The sound of Bells is intrinsically part of the cultural heritage of the UK.
Cultural heritage is more than monuments and museum collections. It also includes traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants.
Many notable historic sites, buildings or artefacts carry UNESCO World Heritage status. Less well known is the corresponding UNESCO convention for ‘intangible’ cultural heritage reflecting the equivalent importance to conserve and protect traditional cultural heritage that is living and practised. Living heritage broadly covers traditions and social practices, including folklore, performance, customs and crafts. If bell ringing appears to fit the category definition of a performing art and/or social practice (plus potentially a sport when considering striking competitions) surely it should be recognised as such?
In 2024, the UK joined many countries in supporting the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). The first step is to create inventories of living heritage. The second step will be the ongoing safeguarding of the living heritage in the UK to ensure it can continue and be passed on.
The UK government Department for Culture, Media and Sport has taken on the responsibility for receiving applications with an information website for this purpose www.livingheritage.unesco.org.uk. Where bell-ringing is given as an example. Surely an application would be positively received?
Despite the simple application process and the precedent set by Italy and Spain already listing their own culture of bell ringing, no doubt some could say, why bother, what difference would UNESCO status make?
Historic sites certainly see UNESCO recognition bestowing prestige and publicity value but also supporting their conservation and protection initiatives. Ringing would gain wider recognition, respect and increased awareness and credibility among the wider public. Being able to add a UNESCO logo to our recruiting literature, would add some prestige to our image.
The discussion about future cultural safeguarding is separate to the inventory process but could include helping secure continuing access to bells to maintain ringing and may make some difference in the future with public and corporate fund raising and eligibility for grants e.g. for recruitment and training.
As well as general publicity for the Exercise is there any downside from such recognition?
Living Heritage can only be heritage when it is recognised as such by the communities, groups or individuals who create, maintain and transmit it – without their recognition, nobody else can decide for them that a given expression or practice is their heritage. Therefore, the inventory will be formed of living heritage that is submitted by communities themselves. The Central Council will prepare an application to be part of the first UK Inventory call. But we would like to receive expressions of support to demonstrate agreement of the ringing community on the decision to submit such an application.
Voluntary expressions of support from individual ringers and the wider ringing community are very welcome and help to build our case please respond online via the response form below. Any concerns or points of clarification may be raised with the CCCBR living heritage task group by emailing