Views of the ring.
Affectionately known as the 'Austin Eight' after the Austin Seven that normally stands beneath it, the Wickham Ring comprises eight John Norris mini-dumbbells connected via Griffin photoheads and a marshalling box to two serial ports on a PC running Abel. There are no actual bells and the 'Ring' is thus technically a simulator rather than a true ring. It evolved out of a project to provide storage space in the garage by replacing the decaying flat roof by a pitched roof. It then seemed an obvious development to connect a set of dumbbells to ringing software to provide a ringing simulator.
The individual dumbbell design comprises a 23" MDF wheel, wooden headstock and papier mache bell hung in a wooden frame. The standard wheel weighs approx. 12 lb, with cutouts in the upper quadrants and 6 lb of steel weights attached to the lower half to represent a metal bell. However, in the Wickham Ring the wheel flanges are graded in thickness from treble to tenor and the papier mache bells are also graded slightly, giving a tenor weight approx. 15% greater than the treble. The equivalent weight of the tenor, allowing for the effect of the wheel as well as the added metal weight, is approx. 10 lb.
The design loosely represents a bell in a traditional frame and provides ample room for a bell of up to 10" in diameter. The existing papier mache bells could thus in the future be replaced by real bells, with a tenor up to about 20 lb, to create a true mini ring. [There are, however, no plans to do this in the foreseeable future.]
The ring was completed in April 2008. The first Quarter Peal (Plain Bob Minor) was rung on 29th April 2008 and the first Peal (Yorkshire Surprise Major) on 21st April 2010.
Details of Peals and Quarter Peals rng on the Wickham Ring.
Should peals on simulators be ‘recognised’?
Ringing visitors are welcome.To make arrangements email or telephone 07774 863184. A location map is available.