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Hello,
I am researching the customs and traditions of the British Isles and am looking at the above custom. I have searched the Council website and other places but can find no mention of it.
What I have at the moment goes thus:
Bell Belt Day. Congleton Cheshire. August 1st
The Town Clerk of Gongleton keeps three broad leather belts, which are supposedly very old, from which are hung spherical, loose clappered bells. One of the belt holds five, the other two seven each and each bell plays a different tone, sounding at the slightest movement. These are known as the Sweeps Bells, although this is not their original name.
The signifiance of the bells lies in an ancient religious custom, mostly now defunct since the Middle Ages, but centred upon the Parish Church of Saint Peter. The Patronal Festival was held on Lammas Day (August 1st) and is the Feast of Saint Peter in Chains. The story goes that three acolytes would run through the town at Midnight wearing the belts and ringing the bells thus imitating the sounds of Saint Peters in his chains.
The Homily the people were called to the market cross to listen to died at the reformation and the belts with their bells are said to have passed into the hands of the Stubbs family. The original Stubbs, it is thought, was an official of Henry VIII and certainly, during the ensuing years, the family held high offices within the town with one becoming Mayor in 1595.
Over the years the family fortunes changed and they became chimney sweeps but the ownership of the bells gave them the right, during the wake, to wear the belts and walk the streets thus making the day “Bell Belt Day”.
away, the parish wake is still observed
Acolytes called upon the towns people to remember the day and to assemble at the market cross to listen to a Homily. This part of the custom died out after reformation
The religious custom had now changed in nature and the family took the lead as two of them now ran through the streets shouting and ringing the bells, followed by a crowd, to stop at the Market Cross. Here they made speaches, urging people to join the festivities of Wakes Week.
The nineteenth century saw disputes starting within the family over ownership of the bells. Eventually this resulted in a brawl when the Town Clerk, John Wilson, arrested them and purchased the bells for ten shillings. Thus they became the property of the Town Corporation.
QUESTIONS:
Does this still happen in any form?
If it does can anybody tell me what happens nowadays?
If not, does anybody know when it was last seen?
Do the belts still exist?
Many thanks
Steve Newport
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