Remembered in Saddleworth Sketches 1871 by Joseph Bradbury; James Platt, long noted in Yorkshire and the neighbouring counties as a great proficient in bellringing, was born at Cloughbottom, near the parish church, on the 21st of April, 1785, and began his career as a bellringer in his fifteenth year. He was one of the greatest campanologists and composers of bell music in Great Britain, and assisted in carrying upwards of 30 prizes for bellringing in different towns in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cheshire and Derbyshire, always ringing the Tenor Bell. He has left behind a great quantity of music manuscript, adapted for six, eight, and twelve bells, and has given instructions to most of the ringers of the present day. He was also fife-major in the Yorkshire local militia and acted as such on the staff for many years. he was founder and leader of the Saddleworth Old Reed band, established in 1817, and was considered one of the best piccolo players of the day. He died on the 21st September 1858, and was interred in the family vault at Saddleworth Church, followed to the grace by upwards of 150 persons, mostly bellringers and musicians from the surrounding towns. He was carried to the grace by senior ringers who rang a muffled peal on the handbells over his grave at midnight. other peals honoured his memory in distant towns.
The late James Platt, of Prospecton, was both a poet, and essayist. he claimed the authorship of the epitaph on Bill o’ Jacks gravestone, but it is not inserted amongst his works published since his death. he wrote ‘Tom Sheridan’s Shooting Excursion;’ a religious drama, entitled ‘Joseph and his brethren;’ and several dialogues on various subjects.
An extract from Chapelry and Church of Saddleworth by A J Howcroft 1915 mentions him as the bell ringer and gifted musician who is buried on the North Side of the church (Old yard).
The gravestone, made and beautifully lettered by Mr Bradshaw, shows he died 21st September 1858 aged 72 years. His father also a ringer. On the right hand side of the slab is a broken flute, on the left a hung bell with a broken rope, both eloquently showing that these things are no longer needed. A few bars of music and two pages of the score of change ringing entitled ‘Oxford’ and ‘New London’ indicate his dearest diversions in life. His name appears as an authority in a book on change ringing, which states, in reference to a peal therein published… was rung at Mottram in 1846… composer of a peal known as ‘Merchant’s Return’ there was a time when Saddleworth did great trade with America in woollen goods… It was not unusual to celebrate their return with festivities and bell ringing…’Merchant’s Return’ was rung many a time at Saddleworth Church, when all the spinners and weavers on the hillsides would put down their work, sometimes for days.
Ringing World page 271 March 16th, 2012 accredits the contribution made by James Platt to the world of Bellringing and Campanalogia.
This article prior to The Ringing World page 279 April 11th, 1969 article
Our Parish Record indicate the following burials.
- William Platt buried 20/04/1798 aged 1, New bailey
- Betty Platt buried 13/03/1802 aged 36 wife of James, Cloughbottom
- Mally or Mattey Platt buried 03/02/1820 aged 32 wife of James Jun’, Cloughbottom
- James Sen’ Platt buried 06/12/1827 aged 61, Poor House
- Wright Platt buried 14/12/1839 aged 33, Chapmans near Holmfirth, son of James Platt.
- Sally Platt buried 09/07/1858 aged 80, Saddleworth Fold, 2nd wife of James Jun’
- James Jun’ Platt buried 09/07/1858 aged 72, Saddleworth Fold
- Mary Platt buried 01/04/1859 aged 6 daughter of John & Sarah Platt, Uppermill
- Martha Platt buried 09/10/1862 aged 44, died at West Riding Lunatic Asylum, Spinster, Sister of John and Daughter of James Jun’
- Ann Bowker buried 24/04/1879 aged 79, widow of James and daughter of James Sen’, Oldham
A transcript of the inscription can be found in a book printed by Saddleworth Historical Society
Historic Saddleworth Church 