Bells
Wells Cathedral has ten bells, the heaviest ring of ten bells in the world, with a tenor bell (the 10th), known as Harewell, that weighs 56.25 long hundredweights (2,858 kg). They are hung for full circle ringing in the English style of Change ringing. These bells are now hung in the South West Tower although originally a small number of bells were hung in the lantern.
The oldest bells are the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th and were made in 1757 by Abel Rudhall. The 1st and 2nd date from 1891 and were made by Mears & Stainbank. The most recent bell, the 6th, was cast in 1964 also by Mears & Stainbank.
The 1st weighs 7 long cwt 3 qtr 12 lb (880 lb or 399 kg) while the 2nd weighs 9 long cwt 0 qtr 2 lb (1,010 lb or 458 kg). The 3rd weighs 10 long cwt (510 kg), the 4th 10.75 long cwt (546 kg) and the 5th 12.5 long cwt (640 kg). The 6th weighs 15 long cwt 1 qtr 14 lb (1,722 lb or 781 kg), the 7th 20 long cwt (1,000 kg) and the 8th 23 long cwt (1,200 kg). In 1877 bells 9 and 10 were cast by John Taylor & Co. The 9th weighs 32 long cwt (1,600 kg) and the 10th 56 long cwt 1 qtr 14 lb (6,314 lb or 2,864 kg).
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Famous quotes containing the word bells:
“Now Lady Maisry is gone home,
Made him a winding sheet,
And at the back of merry Lincoln
The dead corpse did her meet.
And all the bells of merry Lincoln,
Without men’s hands were rung,”
—Unknown. Hugh of Lincoln (l. 61–66)
“Pancakes and fritters,
Say the bells of St. Peter’s.
Two sticks and an apple,
Say the bells of Whitechapel.
Kettles and pans,
Say the bells of St. Ann’s.”
—Unknown. The Bells of London (l. 7–12)
“For mankind, speech with a capital S is especially meaningful and committing, more than the content communicated. The outcry of the newborn and the sound of the bells are fraught with mystery more than the baby’s woeful face or the venerable tower.”
—Paul Goodman (1911–1972)