Monday 13 August 2012

The Bells, The Bells! And an update


UPDATE:  see end of post


Have you listened to the new video feed from our tower webcams, yet?

If so, you will no doubt have heard the cathedral bells ring out every quarter hour. But have you listened at 9am, 12 noon or 6pm when the automated carillon plays its tune?

Our brand new live video and audio stream is just the first element to be delivered as part of our Heritage Lottery-funded scheme to enhance everyone's experience of Derby's Peregrine falcons. As well as letting everyone hear our peregrines, it seems to capture the very heartbeat of our city in the rhythm chimed out by the cathedral bells. We are very grateful to SERCO for their help in configuring this stream for us, which up till now was only available to your Project Team. SERCO are amongst the first of a new wave of supporters to be joining us to help deliver our HLF targets over the next few years. But more on these developments later.

If you'd like to get really and close up to Derby Cathedral's bells, why not come along to the annual Derby Cathedral Bellringers' Tower Open Day. It is being held on Saturday, 25th August, between 10am and  2pm.  We've just received this press release which we wanted to share with everyone . . .


TRY YOUR HAND AT BELL-RINGING AT DERBY CATHEDRAL

Most of us have heard the bells ringing as we pass a church or cathedral, but have you ever wondered how it’s done?

Well, Derby Cathedral is inviting you to find out more about this unique form of music-making at its annual Bellringer’s Open Day, which is taking place on Saturday 25th August.

During the day, visitors to the Cathedral will be able to tour the tower, watch bell ringing demonstrations and try ringing a real bell under careful supervision.

Doors to the Cathedral tower will be open from 10am – 2pm and admission is just £3 for adults and £2 for children (only the over eights can be admitted).

Visitors on the 11.30am tower climb will get the chance to watch and hear the clock carillon in action and those unable to make the climb to the top of the tower will be able to enjoy an exhibition of photographs of the bells just inside the Cathedral.

Developed in England in the 17th century, change ringing is a unique form of music-making, which forms a significant part of English culture. Yet it remains taken for granted by most people – for instance, have you ever though how people ring a bell weighing the equivalent of a car with such acute accuracy?

Derby Cathedral boasts ten bells in its tower one of which, the tenor, was cast in 1520 and is still in use almost 500 years later, making it one of the oldest working objects in Derby.






If you are one of our many overseas blog readers,  
or can't come to Derby on the 25th, 
you might like to see videos of the carillon in action 
and find out more about them here


UPDATE 16th August: two juveniles have been seen recently on the tower, plus the adults from time to time.
If you have time/interest, you might enjoy watching satellite tagged Scottish ospreys fly south (sometimes over Derbyshire) on their autumn migration by going to Roy Dennis' website (just search for 'Roy Dennis'). 'Beatrice' has already got down to France (she flew just W of us) but there are more birds to follow. Last autumn a young male called Rothiemurchus flew over Carsington Water and was also seen from the ground as he passed by! NB

21 comments:

Nick B (DWT) said...

The male on the platform this morning, looking out at blue skies over Derby. Heavy rain due later today after what has been quite a prolonged dry spell (for this summer anyway)...
Nick B

christine said...

Juvenile near webcam 1! Cant believe there is still one around! From Christine

Helen said...

Good views of a juvenile on the tower cam again this morning. It seems to be enjoying the sunshine.

Jane (Belper) said...

Lovely to see a youngster on the tower and an adult on the scrape, enjoying the evening light. Yesterday, the rain was lashing down and I don't think I've ever seen such a soggy peregrine - it looked very miserable.

christine said...

Good close up of juvenile on webcam one at 22.45pm from christine

christine said...

2 juveniles near webcam one this morning at 6.30 am! From Christine

christine said...

2 juveniles still around near webcam one again 2nite at 22.30 pm from christine

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Nick B (DWT) said...

Some spam has been getting through recently. Please ignore it and don't click on the links. We'll try to take it off as soon as we see it.
Thanks
Nick B

christine said...

Think the cameras Have frozen!

christine said...

Wen is webcam bein sorted? From Christine

nickb said...

We're trying Christine but the key person at SERCO is on leave just now. Sorry!
nick B

christine said...

Ok thanx 4 letting me know nick!

Helen said...

The live video stream with sound is still working fine. One of the adult birds has been sitting on the edge of the platform for a while now, not at all bothered by the bell ringing practise that seems to be taking place!

Joyce S Derby said...

Both adults and one juvenile are visible on the webcams just now (12:15pm Friday 24th)
When I was in the Cathedral car park about 12 noon, I could hear a lot of screeching from the peregrines.

Peregrine Project Member (Nick M.) said...

Sorry to find that two of our three webcam feeds have frozen. The new, live stream with audio is still functioning, however. I am in Cornwall until later this week, bit will get the cameras unfrozen as soon as possible on my return.
NickM.

Helen said...

Both adult peregrines are around this norning, on the nest platform and tower. Earlier the female bird moved to sit on top of the tower cam, and began noisly plucking some prey. The male did get to share some of the food eventually!

Nick B (DWT) said...

Both adults visible this morning - a somewhat grey one in Derby.
nick B (DWT)

Jane (Belper) said...

Thank you for getting the cameras up and running again. No birds in view at the moment, but I live in hope! I'm sure one or two will appear before too long.

Anonymous said...

Glad That the webcams are up and running again! There are still 2 juveniles still around the cathedral! Saw them early this morning near webcam one! From Christine