Why Do We Use Sleigh Bells?

The History

Bells have been around for millennia. They are believed to have been invented in China sometime around 3,000 BCE. By around 800 BCE, bells and other ornaments were used to adorn horses for a variety of purposes. They were thought to attract good luck, ward off evil, enhance a horse’s natural beauty, and display the owner’s status.

The sleigh bells we’re most familiar with today became widely used in Europe in the 17th century. At the time, the law required bells on all horses pulling carts. Roads were typically only one lane with traffic moving in both directions, and horses traveling over packed snow were practically silent. Since horses don’t come equipped with headlights, the bells acted as a warning that a cart or carriage was approaching. Their sharp tones carried reliably through still winter air. Of course, this warning sound was just as useful throughout the rest of the year to prevent collisions much like a car horn today.

By the 19th century, bells became favored not only for safety but also for their varying tones and beauty. The most popular style of sleigh bells was “body bells,” which were sets of multiple bells (sometimes up to 48!) mounted on a leather strap. Other popular styles included “shaft bells,” attached along the shafts of the cart along where the horse was hitched; “martingale bells,” which hung around the horse’s neck (this is the style we use , as they were most common on teams of draft horses); “saddle chimes,” mounted to the saddle portion of the harness; and “Swedish bells,” fixed to the back strap of the harness.

Manufacturing of Sleighbells

After 1000 AD, bells were typically made from iron. Starting in the 14th and 15th centuries, however, sleigh bells were often plated with silver or gold and engraved with inscriptions, patterns, or coats of arms. These were frequently given as gifts or awards.

Two of the most notable bell manufacturers in North America during the 19th century (the height of sleighbell popularity) were William Barton and Robert Wells.

William Barton is credited as one of the first American bell-makers. He began crafting sleigh bells as a young adult in Bloomfield, Connecticut, working alongside his father, who was originally a pistol maker. William built his first foundry in 1808 in East Hampton, Connecticut, where the bells were smoothed by hand. After a fire destroyed the foundry in 1816, he rebuilt, and by 1826 he expanded to Cairo, New York with the help of his two sons. Their bells can be recognized by the “WB” or “BW” maker’s mark on small petal bells. The business continued after William’s passing in 1841 under his grandson, but the foundry was destroyed by another fire in 1874. It was eventually sold in 1881 and became the Barton Bell Company.

Robert Wells, the only son of a local blacksmith, worked closely with his father, and together they founded a bell foundry in Aldbourne, Wiltshire, England in 1760. They cast handbells, church bells, and clock and room bells, but were best known for their “rumbler” bells used as sleigh bells. These became immensely popular among North American customers. Rumbler bells bore a distinctive “RW” imprint and an ornate petal design. After Robert’s father passed away in 1781, Robert was joined by his younger brother James. Robert retired in 1798, and James continued the business until it unfortunately went bankrupt in 1825.

Cultural Significance

Bells were originally crafted from iron, which was believed to ward off faeries. Medieval Europeans thought faeries were mischievous or harmful spirits, so iron horseshoes were hung above doorways to prevent them from entering homes, and iron sleighbells protected both horses and drivers.

Bells have also been significant in many religions. Church bells call congregations to prayer and signal the beginning of rituals, and bells are often viewed as a bridge between spiritual realms. Beyond the material itself, the piercing sound of a bell was believed to drive away evil. Its sharp tone cuts through the air in a way that was thought to reveal and dispel negative forces.

Today, sleigh bells hold their strongest cultural presence in songs, stories, and poetry. “One Horse Open Sleigh” and “Jingle Bells” are woven into Christmas traditions and are nearly inescapable during the holiday season. The poem “The Sleigh-Bells” by Susanna Moodie highlights the joyful way that sleighbells announce the coming of visitors for a joyous holiday celebration, and there are countless stories and shows that share the wonderful sound.

Sleigh bells are mostly disconnected from our modern lives, now appearing mainly on horse-drawn carriages and in Christmas music. Yet they carry a surprisingly rich history—one that invites us to appreciate the often overlooked details around us.