‘Place Bells’ is a concept usually associated with more advanced methods, but it has its uses in many ringing situations. In its simplest form it is a short way of saying, ‘Knowing where every bell starts from rounds’ in any particular method.

To illustrate this – look at Plain Bob minor in the ‘Diagrams’ book. Ringing the 2nd you start as ‘Seconds Place Bell’ because you were in seconds place in the rounds. At the first treble lead you dodge 3-4 down and at the treble’s backstroke lead you are in fourths place. This makes you ‘Fourths Place bell’ for the next lead and what you are ringing now is the same as 4 starting from rounds. At the next treble’s backstroke lead, as you dodge 5-6 down, you are in sixths place so you become ‘Sixths Place Bell’ and ring as 6 starts from rounds. And so on for Fifths Place bell and Thirds Place Bell. You become a different place bell every treble lead and what you ring through that lead is what that (place) bell would have rung from rounds. Probably not many ringers think of place bells in Plain Bob minor but this shows how the system works and how it can be used in the more complex methods, of which more later. Before moving on from Plain Bob minor, look at what happens at a bob.

If affected by a bob you will do one of three things…

• Run in – which makes you seconds place bell – ring as 2nd starts from rounds
• Run out – which makes you thirds place bell – ring as 3rd starts from rounds
• Make the bob – which makes you fourths place bell – ring as 4th starts from rounds

For more information, please read the rest of the article (provided by Leicester Diocesan Guild): Introducing Place Bells.