The mystery of the rare Leeds handbells
It’s a musical mystery which is sure to chime with handbell enthusiasts.
A graduated set of seventeen campanologist's handbells with a Leeds connection are set to go under the hammer in February.
They were cast by William Pawson at his foundry at the bottom of A64 York Road where it crosses into Shannon Street. The site of his foundry was only a few hundred yards away from Leeds Parish Church - now Leeds Minister - where Pawson was also a tower bell ringer.
Peter Fawcett, author of Ringing for Gold, a history of handbell ringing, said: “The Pawson bells are from some long forgotten band in that area. They very rare. I am expecting them to fetch a high price at auction.”
Lot 365 is set to go under the hammer as part of the Antiques, Fine Art Collectables & Jewellery, with a Single Owner Collection of Meissen (London) auction at Adam Partridge Auctioneers & Valuers in Ruislip in Middlesex on Tuesday, February 3. They have a n estimated guide price of between £100 and £150.
Ridley Partridge, auctioneer, valuer and saleroom manager at Adam Partridge Auctioneers & Valuers, said: “These bells where consigned from a local estate clearance, where we where dealing with the deceased's children who unfortunately didn't have any information on the history of the bells or why their father might have owned them.”