[r-t] Long lengths of minor

[Philip Earis]

Actually, in the previous week of the Bell News (1882, page 162 -
https://www.cccbr.org.uk/library/olpubs/bellnews/bn0021.pdf) there's a
fascinating article by Jasper Snowdon, "NOTABLE PERFORMANCES ON FIVE AND
SIX BELLS".

In the article Snowdon highlights a peal of minor rung in 7 true extents:
“Saturday, April the 16th, 1737, was rung at the Parish Church of St.
Mary, Whitechapple, seven compleat Surprise six-bell peals". Snowdon
provides the details, adding:

"The record of this peal is to be found pasted on the inside of one of the
covers of the peal-book of the second Society of London -Youths ; this
society was not, however, established until 1776. The following is a copy
of this document, which is in the Osborne collection of mss. in the
library of the British Museum"

Is this still recognised as the first peal of minor in 7 extents?


It is also very interesting to read about:

"the most extraordinary of all the performances [of minor]...accomplished
at Wath-upon-Dearne, near Rotherham, Yorkshire, in the year 1816. This
performance which consisted of 15,120 changes, was made up by ringing 21
different peals of 720 changes each, the time occupied in the peal being 8
hours and 27 minutes. For my own part I think this the greatest feat yet
recorded in change-ringing. Compared with this performance the
accomplishment of 8 or 9 hours ringing in only one method is a very small
thing, except it be as a physical feat in heavy bell ringing, or an
instance of attention on the part of the conductor"

200 years on and still impressive.