Bell Ringing Simulator

Available for use by ringing societies and bands

In the summer of 2009 we purchased and fitted an 8 bell  ringing simulator to our bell installation.  We are using it for extra practice sessions on Friday nights.  If you are interested in having a go or attending one of our special practices to learn a particular method, contact us for details.  It is available for use by others by arrangement with the Ecclesfield ringers.

What is a Ringing Simulator?

It is a means of electronically producing the sound of a bell in the ringing chamber at the correct point of its swing.  The bell itself is prevented from sounding by a clapper stay positioned across the mouth of the bell which holds the clapper in the centre.

Photo head sensors attached to the frame detect a target on the bell wheel.  A computer delays the signal to the point where the bell would have normally sounded then applies the strike note through the speakers in the ringing chamber.

Photo shows a sensor fitted and pointing at a wheel target.

The bells are rung in the usual way but no sounds are heard outside.  The ringers inside hear the bell notes at the right time just as if they were hearing them for real.  As we have sensors on all our bells the simulator can realistically produce the sounds of all of the 8 bells at the same time.

The main advantage is we can practice or teach without producing any sounds outside the tower.  This allows us to make use of the bells at times when other activities might be taking place in the Church.  The local community is not aware of any extra bell ringing taking place.

If you are interested in taking up bell ringing we will use the simulator to teach you on a silent bell but you will hear it inside.  This allows us to teach you at a time that is convenient to you.

There are many other things the simulator software can do to aid ringers and ringing including allowing  a single ringer to handle a bell while the computer produces the sounds of the other bells.

An Asset For Ringers

We have fitted this as an asset for everyone, but bellringers and teams of ringers in the Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley areas could make regular use of it.  It is available by arrangement for evening use by bands on Thursdays and Fridays.  Saturday mornings and afternoons are available provided there are no weddings booked.  We make an hourly charge for its use which we will discuss when you make your enquiry.

Suggestions for its use include:

- Extra practice
- If your bells are unavailable or out of use
- Special method practice sessions
- Learners’ group practices
- Demonstrations and ringing presentation talks
- Simulator Quarter Peals
- Striking practice
- Branch training days
- Training courses
- Teaching
- Tower visits by members of the public

The Future

We believe that bell ringing as an art should continue in the traditional way.  At the same time we are aware that as technology advances there is a place for it in bell ringing and we should make use of it to support the centuries old practice of ringing changes so that it becomes more accessible and viable for the future.

It operates alongside our CCTV feed from the belfry so that as well as hearing the bells, ringers can see them rotating on a TV screen.  This is something that is seldom seen as to go in to a bell chamber  when the bells are being rung is very very dangerous.

The Simulator Programme

The ringing simulator runs from the Abel Change Ringing Software installed on our computer.  The sensors and hardware in the bell chamber was built by David Bagley.