The Bells

The first mention of bells associated with the cathedral is from 1650, when bells were hidden in the
crypt of the cathedral to save them from been taken as booty by the Cromwellians. In the year 1668
six bells were cast by William and Roger Purdue and William and Tobias Covey from Bristol. In 1727
the then Bishop of Waterford Rt. Rev. Thomas Miller had them recast by Joshua Kipling of
Portsmouth. These bells were in turn recast by Mears and Stainbank of London in 1872 giving us our
current set we have today, a peal of eight bells with the tenor bell weighing twenty hundredweight
(just over 1 ton) and sounding E. The first peel of Grandsire Triples ever rung in Ireland was rung in
the tower on 27 th July 1872, perhaps this is why Waterford is referred to as the ‘cradle of change
ringing in Ireland’.

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Treble 30 1/4 ” in diameter Weight 6cwts.1qr.12lbs. Note E
2: 31” 6cwts.0qrs.5lbs. D sharp
3: 33 ¾” 7cwts.0qrs.11lbs C sharp
4: 34 ¾” 7cwts.3qrs.24lbs. B
5: 38” 9cwts.1qr.17lbs A
6: 40” 10cwts.3qrs.24lbs G sharp
7: 43 ¼” 13cwts.3qrs.4lbs F#
Tenor 49 20cwts.0qrs.1lb E