Papers of Ranald W M Clouston, engineer and campanologist, Suffolk, England
551 213
Description Papers of Ranald W M Clouston, engineer and campanologist, Suffolk, England
Collection Papers of Ranald W M Clouston, engineer and campanologist, Suffolk, England
Catalogue Number 551 213
Category All Other
Scope and Content The collection held by RCAHMS comprises publications, notebooks, photographs, rubbings, correspondence, and plaster casts, collected and created during Clouston’s researches. The collection also includes a number of notebooks and papers from the earlier research of F C Eeles.
Archive History The collection was left to RCAHMS in 2002.
System of Arrangement The collection has not yet been catalogued, and remains in the order, and packaging, in which it arrived.
Related Material In accordance with his will, in 2002 the collection was divided: his Scottish material being left to RCAHMS (Acc No 2002/200); that on Suffolk to the West Suffolk Record Office in Bury St Edmunds; and the remaining material to the Council for the Care of Churches and the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford (2003.71). For material relating to F C Eeles, see the Dr Frances C Eeles Collection, 551/49.
Access Conditions Access to some material may be restricted for conservation reasons.
Administrative History An engineer by profession, R W M Clouston (1925-2002) became interested in Scottish bells while working at the Babcock works in Renfrew in 1945. Over the next few years he compiled and published detailed county listings for Renfrewshire and Dunbartonshire. Although he was to return to England, Clouston continued his work in Scotland with further listings for Stirlingshire, Ayrshire, Perthshire and Berwickshire. He corresponded with the distinguished ecclesiologist Dr Francis Eeles, and after the latter’s death, revised and published Eeles’ manuscript listings for Aberdeenshire, the Stewartry and for Wigtownshire. His knowledge of campanology was in great demand, and he served as a technical adviser to the Artistic Matters Committee of the Church of Scotland, and for numerous English dioceses. Among his numerous writings is A practical guide to the inspection of church bells, which as well as setting out the technical details to be recorded, offered sound advice on the practicalities of working in an exposed position astride the ridge of a church roof or perched precariously on the end of a slater’s ladder.
Finding Aids A draft handlist to the collection has been prepared.
Accruals No further accruals are expected.
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1176512
