Campanology is the study of bells, how they are made and turned, as well as the history and tradition of bell-ringing.
Bells began to be mounted in churches in Roman times, in a special tower called a belfry, in the 5th century. By 930 AD, most churches in Britain had bell towers, with up to seven bells. The oldest existing one is said to be the 13th-century bell in St. Chad’s Lancashire.
Bells are cast in foundries by pouring molten metal into metal-clad clay moulds. The metal is usually bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, because it produces a better sound than iron.
The cast bell is tuned by removing metal from the inside till it sounds right, and then polished.
In India, devotees ring temple bells, supposedly to draw God’s attention! Church bells are rung at weddings, funerals, and in the olden days, to announce an emergency.
Bell towers like Big Ben also announce the hour.
In fact, the word ‘cloca’ for ‘clock’ is Medieval Latin for bell.
Picture Credit : Google
