The history of bellringers & bellringing - Ringing Societies

In 1874 the West Middlesex Bell Ringers Association was formed. But in 1894 it was reformed as the South and West Middlesex Guild. [Research by John Harrison.]

This was formed in 1897 by the union of two previous Middlesex societies. In 1874 the West Middlesex Bell Ringers Association was formed. But in 1894 it was reformed as the South and West Middlesex Guild. In 1888 the North Middlesex Association was formed, but the following year the Word 'North' was dropped from the title. The amalgamation of the two societies took place and the first meeting took place on Whit Monday 1897. In 1903, the words 'and London Diocesan Guild' were added to the title. [Research by John Harrison.]

In 1874, a meeting had been held at Isleworth to form the West Middlesex Bell Ringers' Association, with members from Isleworth, Richmond, Chiswick, Fulham, Heston, and West Hillingdon. At that time the only other such society was the East Derbyshire Association, which had been formed in 1870. Ringers from Hillingdon, Ealing, Acton, Brentford, Slough, and Windsor soon joined the West Middlesex, but by 1894 the Association had all but ceased to exist. With meetings at Isleworth and Ealing, it was reformed as the South & West Middlesex Guild. The Middlesex Association was formed in 1897 by a union of the two Middlesex societies that existed at the time.
In 1888, at a meeting held at Finchley, the North Middlesex Association was formed with members from Finchley, Edmonton and Hendon. The following year the word 'North' was dropped from the title and with additional members from Barnet, Hadley and Tottenham it soon became very active.
In 1896, members of the Middlesex Association approached the South & West Middlesex Guild, with a view to forming one society for the whole County of Middlesex. The idea was greeted with enthusiasm, and on Whit Monday at Ealing in 1897, the new Association was formed, with the Bishop of London heading the list of patrons, and the two societies retaining their identities as Districts.
In 1903, at the Association AGM held at Fulham Palace, with the sanction of the Bishop of London, the words 'and London Diocesan Guild' were added to the title. For further details see the Ringing World (14th November 1997, page 1150). [Research and observations associated with the Council Library Certificates Collection by Chris Ridley.]

founded 1903
Formerly: Middlesex Association (1889-1897); Middlesex County Association (1897-1903)
Subsumed: South & West Middlesex Association (1894-1897) [Research and observations associated with the Council Library Badge Collection by Chris Ridley.]