Welcome to the West Midland Region of Handbell Ringers of Great Britain (HRGB)
Would you like to discover more about playing handbells?
Are you:
- looking for a team to join?
- a teacher wishing to introduce handbells into school?
- wondering how to organise a concert, workshop or rally?
- interested in improving your musicianship?
Whether you have never rung handbells before but would like to try your hand or have been playing for years, we are here to support you.
Handbells have a long history
Archaeologists have found evidence of handbells dating back to 7th century BC Nineveh and 6th century BC China.
The first handbells tuned diatonically were developed in Aldbourne, Wiltshire, by Robert and William Cor in the late 17th century. The brothers originally made bells for horse harnesses but, for reasons known only to themselves, they began tuning their bells.
Originally, tuned sets of handbells were used by tower bell ringers to rehearse ‘changes’. They were able to abandon practising in cold church towers in favour of the comforts of the local pub. One of the techniques they employed was to pass bells from the lap of one ringer to another, a practice known as ‘lapping’. Eventually tune ringing on handbells became an art in itself.
Modern handbells are precision musical instruments and have an elemental sound. A wide variety of music can be played on them, from Bach to the Beatles. Playing handbells is a sociable activity and making music with a team of musicians is enjoyable and satisfying.