Society of Royal Cumberland Youths , bell-ringing society

The Society of Royal Cumberland Youths is a bell-ringing society, though little is known for certain of its history. It was established in 1747, and is said to have taken its name from the Duke of Cumberland, in honour of his bloody suppression of the Jacobite rising of 1745. It appears to have been based initially in the City of London, and always in the London area, though it rang peals throughout London and the home counties and especially in the church of St Leonard Shoreditch. The Society appears to have drawn its members from the ranks of the aristocracy and well-to-do professional classes. This much is apparent from the "Name books" or registers of members. Surviving records include the "Peal books" or records of peals rung, minute books and rules.