The bells: overview

The two western towers of York Minster contain between them a total of 32 bells, this being the largest number of bells in any English cathedral. There are no bells in the central tower.

All of the present bells were cast by Taylor's of Loughborough at various points in the twentieth century. Taylor's are considered by many to be the 'Rolls-Royce' of bellfounders, and the Minster bells are generally regarded as one of their masterpieces - both by bellringers and by the founders themselves.

This section of the website gives brief outline details of the present bells, and a chronology of the history of bells in York Minster. More in-depth details of the bells and a more detailed history can be found in the other sections of this part of the website, and are accessible from the menu on the left.

Bells in the south-west tower
Bells in the north-west tower
Outline history of the bells

Bells in the south-west tower

The south-west tower contains the main ringing peal of 14 bells which are rung several times each week by YMSCR, plus a chime of 11 bells which are used to announce weekday services.

The ringing peal

All weights are given in the form hundredweights-quarters-pounds, which is the method traditionally used by bellringers. An imperial ton contains 20 hundredweights. Diameters are measured across the mouth of the bell, and are given in inches.

The bells set up in their frame at the bellfoundry, prior to installation

The chiming bells

The chiming bells were purchased second-hand from St Mary's Church, Nelson, Lancashire, after the church was closed. They were installed in 1989 after a series of accidents with the worn Ellacombe chiming apparatus threatened to cause serious damage to the ringing bells. The bells are fixed rigidly above the ringing bells.

The chiming bells

Bells in the north-west tower

The north-west tower contains the clock bells. These comprise the quarter bells, which are a set of six hung rigidly and struck with electro-magnetic hammers, and 'Great Peter', the hour and bourdon bell. Great Peter is struck automatically with a large hammer on the hours, and is also swung manually every Sunday for five to ten minutes immediately before the main morning service.

The quarter bells & Great Peter

Great Peter, set up for testing at the bellfoundry in 1926

Outline history of the bells

1466	Thomas Innocent casts four bells, creating a remodelled ring of eight bells, tenor approx. 55cwt. These are hung in the recently completed south-west tower.
1476	Thomas Innocent casts four bells, creating a remodelled ring of eight bells, tenor approx. 55cwt. These are hung in the recently completed south-west tower.
1656	On 17th January 1656 the four minor bells are moved to the south-west tower, beginning the development of the first ever ring of twelve.
1681	On 17th January 1656 the four minor bells are moved to the south-west tower, beginning the development of the first ever ring of twelve.
1765	Lester & Pack persuade Dean Fountayne to have the twelve recast into a ten similar to the very successful ring cast recently by them for St Mary-le-Bow, London. The smallest five of the old ring go to St Michael's, Spurriergate, York. New tenor 53cwt 25lbs in C.
1840	On May 20th the bells are destroyed by fire. One bell is cast in 1841 by Thomas Mears II to be the tenor of a new ring. Weight, 53cwt 3qtr 7lbs in C.
1844	C & G Mears cast eleven more bells to complete the ring of twelve. These bells are not a success. In an attempt to get a decent toned hour bell for the clock out of the tenor, a heavy clock hammer is used which cracks the bell, which is recast by C & G Mears in 1849. Tenor weight now 50cwt 2qtr.
1845	First Great Peter is cast by C & G Mears. Weight, 10 tons 14lbs. Note, F.
1913	The bells are tuned and rehung by John Warner & Sons, Spitalfields, London. The bells are tuned severely and the result is harsher tones than were produced prior to tuning. They are also fitted with experimental self-aligning plain bearings, which are not a success. The tenor now weighs 47cwt 1qtr 25lbs. The success of the restoration is such that it soon becomes clear that a further restoration would be needed within a very few years.
1925-1927	The old bells are rung for the last time on January 3rd, 1925, whereupon they are removed and recast by J Taylor & Co, Loughborough, into the current ring of twelve bells, tenor 59cwt 1qtr 23lbs in Bb. These are hung in a cast iron frame, with a semitone bell (a flat sixth) to provide a lighter ring of 8, tenor 24cwt 3qtr in Eb.
1978	An extra treble bell is added to provide a lighter ten, tenor 24cwt 3qtr in Eb.
1989	A chime of eleven bells, tenor 23cwt 3qtr 19lbs in D, cast by J Taylor & Co, 1933 is purchased second-hand from a church in Nelson, Lancashire, and installed in the south-west tower.
2000	Six clock bells, the largest weighing 60cwt 1qtr 17lbs, are hung in the north-west tower. An electronic clock mechanism is installed to play a chime based on the hymn tune "York", with the hours struck on Great Peter. The whole installation commemorates the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and is dedicated on her 100th birthday.

Click here to go to the home page