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LyndenleaBristol Rural Tower Locator
The Bristol Rural Tower Locator is a simple tool that provided directions for travelling by road between any two towers containing a ring of three or more bells (hung in the English style for full-circle ringing) within the Bristol Rural Branch of the Gloucester & Bristol Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers. There are a number of occasions when this might have come in useful (at least, prior to the wide availability of satellite navigation), for example when planning a ringing tour in the area, or simply when visiting a new tower. Simply choose two towers from the drop-down lists above, click on the Locate Towers button, and away you go! (Full Instructions are available).
Please note that while it remains functional, I have not updated this tool to reflect any changes to the road network – and there have been plenty – since Version 3.31 in March 2009. It should therefore be considered nothing more than a museum piece.
All of the routes between towers were compiled by my own fair hand, using my extensive local knowledge and referencing the most up-to-date maps at the time. Nevertheless, I will accept no responsibility for any wild goose chases that might result from the use of this website. In many cases I did not simply follow the signposted route recommended by the local council (in their wisdom), but used my own knowledge of the local traffic and road infrastructure to provide you with the most straightforward route. Please note that all distances given are approximate and should not be relied upon too heavily.
This is Version 3.32 of the Bristol Rural Tower Locator – see the Version History for further information.
It seems that even though this wondrous tool has been retired, word has spread about it in the unlikeliest of places. A cheerful chap named Gwyn Headley featured the Bristol Rural Tower Locator in his (now defunct) fotoLibrarian blog on 31st October 2006, under the heading My Country 'Tis Of Thee, delighting in his discovery of yet another English folly. To this fine gentleman I tip my hat, and can but hope that in the future the Internet is blessed with many more such eccentricities as this.