The hand-bell ringing bands of Huddersfield and district are famous throughout the world.

A hundred years ago every area had its own band of ringers – and these bands preceded brass bands by 300 years.

They played a major part in the origins of brass band – a fact that has startled brass band writers – and has given hand-bell bands their rightful place in musical history for the first time.

This and many other detailed facts are contained in a recently published book called Ringing For Gold.

The most famous of the hand-bell bands were those of Crosland Moor United. Hand-bell ringing began on the moor in July 1890 with a set of 50 bells. Within 10 years they were using a long set of 172 bells. The first conductor and founder was Thomas Cartwright from Holmfirth. The isolated Pennine villages right down to Worcestershire held the origins and beginnings of the hand-bell bands – the first musical involvement for working men. Holmfirth was one of these, and where Thomas Cartwright – who was later to become Mayor of Huddersfield – learned his craft. Thomas passed on centuries of traditional knowledge of the ringing of tunes to the young men of Crosland Moor from the beginning in 1890 until 1896.

In 1899 conductorship then passed to Albert Townend who was a remarkable man.

Born in 1873, he was a violin teacher and member of Huddersfield Philharmonic Society – and a manager baker with Bellarby’s in the town. His musical knowledge and expertise was to be the key to the monumental success and fame of Crosland Moor – a fame which continues to this day.

Commemorative booklet of the hand-bell tour of Australasia in 1911 and 1912
Commemorative booklet of the hand-bell tour of Australasia in 1911 and 1912

This began with the band’s first win of the British Open at Belle Vue, Manchester, in 1901. For a band to be declared champions they had to complete a hat-trick of wins in the competition. The three years up to 1900 were won by Almondbury hand-bell ringers who then went on a year’s tour of the USA. Crosland Moor then went on to become double champions – 1901-02-03 with one year out (as customary) and champions again 1905-06-07. No other band of any kind in the history of British open contest (brass included) had achieved this before or since – a unique record which stands to this day.

March 1911 saw Albert Townend and his band on stage at the London Hippodrome, but this was no one off concert. It was for two appearances daily, afternoon and evening, for a week! The band’s repertoire included William Tell and Martha overtures.

In the audience at the Hippodrome were concert agents who asked Albert if his ringers would undertake a tour of Australasia.

The band set sail on the Orient Pacific RMS Ormuz on August 18, 1911, arriving at Dunedin, New Zealand on October 3 and returning on June 23, 1912 having travelled 34,510 miles. One of the band’s members Harry North loved Australia so much he decided to stay there and did not return to Huddersfield. The band was paid �75 a week during the tour.

Albert also conducted Saddleworth hand-bell ringers to success in the British Open. Winners in 1914, Saddleworth also triumphed in 1921 and 1925. For winning in 1914 – the diamond jubilee of the contest – Saddleworth were presented with a special medal with diamonds set into all four corners and in its centre. This unique and historic medal remained in the possession of Saddleworth’s resident conductor William Pownall until his death in 1976.

Does anyone know the whereabouts of this medal now? Albert – who is known throughout the hand-bell world in places as far as Australia, the USA and Japan where hand-bell ringing is very strong today – died in 1931 and is buried in Lockwood cemetery.

Albert Townend in 1905
Albert Townend in 1905