UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON CHANGE RINGING The Gordon Stuart Peek Foundation Memorial Bells CONTACT: Rebecca Woodgate (Tower Captain) woodgate@apl.washington.edu  Tel: 206-221-3268 Part of the UW School of Music

Ringing Events - Ringing times - Practice times - How to find us - Ringing Calendar

The UW Bells (coming soon) - History of our bells (UW history site) - Ringing records - Photo album

What is Change Ringing? - History and theory of change ringing - North American Guild of Change Ringers - Ringing links

Want to know more? - Learning to ring - Press releases

      In early summer 2008, the first set of change ringing bells on the west coast of the USA will be installed on the University of Washington's Seattle campus. The installation is a gift of the Gordon Stuart Peek Foundation. The set of 8 bells, cast by Royal Eisjbouts Bell Foundry in the Netherlands, tenor weight  6 cwt, tenor note B, are hung for full-circle "change" ringing in the tower of Gerberding Hall, on the UW's Red Square.  Change ringing - in which a trained team of ringers (the "band") ring the bells in continuously varying patterns (not tunes) - originated in the UK in the 17th century.  There are now over 5000 ringing towers in the UK, but only about 40 in the USA (and 8 in Canada), with our nearest ringing neighbours being Vancouver and Victoria in Canada, and Chicago and Abilene (TX) in the USA. 
      The UW bells will be rung (see here for dates and times) to celebrate university, state and national events by a band of volunteer ringers from the UW and the Seattle area.  Ringing visitors are always welcome.  Those wanting to learn to ring should read on, and contact us.  

RINGING EVENTS

Ringing Times The bells will be rung to celebrate university, state, and national events.  Here are upcoming events when you'll hear the bells being rung.  Red Square is an excellent location from which to hear them.  Eventually, we will have a webcam on the bells. Date Time Event 31st May 08 between 11 am and 2pm Bell Dedication 13th June 08  8pm - 9pm Dorothy Sayers Birthday End of UW Term 14th June 08 11:30am-12:30pm (approximately) UW Commencement Currently, the bells may also be heard 8:30 - 9pm during the Friday evening practice.

Practice Times Our usual practice times are:        Monday and Friday  7-9 pm Ringing visitors are very welcome - please contact the tower captain in advance.  Currently, for most practices the bells will not be heard outside the tower, although sometimes the bells may be heard during the Friday evening practice. Unfortunately, practices are not generally open to non-ringing visitors, although you will be able to see the bells on the webcam (once installed).  If you are interested in learning to ring, see below.

Finding us Gerberding Hall is on the south side of UW's Red Square in the central UW campus, just next to Suzzallo Library.  We will meet at the southeast corner of the square before practices.  As the building is locked, late comers will likely experience considerable delays, but may contact the ringers by cell phone (provided on request).  Travel to UW: UW is well served by local "metro" buses to NE Campus Parkway, the HUB, and Montlake. Pay-parking is available from UW, or on meters on local streets (free after 6pm).

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Learning to Ring Ringing requires about as much coordination as riding a bike.  It is a stimulating, mental and physical excercise, practiced world-wide by an eclectic group of volunteers of all ages. Physical requirements are mostly an ability to climb steep ladders, exert some force with your arms above your head, and some degree of rhythm.   We will run weekend and evening taster courses for those interested in learning to ring. Dates and times will be announced here and in email.  Please contact the tower captain for more details, or to join the email list.  (If you have contacted us already and not had any reply, it is likely due to a spam filter - please try again!). So far, we have many more potential learners than we have teachers. All our teachers are volunteers - we appreciate your patience as we work through this.

Contacts (please contact the tower captain for attendance) All enquiries about the Bells should be addressed to the Tower Captain     Rebecca Woodgate     Email: woodgate@apl.washington.edu     Tel: 206-221-3268

Press releases - UW's UWeek (February 2008) announcing the installation - UW's UWeek (1st May 2008) with slides of the bells being lifted in to the tower - UW Marketing (1st May 2008) movie of the bells being lifted in to the tower - UW's UWeek ( 8th May 2008) about the UK bell hanger installing the bells, Bob Smith, of Taylors Eayre and Smith - UW's UWeek (22nd May 2008) about the upcoming dedication