Dead bell: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Glasgow deid bell.jpg|thumb|150px|The 1641 Glasgow 'Deid bell', now on display in Glasgow's People's Palace on Glasgow Green.]] |
[[File:Glasgow deid bell.jpg|thumb|150px|The 1641 Glasgow 'Deid bell', now on display in Glasgow's People's Palace on Glasgow Green.]] |
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A '''Dead bell''' or '''deid bell''' (Scots), also a 'mort' or 'passing bell' was a form of [[Hand bell|hand bell]] used in [[Scotland]] and northern England.<ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |authorlink=|title=Church monument symbolism|publisher=|url=http://www.churchmonumentssociety.org/newfile21.htm|accessdate=2009-11-01}}</ref> in conjunction with deaths and funeral up until the 19th century. |
A '''Dead bell''' or '''deid bell''' (Scots), also a 'mort', 'Lych' or 'passing bell' was a form of [[Hand bell|hand bell]] used in [[Scotland]] and northern England.<ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |authorlink=|title=Church monument symbolism|publisher=|url=http://www.churchmonumentssociety.org/newfile21.htm|accessdate=2009-11-01}}</ref> in conjunction with deaths and funeral up until the 19th century. |
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==Uses== |
==Uses== |
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Church records show that in one [[Ayrshire]] parish the deid bell ringer was paid at a rate of a penny a mile, rising to two pence per mile by 1762.<ref>Love, Page 220</ref> |
Church records show that in one [[Ayrshire]] parish the deid bell ringer was paid at a rate of a penny a mile, rising to two pence per mile by 1762.<ref>Love, Page 220</ref> |
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Records show that the use of the dead bell was common in Eastern Scotland during the seventeenth and eighteenth century and for many years before.<ref name="W40">Willsher, Page 40</ref> In prereformation times the dead bell was used to summon the priest to administer the last rites.<ref name="W40"/> The use of the dead bell is illustrated on the [[Bayeux tapestry]] at the furneral of [[Edward the Confessor]] and may have been brought over to Britain by the [[Normans]].<ref name="W40"/> In the eighteenth century the church [[Beadle|beadle]] went around the parish farms, kirton and hamlets at the time of the death and later when the funeral arrangements had been settled.<ref name="W40"/> |
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==Examples== |
==Examples== |
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[[File:Glasgow Logo.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Glasgow coat of |
[[File:Glasgow Logo.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Glasgow coat of arms with the dead bell of Saint Mungo]] |
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The Loudoun Kirk deid bell still survived in 1894, having originally been sent to the parishioners from Holland by the 2nd [[Earl of Loudoun]], James Campbell. It had ''Loudoun Kirk'' cast in raised lettering; Loudoun parish church at [[Newmilns]] has a deid bell inscribed 'Countess of Loudoun.'' The [[Kilmarnock]] example had the town's name and the date ''1639'' and was preserved in the town hall. The [[Galston]] example had the name and the date ''1722''. The Maybole deid bell had no markings and after being exhibited at the 1911 Glasgow Exhibition it remained in the [[Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum|Kelvingove Museum]]'s collections.<ref>Love (2009), Pages 219 - 221</ref> A [[Hawick]] deid bell is recorded.<ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |authorlink=|title=Hawick Dead Bell|publisher=|url=http://www.rhs.ac.uk/bibl/wwwopac.exe?&qDB=catalo&DATABASE=dcatalo&LANGUAGE=0&rf=000193170&SUCCESS=false|accessdate=2009-11-01}}</ref> |
The Loudoun Kirk deid bell still survived in 1894, having originally been sent to the parishioners from Holland by the 2nd [[Earl of Loudoun]], James Campbell. It had ''Loudoun Kirk'' cast in raised lettering; Loudoun parish church at [[Newmilns]] has a deid bell inscribed 'Countess of Loudoun.'' The [[Kilmarnock]] example had the town's name and the date ''1639'' and was preserved in the town hall. The [[Galston]] example had the name and the date ''1722''. The Maybole deid bell had no markings and after being exhibited at the 1911 Glasgow Exhibition it remained in the [[Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum|Kelvingove Museum]]'s collections.<ref>Love (2009), Pages 219 - 221</ref> A [[Hawick]] deid bell is recorded.<ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |authorlink=|title=Hawick Dead Bell|publisher=|url=http://www.rhs.ac.uk/bibl/wwwopac.exe?&qDB=catalo&DATABASE=dcatalo&LANGUAGE=0&rf=000193170&SUCCESS=false|accessdate=2009-11-01}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 19:58, 2 November 2009
A Dead bell or deid bell (Scots), also a 'mort', 'Lych' or 'passing bell' was a form of hand bell used in Scotland and northern England.[1] in conjunction with deaths and funeral up until the 19th century.
