Parishes H – Sp
- Part 3 Parishes concluded; summaries: bell-founders, bell-hangers, bell-frames, clocks etc.; index.
Sherborne Abbey bells
Among those that will find this study of bells and belfries of particular interest and reliability will include:
- writers of church and local histories in Dorset and surrounding counties.
- researchers into family histories (The books contain a comprehensive record of Dorset bell inscriptions which from the Reformation onwards often name donors, clergy or churchwardens as well as bell-founder and date.)
- historians of technology and design from mediaeval times to the present
- musicians and musicologists for whom evidence of the tuning of intervals and partial tones in English bells from all periods may be useful.
- those interested in lettering design and the historical examples (in photographs and drawings) provided by bell inscriptions from the 14th century on.
- those with appreciation of fine photography, here used in the service of archaeological description and comparison.
WINNER of the DORSET ARCHAEOLOGICAL AWARD 2007
of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society
"an outstanding contribution to the county's archaeology"
The author Christopher Dalton (right) receiving the Dorset Archaeological Award trophy from H.R.H. The Duke of Gloucester at Sherborne Castle on 27 April 2007.
