WOTTON BRANCH BELLRINGERS
  • Home & list of towers
    • Towers (Berkeley - North Nibley) >
      • BERKELEY, ST MARY THE VIRGIN >
        • BERKELEY QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • CHIPPING SODBURY, ST JOHN THE BAPTIST >
        • CHIPPING SODBURY QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • COALEY, ST BARTHOLOMEW >
        • COALEY QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • CROMHALL, ST ANDREW >
        • CROMHALL QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • DURSLEY, ST JAMES THE GREAT >
        • DURSLEY QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • GREAT BADMINTON, ST MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS
      • HORTON, ST JAMES THE ELDER >
        • HORTON QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • NORTH NIBLEY, ST MARTIN >
        • NORTH NIBLEY QUARTER PEALS 2011
    • Towers (Slimbridge - Yate) >
      • SLIMBRIDGE, ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST >
        • SLIMBRIDGE QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • STINCHCOMBE, ST CYR >
        • STINCHCOMBE QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • STONE, ALL SAINTS'
      • TORTWORTH, ST LEONARD >
        • TORTWORTH QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • UPPER CAM. ST GEORGE >
        • UPPER CAM QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • WICKWAR, HOLY TRINITY >
        • WICKWAR QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE, ST MARY THE VIRGIN >
        • WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • YATE, ST MARY
  • Branch Cententary 2010
    • BRANCH DINNER 2010
    • Centenary Peals 2010
  • Ringing Links
  • The Story of William Champion of Dursley
  • WOOTTON UNDER EDGE STRIKING COMPETITION 1816
  • WW1 Branch Ringers
    • List of Branch Members killed in WW1
    • Pte Percy Woodward
    • Pte Nelson Griffin
    • Pte William Francis Hawkins
    • Sapper Joseph Warner
    • Quarters rung
    • Rolls of Honour


WOOTTEN-UNDER-EDGE STRIKING COMPETITION 1816

PAINSWICK RINGERS SILVER CUP – by David Thornton


I thought I'd share with readers of The Ringers World the details and pictures of a lovely Georgian silver mug which I recently purchased at a local auction and has an interesting bellringing inscription. The pint mug is engraved with the following contemporary inscription on the front ....

"This CUP was RUNG for on the 5th of June 1861 at Wootten Underedge (sic) by PUBLIC  ADVERTISEMENT and was WON by the PAINSWICK RINGERS as declared by three Umpires from three
seperate (sic) Companies"

with a further inscription underneath the foot.....

"The CHASING and ENGRAVING of this Cup together with a PEAL of twelve choice hand BELLS was given this COMPANY by their zealous Friend Mr.Thomas Spring of LONDON. A Native of this Town"

The actual mug itself has a 1 pint capacity and is made from sterling silver, fully hallmarked for London 1815, made by William Bateman (grandson of the well-known lady silversmith Hester Bateman) Originally the main body of the mug would have been plain, the floral chased decoration probably added in the Victorian period as was the fashion at the time.

In the 18th and 19th century silver cups were often donated by local dignitaries and land owners for prizes at agricultural / livestock shows and sporting events such as horse racing and cricket matches. I have been buying and selling antiques for nearly 30 years and ringing for almost as long! In all this time I have never
come across a piece of this age made from silver with a bellringing  connection. A rare piece indeed!

There are some details on the Internet about Painswick (Gloucestershire) their impressive peal of bells and The Painswick Youths, however I'd be interested to find out more about this competition. Was it a 'one off' or
an annual
striking competition?

Who was Thomas Spring and what was his connection to the Painswick ringers? Are the twelve hand bells still in existence? If anyone would like to  see this unique piece of bellringing history (before it finds a new home!) then you are welcome to come along to one of our practise nights (Wednesdays 7.30pm) at St James the Great, Stonesfield, Oxfordshire and I will bring it along.

I can be 
contacted at david.thornton21@btinternet.com

David Thornton 
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home & list of towers
    • Towers (Berkeley - North Nibley) >
      • BERKELEY, ST MARY THE VIRGIN >
        • BERKELEY QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • CHIPPING SODBURY, ST JOHN THE BAPTIST >
        • CHIPPING SODBURY QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • COALEY, ST BARTHOLOMEW >
        • COALEY QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • CROMHALL, ST ANDREW >
        • CROMHALL QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • DURSLEY, ST JAMES THE GREAT >
        • DURSLEY QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • GREAT BADMINTON, ST MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS
      • HORTON, ST JAMES THE ELDER >
        • HORTON QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • NORTH NIBLEY, ST MARTIN >
        • NORTH NIBLEY QUARTER PEALS 2011
    • Towers (Slimbridge - Yate) >
      • SLIMBRIDGE, ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST >
        • SLIMBRIDGE QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • STINCHCOMBE, ST CYR >
        • STINCHCOMBE QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • STONE, ALL SAINTS'
      • TORTWORTH, ST LEONARD >
        • TORTWORTH QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • UPPER CAM. ST GEORGE >
        • UPPER CAM QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • WICKWAR, HOLY TRINITY >
        • WICKWAR QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE, ST MARY THE VIRGIN >
        • WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • YATE, ST MARY
  • Branch Cententary 2010
    • BRANCH DINNER 2010
    • Centenary Peals 2010
  • Ringing Links
  • The Story of William Champion of Dursley
  • WOOTTON UNDER EDGE STRIKING COMPETITION 1816
  • WW1 Branch Ringers
    • List of Branch Members killed in WW1
    • Pte Percy Woodward
    • Pte Nelson Griffin
    • Pte William Francis Hawkins
    • Sapper Joseph Warner
    • Quarters rung
    • Rolls of Honour