James Barham – 300 years
300 years ago, James Barham was born in Leeds, a small village near Maidstone, Kent. A prolific ringer throughout his life, James rang 112 peals, the last of which was his 92nd year. He built a team of ringers with exceptional talent and passion whose hard work resulted in 8 long peals of over 10,000 changes, culminating in the first peal of 40,320 changes of Bob Major at Leeds. James made history by conducting this feat, which involved over 27 hours of continuous ringing by a band of 14 ringers.
His legacy is remembered here at Taylor’s Bellfoundry, and in July 1963 a band built on this success. After years of failed attempts and practice, a full extent on 8 bells (by only 8 ringers) was finally rang. This incredible achievement took 17 hours and 58 minutes and has yet to be repeated. The method was Plain Bob Major. A plaque commemorating this achievement sits in the ringing tower at the Bellfoundry reading:
THE LEICESTER DIOCESAN GUILD OF CHURCH BELL RINGERS
BELLFOUNDRY TOWER
ON 27TH & 28TH JULY 1963
THE EXTENT OF PLAIN BOB MAJOR 40,320 CHANGES
WAS RUNG ON THESE BELLS IN 17 HOURS & 58 MINUTES
BRIAN J. WOODRUFF FAIRFIELD TREBLE
JOHN M. JELLEY LEICESTER 2
NEIL BENNETT ASHTON UNDER LYNE 3
FREDERICK SHALLCROSS ASHTON UNDER LYNE 4
JOHN C. EISEL STOURBRIDGE 5
JOHN ROBINSON STOCKPORT 6
BRIAN HARRIS PETERBOROUGH 7
ROBERT B. SMITH MARPLE TENOR
COMPOSED BY C. K. LEWIS
CONDUCTED BY R. B. SMITH
UMPIRES
JOHN A. ACRES JOHN F. BARLOW
DEREK OGDEN PETER J. STANIFORTH