Uses
Before the reformation friar's in Glasgow rung the deid bell for the repose of the soul of the deceased through the streets, especially if the individual was a benefactor of the church. It is known that the ancient bell of Saint Mungo, aka Saint Kentigern, was used for this purpose. In 1454 a record survives of the bell being used for the soul of Johne Steuart (John Stewart), the first Provost of Glasgow, who had left lands and property to the church.[2] A record of 1509 for Sir Archibald Crawfurd of Cadder shows that the ringing of the deid bell took place more than once and was intended to encourage others to pray for the deceased and for other christian souls.[3] In 1594 the presbytery of Glasgow attempted to recover the right of useage of the deid bell.[4]
The ballad of Willie's Lyke-Wake from the north of Scotland records the payment of a groat for the ringing of the dead-bell at his funeral by the bell-man.[5]
In later, secular times, the deid bell ringer would pass through the streets of villages, towns or cities announcing the name of a recently deceased person, with details of the funeral. At the funeral the bell ringer would head the cortege, ringing the bell from the home of the deceased until the church was reached.[6]
Church records show that in one Ayrshire parish the deid bell ringer was paid at a rate of a penny a mile, rising to two pence per mile by 1762.[7]
Records show that the use of the dead bell was common in Eastern Scotland during the seventeenth and eighteenth century and for many years before.[8] In prereformation times the dead bell was used to summon the priest to administer the last rites.[8] The use of the dead bell is illustrated on the Bayeux tapestry at the furneral of Edward the Confessor and may have been brought over to Britain by the Normans.[8] In the eighteenth century the church beadle went around the parish farms, kirton and hamlets at the time of the death and later when the funeral arrangements had been settled.[8]
Examples
The Loudoun Kirk deid bell still survived in 1894, having originally been sent to the parishioners from Holland by the 2nd Earl of Loudoun, James Campbell. It had Loudoun Kirk cast in raised lettering; Loudoun parish church at Newmilns has a deid bell inscribed 'Countess of Loudoun. The Kilmarnock example had the town's name and the date 1639 and was preserved in the town hall. The Galston example had the name and the date 1722. The Maybole deid bell had no markings and after being exhibited at the 1911 Glasgow Exhibition it remained in the Kelvingove Museum's collections.[9] A Hawick deid bell is recorded.[10]
An example of 1641 from Glasgow was made to replace the ancient Saint Mungo's. This bell had the representation of the Chapter of Glasgow's seal on it, a tree and a salmon, together with a representation of an ancient square-shaped bell; like that of Saint Mungo, which still existed at that date.[11] Saint Mungo's bell was rescued by a Glasgow magistrate, James Laing, after the reformation and the Glasgow officials purchased it back for the sum of £10 Scots in 1577. [4] In 1640 the council had a new deid bell made, Saint Mungo's bell probably having become too worn. This was then used for many years and then lost; however in 1867 it was recovered and returned to the Glasgow corporation.[11] The present whereabouts of Saint Mungo's well is unknown.[12]
Monuments
In Northern England and Scotland dead bells are not uncommon as symbols of death on funerary monuments.[13][14] As an emblem of mortality the dead bell was mainly confined to eighteenth century tombstones in the East of Scotland, especially in Morayshire and Aberdeenshire. In Angus and Perthshire its use is rare and further south it only occurs on seventeenth century stones.[15]
Omens
James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, wrote that the deid bell was the 'tinkling in the ears' which the country people regard as the secret intelligence of some friend’s decease.[16]
References
Notes
- ^ "Church monument symbolism". Retrieved 2009-11-01.
- ^ "Glasgow's coat of arms". Retrieved 2009-11-01.
- ^ MacGeorge, Page 23
- ^ a b MacGeorge, Page 24
- ^ "Wllie's Lyke-wake". Retrieved 2009-11-01.
- ^ Love (2009), Pages 219 - 220
- ^ Love, Page 220
- ^ a b c d Willsher, Page 40
- ^ Love (2009), Pages 219 - 221
- ^ "Hawick Dead Bell". Retrieved 2009-11-01.
- ^ a b MacGeorge, Page 25
- ^ MacGeorge, Page 26
- ^ "Church monument symbolism". Retrieved 2009-11-01.
- ^ "Dead Bell on tomstone". Retrieved 2009-11-02.
- ^ Willsher, Page 41
- ^ "Dead Bell". Retrieved 2009-11-01.
Sources
- Love, Dane (2009). Legendary Ayrshire. Custom : Folklore : Tradition. Auchinleck : Carn Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9518128-6-0.
- MacGregor, Andrew (1880). Old Glasgow : The Place and the People. Glasgow : Blackie & Son.
- Willsher, Betty and Hunter, Doreen (1978). Stones. A Guide to Some Remarkable Eighteenth Century Gravestones. Edinburgh : Canongate; ISBN 0-903937-36-0.
External links
- "Glasgow Dead Bell". Retrieved 2009-11-02.
- "Symbols of Mortality". Retrieved 2009-11-02.